Engineering Technician

US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Research Service (ARS); Athens (GA); On-site; USD 52,000 - 76,000; Full time

Job summary

The Agricultural Research Service (ARS) in the Southeast Area, Athens, GA, seeks personnel to support all phases of a scientist’s study, including conducting test applications of scientific and technical theories when methods are clearly outlined.

Qualifications include specialized experience for GS-07/08/09 and education in engineering fields. The position emphasizes experience with engineering equipment, data collection, sensor calibration, PLCs, and related instrumentation.

Qualifications

• Specialized experience requirements for GS-07 include one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-06.
• Specialized experience requirements for GS-08 include one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-07.
• Specialized experience requirements for GS-09 include one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-08.
• Education: Two full years of graduate education or a master’s degree directly related to engineering work.

Responsibilities

• Involves assisting with testing, installation, or adjustment of engineering equipment.
• Assists with using instrumentation for collecting research data.
• May involve operating building automation system software and evaluating collected data.

Education

Master's degree in Engineering or related field

Job description

Summary

This position is located within the Agricultural Research Service, Southeast Area, Athens, GA. In this position, you will be involved in almost all phases of the scientist's study and have responsibility for selected phases or conduct test applications of scientific and technical theories when the methods, techniques, and procedures are clearly outlined.

Duties

This position is located within the Agricultural Research Service, Southeast Area, Athens, GA. In this position, you will be involved in almost all phases of the scientist's study and have responsibility for selected phases or conduct test applications of scientific and technical theories when the methods, techniques, and procedures are clearly outlined.

Requirements

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including specialized experience and/or education, as defined below. GS-7

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. GS-7

Specialized Experience

Specialized experience is experience directly related to the position to be filled. Specialized experience must be described for each grade level advertised. The specialized experience requirements for this position are:

Qualifying experience for GS-07 includes one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-06 which is directly related to the work of this position and which has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. For this position, specialized experience is experience assisting with adjusting, installing, or repairing engineering equipment; assisting with using instrumentation for collecting research data. OR One full year of graduate education or a master's degree that is directly related to the work of the position. Related degrees may include Engineering, Agricultural engineering, or Mechanical engineering, or Industrial engineering. OR A combination of graduate education and specialized experience as described above.

Specialized Experience

Specialized experience is experience directly related to the position to be filled. Specialized experience must be described for each grade level advertised. The specialized experience requirements for this position are:

Qualifying experience for GS-08 includes one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-07 which is directly related to the work of this position and which has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. For this position, specialized experience is experience operating building automation system software; adjusting and calibrating temperature sensors and air flow measuring equipment. OR Education: Two full years of graduate education or a master's degree that is directly related to the work of the position. Related degrees may include Engineering, Agricultural engineering, Mechanical engineering, or Industrial engineering. OR A combination of graduate education and specialized experience as described above.

Specialized Experience

Specialized experience is experience directly related to the position to be filled. Specialized experience must be described for each grade level advertised. The specialized experience requirements for this position are:

Qualifying experience for GS-09 includes one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-08 which is directly related to the work of this position and which has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. For this position, specialized experience is experience programming or operating control equipment; operating and troubleshooting PLC's; and evaluating collected data. OR Education: Two full years of graduate education or a master's degree that is directly related to the work of the position. Related degrees may include Engineering, Agricultural engineering, or Mechanical engineering, or Industrial engineering. OR A combination of graduate education and specialized experience as described above.

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). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Agricultural Research Service is the U.S. Department of Agriculture's chief scientific in-house research agency. Our job is finding solutions to agricultural problems that affect Americans every day from field to table. What we do matters in science and the world. For more information about Agricultural Research Service, go to https://www.ars.usda.gov/.