General Engineer/ Physical Scientist (QA)

About the role

The successful candidate for the General Engineer/Physical Scientist (QA position) will provide quality assurance technical expertise on all aspects of nuclear weapons components at a DOE Research and Production Laboratory in Los Alamos, NM.

What you will do

• Conduct and review quality assurance surveys to analyze the results and recommendations for appropriate corrective actions or improvements in the quality control program and manufacturing processes and establish new or improved techniques for evaluating the contractor's quality program.
• Monitor and appraise new weapon systems in the development phase to determine what quality controls are needed and what components require a QAIP and the appropriate survey coverage.
• Ensure QAIP coverage and /or assists in the development of new QAIPs.
• Review the QAlP's for the Site Office for accuracy submits for approval.
• Analyze unique and complex engineering problems related to the principles of precision machining and measurements: metallurgy, production processes: Electro-mechanical devices: electronic assemblies, radio frequency [RF] assembly and test procedures, rubber, plastics: and polymeric materials: and/or test equipment design in order to evaluate the adequacy of the contractor's control over quality, and to assist weapons quality staff in determining the seriousness and resolution of identified quality problems in products or processes.
• At times, represent the Quality Assurance [QA] program management and/or the Site Office: at conferences and meetings with the contractor, NNSA weapon design laboratories: other contractors and other Site Offices to exchange information to participate in problem resolution and to remain current on changes occurring in assigned areas of responsibility.
• Attend program review meeting design reviews, etc. to monitor preproduction progress, product/process qualification, and impact on NNSA Quality Assurance [QA] planning.
• Utilize quality assurance and quality control methods, principles, practices and associated costs sufficient to evaluate the adequacy of, and need for, improvements in the contractor's program for economically assuring quality of a variety of highly complex plastic, Chemical, explosive, mechanical, electrical: and electro-mechanical components, subassemblies and assemblies of nuclear weapons.

Requirements

• Subject to Random Drug Testing Must pass a pre-employment drug test.
• Favorable suitability determination required.
• Must be able to obtain/maintain a Q level Security Clearance.
• You must be a United States Citizen.
• This employer participates in the e-Verify program.
• Males must abide by Selective Service registration requirements.
• Compliance with Homeland Security Presidential Directive (HSPD-12) governing personal identity which will require that you provide two forms of identification.
• A two (2) year trial period may be required.
• Employees serving on a trial period may be terminated at any time during the probationary or trial period for performance, conduct, or business-related reasons in the interest of Federal service.
• More than one position may be filled from this vacancy announcement.
• Must be able to obtain certification in the DOE's Technical Qualification Program (TQP) within 18 months of start date.
• This position is covered by the Technical Qualification Program (TQP), which requires the incumbent to acquire and demonstrate competencies identified in the TQP Functional Area Qualification and Field Office specific standards and requires certification of the competencies by NNSA supervision and TQP qualifying officials. *** Please limit your resume to no more than two (2) pages.
• If more than two pages are submitted, you will be disqualified.
• Trial periods are required for all excepted service employees.
• Trial periods served in the same position and agency with no break in service will satisfy the requirement.

Education

Engineering Series, 0800: Basic Requirements: A. Degree: Engineering.

To be acceptable, the program 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.ORB.

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 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: 1. 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.

Absent other means of qualifying under this standard, those applicants who achieved such registration by means other than written test (e.g., State grandfather or eminence provisions) are eligible only for positions that are within or closely related to the specialty field of their registration.

For example, an applicant who attains registration through a State Board's eminence provision as a manufacturing engineer typically would be rated eligible only for manufacturing engineering positions. 2. Written Test -- Evidence of having successfully passed the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE)2 examination or any other written test required for professional.

Physical Science Series, 1301: Basic Requirements: A. Degree: physical science, engineering, or mathematics that included 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science such as mechanics, dynamics, properties of materials, and electronics. OR B.

