Mechanical Engineer

To be eligible for consideration, you must first meet the Basic Education Requirement for this position:
A. Degree: professional engineering. To be acceptable, the curriculum must: (1) lead to a bachelor’s degree in a school of engineering with at least one program accredited by ABET; or (2) include differential and integral calculus and courses (more advanced than first-year physics and chemistry) in five of the following seven areas of engineering science or physics: (a) statics, dynamics; (b) strength of materials (stress-strain relationships); (c) fluid mechanics, hydraulics; (d) thermodynamics; (e) electrical fields and circuits; (f) nature and properties of materials (relating particle and aggregate structure to properties); and (g) any other comparable area of fundamental engineering science or physics, such as optics, heat transfer, soil mechanics, or electronics.
**OR**
B. Combination of education and experience: college-level education, training, and/or technical experience that furnished (1) a thorough knowledge of the physical and mathematical sciences underlying professional engineering, and (2) a good understanding, both theoretical and practical, of the engineering sciences and techniques and their applications to one of the branches of engineering. The adequacy of such background must be demonstrated by one of the following:

• Professional registration or licensure – Current registration as an Engineer Intern (EI), Engineer in Training (EIT)1, or licensure as a Professional Engineer (PE) by any State, the District of Columbia, Guam, or Puerto Rico.
• Written Test – Evidence of having successfully passed the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE)2 examination or any other written test required for professional registration by an engineering licensure board in the various States, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico.
• Specified academic courses – Successful completion of at least 60 semester hours of courses in the physical, mathematical, and engineering sciences and that included the courses specified in the basic requirements under paragraph A. The courses must be fully acceptable toward meeting the requirements of a professional engineering curriculum as described in paragraph A.
• Related curriculum – Successful completion of a curriculum leading to a bachelor’s degree in an appropriate scientific field, e.g., engineering technology, physics, chemistry, architecture, computer science, mathematics, hydrology, or geology, may be accepted in lieu of a bachelor’s degree in engineering, provided the applicant has had at least 1 year of professional engineering experience acquired under professional engineering supervision and guidance.

Specialized Experience Requirements:
In addition to the basic education requirement, in order to be rated as qualified for this position, the HR Office must be able to determine that you meet the education and/or specialized experience requirement – this information must be clearly supported in the resume.

To qualify at the GS-05, successfully completion, or will complete by entrance on duty, a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a professional engineering degree.

To qualify at the GS-07, you must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and complexity to at least the GS-05 level in federal service having demonstrated experience with Mechanical Engineering theories, principles, and practices working with electrical power, communication, and control drawings. Other applicable experience that included industrial systems and electrical work on large facilities.

Substitution of Education for the Specialized Experience Requirement:
For GS-07: Successful completion of 1 year (18 semester hours) graduate-level education directly related to the position; **OR** Superior academic achievement is based on one of the following: (1) class standing, (2) grade-point average, or (3) honor society member.

The superior academic achievement provision is to be used to determine eligibility for applicable GS-07 level positions of persons who have completed (or expect to complete within 9 months) all the requirements for bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a qualifying grade point average (GPA), class standing, or honors society. For more information, visit OPM.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

You must meet all Eligibility and Qualification requirements, including any selective placement factors if applicable, by 03/20/2023.

Position is being advertised concurrently under vacancy announcement BOR-CPN-22-MP-11846904-CW. Applicants interested in applying under both announcement numbers, must submit application packages for each.

You may be required to serve an initial probationary period. Current, permanent Federal employees who are selected from this announcement may be required to serve a probationary period.

This position is an entry-level engineer hired under the requirements and provisions of Reclamation’s Rotation Engineer Training Program (Program). The program provides for intensive training and professional development. A program participant may be promoted from GS-05 to GS-07 or from GS-07 to GS-09 after a minimum of six (6) months of intensive documented training and evidence of professional development as documented through successful performance in the program. Only one (1) accelerated promotion for each participant may be made. Promotions are neither guaranteed nor automatic but initiated at the request of the supervisor.

Reclamation has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework and you may be allowed to telework with supervisory approval.

If otherwise eligible and qualified, you may be offered a recruitment or relocation incentive. The decision to offer an incentive will be made on a case-by-case basis and is neither promised nor guaranteed. For information, visit: Recruitment Incentive or Relocation Incentive.

If otherwise eligible and qualified, you may request consideration for a Superior Qualifications Appointment. For information, visit: OPM Fact Sheet.

DOI uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including applicant rights and responsibilities, please visit https://www.e-verify.gov/

This position is designated as a MODERATE RISK Public Trust position. It requires a fully completed and favorably adjudicated Public Trust Suitability Background Investigation (T2S or T2RS or equivalent) that is current (within the last 5 years). This is a condition of employment.

Male applicants born after December 31, 1959 must certify registration with the Selective Service System or that the applicant is exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. Go to: https://www.sss.gov

This is a non-bargaining unit position.

Additional vacancies may be filled using this job announcement.

***This is NOT a virtual position.**

These positions are for the Grand Coulee Power Office’s Engineer Training Program. The program provides development opportunities for newly hired engineers. The program provides new employees with a broad knowledge of Reclamation activities and resources, and lays the foundation for developing a versatile, efficient, and flexible engineering staff.

Participants will be employees of Grand Coulee Power Office and will participate in rotational deployment to various offices and functions at Grand Coulee and will require extended travel and temporary duty assignments to the Regional Office in Boise, ID, the Technical Service Center in Denver, CO, and to other offices and facilities. After the completion of the Engineer Training Program, employees will be assigned to positions as:

• Powerhouse O&M Mechanical Engineer.
• Capital projects and planning group Mechanical Engineer.