Basic Qualifications:

• A. Degree: Engineering. To be acceptable, the program must: (1) lead to a bachelor's degree in a school of engineering with at least one program accredited by 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:

1. Professional registration or licensure -- Current registration as an Engineer Intern (EI), Engineer in Training (EIT), or licensure as a Professional Engineer (PE) by any State, the District of Columbia, Guam, or Puerto Rico. Absent other means of qualifying under this standard, those applicants who achieved such registration by means other than written test (e.g., State grandfather or eminence provisions) are eligible only for positions that are within or closely related to the specialty field of their registration. For example, an applicant who attains registration through a State Board's eminence provision as a manufacturing engineer typically would be rated eligible only for manufacturing engineering positions.
2. Written Test -- Evidence of having successfully passed the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE)2 examination or any other written test required for professional registration by an engineering licensure board in the various States, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico.
3. Specified academic courses -- Successful completion of at least 60 semester hours of courses in the physical, mathematical, and engineering sciences and that included the courses specified in the basic requirements under paragraph A. The courses must be fully acceptable toward meeting the requirements of an engineering program as described in paragraph A.
4. Related curriculum -- Successful completion of a curriculum leading to a bachelor's degree in an appropriate scientific field, e.g., engineering technology, physics, chemistry, architecture, computer science, mathematics, hydrology, or geology, may be accepted in lieu of a bachelor's degree in engineering, provided the applicant has had at least 1 year of professional engineering experience acquired under professional engineering supervision and guidance. Ordinarily there should be either an established plan of intensive training to develop professional engineering competence, or several years of prior professional engineering-type experience, e.g., in interdisciplinary positions. (The above examples of related curricula are not all-inclusive.)

Minimum Qualifications:

• GS-11:
  • At least 3 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree OR
  • At least 1 year of specialized experience, equivalent to the GS-09 grade level in the Federal service, to include experience monitoring day-to-day performance of a contract by reviewing drawings for accuracy and adequacy; evaluating requests for design deviations, and/or conducted site surveys to determine the need for new equipment or material; and/or preparing civil engineering design criteria for projects OR
  • A combination of education & experience
• GS-12:
  • At least 1 year of specialized experience, equivalent to the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service, to include experience preparing engineering designs, project plans and specifications for infrastructure projects; managing infrastructure programs for dams, bridges, pavements, and other systems that involve recurring inspections; and implementing multi-year programs to repair, restore, upgrade, and expand systems
• GS-13:
  • At least 1 year of specialized experience, equivalent to the GS-12 grade level in the Federal service, to include experience producing detailed designs, drawings, and construction documentation; assessing, and providing advice on concrete and reinforcing designs, engineering drawings, hydraulic designs, and soil and foundation mechanics; and anticipating, evaluating, and resolving problems and issues affecting the quality, scheduling, budgeting, or progress of work performed in completing projects
• GS-14:
  • At least 1 year of specialized experience, equivalent to the GS-13 grade level in the Federal service, to include experience designing, reviewing and/or approving civil design features of assigned project; preparing feasibility and engineering studies; and reviewing and interpreting engineering data, criteria, and policy and regulations pertinent to civil engineering designing and construction
• GS-15:
  • At least 1 year of specialized experience, equivalent to the GS-14 grade level in the Federal service, to include experience extending and modifying engineering existing techniques; developing new approaches for use by other technical experts in providing structurally sound and secure facilities and infrastructure; and providing advice and guidance on engineering problems and technical expertise covering modifications

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, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Promotion potential: Promotion to the next grade level is at management's discretion and is based on your meeting qualifications and time-in-grade requirements, demonstrated ability to perform the higher-level duties, the continuing need for the higher-level duties, and administrative approval. Promotion to the next grade level is not guaranteed and no promise of promotion is implied.