ENGINEERING TECHNICIAN (MATERIALS).

US Army Corps of Engineers; Champaign (IL); On-site; USD 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers seeks a skilled laboratory professional to execute advanced NDT, adhesion testing, and detailed imaging to assess material degradation and corrosion resistance.

You will evaluate coatings, review contractor submittals for compliance with AMPP/NACE/SSPC standards, and study real-world performance under diverse environmental conditions. You will coordinate multidisciplinary research tasks as a team lead, mentoring junior technicians and interns in safety protocols

Qualifications

• Specialized experience overseeing laboratory operations in paint tech or corrosion centers.
• Verification of compliance with industrial standards (AMPP, NACE, SSPC).
• Leading forensic failure analysis to identify causes of defects or corrosion.

Responsibilities

• Execute advanced NDT and adhesion testing to analyze material degradation.
• Evaluate coating systems and review contractor submittals for compliance.
• Assess real-world performance of materials and mold-mitigation tech in diverse environments.
• Coordinate workflows as team lead for multidisciplinary research tasks.
• Mentor and train junior technicians and interns in safety and data management.
• Maintain and operate the research laboratory ensuring a safe, productive environment.

Skills

NDT

Adhesion testing

Microscopy

Coatings eval

Team lead

Mentorship

Safety training

Job description

Duties

• Execute advanced Non-Destructive Testing (NDT), pull-off adhesion testing, holiday detection, and detailed microscope imaging to analyze material degradation and validate corrosion resistance
• Evaluate complex coating systems and review contractor submittals to enforce strict compliance with industry specifications (e.g., AMPP, NACE, SSPC).
• Evaluate real-world performance of applied materials and mold-mitigation technologies in diverse environmental conditions.
• Coordinate workflows as a team lead for multidisciplinary research teams, managing the concurrent completion of complex research tasks.
• Mentor, train, and schedule junior technicians and collegiate interns in advanced laboratory safety, testing protocols, and data management
• Maintain responsibility for the organization, maintenance, and daily operations of the research laboratory, ensuring a safe and productive working environment.

Requirements

• Appointment may be subject to a suitability or fitness determination, as determined by a completed background investigation.
• Business Travel is 25% or less.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a Top Secret security clearance.
• This position is covered by the Civilian Drug Abuse Testing Program. Incumbent is required to sign a DA Form 5019-R, or a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).
• One year probationary period may be required.

Qualifications

Who May Apply

• Current Civilian Employees of the Command
• Domestic Defense Industrial Base/Major Range and Test Facilities Base Civilian Personnel Workforce
• Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan
• Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act
• Military Spouses, under Executive Order (E.O.) 13473
• Priority Placement Program, DoD Military Reserve (MR) and National Guard (NG) Technician Eligible
• Priority Placement Program, DoD Military Spouse Preference (MSP) Eligible
• Priority Placement Program, DoD MR and NG Preference Eligible Tech Receiving Disability Retirement
• Priority Placement Program, DoD Retained Grade Preference Eligible
• Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA) of 1998

In order to qualify, you must meet the 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

Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience which includes Overseeing high-visibility laboratory operations in support of a Paint Technology Center; Verifying compliance for industrial standards; and Leading forensic failure analysis in order to identify causes of various defects and/or structural corrosion. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service DE-02 (GS-7).

Some federal jobs allow you to substitute your education for the required experience in order to qualify. For this job, you must meet the qualification requirement using experience alone--no substitution of education for experience is permitted.

Time in Grade Requirement: Applicants who have held a General Schedule (GS) position within the last 52 weeks must have 52 weeks of Federal service at the next lower grade or equivalent DE-02 (GS-07).

• All qualification requirements, including time after competitive appointment, must be met within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.
• This announcement MAY be used to fill like vacancies for six months after the closing date.
• For Lab Demo Positions: In accordance with the Federal Register Vol. 63, No. 57, dates March 25, 1998, an employee of the Laboratory Demonstration project must have a current average performance score of 2.5 or above in order to be selected for promotion. All applicants currently employed under a Laboratory Demonstration Project must include their most recent performance appraisal score as part of their electronic resume. If you are a Lab Demo employee submitting your resume for the first time, or if you have previously submitted your resume without your most recent score, you must submit your resume now with the following statement to be included in the section on your training: Current Performance Rating.

Additional information

• Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must complete a Pre-Employment Certification Statement for Selective Service Registration.
• You will be required to provide proof of U.S. Citizenship.
• This position requires a 1 year probationary period during which the agency evaluates your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In making this determination, the agency may consider your performance and conduct; agency needs and interests; whether your continued employment supports organizational or Government goals; and whether it promotes the efficiency of the Federal service. Continued employment requires written certification that it advances the public interest.
• Direct deposit of pay is required.
• Selection is subject to restrictions resulting from Department of Defense referral system for displaced employees.
• If you have retired from federal service and you are interested in employment as a reemployed annuitant, see the information in the
• This is an Engineers and Scientists (Non-Construction) Career Program position aligned under the Construction, Analysis, Science, Infrastructure & Engineers (CASIE) Career Management Directorate.
• Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement.
• Salary includes applicable locality pay or Local Market Supplement.
• Payment of Permanent Change of Station (PCS) costs is not authorized, based on a determination that a PCS move is not in the Government interest.
• This position is Non-Exempt from the Fair Labor Standards Act.
• Eligible for situation telework only, including emergency and OPM prescribed "Unscheduled Telework'
• Nepotism: Under the provisions of 5 USC 3110, an individual may not be appointed into a position if the position is under the supervisory chain of command of a relative.

Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests:

Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments here:

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding.

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.