MECHANICAL ENGINEERING TECHNICIAN

U.S. Fleet Forces Command; Portsmouth (VA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. Fleet Forces Command seeks a Mechanical Engineering Technician in the Metrology Engineering Section (137.3) of Norfolk Naval Shipyard. The role involves devising new testing methods, interfacing with customers, assisting engineers in the lab, and preparing calibration reports and technical analyses.

Responsibilities include applying physics and calculus to evaluation procedures, and advising on equipment selection. This is a federal, bargaining unit position with pre-employment requirements.

Qualifications

• Experience applying ingenuity and creative problem‑solving to develop and implement improved solutions.
• Interface with customers to identify, analyze, and resolve operational deficiencies.
• Assist engineers in the laboratory by evaluating unclear documentation and selecting references.
• Perform mathematical computations and technical calculations for test data validation.
• Prepare reports and calibration certificates in accordance with standards.
• Communicate technical information clearly with supervisors, engineers, technicians, and customers.

Responsibilities

• Devise new ways to accomplish objectives using ingenuity.
• Interface with the customer to resolve operational deficiencies and advise on equipment selection.
• Assist engineers in laboratory documentation decisions when references are unclear or incomplete.
• Prepare technical reports, procedures, test results, and recommendations.
• Apply physics and calculus to testing and evaluation procedures.
• Contribute to design and reconfiguration of testing procedures using metrological methods.

Skills

Ingenuity

Customer interfacing

Lab support

Math computations

Technical reporting

Communication

Job description

Summary

You will serve as a MECHANICAL ENGINEERING TECHNICIAN in the Metrology Engineering Section (137.3) of NORFOLK NAVAL SHIPYARD.

Duties

• You will utilize ingenuity and creative thinking in devising new ways to accomplish objectives.
• You will interface with the customer to resolve unique operational deficiencies and advise the customer on proper equipment selection and operation.
• You will provide assistance to the engineers in the laboratory in determining which references to use in cases where specified equipment documentation is unclear or incomplete.
• You will prepare technical reports, outlines, test procedures, detailed procedures, interpretative evaluations, analysis and validation of test data, results, conclusion and recommendations.
• You will implement knowledge of physics, mathematics, including algebra and trigonometry, analytical geometry and calculus.
• You will apply mechanical/metrological engineering theories, processes and practices to design, develop, and reconfigure testing and evaluation procedures.

Requirements

• 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
• Generally, current federal employees applying for GS jobs must serve at least one year at the next lower grade level. This requirement is called time-in-grade. Time-in-grade requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.
• 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 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 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.
• You will be required to climb ladders and scaffolding.
• You will be required to successfully complete a pre-appointment physical examination.

Qualifications

Your resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-10 grade level or pay band in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private or public sector. Specialized experience must demonstrate the following:

• Experience applying ingenuity and creative problem-solving techniques to develop and implement new or improved solutions to achieve objectives.
• Experience Interfacing with customers to identify, analyze, and resolve unique operational deficiencies.
• Experience providing assistance to engineers within the laboratory by evaluating unclear, incomplete, or conflicting documentation and determining appropriate references to ensure accurate testing.
• Experience performing mathematical computations and technical calculations required to generate, validate, and analyze test data, ensuring accurate results.
• Experience preparing reports and certificates of calibration in accordance with standards.
• Experience communicating technical information both orally and in writing with supervisors, engineers, technicians, and with customers to resolve issues.

Additional qualification information can be found from the following Office of Personnel Management website:

https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0800/engineering-technical-series-0802/

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

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.

During the application process you will have the ability to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions in the local commuting area. Depending on the hiring organization and the position being filled, job requirements (e.g., security clearance, travel, drug testing, financial disclosure filing, bargaining unit status, etc.) may vary. Other hiring managers filling similar positions may offer relocation expense reimbursement and/or may offer recruitment incentives for new employees, depending on funding availability and in accordance with policy. If you opt-in and are referred on a certificate, your resume will be available to other hiring managers for 180-days from the date the job announcement closes. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.

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

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.

ICTAP Applicants:

To be considered well-qualified and exercise selection priority as an ICTAP candidate, displaced Federal employees must satisfy all qualification requirements for the position and receive a rating in the highly qualified category (score 85) or higher. ICTAP candidates must provide copies of all of the following documentation at the time of application: 1) agency notice; 2) most recent performance appraisal; and 3) most recent SF-50 or notification of personnel action that includes position, grade level, and duty location. Applicants who do not provide this documentation will not receive consideration as an ICTAP candidate. For more information about ICTAP eligibility please review the following link: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/unique-hiring-paths/federal-employees/career-transition/

Military Spouse Preference applicants

will be placed at the highest grade for which they have applied and are determined Best Qualified (BQ). A BQ military spouse possesses knowledge, skills, abilities, and competencies comparable to others who meet the competitive referral criteria for the specific position.

Candidate Statement

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.

Benefits Information

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.