Mechanical Enginner

Full Job Description

Reclamation is seeking a career professional looking for an opportunity to capitalize on their expertise as a Mechanical Enginner.

You can make a difference in the West by assisting in meeting increasing water demands while protecting the environment.

Duty Location: Boise, Idaho; Grand Coulee, Washington; https://www.usbr.gov/pn/about/hr/area-information.html BASIC EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS: For Mechanical Engineer (series 0830) A. Degree: Engineering.

To be acceptable, the program must: (1) lead to a bachelor's degree in a school of engineering with at least one program accredited by ABET; or (2) include differential and integral calculus and courses (more advanced than 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 - B.

Combination of education and experience -- college-level education, training, and/or technical experience that furnished (1) a thorough knowledge of the physical and mathematical sciences underlying engineering, and (2) a good understanding, both theoretical and practical, of the engineering sciences and techniques and their applications to one of the branches of engineering.

The adequacy of such background must be demonstrated by one of the following: Professional registration or licensure -- Current registration as an Engineer Intern (EI), Engineer in Training (EIT)1, or licensure as a Professional Engineer (PE) by any State, the District of Columbia, Guam, or Puerto Rico.

Absent other means of qualifying under this standard, those applicants who achieved such registration by means other than written test (e.g., State grandfather or eminence provisions) are eligible only for positions that are within or closely related to the specialty field of their registration.

For example, an applicant who attains registration through a State Board's eminence provision as a manufacturing engineer typically would be rated eligible only for manufacturing engineering positions.

Written Test -- Evidence of having successfully passed the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE)2 examination or any other written test required for professional registration by an engineering licensure board in the various States, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico.

Specified academic courses -- Successful completion of at least 60 semester hours of courses in the physical, mathematical, and engineering sciences and that included the courses specified in the basic requirements under paragraph A.

The courses must be fully acceptable toward meeting the requirements of an engineering program as described in paragraph A.

Related curriculum -- Successful completion of a curriculum leading to a bachelor's degree in an appropriate scientific field, e.g., engineering technology, physics, chemistry, architecture, computer science, mathematics, hydrology, or geology, may be accepted in lieu of a bachelor's degree in engineering, provided the applicant has had at least 1 year of professional engineering experience acquired under professional engineering supervision and guidance.

Ordinarily there should be either an established plan of intensive training to develop professional engineering competence, or several years of prior professional engineering-type experience, e.g., in interdisciplinary positions.

(The above examples of related curricula are not all-inclusive.) Additional Experience & Training Provisions for Graduate of Engineering Programs: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0800/files/all-professional-engineering-positions-0800.pdf SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS: In order to be rated as qualified for this position, the HR Office must be able to determine that you meet the specialized experience requirement - this information must be clearly supported in the resume.

To qualify at the GS-11, you must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and complexity to at least the GS-09 level in federal service having demonstrated experience equivalent to the GS-09 level that includes assisting with mechanical engineering work related to construction or installation of mechanical systems; reviewing plans, specifications, drawings, or submittals; performing inspections or quality assurance activities; supporting contract administration; and preparing technical documentation or correspondence related to construction or engineering projects..

You could otherwise qualify on the basis of Education having OR 3 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D., or have a Ph.D., or equivalent doctoral degree in engineering or a related field which provides the knowledge, skills and abilities for the position.

You may combine specialized experience and education to meet the minimum qualifications.

To qualify at the GS-12 level, you must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and complexity to at least the GS-11 level in federal service having demonstrated experience equivalent to the GS-11 level that includes independently performing mechanical engineering duties for construction projects such as overseeing contractor work; serving as a Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) or providing direct contract administration support; reviewing and approving contractor submittals, RFIs, and payment requests; resolving complex construction issues using professional engineering judgment; and ensuring compliance with plans, specifications, and contract requirements.

A Professional Engineer (PE) license is required at this level. P.E. License (GS-12 only): A current valid Professional Engineering (P.E.) license. Provide proof of license with the application.

Failure to provide proof of the license may result in an ineligible rating.

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.

Time-In-Grade: Current career or career-conditional employees of the Federal government, or former career or career-conditional employees, who have a break in service of less than one year, are required to meet the time-in-grade restriction of one year of Federal experience at the next lower-grade, with few exceptions outlined in 5 CFR 300.603(b).

You must meet all Eligibility and Qualification requirements, including time-in-grade restrictions and any selective placement factors if applicable, by 02/17/2026. Major Duties:

Serves as a mechanical construction engineer providing on-site and remote oversight to ensure contractor compliance with approved plans, specifications, and contract requirements for mechanical systems and equipment.

Performs quality assurance inspections of mechanical construction work, identifies deficiencies, documents nonconforming work, and coordinates corrective actions with contractors and project teams.

Serves as Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) or Alternate COR, reviewing contractor submittals, Requests for Information (RFIs), payment requests, and technical correspondence and providing recommendations to the Contracting Officer.

Applies mechanical engineering principles to review drawings, specifications, calculations, and proposed changes; evaluates constructability, installation methods, and sequencing; and resolves construction-related technical issues.

Coordinates and communicates with project managers, contracting staff, inspectors, engineers, and contractors; prepares technical documentation, inspection reports, and correspondence to support project decisions and contract administration.