Instrumentation Controls Technician

About the role

This position is located in the Architect of the Capitol (AOC), Utilities Power Plant Operations, Assistant Director Engineering Division, Instrumentation and Controls Branch.

The Instrumentation Controls Technician will provide expertise in troubleshooting, maintaining, installing and repairing state of the art digital, analog and industrial equipment typically found in power plants.

What you will do

• The selectee will perform maintenance, repair, calibration, installation and reading of various meters, controls and control systems, gauges, and a wide variety of industrial instrumentation utilized for the production and control of steam and chilled water in the Capitol Power Plant.
• Duties include: Performs, maintains, adjusts, troubleshoots and repairs pneumatic and digital control mechanisms (e.g., level and pressure transmitters, relays, valve positioners, power drives, pneumatic and electric operated valves, pressure controllers and similar mechanisms), refrigerant leak monitors, emissions monitoring equipment, opacity systems, and electromechanical control mechanisms (e.g., water softener and de-alkalizer control system, fly ash system and chemical field process equipment.
• Maintains, repairs, adjusts and calibrates a variety of field mounted instrumentation (e.g. temperature devices, flow meters, differential pressure transmitters, pressure transmitters, pressure switches, differential pressure switches, pneumatic and electronic flow indicators, recorders and gauges (e.g. low pressure, high pressure and vacuum.
• Maintains, adjusts, and repairs electric motor driven valves, electro-hydraulic valves and air diaphragm motor valves with needle type, double seated type or three-way type inner valves in lines associated with control systems for production of steam and chilled water (e.g., continuous blow down lines, condensate lines, city water supply, boiler feed water, condenser water lines and chilled water lines).
• Maintains and adjusts the operation of metering pumps and valves associated with automatic liquid feed systems in the steam production plant (e.g. softener tanks, brine tanks, de-alkalizers, and hot well and de aerator tanks), the chilled water makeup and the cooling towers of the refrigerant plants.
• Solves moderate to complex problems by analyzing installation, circuitry and operating characteristics of the control systems.
• Adjusts and aligns system sensors, transmitters, amplifiers, power supplies, transponders, actuators, installs serviceable components and performs total systems alignments and calibrations in accordance with existing technical instructions.
• Accomplishes the modification of components or systems and completes thorough system checks for proper operation.
• Maintains, modifies, calibrates and inspects a wide variety of user test, measurement and diagnostic equipment.
• Installs, maintains and modifies pneumatic, electric, and pneumatic controls and control systems for industrial type applications such as fly ash removal system, stack emission monitoring.
• Ensures that installed systems and controls function to meet operating needs by mounting instrumentation, installing its associated process tubing, and connecting wiring to appropriate terminations.
• Maintains and calibrates building ventilation controls for heating and air conditioning.
• Requires working at heights greater than 100 feet above the ground on exterior mounted equipment.

How you will be evaluated

Review your resume and responses carefully. Your eligibility for consideration and qualifications for the position will be determined based upon a review of your detailed resume and your responses to job specific self-assessment questions.

Your resume will be evaluated based on evidence of your ability to demonstrate the job elements for this position, possession of any specialized experience, and how well your background and experience relates to the self-assessment questions in the job announcement.

The self-assessment questions relate to the following job elements and competencies: --Ability to do the work of the position without more than normal supervision. --Technical Knowledge --Interpreting Instructions --Ability to use hand and power tools to install, maintain, modify, or repair equipment --Ability to troubleshoot equipment and diagnose.

Your responses to the self-assessment questions serve as the basis for your initial rating. You will receive a numerical score based on your responses to these questions. Next, your responses will be evaluated by a Human Resources Specialist and/or a subject matter expert against the information provided in your resume and optional cover letter.

Your resume must support your answers to the self-assessment questions. Falsifying your background, education and/or experience is cause for non-selection or disqualification from further consideration.

Please note that a complete application is required for consideration.

(Please review the “Required Documents” section of this job announcement to see what must be included in a complete application). You may preview questions for this vacancy.

