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Posted: January 16, 2026 (1 day ago)

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Senior Merchant Mariner Examination Development Specialist (Engine)

U.S. Coast Guard

Department of Homeland Security

Fresh

Salary

$121,785 - $158,322

per year

Closes

April 16, 2026

Job Description

Summary

This job involves creating and refining exams for merchant mariners, focusing on engine operations and ship maintenance, to ensure they have the right knowledge for safe sea voyages.

You'll interpret laws and regulations, solve problems in maritime credentialing, and work with industry experts to keep tests accurate and up-to-date.

It's a great fit for experienced marine engineers with a strong background in ship operations who enjoy detailed technical work in a government setting.

Key Requirements

  • At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-12 level in federal sector, involving merchant mariner credentialing and examination development
  • Hold or have held a Merchant Mariner Credential as 1st Assistant Engineer, Unlimited or higher
  • Expertise in interpreting administrative, international, and federal laws, statutes, regulations, and industry standards for merchant marine operations
  • Experience analyzing situations, preparing solutions to problems, and maintaining accuracy under pressure
  • Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with marine industry representatives, maritime unions, and stakeholders
  • Proficiency in adapting to changes in regulations, procedures, and workflow disruptions
  • Knowledge of shipboard operations and maintenance for the U.S. Merchant Marine

Full Job Description

This vacancy is for a GS-2101-13, Senior Merchant Mariner Examination Development Specialist (Engine) located in the Department of Homeland Security, U.S.

Coast Guard, NMC MARINER EXAMINATIONS BRANCH in MARTINSBURG, West Virginia. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS OPEN FOR A PERIOD OF 90 DAYS. WE WILL REVIEW APPLICANTS EVERY 30 DAYS.

CUT-OFF DATES ARE AS FOLLOWS: Feb 15, Mar 15, April 15, 2026.

Applications received by 11:59EST on the above dates will be reviewed for consideration and those deemed qualified in accordance with merit promotion procedures will be referred to management for consideration.

Applications received after the initial cut-off date will be considered as needed every 30 days.

NOTE: Applicants must complete all required assessments by the stated cut-off date to be considered for referral during that specific review period.

Failure to complete all required assessments by the deadline will result in your application not being considered for that period.

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 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.

Experience sailing under the authority of the credential endorsement reflected in the Selective Placement Factor Interpret administrative laws, international law, federal laws, statutes, regulations, policies and industry standards applicable to the knowledge assessment of merchant mariners and governance of merchant marine operations Analyzing situations and preparing solutions to problems Establishing and maintaining effective relationships with representatives of the marine industry, maritime unions, and others to ensure the proper application of regulatory programs and policies Adapting quickly to changes in regulations and procedures, or to interruptions that temporarily disrupt the workflow, and working under pressure while maintaining a high degree of accuracy NOTE: All experience statements (i.e., duties, specialized experience, or related applicable assessment) copied from this announcement and pasted into your resume will not be considered as a demonstration of your qualifications for this position.

NOTE: Education cannot be substituted for experience at this grade level. Selective Placement Factor(s) must be met in order to receive further consideration.

You will be given the opportunity to address these when you apply on-line. Applicant must hold or have held a Merchant Mariner Credential in the grade of 1st Assistant Engineer, Unlimited or higher.

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/an Senior Merchant Mariner Examination Development Specialist (Engine) and be responsible for expertise in mariner credentialing with specific emphasis on the examination of merchant marine personnel and the development of knowledge-based competency examinations and examination systems.

Being a Coast Guard civilian makes you a valuable member of the Coast Guard team.

Typical work assignments include: Serves as a subject matter expert in shipboard operations and maintenance for the U.S.

Merchant Marine Develops subject matter questions on marine engineering skills for knowledge-based assessments used in mariner credentialing Provides direction to 17 Regional Examination Centers (REC) on all aspects of mariner credentialing program examinations Responsible for managing the creation, maintenance, use, and disposal of examinations to ensure efficient and effective operation of the mariner assessment program Collaborates with other specialists to resolve discrepancies and ensure examinations are accurately created, assigned, administered, and documented Monitors examination metrics, analyzes trends, and recommends process improvements Serves as an expert on examination processes for professional credential applications Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application.

Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments.

Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis.

If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision.

You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement.

To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments. Reasonable Accommodation Information

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Posted on USAJOBS: 1/16/2026 | Added to FreshGovJobs: 1/17/2026

Source: USAJOBS | ID: 26-12865684-SE-DB-ST