Engineering Technician (2024)

Table of Contents
Summary Overview Location This job is open to Videos Duties Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications Education Additional information How You Will Be Evaluated Agency contact information HRM Contact Center Next steps Required Documents How to Apply Agency contact information HRM Contact Center Next steps Fair & Transparent References
Department of Agriculture

Forest Service

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Summary

This employee supports the USDA Forest Service, Forest Product Laboratory and serves as a laboratory technician assisting staff in conducting scientific research by preparing and testing samples analysis.

THIS IS AN OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT. See Additional Information section for more information. Applications will expire every 90 days. To remain active for consideration, applicants must resubmit their application.

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Overview

  • Accepting applications
  • Open & closing dates

    02/23/2024 to 11/22/2024

  • Salary

    $49,025 - $59,966 per year

  • Pay scale & grade

    GS 7 - 9

  • Help

    Location

    1 vacancy in the following location:

    • Madison, WI
  • Remote job

    No

  • Telework eligible

    Yes—as determined by the agency policy.

  • Travel Required

    Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.

  • Relocation expenses reimbursed

    No

  • Appointment type

    Permanent

  • Work schedule

    Full-time

  • Service

    Competitive

  • Promotion potential

    9

  • Job family (Series)

    0802 Engineering Technical

  • Supervisory status

    No

  • Security clearance

    Not Required

  • Drug test

    No

  • Position sensitivity and risk

    Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk

  • Trust determination process

    Credentialing

    See Also
    Mastering And Indefinite ArticlesSupervisory Forestry Technician (Handcrew)

    Suitability/Fitness

  • Announcement number

    24-RES-OCR-12312386-G

  • Control number

    777867900

Help

This job is open to

  • Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL) Federal employees who meet the definition of a "surplus" or "displaced" employee.
  • The public U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.
  • Veterans

Videos

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Duties

  • Duties listed are at the full performance level GS-9.
  • Train others in the operation and maintenance of standard and specialized chemical laboratory equipment.
  • Perform chemical reactions and wet chemical tests including laboratory operations like weighing, dilution, and adjusting pH.
  • Process wood and biomass samples including traditional pulping and bleaching, making handsheets, advanced biorefining, and/or producing nanocellulose and processing lignin.
  • Perform a variety of chemical and physical techniques, including rheology, spectroscopy, thermal analysis, mechanical testing or product specific performance, specimen preparation and testing.
  • Conduct analytical chemistry techniques, such as titration, chemical and physical analyses of samples, and operate specialized instruments and interpret the results of these analyses.
  • Prepare progress reports related to laboratory work that are presented orally and/or in writing.
  • Prepare study plans, proposals for funding, presentations, posters, and publications for internal and/or external distribution.
  • Develop new or improved techniques and methods related to processing of biomass based on existing methods and practice.

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Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • You must be a US Citizen or US National.
  • Males born after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt.
  • Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
  • Subject to one year supervisory/managerial probationary period unless prior service is creditable. New USDA supervisors must successfully complete all components of the required training program before the end of their probationary period.
  • Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution.
  • Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit https://www.e-verify.gov/.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including specialized experience and/or education, as defined below.

In order to qualify, you must meet the eligibility and qualifications requirements as defined below by the date the certificate of eligible candidates is issued.

For more information on the qualifications for this position, visit the Office of Personnel Management's General Schedule Qualification Standards.

Your application and resume must clearly show that you possess the experience requirements. Transcripts must be provided for qualifications based on education. Provide course descriptions as necessary.

Work Experience: Your resume must clearly document the following for each block of work experience; the beginning day, month and year the work assignment started and ended; the hours worked per week; position title, and series and grade if applicable; and description of duties performed. This information must be provided for each permanent, temporary or seasonal appointment/work assignment or volunteer work and should be clearly documented as a separate block of time. Incomplete, inaccurate or conflicting work history may not be credited for qualifications purposes. This can result in an applicant not being considered for the position.

Minimum Qualifications Requirements:
Experience in a trade or craft may be credited as specialized experience when the work provided intensive knowledge of engineering principles, techniques, methods, and precedents. Examples are trade positions with substantial developmental, test, or design responsibilities such as:

  • Planner and estimator who analyzed designs for production purposes.
  • Instrument maker or model maker who performed design or development work on devices fabricated.

Certification: Engineering technicians may be certified by the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies, an organization sponsored by the National Society of Professional Engineers. Certification by the Institute will be helpful as a measure of the technician's quality of experience.


