Engineering Technician (Architecture/Drafting)

Full Job Description

The position is located in the Department of Veterans Affairs 0/A), Veterans Health Administration 0/HA), Mid-Atlantic Health Care Network (VISN 6), Salisbury VA Medical Center (VAMC), Facilities Management Service (FMS), Design and Construction Team Projects Section.

The primary duties of the position involve coordinating, technical overview, and inspection of construction projects and programs, as well as other technical assignments involving application of engineering principles.

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 03/02/2026.

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 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-09. 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.

Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment.

You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-09 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization.

Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Ensuring that hazardous property is received, handled, stored, inspected, documented, and manifested/disposed of in compliance with applicable environmental regulations and safety requirements.

Inspects storage areas; provides technical guidance to personnel involved in the handling and disposal of hazardous materials and wastes (e.g., paints, varnishes, lacquers, solvents, fuels, and pesticides); and prepares required reports.

Performs site inspections at hazardous waste disposal, transport, or storage facilities where the problems typically are easy to identify and conventional in nature.

He/she evaluates work practices, determines compliance with applicable laws and regulations, and recommends changes to control or eliminate potential or existing hazards or violations.

Evaluates the feasibility and probable effects of proposed regulations; develops position papers, issue papers, workgroup materials, and briefing papers for higher-level managers; develops preamble language for proposed and final rules; and assists in developing policy guidance to implement the various provisions of environmental standards.

OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have a Ph.D.

or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M., if related to the work of the position.

(Transcripts must be submitted). OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level.

You must have a combination of specialized experience and education as stated above.

This can be determined by adding total qualifying experience as a percentage of the required experience and education as a percentage of the total required. The total percentage must equal 100 percent.

A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: 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: The work requires regular and recurring physical exertion such as prolonged standing, bending, and stooping to observe work operations and identify leaking containers in a treatment, storage, or disposal area.

You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Analysis and Problem Solving Customer Service Decisiveness Design Engineering and Technology Oral Communication 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: 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: Performs work of a broad scope and complexity in practices related to scientific and engineering fields and has demonstrated the ability to interpret, select, adapt, and apply many guidelines, precedents and engineering principles and practices.

Duties include construction quality assurance and contract administration activities to assigned construction projects.

Incumbent accomplishes various technical and construction management functions relating to construction planning, space management, records documentation for construction and facility management, energy management, and operation of building utility systems.

Serves as Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) for construction projects.

Inspects competitively bid construction and maintenance and repair projects to insure compliance with drawings and specifications.

Attends and actively participates in pre-bid and pre-construction conferences.

Reviews shop drawings and submittals from contractors during construction of new structures or renovation of existing structures for compliance with contract drawings and specifications.

Observes and inspects construction at all stages to identify and report discrepancies with contract documents, to assure compliance with OSHA Standards for the Construction Industry, and to forecast and resolve potential problems before they impact project schedules.

Reviews contractor daily reports of work progress, personnel on site in various trades, weather/work conditions, equipment on site and other items for accuracy.

Reviews and responds to requests for information from construction contractors by investigating plans, site conditions, existing building and utility conditions, troubleshooting building system operations, and researching facility record documents.

Works with General Contractor to resolve problems that arise due to error or differing site conditions.

Reviews change order requests from contractors for accuracy and cost control, and assist the contracting officer in price negotiations, when necessary.

Knowledge Required by the Position - Practical knowledge of engineering and architecture methods, techniques and procedures and/or practices and ability to prepare, read and interpret architectural, engineering and structural drawings and specifications.

- Skill in drafting. - Knowledge and skill in the use of a personal computer to access information in the Medical Center Computer System, Veterans Health Information & Technology Architecture (VISTA).

Skill in the use of the AutoCAD program and various other software packages, such as CAFM (to include design for architectural, electrical, and mechanical systems) to generate, interpret, and work from construction drawings.

Utilize the Computer-aided Facility Management (CAFM) system for space utilization and database management, in addition to performing other technical work requiring the application of practical knowledge of buildings, structure, space planning, designs, and specifications.

- Knowledge of VA procedures for project submissions and other correspondence required for project management.

Incumbent must have the ability to initiate and set priorities to meet deadlines, using skills in independent judgment and decision making.

- Knowledge of federal, VA, state and local building codes and standards. - Knowledge of construction practices.

- Ability to plan, organize, implement, oversee, and provide technical assistance for construction projects and/or assignments.

- Extensive knowledge of VA, EPA, and DEQ requirements for asbestos management. - Knowledge of all construction trades, applicable to the domiciliary (i.e.

masonry, concrete, carpenter, roofing, insulating, plumbing, electrical, mechanical, sheet metal, floor covering and fire sprinkler systems). - Knowledge of building materials.

- Skill and ability to prepare detailed cost estimates utilizing cost estimating software programs, such as VACE, RS Means, and Excel - Knowledge and ability to inspect building materials and workmanship.

- Ability to use construction engineering equipment - calculators, transits, levels, squares, measuring instruments, etc.

- Incumbent must deal effectively, both orally and in writing, with individuals or groups representing different backgrounds, interests, and points of view (including skill in persuasion, reconciling differing viewpoints, and dealing with stressful situations).

Ability to communicate clearly with contractors, contracting officers and VA Management officials. - Skill and ability to monitor complete construction projects.

- Demonstrated skill in preparing reports and schedules - Skill in contract administration and knowledge of COR duties and responsibilities. - Knowledge of safety procedures and fire protection.

Work Schedule: M-F 8:00-4:30 Telework: No Position Description/PD#: Engineering Technician (Architecture/Drafting)/PD015920 and PD015920