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This position is located in the Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research (RES), Division of Engineering (DE), Materials Engineering Branch (MEB).
The supervisor is Steve Ruffin.
This position is Bargaining Unit with the National Treasury Employees Union, Chapter 208.
This position IS subject to Confidential Financial Disclosure reporting requirements.
This position IS subject to security ownership restriction reporting requirements.
01/17/2025 to 01/22/2025
$167,603 - $195,200 per year
GG 15
1 vacancy in the following location:
No
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Occasional travel - Less than 25%.
Yes—Travel expenses associated with interview and/or relocation expenses associated with job offer may be paid to the extent allowed by Federal Travel Regulations.
Permanent
Full-time - Full Time
Excepted
15
No
Yes
RES/DE-2025-0004
828768400
U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.
Current federal employees whose agencies follow the U.S. Office of Personnel Management's hiring rules and pay scales.
Current federal employees whose agencies have their own hiring rules, pay scales and evaluation criteria.
Federal employees whose job, agency or department was eliminated and are eligible for priority over other applicants.
Veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces or a spouse, widow, widower or parent of a veteran, who may be eligible for derived preference
Military spouses relocating under PCS orders or whose spouse is 100% disabled or died while on active duty.
Current members, those who want to join or transitioning military members.
Individuals who are eligible under Schedule A.
Native Americans or Alaskan Natives with a tribal affiliation.
Individuals who have served at least 2 years with the Peace Corps or 1 year with AmeriCorps VISTA.
Individuals eligible under a special authority not listed in another hiring path.
All NRC Employees are encouraged to apply. Based on the staffing needs of the agency/area of consideration, additional selections may be made from this vacancy announcement.
As a Senior Materials Engineer (Nondestructive Evaluation) in the Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research (RES), Division of Engineering (DE), Materials Engineering Branch (MEB), you will be responsible for planning, organizing, directing, coordinating and conducting assigned major research efforts associated with NDE and inservice inspection (ISI) of nuclear power plant structures and components. You will: provide technical assessments of the effectiveness and reliability of industry’s NDE and ISI programs; assess complex NDE/materials engineering-related issues supporting the evaluation of applicant or licensee implementation of NRC regulations and requirements; participate in consensus codes and standards activities; utilize leadership and mentoring skills to train and organize, direct, and review the activities of junior staff; and provide specialized technical assistance and advice to NRC management and staff, and communicate complex NDE-related, materials engineering issues with internal and external stakeholders.
Duties include but are not limited to:
You must meet the qualifications for this position by no later than 30 calendar days after the closing date of this announcement and before placement in the position.
In order to qualify for this position, you must have at least one year of specialized experience at the next lower grade level (GG-14) in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private or public sector.
The ideal candidate will be able to demonstrate the following:
1. Demonstrated knowledge of the principles, theories, and practices of materials engineering as applied to commercial nuclear power plants (NPP).
(Example: Describe your specific training, education and experience that demonstrates your knowledge of the principles, theory, and application of materials engineering and related technical disciplines sufficient to evaluate a broad range of topics at nuclear plants and to support the development of regulatory criteria, guidance, and technical positions.)
2. Demonstrated experience and ability to apply principles of nondestructive examination to a broad range of material/component inspection or evaluation topics and to support the development of the technical basis for regulatory criteria, guidance, or technical positions.
(Example: Describe your specific experience that demonstrates your ability to evaluate a broad range of topics relating to the application of nondestructive examination technologies (ultrasonic examination, radiographic examination, magnetic particle examination, etc.) in the context of developing the technical basis for regulatory criteria, guidance, or technical positions. Experience with the inspection or evaluation of nuclear power plant structural materials and components (e.g. vessels, piping, components, or structures) should be emphasized.)
3. Broad knowledge of NRC regulations, policies, practices and programs applicable to nuclear reactors and reactor pressure boundary materials. Demonstrated knowledge of consensus code and standards currently incorporated into NRC regulations pertaining to reactor pressure boundary design, inspection and repair.
(Example: Describe specific experience, training, education, and skills which demonstrate your knowledge of NRC regulations, policies, and regulatory guidance in general, and with respect to nondestructive examinations and in-service inspections at nuclear plants. Describe specific experience, training, education, and skills which demonstrate your knowledge of industry standards and guidelines related to these topics at nuclear plants.)
4. Demonstrated ability to develop research strategies and implement and conduct complex research programs as well as communicate and present technical information clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing.
(Example: Describe specific experience, training, and accomplishments that demonstrate ability to: develop objectives and plans for research programs; serve as the subject matter expert and contracting office representative on laboratory research programs; lead complex technical discussions and explain complicated technical issues to a variety of audiences; make presentations to various audiences on particular projects of interest; and develop clear, concise, balanced and well-founded technical positions and recommendations based on complex and diverse opinions and facts. Provide examples of relevant research programs that you have led, describing the scope of the programs and your specific role in the programs.)
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE is defined as: experience that demonstrates a knowledge of the design, construction, operation, inspection, evaluation, and/or non-destructive examination of nuclear plant components, structures, and/or facilities.
