Engineering/Physical Science Technician

Join the team! The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Office of Hazard Identification & Reduction, Directorate for Laboratory Sciences (LS), Division of Mechanical Engineering (LSM) is seeking an Engineering/Physical Science Technician with experience as a machinist to primarily focus on machine shop/machinist activities working primarily in and be directly associated with the CPSC machine shop.  

As an Engineering Technician or Physical Science Technician, the selectee's primary focus will be on machine shop/machinist activities and will be working primarily in and be directly associated with the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) machine shop. This requires the fabrication and assembly of a wide variety of test fixtures and test accessories needed to perform testing and evaluation of a broad range of consumer product identified in existing Federal Regulations and voluntary/consensus standards published by organizations such as the ANSI, ASTM,CSA, NFPA, NSPI, UL, and SAE. You will also perform and/or assist with testing and product evaluation of consumer products. This position requires excellent technical and machine shop skills and requires mill and lathe experience, including experience and proficiency with CNC machine programming,(MasterCAM; machine keyboard g codes entry and computer g-code programming to setup and operate the CNC mills and lathe. The CPSC Laboratory uses AutoCAd inventor sourced 3-D design/drawings and 2-D drawings as well. This position requires the ability to perform precise measurements using a wide variety of machine shop tools including calipers, micrometers, thickness, height, bore, and run-out gauges. This position requires the ability to read and follow specific instructions. This position requires the ability to read blue prints and/or detailed drawings and knowledge and understanding of fabrication tolerances. Your duties will include fabrication, assembly, milling cutting turning of aluminum, stainless steel, brass and steel and the fabrication of complex wood shapes and assemblies. Duties may also include the requirement to weld aluminum and steel. From time to time, you will be required to author accurate reports of product configurations, measurements, shapes and sizes and will be working with powered and manual shop tools and equipment. Your duties will include support of activities outside the machine shop and may include, from time to time work for the Electrical and Chemistry Division, some of which is off site.

Use of personal protective equipment is required. This position requires occasional work outdoors to test consumer products such as fireworks, gasoline powered equipment, playground equipment, etc. This work may generate fumes, pyrotechnic smoke, loud and/or sharp noise that may be repetitive or constant and occurs in weather conditions typical of the climate of the Washington D.C. metropolitan area in any season of the year.

The selectee must possess a valid State driver's license. Use of a privately owned motor vehicle may be required. Moderate physical exertion is required such as lifting and carrying (15-50 lbs) as well as intermittent strenuous activity such as climbing ladders, crawling, kneeling and bending. 

Must be a U.S. Citizen.

This is a Public Trust Position. Employment in this position requires a background investigation. If you are selected and cannot obtain a favorable security determination within a reasonable period of time due to disclosed or undisclosed background issues, the tentative employment offer may be withdrawn.

If you are a male born after December 31, 1959 you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. Please see http://www.sss.gov for more information.

Selectees will be required to complete a "Declaration of Federal Employment", (OF-306), prior to appointment and the appropriate background investigation forms to determine suitability for Federal employment. False statements or responses on these forms can jeopardize your employment opportunity and subject you to disciplinary action, including removal from Federal service.

The selectee will be required to complete a Personal Identity Verification (PIV) process that requires two forms of identification from the I-9 Form. We will compare information provided on the I-9 Form to records available from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The system confirms employee’s identity and eligibility to work in the United States. Learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities.

Upon appointment, you will be required to complete a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report, OGE-450. You will need to provide the information annually.

You are applying under Delegated Examining and if selected under this authority, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period, even if you are a transfer from another federal agency.

Selectee must submit to a drug test and receive negative test results before being appointed. After appointment, you will be subject to random testing for illegal drug use.

All applicants must have 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level in the Federal Service. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped the candidate with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position.

Qualifying specialized experience must demonstrate the following: 

GS-05: Experience with: 1) Fabrication of equipment parts and assemblies to specification using various machine tools and equipment and assist staff with conducting non-routine mechanical tests after determining appropriate equipment and protocols for the objective; AND 2) Perform daily, weekly and monthly maintenance tasks or as required to ensure machine and equipment longevity, including lubrication, cleaning and tool replacement.

GS-06: Experience with: 1) Fabrication of equipment parts and assemblies to specification using various machine tools and equipment and assist staff with conducting routine mechanical tests after determining appropriate equipment and protocols for the objective; 2) Assist staff to determine that fixtures to perform the job are complete are and according to specification; AND 3) Perform daily, weekly and monthly maintenance tasks or as required to ensure machine and equipment longevity, including lubrication, cleaning and tool replacement.

