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Posted: February 13, 2026 (7 days ago)

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Mechanical Engineer

U.S. Coast Guard

Department of Homeland Security

Fresh

Salary

$121,785 - $158,322

per year

Closes

February 23, 2026More DHS jobs →

GS-8 Pay Grade

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).

Job Description

Summary

This job involves working as a mechanical engineer for the U.S. Coast Guard, focusing on main propulsion systems for ships and vessels in a specialized engineering section.

You'll apply engineering principles to design, maintain, and troubleshoot these systems to ensure they operate safely and efficiently.

It's a good fit for experienced engineers with a strong background in mechanical systems and at least a few years in relevant technical roles, especially those interested in maritime or government work.

Key Requirements

  • Bachelor's or higher degree in engineering from an ABET-accredited school, including specific courses in calculus, physics, chemistry, and engineering sciences like statics, dynamics, fluid mechanics, and thermodynamics
  • OR Professional Engineer (PE) registration by a state or territory
  • OR Passing the Engineering-in-Training (EIT) exam plus a relevant bachelor's degree in engineering technology with at least 60 semester hours in sciences
  • OR Combination of 4+ years of college-level education and technical experience meeting engineering curriculum standards
  • OR Bachelor's in a related field (e.g., physics, chemistry) plus at least 1 year of professional engineering experience under supervision
  • At least 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-12 level, such as working on propulsion systems, mechanical design, or related engineering tasks in federal or private sectors
  • Submission of transcripts with application to verify education

Full Job Description

This vacancy is for a GS-0830-13, Mechanical Engineer located in the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Coast Guard, SFLC ESD MAIN PROPULSION SYS SEC -SFLC-ESD-NAME-MAIN PROP 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.

To qualify at the GS-13 grade level, your resume must demonstrate at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 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 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: Resume reflects at least one year of experience equivalent to the GS-12 level designing, analyzing, and/or testing marine propulsion equipment.

Resume reflects at least one year of experience equivalent to the GS-12 level working with outside organizations to complete tasks and projects.

Resume reflects at least one year of experience equivalent to the GS-12 performing equipment evaluations and risk analyses. NOTE: Education cannot 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 serving as a Mechanical Engineer in the Surface Force Logistics Center for integration of the design, construction, repair and maintenance of either auxiliary or main propulsion machinery systems; i.e.

main propulsion machinery, piping systems, firefighting, heating, ventilation, air conditioning, etc.

for advanced marine vehicles, surface effect ships, small cutters, boat and other platforms for the Coast Guard fleet. Being a Coast Guard civilian makes you a valuable member of the Coast Guard team.

Typical work assignments include: Applying specialized technical knowledge of professional engineering and scientific concepts, methods, and procedures to analyze and define the requirements of multi-phase projects.

Conducting conceptual machinery plant studies to determine conflicting operating requirements that affect marine propulsion machinery systems.

Performing failure and risk analyses of marine propulsion machinery equipment from small boats to large Icebreakers.

Providing extensive coordination with other project and program areas, integrating concurrent standards, guides, and precedents.

Serving as a technical specialist in the development, design, and integration of assigned mechanical engineering technologies, equipment, or systems.

Designing or directs the development of unique or leading-edge technology, equipment, or systems to meet specific mission requirements.

Exercising advanced technical knowledge of proven concepts and practices on systems or equipment to correctly evaluate problem resolution alternatives or the risk associated with using or replacing a nonconforming component.

Conducting trade-off studies to determine which of the developed machinery designs will most nearly meet the overall characteristics desired as well as keep within the allowable space, weight, reliability and cost constraints.

Preparing reports and design histories documenting all significant steps in the machinery preliminary and contract design process including statements of all criteria applied.

Directing and guiding engineers and technicians who are assigned from time to time as subordinates.

Performing additional work which may be assigned to include other projects within the branch as priorities, as workload and the need for the incumbent's technical capabilities may arise.

Check your resume before applying to catch common mistakes

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Posted on USAJOBS: 2/13/2026 | Added to FreshGovJobs: 2/13/2026

Source: USAJOBS | ID: 26-12884767-NE-DLG-DE