MACHINIST LEADER (EXPERT)

DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY (DON); San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 41,000 - 69,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bargaining unit

Job summary

DEPARTMENT OF NAVY (DON) seeks an Expert Machinist Leader to guide a skilled team in machining marine components and to mentor workers across locations including Portsmouth, Puget Sound, Norfolk, and Pearl Harbor shipyards. The role emphasizes leadership, safety, and process improvement in a high‑demand shop environment.

The position is full-time with few remote options and involves travel to CONUS sites. Candidates must be U.S. citizens and able to obtain necessary clearances and certifications.

Qualifications

• Ability to lead or supervise a team of machinists and ensure quality workmanship.
• Ability to train and mentor less skilled employees and discuss viable alternatives.
• Commitment to safety rules, housekeeping, and process improvements.

Responsibilities

• Inspect completed and in-process work for quality and adherence to specifications.
• Train and mentor less skilled employees; demonstrate proper work methods.
• Plan, operate, and troubleshoot equipment to manufacture/overhaul marine components.

Skills

Machinist leadership

Mentoring

Quality inspection

Safety compliance

Tools

Machining equipment

CNC machining

Job description

Summary

You will serve as a MACHINIST LEADER (EXPERT) in the DEPARTMENT OF NAVY to include work sites of Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Norfolk Naval Shipyard, and Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility. This position is located in Shop 31. Applicants will only be considered for positions within their own UIC. For example: If you are within UIC 4523A, you will only be considered for positions within 4523A.

Overview

Open & closing dates
10/14/2025 to 10/13/2026

Salary: $30.11 to – $50.37 per hour Salary Information is Listed in the Additional Information Section.

Locations and Vacancies

Many vacancies available.

• Point Loma Complex, San Diego, CA
• San Diego, CA
• Pearl Harbor Naval Base, Oahu, HI
• Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, ME
• Philadelphia, PA
• Naval Shipyard, Portsmouth, VA
• Bremerton, WA
• Everett, WA

Remote

No

Telework Eligible

No

Travel Required

Occasional travel – You may be expected to travel for this position.

Relocation Expenses Reimbursed

Yes—Relocation expenses (i.e. PCS) or relocation incentives as described in 5 USC 5753 may be authorized in accordance with applicable travel regulations.

Appointment Type

Multiple

Work Schedule

Full-time

Service

Competitive, Promotion potential: None

Job Family (Series)

3414 Machining

Supervisory Status

No

Security Clearance

Other

Drug Test

No

Financial Disclosure

No

Bargaining Unit Status

Yes – This is a bargaining unit position.

Announcement Number

ST-12814175-26-ZP

Control Number

847995300

Duties

• You will inspects completed and in process work for quality of workmanship and adherence to requirements, specifications, standards, plans and schedules.
• You will train and mentor less skilled employees. Demonstrate proper work methods and discuss viable alternatives, considerations, etc.
• You will perform research to continually improve trade processes and keeps shop personnel apprised of new technologies, procedures, best practices, and tooling improvements.
• You will assure safety and housekeeping rules are followed.
• You will plan, operate, and troubleshoot various types of equipment utilized to manufacture and overhaul marine components from start to post-work review.
• You will pass instructions received from supervisors and provides overview of tasks to be performed to other workers.
• You will serve as an Expert Machinist leading a group to ensure work assignments are completed.

Conditions of Employment

• Must be a US Citizen.
• Must be determined suitable for federal employment.
• Must participate in the direct deposit pay program.
• New employees to the Department of the Navy will be required to successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit e-verify.gov
• Within the Department of Defense (DoD), the appointment of retired military members within 180 days immediately following retirement date to a civilian position is subject to the provisions of 5 United States Code 3326.
• Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service.
• This is a bargaining unit position.
• You will be required to successfully complete a pre-appointment physical examination and complete annual physicals.
• You will be required to obtain and maintain an interim and/or final security clearance prior to entrance on duty. Failure to obtain and maintain the required level of clearance may result in the withdrawal of a job offer or removal.
• You will be required to complete training, obtain, and maintain a government credit card for travel and travel-related purchases.
• You will be required to wear personal protective equipment such as helmets, gloves, coveralls, glasses, goggles, respirators and safety shoes continuously for the duration of the work shift.
• Work is performed in areas where potentially harmful physical and chemical agents are present (e.g. fumes, dust, heat, ionizing and non-ionizing radiation and chemicals). You will be required to participate in medical surveillance programs.
• This position may require travel from normal duty station to CONUS and OCONUS and may include remote or isolated sites. You must be able to travel on military and commercial aircraft for extended periods of time.
• This is a Mission Essential position. You will be required to ensure organization or facility continuity of operations and/or completion of tasks that are considered essential to the mission designated by a local or command decision.
• Work is performed in shops and aboard ships and submarines which requires working from uncomfortable and cramped positions which involve stooping, bending, kneeling, reaching and climbing ladders.
• This position requires the ability to lift and carry items weighing up to 60 pounds.
• This position is subject to work an uncommon tour, including nights, weekends, and holidays to meet mission requirements. Overtime or night differential pay and/or unusual duty hours may be required.
• This position requires rotating shift work.
• This may be a Drug Testing position. If so, successful completion of a pre-employment drug test (including marijuana) is required.
• A tentative offer of employment will be rescinded if you fail to report to the drug test appointment or fail the test. You may be subject to random drug testing.