Combination of education and experience -- education equivalent to one of the majors shown in A above that included at least 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements: EDUCATION: Education must be obtained from an accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Applicants who have completed part or all of their education outside of the U.S. must have their foreign education evaluated by an accredited organization to ensure that the foreign education is comparable to education received in accredited educational institutions in the U.S. A written evaluation of any foreign education must be provided with your application in response to this vacancy announcement or be received by the closing date of this announcement.

Failure to provide this evaluation will result in you being found unqualified for the position.

For special instructions pertaining to foreign education, see the Department of Education website, and for a list of organizations that can evaluate foreign education, visit The National Association of Credential Evaluation Services.

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications.

Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. **If you are selected, official transcripts will be required. **FOREIGN EDUCATION: Applicants who have completed part or all of their education outside of the U.S. must have their foreign education evaluated by an accredited organization to ensure that the foreign education is comparable to education received in accredited educational institutions in the U.S. A written evaluation of any foreign education must be provided with your application in response to this vacancy announcement or be received by the closing date of this announcement.

Failure to provide this evaluation will result in you being found unqualified for the position.

For special instructions pertaining to foreign education, see the Department of Education website, and for a list of organizations that can evaluate foreign education, visit The National Association of Credential Evaluation Services.

Please Note: If your foreign education has already been accepted by an accredited U.S. educational institution as part of a degree program with that institution, you do not need to provide an evaluation of foreign education but must submit a copy of the transcripts listing the degree from the U.S. accredited institution that accepted your foreign education.

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

How you will be evaluated

Your application will be rated by our application system using the Self-Assessment Rating procedure.

THE APPLICATION REVIEW PROCESS WILL BE IN TWO STAGES: Minimum Qualifications: Once the application process is complete, the Human Resources Office will review the first two pages of your resume and supporting documentation to determine whether you meet the minimum job qualifications.

Structured Resume Review: The Human Resources Office/Subject Matter Expert will review the first two pages of your resume to determine your technical qualifications. Additional documentation (e.g., cover letter, links embedded in your resume) may not be considered. Your application and resume shall demonstrate that you possess the following Competencies.

Do not provide a separate narrative written statement.

Rather, you must describe in your application how your past work experience demonstrates that you possess the Competencies identified below. Cite specific examples of employment or experience contained in your resume and describe how this experience has prepared you to successfully perform the duties of this position.

DO NOT write "see resume" in your application.

You must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

If your resume is incomplete or does not support the responses you provided in your online questionnaire, or if you fail to submit all required documentation before the vacancy closes, you may be rated 'ineligible', 'not qualified'. To preview the application questionnaire, click the link below. ***

