Engineering Technician, GS-0802
Definitions:
EXPERIENCE: One year of work experience is twelve months working full-time (at least 35-40 hours per week). Part-time experience can be pro-rated (i.e., a year at 20 hours per week is credited as 6 months of experience). If your position consisted of mixed duties, experience credit is given for the percentage of time that you spent on qualifying duties (i.e., if you held a position for 2 years, full-time, consisting of 25% personnel work and 75% budget work, and then applied for a budget position you could calculate your experience as follows: 2 yrs = 24 months. 24 months x 75% [percentage of time spent on budget duties] = 18 months of qualifying experience.)
EDUCATION: One year of full-time academic study is 30 semester hours, 45 quarter hours, or the equivalent in a college or university, or at least 20 hours of classroom instruction per week for approximately 36 weeks in a business or technical school. This education must have been successfully completed and obtained in an accredited business, technical school, college or university for which high school graduation or the equivalent was a prerequisite.
GRADUATE EDUCATION: In the absence of specific graduate program information, a year of graduate education is 18 semester hours or 27 quarter hours of graduate level college course work, or the number of credit hours the school attended has determined to represent 1 year of full time study. This education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university.
For GS-08:
Applicants must meet one of the following to qualify for the GS-08 level:
**One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-07 level in the Federal service that is in or related to the duties of the position to be filled and that equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. Examples of occupations that may have provided qualifying specialized experience include: draftsperson, surveying technician, construction estimator, physical science technician, or mathematical technician.
Experience in a trade or craft may be credited as specialized experience when the work provided intensive knowledge of engineering principles, techniques, methods, and precedents. Examples are trade positions with substantial developmental, test, or design responsibilities such as: 1) Planner and estimator who analyzed designs for production purposes; 2) Instrument maker or model maker who performed design or development work on devices fabricated.
Examples of GS-07 level assignments may include: l) performing tests on electrical insulating materials to determine the effect of heat, high voltage, and other conditions; determining temperature range and length of time at each temperature for test specimens; and modifying test equipment; 2) participating in the development of new types of scientific instruments and devices; testing and calibrating competed instruments; 3) preparing layouts, detail, assembly, and installation drawings of equipment of noncritical nature involving a variety of mechanisms, gears, materials, and conditions of use and production. For examples 1-3, the work required independence in selecting, interpreting, and applying appropriate guidelines to resolve operational problems not fully covered by precedents; developing revisions to standard work methods and procedures; and taking actions or making recommendations based on preliminary interpretation of data or results of analysis. If the work was new or significantly different than previously accomplished, instructions as to work methods and closer than normal guidance was provided.
**OR applicants may substitute successful completion of 1 & 1/2 years of progressively higher level graduate education (27 semester hours, 40.5 quarter hours or the equivalent) in engineering or other field of study directly related to the work of this position for the required 1 year of specialized experience if it provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the work of this position.
**OR applicants may substitute a combination of appropriate specialized experience (as described above) and appropriate graduate level education (as described above) that is beyond the first year of progressive graduate study to meet the qualification requirements. (CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS ON HOW TO COMBINE GRADUATE EDUCATION & SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE)
For GS-09:
Applicants must meet one of the following to qualify for the GS-09 level:
**At least 1-year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-08 level in the Federal service. Examples of GS-08 level assignments may include: conducting tests of equipment, components, and parts under a variety of simulated environmental conditions (temperature, humidity, shock, vibration, sand, etc.); setting up tests which include devising procedures to meet special one-time requirements of experimental models; adapting and modifying varied test instruments and accessories used in testing of mechanical functioning of items; investigating unusual occurrences; determining if cause is the result of a test fault or the material being tested; recommending changes to test procedures to eliminate test faults; recommending solutions to problems of components failure and marginal operating characteristics; preparing plans, specifications, and cost estimates for modification of interior electrical systems of small conventional buildings and structures to adapt to major alterations or changes in use; selecting and applying appropriate criteria, standards, and formulas and determining loads, sizes, controls, materials, locations, design details, clearances, etc.
**OR Two years of progressively higher level graduate education (36 semester hours, 54 quarter hours or the equivalent) leading to a master's degree or possession of a master's degree in engineering or other field of study directly related to the work of this position.
**OR A combination of appropriate specialized experience (as described above) and appropriate graduate level education (as described above) that is beyond the first 1-1/2 years of progressive graduate study to meet the qualification requirements. (CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS ON HOW TO COMBINE GRADUATE EDUCATION & SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE).(CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS ON HOW TO COMBINE GRADUATE EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE)