Electronic Technician

Full Job Description

This position is located in the National Weather Service (NWS), Weather Forecast Office (WFO) with vacancies in each listed location.

WFOs issue warnings and forecasts for their local area, keeping the public informed of weather hazards and interacting with emergency management partners to mitigate the impacts of weather and water hazards.

As an Electronics Technician, you will directly contribute to the WFO teams by providing highly specialized support for scientific and engineering operations.

Qualification requirements in the vacancy announcements are based on the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards Handbook, which contains federal qualification standards.

This handbook is available on the Office of Personnel Management's website located at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/ EDUCATION: There is no positive education requirement for this position.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to the next lower grade level in the Federal Service.

Specialized experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular competencies/knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position.

This experience need not have been in the federal government.

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.

To qualify at the GS-08 level: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 in the Federal service.

Specialized experience MUST include all of the following: Assisting in the maintenance of electronic systems and equipment.

To qualify at the GS-09 level: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-08 in the Federal service.

Specialized experience MUST include all of the following: Assisting in operating and maintaining a wide range of electronic systems and equipment; and Assisting in the testing of field equipment.

OR SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION: Master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree in electrical engineering, electronics engineering, or electronics technology.

OR COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: A combination of successfully completed graduate-level education and specialized experience may be used to meet the total experience requirements.

Note: Only graduate education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade may be combined with experience.

To qualify at the GS-10 level: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 in the Federal service.

Specialized experience MUST include all of the following: Assisting in installing, operating, and maintaining a wide range of electronic, electro-mechanical, data acquisition, communications equipment or computer systems; and Testing field equipment.

To qualify at the GS-11 level: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-10 in the Federal service.

Specialized experience MUST include all of the following: Installing, operating, and maintaining a wide range of electronic, electro-mechanical, data acquisition, communications equipment or computer systems; and Planning and conducting testing of field equipment.

Major Duties:

As an Electronics Technician, you will perform the following duties: Perform technical services including maintenance, troubleshooting, installation, operation and testing of a full range of electronic systems.

Develop and devise improvements and alterations to complex technical equipment, instruments or software, including modifying and conducting complex tests and analyzing the results.

Provide support monitoring, operating, and maintaining site's computer systems. Serve as the technical focal point for maintenance on systems and equipment for assigned local and remote areas.

NOTE: These duties are described at the full performance level of the GS-11; the GS-08, GS-09, and GS-10 are developmental leading to such performance.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT: The work requires some physical exertion, such as long periods of standing, recurring bending, crouching, stooping or the lifting of moderately heavy objects.

Required to work in cramped or confined areas; handle tools, equipment and testing devices up to 40 lbs. and climb equipment ladders, towers, stairs, etc.

Work involves regular and recurring moderate risks that may require the use of special safety precautions or devices.

The incumbent works around machines, moving parts and other potentially hazardous items.

Must be able to work in potentially hazardous conditions such as power generators, machinery, obstructed work areas, high noise levels, inclement weather conditions and high voltage.

Required to operate a motorized and specialized vehicle to perform site equipment maintenance.

On occasion, must work over time to meet work schedule requirements and resolve issues that could affect public safety. Valid, current state driver's license is required.