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Mechanical Engineer - GS5 to GS12

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District
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Duties

Summary

  • This is a Direct Hire Authority (DHA) solicitation utilizing the DHA for Certain Personnel of DoD Workforce to recruit and appoint qualified candidates to positions in the competitive service.
  • About the Position: The St. Paul District Engineering and Construction Division (E&C) designs water resource projects. These projects support inland navigation, flood risk management, and environmental restoration. The E&C also provides emergency response to disasters.
Salary
  • $39,149 to $108,306 per year
  • Salary range represents the lowest entry level through the highest, full performance level. Special rates for grades 05 to 09 may apply.

Responsibilities

  • Responsibilities vary based on grade levels leading to the GS-12 grade responsibilities listed below. Selections may be made at the GS-5 through GS-12 grade levels.
  • Position and grade level selected for will depend on applicant's qualifications and agency needs.
  • Plans and designs mechanical concepts for civil works projects.
  • Prepares mechanical engineering work required for general design memorandums, feature design memorandum, and plans and specifications concerning navigation, flood control, and multi-purpose water resources projects.
  • Develops technical specifications of the mechanical features for all construction projects, hired labor, and supply contracts administered by the District.
  • Prepares or directs preparation of mechanical engineering designs involving elements of a complex nature such as machine loadings, power requirements and size, type and layout of equipment for flood control and navigation projects.
  • Prepares cost estimates of the mechanical features for proposed construction projects and coordinates with the Cost Engineer.
  • Performs periodic mechanical maintenance inspection of existing structures, such as locks and dams, within the District and recommends repairs or preventive maintenance necessary for proper upkeep.

Travel Required

  • 25% or less - You may be expected to travel 25% or less for this position.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • Appointment may be subject to a suitability or fitness determination, as determined by a completed background investigation.
  • A signed mobility agreement is required for selection at the GS-5 and GS-7 grade levels.
  • The following MAY be paid or offered: travel and relocation expenses, recruitment incentive, and/or student loan repayment.
  • Promotion progression to the target position is contingent upon satisfactory completion of training requirements and continuous satisfactory performance.
  • A trial or probationary period may be required.

Qualifications

  • Who May Apply: US Citizens
  • In order to qualify, you must meet the education and/or experience requirements described below. 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). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application. Additional information about transcripts is in this document.
  • Basic Education Requirement for Mechanical Engineer:
  • A. Degree: Bachelor's degree (or higher degree) in engineering. To be acceptable, the program must: (1) lead to a bachelor's degree (or higher degree) in a school of engineering with at least one program accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (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 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, Written Test, Specified academic courses, and/or Related curriculum. Please see the following link for more detail: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0800/files/all-professional-engineering-positions-0800.pdf.

  • Applications will also be accepted from applicants who will graduate within 9 months of application.

  • In addition to meeting the basic requirement above, to qualify for this position you must also meet the specialized experience listed below:

  • GS-05: Applicants that meet the basic requirement listed above are qualified for this grade level.

  • GS-07: One year of specialized experience which includes performing engineering duties of limited scope in knowledge of work processes, apply standard mechanical engineering practices; identify problem; and analyze, interpret and mechanical engineering rules and procedures; and familiarity with other engineering disciplines. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the second lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-05).
  • OR
  • Education: One full year of graduate level education in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position.
  • OR
  • Superior Academic Achievement. In order to be creditable under this provision, Superior Academic Achievement must have been gained in a curriculum that is qualifying for the position to be filled, such as that identified in Education above. Superior Academic Achievement is based on:(1) Class Standing - Applicants must be in the upper third of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision, such as the College of Liberal Arts or the School of Business Administration, based on completed courses; OR(2) Grade-Point Average (G.P.A.) - Applicants must have a grade-point average of either (a) 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B" or better) as recorded on your official transcript, or as computed based on 4 years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum; or (b) 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B+" or better) based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field or the required courses in the major field completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum.; OR(3) Honor Society Membership - Applicants may be considered eligible based on membership in one of the approved national scholastic honor societies listed by the Association of College Honor Societies (https://www.achsnatl.org/).

  • GS-09: One year of specialized experience which includes performing routine and recurring mechanical engineering duties; uses typical engineering calculations; selects appropriate approach to solve routine problems and recommends course of action; analyze, interpret and apply mechanical engineering rules and procedures; and familiarity with other engineering disciplines. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the second lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-07).
  • OR
  • Education: Master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position.

  • GS-11: One year of specialized experience which includes engineering duties concerned with the design, installation, and inspection of complex mechanical equipment and systems for construction activities; investigating and analyzing any of a variety of problems or conditions.
  • OR
  • Education: Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position.

  • Grades 07 through 11 may use a combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) beyond the second year (total graduate semester hours minus 36) by 18. Add the two percentages.

  • GS-12: One year of specialized experience which includes 1). Applying the latest advanced mechanical engineering design and construction techniques to develop design plans and specifications for all types of structures and buildings; 2). Experience using computer aided design and building information modeling software; 3). Develop design plans and specifications for complex construction, renovation or maintenance projects; 4). Reviewing engineering designs and shop drawings and prepare responses for construction requests for information; Interpret engineering guidelines and apply to designs; 5). Utilize various forms of technical design/evaluation software to prepare energy modeling and life cycle cost analysis calculations and database management. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-11).