Documents you must provide

• The Architect of the Capitol's (AOC) job application process is designed to ensure you only provide information necessary to evaluate your qualifications and eligibility for the position vacancy.
• To apply for this position, you only need to submit: a) your resume and b) answers to the online vacancy assessment questionnaire.
• The online questionnaire contains eligibility and screening questions and other relevant information.
• No additional documentation or attachments are required at the time of application.
• Your resume should list your education, training and work experience including job titles, employment dates, duties and accomplishments.
• Nothing further is required until it is requested by AOC's Human Capital Management Division.
• If additional documentation is required for the position, you will be asked to provide it during the interview or selection process.
• At that time, you may be asked to submit documentation to support statements made in your resume.
• For example, you may be asked to provide a copy of your diploma, college transcripts, or proof of Federal employment status.
• If the position requires licensure or certification, you will be asked to provide proof at the time of selection.
• If Veterans' preference is claimed, you will be asked to submit proof (DD-214, and, if claiming a 10-point preference, a SF-15 and the proof required by that form).
• Failure to provide the required documents will end further consideration and/or result in the withdrawal of any tentative job offers.

Benefits

A variety of health insurance plans; retirement system with investment options; paid holidays; paid sick and annual (vacation) leave; life insurance; incentive systems; subsidized transportation; training and development opportunities, etc. Selected applicant(s) may be eligible to earn a higher annual leave accrual rate credit towards annual leave accrual based on prior non-Federal or uniformed service work experience.

The amount of service credit will be based on specialized experience or qualifying experience that is provided on the applicant profile submitted. As such, if you are a new employee to the Federal Government or a rehire, it is important that you provide a work history that lists all directly related positions held, and it must include the dates of employment (month/day/year).

The Architect of the Capitol offers eligible employees opportunity to participate in the Student Loan Repayment Program.

What to expect next

You will receive a notice generated by the USAJOBS System when you have successfully submitted your application. We will review your application and transcript(s) (if you are qualifying based on education) to ensure you meet the basic qualification requirements. You can check the status of your application by logging into ***

You may also sign up to receive automatic emails anytime the status of your application has changed by logging into your USAJOBS Account, editing your profile and changing the ‘Notification Settings' to indicate that you want to be notified by email when the status changes.

Information regarding the status of your application should be updated in the system within two (2) weeks after the closing date of this vacancy announcement.

Additional information

Welcome Veterans. The Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) gives veterans' preference rights in the legislative branch to certain veterans as applied by the Congressional Accountability Act. Veterans' preference is applied on this vacancy announcement.

If you are a veteran and have been separated under honorable conditions, you must submit a copy of your DD-214 or other proof of eligibility; SF-15, if applicable; and Department of Veterans Affairs documentation of disability, if applicable.

For more information, please visit OPM vet guide If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System. If you are exempt from registration under Selective Service Law, you must provide appropriate proof of exemption. Please visit the Selective Service System website for more information.

DRUG TESTING: The Architect of the Capitol (AOC) is a Drug Free Workplace. As part of the AOC's suitability assessment, a candidate tentatively selected for a position who is not currently an AOC employee is required to submit to screening for illegal drug use. Satisfactory completion of a drug test is a condition of employment with the Agency.

A candidate must test negative prior to being eligible for appointment into a position. We will schedule, provide and cover the cost for the drug test. The selectee(s) under the vacancy announcement for this position is subject to a criminal record check by the U.S. Capitol Police and satisfactory adjudication to be eligible for employment at the Architect of the Capitol.

The Architect of the Capitol is an E-VERIFY Participant. E-VERIFY is an Internet-based system that compares information from an employee's Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, to data from U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Social Security Administration records to confirm employment authorization in the United States.

If you are selected for this position, the documentation that you present for purposes of completing the DHS Form I-9 will be verified through the DHS "E-VERIFY" electronic system.

For more information on E-Verify, please visit *** The Architect of the Capitol is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information and/or disability.

This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the agency. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.

Moving expenses are not authorized. Relocation expenses are not authorized. Probationary Period - A newly appointed selectee is subject to the completion of a one-year trial/probationary period, regardless of whether or not a trial/probationary period has been completed previously with the Architect of the Capitol or another Federal agency.

This vacancy announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies in any of the jurisdictions of the Architect of the Capitol. All application materials become the property of the Architect of the Capitol.