Documents you must provide

• You must submit a resume supporting your specialized experience and responses to the online questionnaire.
• Your two (2) page RESUME showing all relevant work experience (paid and unpaid) including: duties performed; full name and address of the each employer; start and end dates (month/day/year); work schedule (part-time, full-time, number of hours if intermittent); salary; and any completed education and training (program title, subject area, number of hours completed, and completion date).
• Cover Letter, optional, expressing additional information not covered in your resume may not be considered.
• Transcripts, if specific educational requirements are indicated in this job announcement.
• Unofficial transcripts or any report listing institution, course title, credits earned (semester or quarter hour) and final grade is acceptable.
• It is your responsibility to provide adequate proof that you meet the educational requirements.
• If selected, it is mandatory that you provide official transcripts.
• For more information about what to include in your resume, please view this USAJOBS Resume Tutorial video on YouTube.
• NNSA will accept a resume in the format of your choice (as an attached document or as a USAJOBS Resume Builder format).
• You will be notified at the time you click 'Apply Online' which type of resume is acceptable.
• It is important that you are complete and thorough in your resume.
• If any of the above information is not included in your resume, we may not be able to fully credit you for your experience.Submit one or more of the following to support your eligibility(s) to apply to this job announcement: SF-50, "Notification of Personnel Action" (current/former federal employees): To properly verify status eligibility, your SF-50 must show the following.
• If you do not submit an appropriate SF-50, we cannot verify your status eligibility!
• Full position title; appointment type; occupational series; pay plan, grade, and step; tenure code; and service computation date (SCD).If your current position SF50 does not indicate you have competitive/excepted service status or does not reflect the pay plan and grade of the highest position you have held in the competitive/excepted service, in addition to your current SF50, you must provide your previous SF-50s that provide the proof of competitive/excepted status and highest grade held on a permanent basis.
• If specific educational requirements are indicated for this vacancy: Documentation verifying your educational claims which can include unofficial transcripts or any report listing institution, course title, credits earned and final grade.
• Please see the Education section for more information.
• For Professional, Scientific and Engineering Positions: If qualifying on the basis of an alternate method, i.e., professional license, you must submit official documentation to support your claim with your application package.
• If selected for the position you will be required to submit official transcripts prior to onboarding.
• Veterans: DD-214 Member Copy 4 showing type of discharge/character of service; current active duty members- certification of expected discharge or release from active duty under honorable conditions dated within 120 days; SF-15 Form and related documentation; VA letter.
• For more information visit the USAJOBS Help Center & OPM CHCOC website for VOW information.
• Individuals with Disabilities: Schedule A letter from a physician, local, state or federal rehabilitation office citing your eligibility under 5 CFR 213.3102 (u).
• For more information visit the USAJOBS Help Center.
• Certain Military Spouses: Permanent Change of Station (PCS) orders authorizing you to accompany the Military member to the new duty permanent station; OR verification of the member's 100% disability (VA Letter); and/or verification of the member's death while on active duty (DD-1300 and Death Certificate) AND verification of the marriage to the service member (i.e., a marriage license or other legal documentation verifying marriage).
• For more information visit the USAJOBS Help Center.
• Other non-competitive or special appointing authorities: provide documentation which supports your eligibility.
• Failure to submit any of the above mentioned required documents may result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package.
• It is your responsibility to ensure all required documents have been submitted.

What to expect next

Thank you for your interest in employment with DOE. We will notify you of your results once your application is reviewed. Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email.

The status of your application will be updated in USAJOBS as it is evaluated. You can check the status by logging into USAJOBS. You may also sign up to receive automatic emails anytime the status of your application changes by logging into your USAJobs Account and editing the Notification Settings.

You will be contacted directly if an interview is required.

Additional information

Veterans and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. For more information, please visit the links at the bottom of this page or visit the FedsHireVets website. If you believe that you are eligible for the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP), please visit the OPM ICTAP/CTAP website for more information.

In order to be considered under the ICTAP program, your application must score within the pre-established "well qualified" category as stated in the Qualifications section. More than one selection may be made from this vacancy announcement. All positions require successful completion of a background investigation.

All males born after December 31,1959 must abide by laws regarding Selective Service registration. To learn more about this law, visit the Selective Service web page, Who Must Register. If you are not registered and don't have an approved exemption, you will not be eligible for employment with the Federal government.

A Recruitment/Relocation Incentive may be authorized for a highly qualified applicant in accordance with Agency policy and applicable regulations In accordance with Executive Order 14170, applicants are encouraged to respond to the four short, free-response, essay questions in the questionnaire. Answers to these questions are not scored or rated.

Your answers will be reviewed by the hiring manager and agency leadership if you are referred for selection consideration. This position is in the excepted service and has been identified as potentially meeting the requirements of Schedule Policy/Career.

If it is determined that the position meets these requirements, its designation will be updated to Schedule Policy/Career within the excepted service. Any employee occupying the position under Schedule Policy/Career will have limited appeal rights.

If you are selected and DOE designates the position as "Schedule Policy/Career," you will be informed of this decision in writing and provided with additional information. This designation/determination is not appealable. EEO Policy: Click HERE.

Reasonable Accommodation Policy: Click HERE. Veterans Information: Click HERE. Telework: Click HERE.

Selective Service Registration: Click HERE