Duties

Summary

This position is located within the Technical and Project Management Division (TPMD) of the Loans Programs Office (LPO) in the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).

Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

The incumbent will serve as a Federal Project Engineer (FPE) on the Nuclear Energy Projects Team within LPO's Technical and Project Management Division (TPMD). The FPE will be primarily assigned to nuclear energy projects, including projects related to advanced nuclear reactors, small modular reactors (SMRs), uprates and upgrades to existing nuclear facilities, and front-end enrichment and fuel fabrication that reduce emissions of carbon dioxide, methane, and other greenhouse gas pollution. The incumbent may also be assigned to other innovative energy projects as dictated by the Division Director, or as expressed by the incumbent, based on overall workload of the Technical Division.

As a General Engineer, you will:

• Perform comprehensive technical research for evaluations of project applications and project monitoring for advanced nuclear, advanced fossil and renewable energy and ATVM loans.
• Provide ongoing support to TPMD management as assigned throughout the application review, due diligence and execution and attends meetings with LPO Division staff and, as appropriate, with project sponsors, to respond to specific requests for technical support.
• Evaluate plant engineering and designs, in accordance with industry standards. Reviews reliability and efficiency issues, and the adequacy of supply and off-take arrangements, as well as construction contracts, including engineering, procurement and construction ("EPC") contracts, and other contracts and sub-contracts, Before and after loan closing, assures adequate operation and maintenance plans, procedures, and implementation.
• Plan, conduct, and evaluate special studies and undertakes other activities as assigned, (e, g. preparation of status reports, progress reports, and special technical memoranda) as requested by or for the info1mation of LPO project team members or higher level program management.
• Establish and maintain liaison with technical personnel in other DOE organizational elements and with other Federal agencies involved in related programs of mutual interest to develop supplemental and complementary information relevant to the program.
• Support the review of loan applications to ensure technical eligibility (technical innovation and benefits) and viability (technical merit and technical readiness), in accordance with federal government statutes and LPO processes and procedures.
• Support the technical due diligence of loan applications, to include the assessment of project risks and development of risk mitigation plans, the development of conditions precedent covenants to include the technical requirements for project funding and completion.
• Support the analysis and assessment of the technical aspects of assigned projects during construction (progress and costs) and operations; and provide associated recommendations to the project monitoring team and LPO management regarding funding advances, project withdrawals and distributions, and achievement of project milestones.
• Participate in energy industry meetings, conferences and events to stay current with emerging energy sector trends and technologies.
• Interface with peers in other Federal Agencies and within the Department of Energy (e.g., the Office of Nuclear Energy, Office of Electricity, and National Nuclear Security Agency etc.)
• Support the development of plans and recommendations for deviations from plans or performance metrics, development of recovery plans, and associated non-compliance actions.

Travel Required

Occasional travel - Occasional Travel outside the normal duty station may be required.

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
14

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• This employer participates in the e-Verify program.
• Males must abide by Selective Service registration requirements.
• You must be a United States Citizen.
• Must pass a pre-employment drug test and random testing after appointment.
• Resume and application must be submitted online.
• Public Trust clearance

OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

You must meet all qualification requirements outlined on this vacancy announcement by the closing date.

Qualifications

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

A qualified candidate's online application and resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience for this position is defined as:

For GS-13 level: Applicants must have 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-12; or its non-Federal equivalent that demonstrates: experience assisting in analysis, assessment, and monitoring of multiple concurrent engineering projects, addressing complex systems engineering challenges and current knowledge in either: advanced technology vehicle manufacturing; or one or more of the following clean energy technology areas: renewable energy and fuels, advanced fossil energy technologies, advanced nuclear energy, energy efficiency, energy transmission, distribution and storage.

For GS-14 level: Applicants must have 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-13; or its non-Federal equivalent that demonstrates: experience leading the analysis, assessment, and monitoring of multiple concurrent engineering projects, addressing complex systems engineering challenges and current knowledge in either: advanced technology vehicle manufacturing; or one or more of the following clean energy technology areas: renewable energy and fuels, advanced fossil energy technologies, advanced nuclear energy, energy efficiency, energy transmission, distribution and storage.

Your application and resume should demonstrate that you possess the following knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs). Do not provide a separate narrative written statement. DO NOT write "see resume" in your application!

Expert knowledge of risk analysis and management techniques to assess risks and establish mitigation factors associated with project technology, completion, operational costs, performance, and infrastructure.

Expert knowledge of LPO policies and procedures including loan guarantee technical reviews, due diligence, Joan structuring, negotiation, and asset management.

Ability to perform technical monitoring requirements of existing projects within the portfolio, from financial close, through construction and completion, and during normal commercial operation.

Expert knowledge of DOE and other national policies for integration of technical info1mation into strategy papers, analyses, plans, standards, and guidelines, public releases, and statutory reports.

Expert knowledge of near- and long-term management planning, program implementation, and coordination for a variety of fields in advanced and complex programs sufficient to integrate activities into ongoing programs with minimal impacts.

"Experience" refers to paid and unpaid experience. Examples of qualifying unpaid experience may include: volunteer work done through National Service programs (such as Peace Corps and AmeriCorps); as well as work for other community-based philanthropic and social organizations. 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 Federal employees must meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement to receive consideration.

CTAP/ICTAP candidates: To be considered "well qualified" you must meet all of the requirements as described in this section.

You must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Education

Basic Requirements:
A degree in professional engineering. To be acceptable, the curriculum must: (1) be in a school of engineering with at least one curriculum accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) as a professional engineering curriculum; 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

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 professional engineering, and (2) 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, written test, specific academic courses, and related curriculum.

