General Engineer (Accident Investigator) - DIRECT HIRE

Full Job Description

This position is within PHMSA's Office of Pipeline Safety. PHMSA protects people and the environment from risks related to hazardous materials transportation by pipeline.

The Accident Investigation Division (AID) leads evaluations of pipeline, underground natural gas storage, and LNG accidents/incidents, sharing lessons learned to enhance safety through inspection, investigation, enforcement, oversight, and guidance.

To meet the minimum qualifications for this position, you must (1) meet the Education Requirement for the series, (2) provide a copy of transcripts for verification, AND (3) meet either the education or specialized experience requirements for the grade at which you are requesting consideration.

To qualify for the GS-12 on Experience, you must have at least one year of experience equal or equivalent to the GS-11 it must include: Experience in engineering disciplines concerning the design, construction, operation, maintenance and repair, integrity management, and failure analysis of gas and liquid pipelines.

Experience in conducting and/or participating in investigations or projects to improve transportation safety. You cannot qualify on education at the GS-12 level; you must have experience.

To qualify for the GS-13 on Experience, you must have at least one year of experience equal or equivalent to the GS-12 it must include: Experience in engineering disciplines concerning the design, construction, operation, maintenance and repair, integrity management, and failure analysis of gas and liquid pipelines.

Experience in conducting and/or participating in investigations or projects to improve transportation safety.

Experience in risk management, pipeline integrity management, and management systems principles and practices as they relate to protection of physical facilities and structures with critical environmental and safety impact.

You cannot qualify on education at the GS-13 level; you must have experience.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs): Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following areas: Accident Investigation - Knowledge of guidelines, regulations, and procedures associated with an accident investigation including preservation of accident scene, root cause analysis, and evidence detection and handling.

Compliance Inspection - Knowledge of the guidelines, regulations, and procedures associated with compliance inquiries.

General Engineering - Knowledge of the concepts, principles, and theories of engineering and their practical applications.

For all types of consideration, 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, religious, 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 For additional information about applying to Federal positions, please click on the following link: https://www.opm.gov/frequently-asked-questions/employment-faq/federal-hiring/how-do-i-apply-for-federal-jobs/ Other applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Major Duties:

As a General Engineer (Accident Investigator), you will: Accident and Incident Investigations - Conducts and oversees the investigation of pipeline related failure and safety investigations.

May serve as a Primary OPS Investigator on Federally regulated pipeline failure investigations. Serves as the Federal OPS Coordinator on state regulated pipeline failure investigations.

Failure Analysis and Sharing Lessons Learned - Ensures OPS collects the data, technical reports and information needed to conduct thorough and comprehensive failure analysis.

Continually Monitors the National Pipeline infrastructure for Incidents and Accidents - Gathers information on serious and significant accidents and incidents involving pipelines, providing factual, accurate and timely information.

Ideal Candidate Statement: This position is perfect for an experienced Engineer who is looking for challenging assignments investigating pipeline incidents.

As an Accident Investigator, you will conduct, coordinate, manage and report comprehensive investigations of critical and nationally and regionally significant pipeline accidents and safety concerns.

This position will coordinate with other federal and state agencies, industry, the public regarding investigations, accident trends and lessons learned from investigations.