GS-07: Experience with: 1) Fabrication of equipment parts and assemblies to specification using various machine tools and equipment and assist staff with conducting routine mechanical tests after determining appropriate equipment and protocols for the objective; 2) Assist staff to determine that fixtures, attachments and tools necessary to complete jobs are according to specification; AND 3) Perform daily, weekly and monthly maintenance tasks or as required to ensure machine and equipment longevity, including lubrication, cleaning and tool replacement.

GS-08: Experience with: 1) Fabrication of equipment parts and assemblies to specification using various machine tools and equipment and assist staff with conducting routine mechanical tests after determining appropriate equipment and protocols for the objective; 2) Determine that fixtures, attachments and tools necessary to complete jobs are according to specification; AND 3) Perform daily, weekly and monthly maintenance tasks or as required to ensure machine and equipment longevity, including lubrication, cleaning and tool replacement.

GS-09: Experience with: 1) Fabrication of equipment parts and assemblies to specification using various machine tools and equipment and assist staff with conducting non-routine mechanical tests after determining appropriate equipment and protocols for the objective; 2) Determine that fixtures, attachments and tools necessary to complete jobs are according to specification; AND 3) Perform daily, weekly and monthly maintenance tasks or as required to ensure machine and equipment longevity, including lubrication, cleaning and tool replacement.

GS-10: Experience with:1) Fabrication of equipment parts and assemblies to specification with some complexity using various machine tools and equipment and assist staff with conducting non-routine mechanical tests after determining appropriate equipment and protocols for the objective; 2) Determine that fixtures, attachments and tools necessary to complete jobs are according to specification; AND 3) Perform daily, weekly and monthly maintenance tasks or as required to ensure machine and equipment longevity, including lubrication, cleaning and tool replacement.

GS-11: Extensive experience with:1) Fabrication of equipment parts and assemblies to specification with various degrees of complexity using various machine tools and equipment and assist staff with conducting non-routine and complex mechanical tests after determining appropriate equipment and protocols for the objective; 2) Determine that fixtures, attachments and tools necessary to complete jobs are according to specification; AND 3)Perform daily, weekly and monthly maintenance tasks or as required to ensure machine and equipment longevity, including lubrication, cleaning and tool replacement.

Evidence of the above specialized experience must be supported by detailed documentation of duties performed in positions held. Your resume is the key means we have for evaluating your skills, knowledge, and abilities as they relate to this position. Therefore, we encourage you to be clear and specific when describing your experience.

Applicants must meet the qualifications for this position within thirty (30) days of the closing date of this announcement.

For GS-05: A bachelor's degree in: 1) an appropriate field of engineering or the physical sciences; OR 2) another field of study that included 24 semester hours in physics, chemistry, mathematics, other physical sciences or engineering OR a combination of post-high school education and specialized experience OR possess 52 weeks (1 year) of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-04 level in the Federal Service as described in the qualifications section.

For GS-06: A bachelor's degree in: 1) an appropriate field of engineering or the physical sciences; OR 2) another field of study that included 24 semester hours in physics, chemistry, mathematics, other physical sciences or engineering AND 52 weeks (1 year) of specialized experience OR a combination of undergraduate level education and specialized experience OR possess 52 weeks (1 year) of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-05 level in the Federal Service as described in the qualifications section.

For GS-07: One (1) full year of graduate level education in a directly related field OR a combination of graduate level education and specialized experience OR possess 52 weeks (1 year) of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-06 level in the Federal Service as described in the qualifications section.

For GS-08: A combination of graduate level education beyond the first year of progressive graduate study and specialized experience OR possess 52 weeks (1 year) of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-07 level in the Federal Service as described in the qualifications section.

For GS-09: A master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree OR a combination of graduate level education beyond the first year of progressive graduate study and specialized experience OR possess 52 weeks (1 year) of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-08 level in the Federal Service as described in the qualifications section.

For GS-10: All applicants must possess 52 weeks (1 year) of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-09 level in the Federal Service as described in the qualifications section.

For GS-11: All applicants must possess 52 weeks (1 year) of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-10 level in the Federal Service as described in the qualifications section.

If you are qualifying on the basis of education then you MUST submit a copy of their college transcripts with the degree conferred date. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable during the application process. Official transcripts will be required upon appointment.  

All materials must be submitted by the closing date of this announcement.

All education claimed by applicants will be verified.