Education must be obtained from an accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Foreign education must be reviewed by an organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For special instructions pertaining to foreign education and a list of organizations that can evaluate foreign education, see the Department of Education website.

Additional information

• The U.S. Department of Energy fosters a diverse and inclusive workplace and is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
• Veterans and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. For more information, please visit the links at the bottom of this page or visit the FedsHireVets website.
• If you believe that you are eligible for the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP), please visit the OPM ICTAP/CTAP website for more information. In order to be considered under the ICTAP program, your application must score within the pre-established "well qualified" category as stated in the Qualifications section.
• More than one selection may be made from this vacancy announcement.
• Some positions may require completion of a probationary period of up to 1 (one) year.
• Many positions require successful completion of a background investigation.
• All males born after December 31st 1959 must abide by laws regarding Selective Service registration. To learn more about this law, visit the Selective Service web page, Who Must Register . If you are not registered and don't have an approved exemption, you will not be eligible for employment with the Federal government.

EEO Policy: https://help.usajobs.gov/index.php/EEO_Policy_Statement
Reasonable Accommodation Policy: https://help.usajobs.gov/index.php/Reasonable_Accommodation_Policy_Statement
Veterans Information: https://help.usajobs.gov/index.php/Veterans_Information
Telework: www.telework.gov
Selective Service Registration: http://www.sss.gov/

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

The Department of Energy uses an application tracking system to evaluate the responses you provide in the applicant assessment questionnaire to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications necessary for this position. Then, the HR Office and/or Subject Matter Expert (SME) will conduct a quality review of your application and supporting documentation to determine if your qualifications meet the criteria for referral to the selecting official.

We will also verify that you are eligible for Merit Promotion positions by reviewing your previous Federal employment to ensure you meet Time-in-Grade requirements. If you are eligible to apply to Merit Promotion announcements based on Veteran or other non-competitive statuses, we will verify your supporting documentation prior to referral.

If you are eligible for career transition assistance plans such as ICTAP or CTAP, you must meet the definition of "well qualified" which is defined as having a score of 85 or better.

If your resume is incomplete or does not support the responses you provided in your online questionnaire, or if you fail to submit all required documentation before the vacancy closes, you may be rated 'ineligible', 'not qualified', or your score may be adjusted accordingly.
To preview questions please click here .

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Other

Drug test required
Yes

Required Documents

Please carefully review the following list to determine what documentation you need to submit. Some documents may not apply to all applicants.
If you are unsure, click the link for each document type to read more.

ALL APPLICANTS: You must submit a about what is expected in your resume." href="https://help.usajobs.gov/index.php/How_to_create_your_resume" target="_blank">resume supporting your specialized experience and responses to the online questionnaire.

• Your resume should list all work experience (paid and unpaid); you must list the full name and address of the each employer.
• For all types of work experience, you should indicate the start and end dates (include month, day, and year); you must also list the average number of hours per week that you worked.
• For paid work experience, please indicate your starting grade/salary for each position and the highest grade/salary you earned (if different).
• Your resume should also include any education and training you have completed (list the program title, subject area, number of hours completed, and completion date).
• For more information about what to include in your resume, please view this USAJOBS Resume Tutorial video on YouTube.

Most DOE offices will allow you to submit a resume in the format of your choice (as an attached document or as a USAJOBS Resume Builder format). However, some offices may require one specific format. You will be notified at the time you click 'Apply Online' which type of resume is acceptable. It is important that you are complete and thorough in your resume. If any of the above information is not included in your resume, we may not be able to fully credit you for your experience.

Current and former Federal employees: Most recent SF-50 (Standard Form 50 - Notice of Personnel Action).

To properly verify status eligibility, your SF-50 must show the following. If you do not submit an appropriate SF-50, we cannot verify your status eligibility!

Full position title;

appointment type;

occupational series;

pay plan, grade, and step;

tenure code; and

service computation date (SCD).

If specific educational requirements are indicated for this vacancy: experience." href="https://help.usajobs.gov/index.php/Education" target="_blank">Documentation verifying your educational claims which can include unofficial transcripts or any report listing institution, course title, credits earned and final grade. Please see the Education section for more information.

Veterans: authorities and the documentation you need to submit" href="http://www.fedshirevets.gov/job/shav/index.aspx" target="_blank">veteran eligibility documentation (DD-214 Member #4 Copy, VA Letter, Standard Form (SF) 15 as applicable). Please note: If you are a veteran who has not yet been discharged, you may provide a statement of intent to discharge from your agency to receive Veterans Preference under the VOW (Veterans Opportunity to Work) to Hire Heroes Act of 2011.

Persons with Disabilities: Individuals with intellectual disabilities, severe physical disabilities, or psychiatric disabilities may apply for appointment through the Schedule A hiring authority. flexibilities for persons with disabilities" href="https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/disability-employment/" target="_blank">Certified verification of a disability from a licensed medical professional; a licensed vocational rehabilitation specialist; or any Federal, state, or District of Columbia agency or U.S. territory that issues or provides disability benefits will be required.

Displaced Federal employees who qualify for CTAP/ICTAP: If you are a former Federal employee who was displaced due to a Reduction-in-Force (RIF) or surplused by some other means, please submit a copy of the separation letter or RIF notice from your agency. To be selected under I/CTAP, you must still be found well-qualified for this position. Please see the OPM Guide to Career Transition for more information.

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

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.