You must include an unofficial or official copy of your college and/or university transcripts with your application. Transcript must include the School Name, Student Name, Degree and Date Awarded (if applicable). Education must be from an accredited (or pre-accredited) college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. If you are qualifying based on foreign education, you must submit proof of credibility of education as evaluated by a credentialing agency. If you have multiple degrees (e.g., BS, MS, PhD) please submit transcripts for each degree. Applicants can verify accreditation at the following website: https://www.ed.gov/accreditation.
Qualification for All Professional Engineering 0800 Series:
Basic Requirements:
OR
More detailed information about these alternatives are described in the U.S. Office of Personnel Management Qualification Standards Operating Manual which may be accessed at the following website: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule- qualification-standards/0800/materials-engineering-series-0806/n
The duty location of this position is Rockville, MD. In general, employees are expected to be in the office at a minimum of 4 days per pay period. Telework schedules, including full-time telework, are approved, on a case-by-case basis. If selected, telework will be determined in accordance with Agency policy and the Collective Bargaining Agreement, if applicable.
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
When the application process is complete, your application will be reviewed to determine if you meet the job requirements. You will be rated based on the information provided in your resume and responses to any vacancy questions to determine your level of knowledge, skill and ability related to the job requirements. If you are among the top candidates for this position, your application will be referred to the hiring manager.
Your resume is the key means we have for evaluating your skills, knowledge, and abilities as they relate to this position. Therefore, we encourage you to submit a thorough resume that directly relates to this position.
List of supplemental material that may be applicable:
If you are an NRC employee, you are required to submit your most recent Rating of Record (Performance Appraisal) or a statement saying that one is not available. Additionally, you must also submit a copy of your most recent SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action).
If you are a current/reinstatement eligible Federal employee with status (Tenure Group 1 or 2), you will be considered under our merit promotion procedures and must submit a copy of your most recent SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action) to verify competitive status or reinstatement eligibility.
Veterans' Preference documentation, if applicable (e.g. DD-214 Member Copy 4 showing type of discharge/character of service; Current Active Duty members must submit a certification of expected discharge or release from active duty under honorable conditions dated within 120 days; SF-15 Form and related documentation; VA letter.) You can find additional information about Veterans' Preference at http://www.fedshirevets.gov/.
NOTE: Your complete application includes your resume, your responses to any vacancy questions, and if necessary, documents which prove your eligibility to apply. To ensure all of the essential information is in your resume, we encourage you to use the USAJOBS online Resume Builder. If you choose to use your own resume, please ensure it contains all of the required information and you organize it so we can associate the following information for each experience/position. If you fail to provide these documents, you will be marked as having an incomplete application package and you will not be considered any further.
If the position has an education requirement or you are qualifying on the basis of education, please submit your transcript OR list your education history including the type of degree and your major of study. If the position requires a certain number of credit hours, you are strongly encouraged to list the relevant courses along with the course credits in your resume. Do not include a photograph or video of yourself, or any sensitive information (age, date of birth, marital status, protected health information, religious affiliation, social security number, etc.) on your resume or cover letter. We will not access web pages linked on your resume or cover letter to determine your qualifications.
If you are applying for a position that requires a college degree, you must submit your College Transcripts.
All supplemental documents will now be collected electronically and should be submitted before the closing date of this vacancy announcement. You have three choices for submitting your supplemental documents:
1. Use the "USAJOBS" feature to download documents from your USAJOBS portfolio; or
2. use the "Upload" feature to upload documents directly from your computer. The following types of documents can be uploaded: .gif, .jpeg, .png, .rtf, .pdf, and .doc; or
3. use the "Fax" feature to print the Fax Cover Sheet and fax it, along with your supplemental documents to 1-571-258-4052.
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
We strongly encourage you to complete your USAJOBS profile before you submit your application for this position.
Please read the entire announcement. Your application for this vacancy must be received online via the USAJOBS application system BEFORE 11:59 pm Eastern Time on the closing date of this announcement. If you fail to submit a complete online application, you will not be considered for this position.
Paper applications will not be accepted unless hardship circumstances can be demonstrated. Requests for extensions WILL NOT be granted. If applying online poses a hardship for you, the Human Resources Specialist listed on the announcement will provide assistance to ensure that applications are submitted online by the closing date. Applicants must contact the Human Resources Specialist during business hours BEFORE the closing date of the announcement and speak to someone who can provide assistance for your online submission.
You must answer any job specific vacancy questions. You will be rated based on your responses to any vacancy questions and especially the information provided in your resume. Breadth, recency, and length of experience in the field; training, awards, and commendations; past and current performance; and community or outside professional activities will be considered to determine your level of knowledge, skill or ability for this position. Abbreviated responses to the vacancy questions, such as “significant experience” or “see resume” do not provide enough information and should not be used. You will not be considered for this position if you leave any of the vacancy questions unanswered.
To begin the application process, select the "Apply On-line" button to the right on this screen. Then follow the prompts to login/register, submit all required supplemental documents, and complete the application process.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
This job originated on www.usajobs.gov. For the full announcement and to apply, visit www.usajobs.gov/job/828768400. Only resumes submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.
