Clarification from the agency

Applications will be accepted from any U.S. citizen. Direct Hire Authority will be used to fill this position. The 'Rule of Three', Veterans Preference and traditional rating and ranking of applicants does not apply to this vacancy. This is not a Bargaining unit position.

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As a Civil Engineer (Geotechnical), you will:

• Plan and conduct site investigations to obtain necessary information on the character, structural relations and engineering properties of the soils, bedrock, sources of aggregate, and other conditions which may affect proposed highway and/or bridge design and location.
• Interpret field data, material test results, and conduct geotechnical analyses for soil and rock slope stability, foundation design, retaining wall design, and other geotechnical areas. Provide alternative solutions, recommendations, and designs using context sensitive engineering judgment.
• Document findings and recommendations in geotechnical reports and prepare geotechnical specifications, plans, and technical information needed for special contract requirements for government contracts.
• Participate in cross-functional teams in developing highway and structure designs and provide construction support for geotechnical related design elements.
• Serve as a technical resource to the other offices within FHWA and to other Federal Land Management Agencies. Stay up to date with the state of the practice within geotechnical engineering and actively promote new technologies and implement new/improved methodologies.

The ideal candidate is a mid-career geotechnical engineering professional with a minimum of 5 years of experience in geotechnical engineering including work in mountainous terrain. This ideal candidate will have a diverse background in geotechnical engineering, specifically in investigation, characterization, and mitigation of complex geotechnical challenges related to highway and bridge design and construction. These issues include: rock and soil mechanics, slope stability and drainage, subsurface investigation, foundations, earth retaining structures, reinforced slopes, and construction support for geotechnical components of road and bridge contracts. This candidate thrives in a collaborative, team-based environment to meet client objectives for the design and construction of roads and bridges in environmentally challenging settings.

Why work for Central Federal Lands: a New Graduate perspective

Why work for Central Federal Lands: a mid-career perspective

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. citizen & meet specialized experience to qualify
• Submit application and resume online by 11:59 PM EST on the closing date
• Required documents must be submitted by the closing date.
• Direct Hire Authority will be used to fill this position

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

• SELECTIVE SERVICE: Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for the Selective Service.
• BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION: You will be required to complete a background/security investigation and meet preliminary requirements prior to onboarding.
• PCS/RELOCATION/RECRUITMENT: Permanent Change of Station (PCS), Relocation, and Recruitment Incentive authorization varies by position/selection and a service agreement may be required.
• PROBATIONARY PERIOD: Applicants may be required to successfully complete a one-year probationary period (unless already completed).
• TELEWORK ELIGIBILITY: This position may be eligible for occasional and/or regularly scheduled telework. The number of telework days approved will be determined by your immediate supervisor or manager following the agency’s telework policy and guidance. If participating in the telework program, you will be required to sign a telework agreement detailing agency telework policy requirements, working conditions, and expectations for the position.
• GOVERNMENT TRAVEL CARD: This position involves travel.  A government contractor-issued travel card will be issued and must be retained for official business only.
• PHYSICAL CONDITIONS: The position regularly requires field work and physical exertion such as: long periods of standing; walking over rough, uneven, steep, or rocky terrain; recurring bending, crouching, stooping, stretching, or reaching; recurring moving; and lifting and carrying of heavy items (soil and rock samples over 50 lbs.). In addition, you will be exposed to varying weather and terrain conditions.