Specialized Experience Requirement:
For the GS-7 level: At least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-6 grade level in the Federal service. To qualify at this grade level, your specialized experience must include:

  • Preparing, maintaining and analyzing biomass and biomass processed samples, such as wood, agricultural biomass, pulp, and paper.
  • Analyzing data using standard software and writing reports, plans, or guidelines related to laboratory projects.
  • You must also show one year of experience EITHER Performing a variety of standardized chemical and/or physical techniques, tests, and procedures in a laboratory environment OR Operating and calibrating standard chemical or physical science related laboratory equipment.

OR
One full year (18 semester/27 quarter hours) of graduate level education directly related to the work of the position. Acceptable coursework includes the following: General, Analytical, Organic, and/or Wood Chemistry; Introduction to Chemical Engineering, Engineering, and/or Bioprocess Engineering; Unit Operations, Mass & Energy Balances, Pulping & Bleaching, and/or Papermaking.

OR
A combination of graduate level education that is directly related to the position and specialized experience described above. The education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university.

For the GS-8 level: At least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-7 grade level in the Federal service. To qualify at this grade level, your specialized experience must include:

  • Assisting with processing wood and/or biomass samples. These processes may include traditional pulping and bleaching, and biorefining to produce fuels, chemicals, and materials.
  • Maintaining laboratory records such as a laboratory notebook, computer database observation records, graphical representations, and spreadsheets showing calculations from laboratory data.
  • You must also show one year of experience EITHER Conducting analytical chemistry techniques, such as titration, chemical and physical analyses of samples, and operating specialized instrumentation such as those related to spectroscopy or thermal analysis OR Operating, calibrating and maintaining a variety of chemical or physical science related laboratory equipment.

OR
Master's degree or two full years of graduate level education directly related to the work of the position. Acceptable coursework includes the following: General, Analytical, Organic, and/or Wood Chemistry; Introduction to Chemical Engineering, Engineering, and/or Bioprocess Engineering; Unit Operations, Mass & Energy Balances, Pulping & Bleaching, and/or Papermaking.

OR
A combination of graduate level education that is directly related to the position and specialized experience described above. Only that graduate level coursework in excess of 18 semester/27 quarter hours is creditable for this grade level. The education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university.

For the GS-9 level: At least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-8 grade level in the Federal service. To qualify at this grade level, your specialized experience must include:

  • Independently processing wood and/or biomass samples. These processes may include traditional pulping and bleaching, and biorefining to produce fuels, chemicals, and materials.
  • Analyzing and preparing data and results for inclusion in scientific briefings, study papers, research manuscripts, or project reports.
  • You must also show one year of experience EITHER Independently planning and conducting a wide variety of chemical and physical techniques, tests, and procedures in a laboratory setting OR Operating, calibrating, maintaining, troubleshooting, and ordering a variety of chemical or physical science related laboratory equipment.

OR
Master's degree or two full years of graduate level education directly related to the work of the position. Acceptable coursework includes the following: General, Analytical, Organic, and/or Wood Chemistry; Introduction to Chemical Engineering, Engineering, and/or Bioprocess Engineering; Unit Operations, Mass & Energy Balances, Pulping & Bleaching, and/or Papermaking.

OR
A combination of graduate level education that is directly related to the position and specialized experience described above. Only that graduate level coursework in excess of 18 semester/27 quarter hours is creditable for this grade level. The education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university.

TIME IN GRADE REQUIREMENT: If you are a current federal employee in the General Schedule (GS) pay plan and applying for a promotion opportunity, you must meet time-in-grade (TIG) requirements of 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled. This requirement must be met as of the date a certificate is issued.

Education

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Additional information

Read more

  • Help

    A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

    Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

You will be evaluated based on your qualifications for this position as evidenced by the experience, education, and training you described in your application package, as well as the responses to the Assessment Questionnaire to determine the degree to which you possess the competencies listed below:

  • Chemistry
  • Creative Thinking
  • Demo Authority
  • Technical Competence
  • Writing

Your application, including the online Assessment Questionnaire, will be reviewed to determine if you meet (a) minimum qualification requirements and (b) the resume supports the answers provided to the job-specific questions. Your resume must clearly support your responses to all the questions addressing experience and education relevant to this position.

If you meet the qualification requirements and are determined to be among the best qualified, you will be referred to the hiring manager for consideration. Noncompetitive candidates and applicants under some special hiring authorities must meet minimum qualifications to be referred.

Note: If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you inflated your qualifications and or experience, your rating may be lowered to more accurately reflect the submitted documentation. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating. Providing inaccurate information on Federal documents could be grounds for non-selection or disciplinary action.

