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Posted: February 27, 2026 (0 days ago)

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Engineering Technician

Bureau of Prisons/Federal Prison System

Department of Justice

Fresh

Location

Salary

$63,780 - $90,621

per year

Closes

March 13, 2026More DOJ jobs →

GS-4 Pay Grade

Base salary range: $30,286 - $39,372

Typical requirements: 1 year general experience. 2 years college or associate degree.

Note: Actual salary includes locality pay (15-40%+ depending on location).

Job Description

Summary

This job involves working as an engineering technician in a federal prison, where you'll handle tasks like surveying land, creating plans for building projects, and using computer tools to draw designs for facility improvements.

It's a good fit for someone with hands-on technical experience in trades or engineering support who is comfortable in a secure environment and enjoys problem-solving with tools and blueprints.

The role also requires helping staff and inmates understand work instructions while contributing to overall prison safety.

Key Requirements

  • One year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade, such as using precision instruments, interpreting drawings, or analyzing designs in engineering-related fields
  • Technical background in areas like drafting, surveying, construction estimating, or mechanical/electrical systems
  • For GL-09 level: Two years of graduate education or a master's degree directly related to the position, or a combination of education and experience
  • No education substitution for GL-10; must have full specialized experience
  • Ability to complete survey work, prepare plans and specifications, and develop computer-aided drawings
  • Certification from the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies is beneficial
  • Experience maintaining security in a correctional or high-security setting

Full Job Description

Corrections professionals who foster a humane and secure environment and ensure public safety by preparing individuals for successful reentry into our communities.

To be considered for the position, you must meet the following qualification requirements.

Basic Requirements: Experience: Specialized Experience (for positions at GS-4 or equivalent and above): 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.

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 meeting the Basic Requirements above, applicants must have: Education: GL-09: Two full years of graduate education or a master's degree meets the requirements, only in those instances where it is directly related to the work of the position.

GL-10: There is no substitution of education for specialized experience for this position.

OR Experience: You must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and complexity to the next lower grade level.

To be creditable, this experience must have equipped the applicant with the particular qualifications to perform successfully the duties of the position, and must typically be in or related to the position to be filled.

Some examples of this qualifying experience are: GL-09: Employs a variety of complex precision instruments, gauges, and methods.

Experience that involved work measurement, simplification, and standardization. Interpret drawings, plans, and specifications. Analysis and design of work center facilities and equipment.

GL-10: Develops, reviews plans, specifications, estimates for proposed projects. Prepares report of findings and recommendations i.e. change in design or specifications.

Analyzing data from a variety of sources, i.e. manufacturer's drawings, specifications, and maintenance records. Completes moderately difficult and complex survey work.

OR Combination of Education and Experience: GL-09 Only: You may have a combination of successfully completed higher education and experience.

This experience must have equipped you with the particular qualifications to perform the major duties of this position as described above.

If applicable, credit will be given for paid and unpaid experience. To receive proper credit, you must show the actual time (such as number of hours worked per week) spent in the activities.

**Your eligibility for consideration will be based on your responses to the questions in the application.** Major Duties:

Plots results of all field surveys and prepares them for tracing and reproduction.

Completes plans for proposed projects; such as new structures, building alterations, and shop work to be performed at the local level with institution funds.

Completes computer-aided drawings to be submitted to the regional office for approval and funding.

Furnishes additional instructions as requested by employees and inmates about work steps and assists journeyman mechanics in the interpretation of blueprints when necessary.

Along with all other correctional institution employees, incumbent is charged with responsibility for maintaining security of the institution. The staff correctional responsibilities precede all others

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Posted on USAJOBS: 2/27/2026 | Added to FreshGovJobs: 2/28/2026

Source: USAJOBS | ID: OXF-2026-0020