Engineering Technician

Full Job Description

The position is at the full performance level and is located within the Engineering Service area of operations located at the St. Cloud VA Medical Center, physically located in St. Cloud, MN.

The incumbent of this position performs a variety of work requiring application of extensive technical knowledge involving various established engineering methods, procedures, techniques, and practices.

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 04/06/2026.

Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

For a GS-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-10 grade level (or equivalent). The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service.

An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials.

If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement.

In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade.

You may qualify based on your experience as described below: This position has an Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR): This series covers technical positions supervising, leading, or performing work involving applying a practical knowledge of the: Methods and techniques of engineering or architecture; and Construction, application, properties, operations, and limitations of engineering systems, processes, structures, machinery, devices, and materials.

Specialized Experience: Examples of qualifying specialized experience include technical work in: drafting, surveying construction estimating, physical science, mathematics, aerospace, architecture, chemicals, electrical or mechanical systems, mining, petroleum, or nuclear systems.

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: Planner and estimator who analyzed designs for production purposes.

Instrument maker or model maker who performed design or development work on devices fabricated.

OR, Certification: Engineering technicians may be certified by the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies, an organization sponsored by the National Society of Professional Engineers.

Certification by the Institute will be helpful as a measure of the technician's quality of experience.

In addition to the Individual Occupational Requirements, applicants must meet the below Specialized Experience: Minimum Qualification GS-11: Specialized Experience: You must have one (1) year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-10 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization.

Examples of specialized experience would typically include what is stated above in the IOR, but also includes and is not limited to: providing engineering services associated with contracting and construction; establishing scope of work and design criteria; completing estimates of design time and costs, plans, and/or specifications; and reviewing and checking technical aspects such as drawings, specifications, quantities, costs, accuracy, completeness, and conformity with requirements for planned projects.

Preferred Experience: Project Manager/Engineering Technician/Construction Control Representative performing tasks and acquired experience within the Healthcare Design/Construction Discipline.

Experience related to design and/or construction contracts of 3 or more years in a healthcare setting.

Physical Requirements/Conditions: Most of the work is performed indoors in a well-lit, temperature and sound controlled office setting.

However, incumbent may be exposed to the hazards of weather, dirt, dust etc. associated with construction settings while making "on-site" inspections of assigned projects.

Incumbent must be physically able to climb, crawl, walk, stoop, sit and stand to perform assigned duties.

Incumbent is also expected to comply with all safety codes and other practices described in the Engineering and Medical Center Safety Manuals.

Work Environment/Conditions: Most of the work is indoors in a well-lighted, temperature and sound controlled office setting.

However, incumbent may be exposed to the hazards of tripping, falling, shock, burns, dust, fluids, chemicals and/or a variety of diseases when making "on-site" inspections.

Incumbent must comply with all safety codes and other practices described in the Engineering Service and Medical Center Safety Manuals.

For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

Major Duties:

Major duties include but not limited to: Design and Development of Projects: Reviews the needs of the medical center and makes recommendations as to the scope of the work (SOW).

Plans, develops and supervise complex projects involving highly sophisticated medical equipment installation.

Develop and draw various items such as preliminary sketches, plot utility plans, maps, architectural plans, electrical schematics, and plumbing plans, using a Computer Aided Design (CAD) system.

Project Management: Serves as project manager for construction projects and leases. Prepare and oversee production of plans, specifications, estimates, and schedules for complex projects.

Prepare project documents for submission. Lease Management: Prepares space requirement packages for new leases. Assembles procurement packages for new leases and submits to contracting.

Develops performance work statements for issuance to landlords or contractors to address modifications to accommodate for growth and meet the needs of the VA. Performs other duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Monday thru Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm Compressed/Flexible: Not Authorized Telework: Not Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Position Description/PD#: Engineering Technician/PD23505A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized The VA Midwest Health Care Network advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers.

This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest.

As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care, you will operate in a model with three core elements, seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran.

This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community.

This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being.