Qualifications

Although a specific length of time and experience is not required for most trade and labor occupations, you must show through experience and training that you possess the quality level of knowledge and skill necessary to perform the duties of the position at the level for which you are applying. Qualification requirements emphasis is on quality of experience, not necessarily the length of time.

Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the job elements and screen out listed below.

This job has a screen-out element which will be used to determine minimum eligibility for this job. Applicants who do not receive a minimum of two points on the screen-out element(s) will be found ineligible. The Screen-out Element for this position is: ABILITY TO LEAD OR SUPERVISE.

Applicants must meet the requirements of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Job Qualification Handbook for Trades and Labor Occupations. Additional qualification information can be found at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/federal-wage-system-qualifications/#url=List-of-Approved-Job-Elements

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., professional, philanthropic, religious, spiritual, community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment.

Education

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Additional Information

Salary is based on geographical location and is subject to change with the annual local wage surveys in accordance with the provisions of 5 CFR Part 532 for all employees whose official duty station is located within the geographic boundary of the wage area definition. For more information please visit: https://wageandsalary.dcpas.osd.mil/BWN/AFWageSchedules/

SALARY:
Puget Sound Naval Shipyard:
WA: https://wageandsalary.dcpas.osd.mil/Content/FWS Special Schedules/MS_A143_143_Seattle_Everett_Tacoma,Washington.pdf

CA: https://wageandsalary.dcpas.osd.mil/Content/FWS Special Schedules/AM_A017_017_San_Diego,California.pdf

Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility:
https://wageandsalary.dcpas.osd.mil/Content/AF Schedules/survey-sch/044/044R-06Aug2024.pdf

Portsmouth Naval Shipyard:
ME: https://wageandsalary.dcpas.osd.mil/Content/AF Schedules/survey-sch/087/087R-02Jan2025.pdf

CA: https://wageandsalary.dcpas.osd.mil/Content/AF Schedules/survey-sch/017/017R-02Jan2025.pdf

Norfolk Naval Shipyard:
VA: https://wageandsalary.dcpas.osd.mil/Content/AF Schedules/survey-sch/140/140R-09Jul2024.pdf

PA: https://wageandsalary.dcpas.osd.mil/Content/AF Schedules/survey-sch/115/115R-02Jan2025.pdf

This position is covered by the Department of Defense Priority Placement Program.

Additional vacancies may be filled by this announcement.

A tentative offer of employment will be rescinded if the selectee fails to meet the pre‑employment requirements, including failure to report to any of the scheduled appointments.

If you are unable to apply online and request information about the Alternate Application process, please contact the Department of Navy’s Employment Information Center.

Temporary promotions may be extended up to 5 years at the discretion of management and in accordance with applicable regulations.

Temporary actions taken under this announcement may be made permanent without further competition.

Temporary actions taken under this announcement may be terminated at any time before the established not‑to‑exceed date.

Certain incentives (such as Recruitment, Relocation or Student Loan Repayment) may be authorized to eligible selectees.

A relocation incentive is generally a single payment intended to offset some of the relocation costs experienced by the selectee.

relocation incentive may be authorized.

Applicants rated ineligible on this vacancy announcement need to reapply and update their application package to be considered on future vacancies filled through this announcement.

Applicants selected and hired through this vacancy announcement need to reapply to be considered on future vacancies filled through this announcement.

Referral lists will be issued on an as‑needed basis as vacancies occur.

All eligibility and qualifications must be met by the referral cut‑off date.

PPP applicants will be placed at the FPL, if determined Well Qualified (WQ). To receive priority consideration, the FPL must be the same grade level or equivalent of the retained grade or the grade held immediately prior to separation.

Federal annuitant information: The selection of an annuitant is subject to the Department of Defense and Department of the Navy policy on the employment of annuitants. Policy information may be found at: http://www.secnav.navy.mil/donhr/Documents/CivilianJobs/FedCivAnnuitants.pdf

Benefits

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. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Review our benefits
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.

Required Documents

You are required to provide documentation that supports the eligibility and qualification claims made in your resume and assessment questionnaire. Applicants who do not provide supporting documentation that fully support their claims will not be referred to the hiring manager. Cover letter is optional.

A complete resume is required. Resumes are restricted to no more than 2 pages. Illegible/unreadable resumes will not be considered. Your resume must show relevant experience, job title, duties and accomplishments. Your resume must show complete information for each job entry to support minimum qualifications. The following information should be provided in your resume, but it is acceptable to provide elsewhere in your application package: employer’s name, starting and end dates (Mo/Yr), hours per week if experience was less than full time (35-40 hours per week), and pay plan, series and grade level (e.g. GS-0201-09) for relevant federal experience. TIP: A good way to ensure you include all essential information is to use the Resume Builder in USAJOBS to create your resume.

Are you claiming membership in any professional organizations, or possession of a license, certificate or credentials? Check the Conditions of Employment section above to see if any are required. If you claim membership, license, certification, or credentials, you must submit a copy of said document in your application package.

Are you using education as a substitute for some or all of the experience requirement? Is there a basic education requirement for this position? Check the Education section above to see what is allowed and what is required. Any claims