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Posted: January 22, 2026 (1 day ago)

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Engineering Technician

Justice, Bureau of Prisons/Federal Prison System

Department of Justice

Fresh

Salary

$78,009 - $101,417

per year

Closes

January 29, 2026

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 supporting engineering tasks in a federal prison, such as creating drawings and plans for building projects, estimating costs, and using computer software for designs, all while helping maintain a secure environment.

A good fit would be someone with hands-on technical experience in trades or drafting who is detail-oriented, comfortable with technology, and committed to public safety in a corrections setting.

Key Requirements

  • At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-3 level in technical fields like drafting, surveying, construction estimating, or related engineering areas
  • Proficiency in automated software for maintenance management and computer-aided design (CAD)
  • Experience developing sketches, drawings, and rough drafts of structures or projects
  • Skills in performing cost estimating and preparing justifications for expenses
  • Ability to plot field survey results and prepare plans for new structures, alterations, or shop work
  • Certification by the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (helpful but not required)
  • Commitment to correctional responsibilities, including maintaining institution security on a regular basis

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: 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: Experience developing sketches and drawings of new and existing structures, and rough drafts of proposed projects.

Must be proficient in utilizing automated software as it pertains to maintenance management and computer aided design.

Experience in performing cost estimating, preparation of justification for excessive cost and estimating work that is to be performed.

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 required by this position and are performed on a regular and recurring basis.

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Posted on USAJOBS: 1/22/2026 | Added to FreshGovJobs: 1/23/2026

Source: USAJOBS | ID: PET-2026-0030