Engineering Technician

Full Job Description

This position is located within the Engineering Service at the St. Cloud VA Medical Center in St. Cloud, MN.

The Engineering Technician 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 AT THE GS-11 GRADE LEVEL, APPLICANTS MUST MEET ONE OF THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: At least one (1) full year of specialized experience that equipped me with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform successfully the duties of this position, and that is typically in or related to the work of this position.

To be creditable, this experience must have been equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-10) in the Federal Service.

Technician experience includes supervising, leading or performing work involving applying a practical knowledge of the (1) methods and techniques of engineering or architecture and (2) construction, application, properties, operations, and limitations of engineering systems, processes, structures, machinery, devices and materials.

Qualifying specialized experience includes 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.

NOTE: Experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title, duties, month and year start/end dates AND hours worked per week.

A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week.

~OR~ SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION FOR EXPERIENCE: Successfully completed three (3) years of graduate education or an internship that is directly related to the work of the Engineering Technician position in the field of engineering.

NOTE: Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation.

~OR~ COMBINATION OF EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION: Equivalent combination of successfully completed graduate level education and specialized experience as described above which meets the total experience requirements for this grade level.

The education portion must include graduate courses directly related to the work of the Engineering Technician position in the field of engineering.

NOTE: Experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title, duties, month and year start/end dates AND hours worked per week.

A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application materials.

Education cannot be credited without documentation.

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:

***THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION, YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION*** Major duties include but are not limited to the following: Meets with contractors for the purpose of resolving problems requiring interpretation or clarification of plans and specifications.

Solves routine problems and seeks advice on complex engineered issues.

Inspects projects to determine adequacy of workmanship and materials and calls any deviations to the attention of the Contracting Officer for corrective action.

Makes final inspection recommendation to approve or disapprove unless unusual circumstances are found which would be relayed to appropriate personnel.

Meets with personnel to determine specific needs as well as through the interpretation of written and oral instructions, physical inspections, specifications, photographs, and sketches.

Prepares contract drawings, station drawings, and revised station drawings through the use of computer software (Auto Computer Aided Design (CAD), or similar) Develops via CAD, drawings, layouts, and plans required for the use of project engineers for proposed additions, improvements, alterations, modifications, repairs, equipment installation, and new construction, as requested.

Planning/coordinating, estimating, designing, drafting, specification writing, and inspection of projects Develops construction estimates using current estimating manuals, software, and local bidding trends.

Verifies bids for purchase orders, equipment and services, construction negotiations, and project submissions for recurring maintenance projects and for the less complex non-recurring maintenance (NRM) projects Develops all assigned projects within the constraints of time, space, and funding available, following conventional, well established engineering practices.

Makes recommendations regarding various construction related items based on interpretation of contract documents to Project Section Manager, Contracting Officer, and contractors.

Performs design, construction and related contract management of complex projects as assigned.

Configures drawing computer files to isolate trade divisions, i.e., electrical, plumbing, HVAC, etc., through the use of cross-references. Performs other related duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not approved