To view the application form, visit:https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12312386

  • Help

    A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

    Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

  • As a new or existing federal employee, you and your family may have access to a range of benefits. Your benefits depend on the type of position you have - whether you're a permanent, part-time, temporary or an intermittent employee. You may be eligible for the following benefits, however, check with your agency to make sure you're eligible under their policies.

    The following documents are required for your applicant package to be complete. Our office cannot be responsible for incompatible software, illegible fax transmissions, delays in mail service, your system failure, etc. Encrypted documents will not be accepted. Failure to submit required, legible documents may result in loss of consideration.

    • Resume that includes: 1) personal information such as name, address, contact information; 2) education; 3) detailed work experience related to this position as described in the major duties including work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment; title, series, grade (if applicable); 4) supervisor's phone number and whether or not the supervisor may be contacted for a reference check; 5) other qualifications.
    • If education is required or you are using education to qualify, you must submit: a copy of your college transcripts. An unofficial copy is sufficient with the application; however, if you are selected, you will be required to submit official transcripts prior to entering on duty. Education must have been successfully obtained from an accredited school, college or university. If any education was completed at a foreign institute, you must submit with your application evidence that the institute was appropriately accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as equivalent to U.S. education standards. There are private organizations that specialize in this evaluation and a fee is normally associated with this service. All transcripts must be in English or include an English translation.

    In addition to the above, you must submit the documents below if you claim the following:

    • Current and former Federal employees: 1) Most recent non-award Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50) showing that you are/were in the competitive service, highest grade (or promotion potential) held on a permanent basis, position title, series and grade AND 2) Most recent performance appraisal (dated within 18 months) showing the official rating of record, signed by a supervisor, or statement why the performance appraisal is unavailable. Do not submit a performance plan.
    • Surplus or displaced employees eligible for CTAP, RPL, or ICTAP priority: proof of eligibility (RIF separation notice, notice of proposed removal for declining a transfer of function or directed reassignment to another commuting area, notice of disability annuity termination), SF-50 documenting separation (as applicable), and your most recent SF-50 noting position, grade level, and duty location with your application per 5 CFR 330.
    • Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act Eligible Applicants: please review the required documents for this hiring authority on the Forest Service website.
    • Current permanent FSA County employees: most recent non-award Notification of Personnel Action, (SF-50 or equivalent) showing your highest grade (or promotion potential) held on a permanent basis, position title, series and grade AND most recent performance appraisal (dated within 18 months) per above.
    • Veteran Hiring Authorities: VEOA, VRA and 30% Disabled Veterans: DD214, Certificate of Release from Active Duty, that shows dates of service and discharge under honorable conditions. If currently on active duty you must submit a certification of expected discharge or release from active-duty service under honorable conditions not later than 120 days after the date the certification is submitted. Veteran's preference must be verified prior to appointment.
    • If claiming 10-point veteran's preference you must provide the DD214 or certification requirements (see above bullet), plus the proof of entitlement of this preference as listed on the SF-15 Application for 10-point Veterans' Preference. The SF-15 should be included but is not required. Failure to submit these documents could result in the determination that there is insufficient documentation to support your claim for 10-point preference.
    • Public Land Corps: You must submit a Certificate of Hiring Eligibility FS-1820-0027, dated within two years after completion of Public Land Corps service in the Forest Service.
    • Resource Assistants: You must submit a Certificate of Hiring Eligibility, FS-1820-0028, dated within two years after completion of the Forest Service Resource Assistants program and college transcripts.
    • Schedule A, Persons with Disabilities Appointment: Letter from a physician, local, state, or federal rehabilitation office citing eligibility under 5 CFR 213.3102 (u).
    • If claiming eligibility under a special hiring authority or an interchange agreement with another merit system not listed above, see the requirements for that authority and submit the required supporting documentation. Go to: USAJOBS Hiring Path for Special Authorities or Special Hiring Authority for more information.

  • Agency contact information

    HRM Contact Center

    Phone

    1-877-372-7248 X2

    Email

    HRM_Contact_Center@usda.gov

    Address
    USDA Forest Service HRM Contact Center
    DO NOT MAIL IN APPLICATIONS, SEE INSTRUCTIONS IN THE ANNOUNCEMENT.
    Albuquerque, NM 87109
    US

    Learn more about this agency

    Next steps

  • The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.

    • Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy
    • Criminal history inquiries
    • Reasonable accommodation policy
    • Financial suitability
    • Selective Service
    • New employee probationary period
    • Signature and false statements
    • Privacy Act
    • Social security number request

Help

Required Documents

The following documents are required for your applicant package to be complete. Our office cannot be responsible for incompatible software, illegible fax transmissions, delays in mail service, your system failure, etc. Encrypted documents will not be accepted. Failure to submit required, legible documents may result in loss of consideration.

  • Resume that includes: 1) personal information such as name, address, contact information; 2) education; 3) detailed work experience related to this position as described in the major duties including work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment; title, series, grade (if applicable); 4) supervisor's phone number and whether or not the supervisor may be contacted for a reference check; 5) other qualifications.
  • If education is required or you are using education to qualify, you must submit: a copy of your college transcripts. An unofficial copy is sufficient with the application; however, if you are selected, you will be required to submit official transcripts prior to entering on duty. Education must have been successfully obtained from an accredited school, college or university. If any education was completed at a foreign institute, you must submit with your application evidence that the institute was appropriately accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as equivalent to U.S. education standards. There are private organizations that specialize in this evaluation and a fee is normally associated with this service. All transcripts must be in English or include an English translation.

In addition to the above, you must submit the documents below if you claim the following:

  • Current and former Federal employees: 1) Most recent non-award Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50) showing that you are/were in the competitive service, highest grade (or promotion potential) held on a permanent basis, position title, series and grade AND 2) Most recent performance appraisal (dated within 18 months) showing the official rating of record, signed by a supervisor, or statement why the performance appraisal is unavailable. Do not submit a performance plan.
  • Surplus or displaced employees eligible for CTAP, RPL, or ICTAP priority: proof of eligibility (RIF separation notice, notice of proposed removal for declining a transfer of function or directed reassignment to another commuting area, notice of disability annuity termination), SF-50 documenting separation (as applicable), and your most recent SF-50 noting position, grade level, and duty location with your application per 5 CFR 330.
  • Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act Eligible Applicants: please review the required documents for this hiring authority on the Forest Service website.
  • Current permanent FSA County employees: most recent non-award Notification of Personnel Action, (SF-50 or equivalent) showing your highest grade (or promotion potential) held on a permanent basis, position title, series and grade AND most recent performance appraisal (dated within 18 months) per above.
  • Veteran Hiring Authorities: VEOA, VRA and 30% Disabled Veterans: DD214, Certificate of Release from Active Duty, that shows dates of service and discharge under honorable conditions. If currently on active duty you must submit a certification of expected discharge or release from active-duty service under honorable conditions not later than 120 days after the date the certification is submitted. Veteran's preference must be verified prior to appointment.
  • If claiming 10-point veteran's preference you must provide the DD214 or certification requirements (see above bullet), plus the proof of entitlement of this preference as listed on the SF-15 Application for 10-point Veterans' Preference. The SF-15 should be included but is not required. Failure to submit these documents could result in the determination that there is insufficient documentation to support your claim for 10-point preference.
  • Public Land Corps: You must submit a Certificate of Hiring Eligibility FS-1820-0027, dated within two years after completion of Public Land Corps service in the Forest Service.
  • Resource Assistants: You must submit a Certificate of Hiring Eligibility, FS-1820-0028, dated within two years after completion of the Forest Service Resource Assistants program and college transcripts.
  • Schedule A, Persons with Disabilities Appointment: Letter from a physician, local, state, or federal rehabilitation office citing eligibility under 5 CFR 213.3102 (u).
  • If claiming eligibility under a special hiring authority or an interchange agreement with another merit system not listed above, see the requirements for that authority and submit the required supporting documentation. Go to: USAJOBS Hiring Path for Special Authorities or Special Hiring Authority for more information.

Help

How to Apply

Read more

Agency contact information

HRM Contact Center

Phone

1-877-372-7248 X2

Email

HRM_Contact_Center@usda.gov

Address
USDA Forest Service HRM Contact Center
DO NOT MAIL IN APPLICATIONS, SEE INSTRUCTIONS IN THE ANNOUNCEMENT.
Albuquerque, NM 87109
US

Learn more about this agency

Next steps

Read more

Fair & Transparent

The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.

  • Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy
  • Reasonable accommodation policy
  • Criminal history inquiries
  • Financial suitability
  • Selective Service
  • New employee probationary period
  • Signature and false statements
  • Privacy Act
  • Social security number request

This job originated on www.usajobs.gov. For the full announcement and to apply, visit www.usajobs.gov/job/777867900. Only resumes submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.

Engineering Technician (2024)

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