Qualifications

To meet the basic qualifications for this position, you must (1) meet the Mandatory Education Requirement for the series, (2) provide a copy of your transcripts or other applicable documentation for verification, AND (3) meet the specialized experience requirements for each grade you are applying to. Please review the following information before proceeding with the application process: 

(1) All applicants must meet the education requirements under A or B to qualify for applying to an engineering position:

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 the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET); or (2) that included differential and integral calculus and courses (more advanced that first year physics and chemistry) in five of the following seven areas of engineering science or physics: (a) statics, dynamics; (b) strength of materials; (c) fluid mechanics, hydraulics; (d) thermodynamics; (e) electrical fields and circuits; (f) nature and properties of materials; 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 or training: college level education, training and/or technical experience that has 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:     

1. Professional registration or licensure - current registration as an Engineer Intern (EI), engineer in Training (EIT), or licensure as a Professional Engineer (PE).
2. Written Test - Evidence of having successfully passed the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) 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.
3. Specified academic courses - Successful completion of at least 60 semester hours of courses in the physical, mathematical, and engineering sciences which included the courses as specified in Paragraph A above.
4. 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 had at least 1 year of professional engineering experience acquired under professional engineering supervision and guidance.  There should be either an established plan of intensive training to develop professional engineering competence, or several years of prior professional engineering type experience. This must be clearly described in your resume.

For additional information, please refer to the OPM qualifications standard for GS-800: All Professional Engineering Positions qualifications at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0800/files/all-professional-engineering-positions-0800.pdf.

(2) Upload the appropriate document(s) to your application for verification purposes.

(3) Specialized Experience:

To determine which grade(s) you may be eligible for, review the following grade specific details.  You will be asked a few questions as part of the application process so make sure we can verify the specialized experience in your resume. 

For the GS-11: You qualify for this grade level if you meet one of the following experience and/or education requirements.

On Experience, you must have at least one year of specialized experience, equal or equivalent to the GS-09 grade level, which include:

• Experience assisting in geotechnical site investigations, interpreting geotechnical problems, and preparing geotechnical reports for transportation project design and construction (slope stability, foundations, soil and rock properties, soil retention and stabilization, embankment construction, etc.); AND
• Experience assisting with the preparation of Plans, Specifications, and Estimates for quality assurance of geotechnical components of road and bridge construction contracts; AND
• Experience assisting in the design of specialized geotechnical mitigation measures to support highway and bridge design, and respond to issues during construction.

Or on Education, you must have 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree OR Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree.

You can also have a combination of graduate education and experience.  This must be fully supported by your resume and transcripts, provided with your application.

For the GS-12: On Experience, you must have at least one year of experience equal or equivalent to the GS-11 grade level, which included:

• Experience performing geotechnical site investigations and interpreting geotechnical problems, and preparing geotechnical reports for transportation project design and construction (slope stability, foundations, soil and rock properties, soil retention and stabilization, embankment construction, etc.); AND
• Experience preparing and reviewing Plans, Specifications, and Estimates for quality assurance of geotechnical components of road and bridge construction contracts; AND
• Experience designing specialized geotechnical mitigation measures to support highway and bridge design, and respond to issues during construction.

Although you must first meet the mandatory education requirement, you cannot qualify for the GS-12 grade based on education, you must meet the specialized experience, which is cited above.

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:

1. Geotechnical Engineering - Knowledge of the concepts, principles, theories, and methods related to the investigation and evaluation of subsurface soil or geologic conditions and properties for the purpose of designing stable foundation systems, earthen structures, or the remediation of subsurface conditions.
2. Oral Communications - Makes clear and convincing oral presentations. Listens effectively; clarifies information as needed.
3. Written Communications - Writes in a clear, concise, organized, and convincing manner for the intended audience.
   

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

Students enrolled in a qualifying degree program can apply to the GS-11 grade based on education if the anticipated graduation date is within six months of the closing date of this announcement. If selected, the final transcript must be received before your start date. Other applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

For this announcement, all applicants will be reviewed to determine if they meet the basic qualifications for this position, specifically the educational requirements.  Applications that are verified to meet the basic qualifications will be referred to the selecting official.

Applicants will not be rated or ranked.  Veteran’s Preference does NOT apply.

DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE: PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC.  WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.  All answers provided in the on-line process must be substantiated by a resume.  If, upon review, it is determined that your resume and/or supporting documents do not support your answer choices, your application may be removed from consideration.

Please ensure that your work history provides enough details to support your answers.