Engineering Technician

Full Job Description

The Engineering Technician is located within the Office of the Chief, Engineering Service.

The position is vital to Engineering, relating to the administration of the construction program requirements, and the section's functions relating to facility planning, project design, cost estimating, preparation of plans and specifications for contracting documents, project management, CAD management and ancillary requirements relating to record drawings and building maintenance/repair files.

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 02/06/2026.

Basic Requirements: 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.

Examples of specialized experience would additionally include, but are not limited to: Technician must have knowledge and experience in the operation of automatic data systems including the ability to acquire a working knowledge of engineering software packages released by VA Central Office and AutoCAD.

Engineering technician must have a strong ability in verbal and written communication to prepare reports, write specifications and effectively acquire and transmit accurate information to/from co-workers, engineering designers, medical personnel and construction contractors.

Engineering Technician must have working knowledge and ability to interpret and apply design and planning criteria for VA Facilities.

Technician must have a general knowledge of various design criteria and guidelines published by professional engineering and architectural organizations throughout all disciplines.

General knowledge of the principles and practices of engineering disciplines related to building construction and industrial plant maintenance are essential.

Technician must be able to interpret, select, adapt, and apply numerous guidelines applicable to engineering design and the building trades.

Knowledge of general construction techniques and practices is critical to successful completion of assigned projects.

Technician must have knowledge 'and experience in the operation of automatic data systems including the ability to acquire a working knowledge of engineering software packages released by VA Central Office and AutoCAD.

This experience must include a detailed understanding of automated drawing file management and principles of automated drafting and engineering design management.

Skills in measurement and use of various measuring devices is necessary for checking design and construction accuracy.

Engineering technician must have a strong ability in verbal and written communication to prepare reports, write specifications and effectively acquire and transmit accurate information to/from co-workers, engineering designers, medical personnel and construction contractors.

Engineering Technician must have working knowledge and ability to interpret and apply design and planning criteria for VA Facilities.

Technician must have a general knowledge of various design criteria and guidelines published by professional engineering and architectural organizations throughout all disciplines.

General knowledge of the principles and practices of engineering disciplines related to building construction and industrial plant maintenance are essential.

Technician must be able to interpret, select, adapt, and apply numerous guidelines applicable to engineering design and the building trades.

Knowledge of general construction techniques and practices is critical to successful completion of assigned projects.

You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Design General Engineering Planning and Evaluating 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; religions; 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. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week.

Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities.

Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.

Physical Requirements: While much of the work is accomplished in an office setting there is a considerable amount of walking, stooping, crawling, climbing and standi g required during site surveys to gather information for .the design of new projects, site visits to projects that are under construction, final inspections and all other Inspections.

Work Environment: Most of the work is accomplished in an office setting, however numerous work site visits are required which may involve inclement wea er, work in hot restrictive areas, climbing on roofs, some exposure to electrical shock, steam burns, hot water scalds, cuts scrapes and bruises.

Technician must be mentally alert and be aware of these possible hazardous conditions. From time to time safety equipment sue as safety glasses, hard hats and protective clothing must be worn.

Technician is required to "suit up" in protective clothing when required to enter an asbestos abatement area.

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:

Duties include but not limited to: The incumbent is responsible for designing, drafting, using CAD, inspecting and overseeing and supervising complex projects from inception to final acceptance.

Changes or deviations often occur during the progress of a project that 9hanges the cope of the project and requires considerable and immediate action.

For example: additional factors requested after commencement.

of a project, additional expansion that could not be predicted in the original project or asbestos or other hazardous material met after a wall has bee removed.

The incumbent Technician pre chairs pre-construction and pre-bid conferences for construction projects for Engineering.

The incumbent corresponds with contractors and other medical center personnel and services concerned about construction requirements, utility outages, and vacating areas for construction.

The incumbent independently prepares engineering estimates for construction projects and equipment installation projects. The incumbent prepares documents for pre-bid conferences.

Correspond with contractors and other medical center personnel and services concerned about construction requirements, utility outages, and vacating areas for construction.

The incumbent makes independent determinations on payments to contractors for work completed. The Project Engineer is kept informed of these situations.

I spect and evaluate assigned construction projects to ensure contractor compliance with plan , specifications and phasing.· Documents daily events encountered in the field inspections a d writes progress reports.

Makes independent determinations on payments (for approval/disapproval) to contractors for work completed.

The incumbent prepares correspondence to contracting officer to make recommendations on all design and construction contract matters.

The incumbent performs complex electrical, plumbing, HVAC, utility systems, mechanical, pneumatic, civil, and structural designs and layouts complete with spedfications, scope of work and cost estimates using the latest VA Computer Estimating (VACE) Systems.

Conducts research studies and interprets precedent designs.

Engineering Handbook, NEC, Journals, ASHRAE, VA Construction Standards, manufacturers' literature and standard guide specifications using technical judgment and selection of the best available design layouts.

The incumbent performs electrical, plumbing, HVAC, utility systems, mechanical, pneumatic, civil and structural designs and layouts complete with specifications, scope of work and cost estimates using the latest VA Computer Estimating Systems.

The incumbent prepares broad and complex drawings to constitute a legal contract for construction work. Digitize drawings and data into CAD drafting and design.

The incumbent writes technical specifications for construction of building systems and alterations, roads, sewers, drainage, electrical, plumbing, HVAC and hospital medical gases, in conformance with VA Construction Specifications, guides, etc.

Personal contacts include personnel from within Engineering Service, other technicians, engineers, service chiefs and other personnel, procurement officials, contracting officers, clinicians, vendors and contractors.

The incumbent must serve on the Architect/Engineer Selection Board, Engineering Core Safety Committee and other boards and committees or task forces as required.

The Engineering Technician will exercise tact and courtesy in promoting a feeling of cooperation and a desire to assist others.

The Technician contacts contractors and consultants to monitor the project's development and construction.

These contacts serve to chart p ogress, resolve problems, provide interpretations, offer guidance, voice concerns and preferred work methods.

Technician must stop work if the contractor is using unsafe conditions that would harm the medical center or not performing the work according to the approved plans and specifications.

Technician also contacts medical center service chiefs and other personnel affected in the development of project applications for new projects, for utility and service outages, new equipment installation, work progress and scheduling.

Technician contacts professional engineers in the development of working drawings and specifications, such as a structural engineer or other specialty engineer for more technically complex project .

Engineering Technician contacts Engineering managers and supervisors on a regular basis to pr vide project status and reports and to secure the necessary utility shutdowns for projects.

These contacts are usually in person, by phone or computer mail.

Work Schedule: MON-FRI 7:45am-4:30pm Compressed/Flexible: Not Authorized Position Description/PD#: Engineering Technician/PD07250A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized