MECHANICAL ENGINEER
United States Fleet Forces Command
Posted: January 12, 2026 (3 days ago)
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U.S. Coast Guard
Department of Homeland Security
Location
Glen Burnie, Maryland
Salary
$85,447 - $187,093
per year
Type
Full Time
More Engineering jobs →Closes
Base salary range: $46,479 - $60,424
Typical requirements: 1 year specialized experience at GS-7. Graduate study or significant experience.
Note: Actual salary includes locality pay (15-40%+ depending on location).
This job involves working as a mechanical engineer for the U.S. Coast Guard, focusing on auxiliary machinery systems for ships and equipment in a support facility.
You'll apply engineering principles to design, maintain, and improve mechanical systems, often as part of a team on complex projects.
It's a good fit for someone with a solid engineering education and hands-on experience in mechanical design, who enjoys technical problem-solving in a government setting.
This vacancy is for a GS-0830-11/12/13/14, Mechanical Engineer located in the Department of Homeland Security, U.S.
Coast Guard, SFLC ESD AUXILIARY MACH SYS SEC -SFLC-ESD-NAME-AUX MACH in BALTIMORE, Maryland.
Basic Requirements: This position has a positive Education Requirement in addition to at least one year of Specialized Experience or substitution of education for experience or combination (if applicable) in order to be found minimally qualified.
Transcripts must be submitted with your application package.
You MUST meet the following requirements: EDUCATION: To qualify for this position, applicants must show that they possess a professional knowledge of engineering principles and practices through the following: Completion of a bachelor's or higher degree in engineering that was from an ABET (Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology) accredited school or that included courses in differential and integral calculus and courses (beyond first year physics and chemistry) in five of the following seven areas of engineering science or physics: (a)statics, dynamics; (b)strength of materials stress strain relationships); (c)fluid mechanics, hydraulics; (d) thermodynamics; (e)electrical fields and circuits; (f)nature and properties of materials (relating particle and aggregate structure to properties); and (g)any other comparable area of fundamental engineering science or physics, such as optics, heat transfer, soil mechanics, or electronics.
OR Registration as a professional engineer by a State, the District of Columbia, Guam, or Puerto Rico.
OR Successfully passing the Engineering-in-Training (EIT) examination, or the written test required for professional registration that is administered by the Boards of Engineering Examiners in the various states, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico, and completed all the requirements for either (a) bachelor's degree in engineering technology (BET) from an accredited college or university that included at least 60 semester hours of courses in the physical, mathematical, and engineering sciences, or (b) a BET from an ABET-accredited program.
OR A combination of at least 4 years of college-level education, training, and/or technical experience that included successful completion of at least 60 semester hours of courses in the physical, mathematical, and engineering sciences, including the courses listed in paragraph A above.
(NOTE: The courses must be fully acceptable toward meeting the requirements of a professional engineering curriculum.) OR Successful completion of a curriculum leading to a bachelor's degree in engineering technology or in an appropriate professional field (e.g., physics, chemistry, architecture, computer science, mathematics, hydrology, or geology) AND at least 1 year of professional engineering experience under the guidance and supervision of a professional engineer.
IN ADDITION to meeting the basic education requirements (above) applicants must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level.
Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the particular ability, skill, and knowledge to successfully perform the duties of this position and is typically in or related to this line of work.
Applicants applying for the GS-11 level must possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS09 level in federal service.
Examples of specialized experience include: Learning fundamental principles and applying established techniques for more difficult work in various stages of mechanical engineering work.
Applicants applying for the GS-12 level must possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 level in the Federal service.
Examples of specialized experience include: Handling more complex assignments and contribute to project team with less detailed supervision in various stages of mechanical engineering work.
Applicants applying for the GS-13 level must possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 level in the Federal service.
Examples of specialized experience include; Leading small projects teams and contribute significantly to complex assignments with less progressive supervision.
Applicants may also qualify based on a combination of education and experience. Superior academic achievement at the baccalaureate level in a professional engineering curriculum is qualifying for GS-7.
A combination of superior academic achievement and 1 year of appropriate professional experience is qualifying at GS-9.
2 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree also qualifies at the GS-9.
At the GS-11, 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree is qualifying.
To qualify at the GS-14 grade level, your resume must demonstrate at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-13 grade level in the federal or private sector.
Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the ability, skill, and knowledge to successfully perform the duties of this position and is typically in or related to this line of work.
Examples of specialized experience include performing the following types of tasks on a regular and recurring basis.
NOTE: All experience statements (i.e., duties, specialized experience, or occupational assessment questionnaire) copied from this announcement and pasted into your resume will not be considered as a demonstration of your qualifications for this position.
Specialized experience may include the following: Developing and analyzing comprehensive piping system models for both new and modified industrial applications to ensure optimal performance and compliance with all relevant codes and standards.
Design of new and modified shipboard auxiliary systems, including performing system analysis, sizing and selecting major equipment, ensuring integration and compliance with maritime standards.
Must have a foundation of learning fundamental principles and applying established techniques for more difficult work in various stages of mechanical engineering work.
Must be able to handle more complex assignments and contribute to project team with less detailed supervision in various stages of mechanical engineering work.
Expected to lead small projects teams and contribute significantly to complex assignments with less progressive supervision as incumbent gains more experience.
NOTE: Education can be substituted for experience at this grade level.
National Service Experience (i.e., volunteer experience): 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. Major Duties:
You will serve as a Mechanical Engineer and be responsible for becoming a senior Mechanical Engineer (ME) in support of USCG's Naval Engineering Tech Authority and as a Lead Engineer (LE) for auxiliary machinery equipment and systems addressing mechanical engineering challenges under their cognizance.
Auxiliary machinery equipment and systems encompass all the equipment and piping needed for fluid systems, weight handling systems, HVACR systems, water making systems and other auxiliary machinery Installed on board Coast Guard Cutters and Boats.
Being a Coast Guard civilian makes you a valuable member of the Coast Guard team.
Typical work assignments include: Performing SME duties for assigned equipment systems and as LE for Auxiliary Machinery Technical Warrant holder including performing detailed calculations and design for shipboard piping, HVAC, and other mechanical equipment systems, and reviewing and evaluating contractor-provided technical deliverables for new construction vessels to ensure compliance with contract requirements.
Establishing agency wide technical policy, statutes, and regulations for equipment and systems assigned while interpreting basic legislations, broad organizational policy, statutes, and regulations and provide guidance to managers and other personnel for them to accomplish their assigned duties while ensuring designs comply with relevant maritime regulations and classification society rules (e.g., ABS, CFR).
Providing authoritative specialized information concerning integration of system components, including auxiliary machinery and Interfaces problems and their solutions including authoring clear and concise technical reports and presentations to communicate engineering recommendations to technical and non-technical stakeholders.
Directing a broad range of interdisciplinary development, design, and project activities for critical shipboard auxiliary machinery systems including the creation and modification of detailed 2D and 3D piping and mechanical system arrangement drawings.
Planning and coordinates projects involving new technologies where new techniques and approaches are needed such as supporting model-based systems engineering (MBSE) and digital twin development.
Managing significant elements or phases of projects related to major agency functions, programs, or projects including leading multi-discipline engineering teams, managing project scope and schedule.
The GS-11, GS-12, and GS-13 levels are developmental and will receive tailored instruction, guidance, training, and supervision designed to equip the employee with the knowledge and skills necessary for successful performance at the GS-14 level.
Mandatory training is required which must be successfully completed and other training may occur as necessary for success in the position.
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