Duties

Summary

This position is located with the Office of Enterprise Assessments, Office Environment, Safety & Health Assessments, Office of Nuclear Safety & Environmental Assessments (EA-31). EA-31 implements the nuclear safety aspects of DOE Order 227.1A through independent evaluations of DOE nuclear facilities and operations that provide constructive feedback and objective information on programs and performance in protecting our workers, the public and environment from radiological hazards.

Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

As a Nuclear Engineer, you will:

• Lead and participate in teams of DOE and contractor technical experts and contribute to the conduct of assessments, special technical analyses, and studies at DOE's high-hazard nuclear facilities.
• Serve as a professional advisor to Headquarters and field management officials on issues related to nuclear facility design, accident analysis, construction quality, operations, maintenance, testing and commissioning, including the identification and evaluation of operations and/or conditions which represent a safety risk; and the formulation and recommendation of measures to eliminate or control such risks and hazards.
• Evaluate measures taken to ensure that engineered safety systems, maintenance and testing programs, safety basis documents, engineering and quality assurance programs, and operations procedures are properly designed and implemented.
• Advise senior EA and DOE officials on safety issues pertaining to high-hazard nuclear operations and facilities.
• Develop and manage the incorporation of appropriate nuclear safety information pertaining to engineered safety systems, maintenance and testing programs, safety basis documents, engineering and quality assurance programs, and operations data collection into EA independent oversight activities.
• Coordinate the requirements for nuclear safety into the comprehensive agency-wide EA independent oversight program.

Travel Required

50% or less - Approximately 30% overnight travel is required to attend meetings, conferences, training and site visits.

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
14

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• You must be a United States Citizen.
• This employer participates in the e-Verify program.
• See "Other Information" section regarding Selective Service requirements.
• This position must obtain and maintain a "Q" Security Clearance.
• Resume and question responses must be submitted online.
• Must complete a Financial Disclosure Statement, OGE-450 form.
• Must complete DOE's Technical Qualification Program.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

This position is eligible for telework; however, approval is at the discretion of the supervisor.

This position is telework eligible but is NOT a virtual position. Selectee will report to Germantown, MD.

This position is included in the Department of Energy's Technical Qualification Program (TQP). The selectee will be required to meet core, position, and site specific technical qualification standards within a reasonable period of time (typically from 12 to 18 months) from the date of placement in the position.

If selected, you will be required to complete a Confidential Financial Disclosure, OGE-450 form upon entry into the position and annually thereafter.

Eligible candidates for this position must be able to obtain and maintain a Department of Energy "Q" level security clearance. Position requires the incumbent have access to highly classified/restricted data documents and/or materials, thus the position demands the highest degree of public trust.

This position has also been designated as a Testing Designated Position (TDP) subject to testing for illegal drug use. The selectee must test negative prior to being appointed to this position and will be subject to random testing thereafter. Failure to pass or refusal to take subsequent tests could result in non-selection or disciplinary action, up to and including removal from the Federal service.

You must submit an unofficial or official transcripts by the closing date of this vacancy announcement. NOTE: Failure to provide transcripts will result in you being rated ineligible for this position.

You must meet both the positive education requirement known as "Basic Requirements" and Specialized Experience as described in the "Qualification" section of the vacancy announcement.

Qualifications

For the Nuclear Engineer, GS-0840, you must possess the following Basic Requirements:

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), 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; or

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; or

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; or

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.

In addition to meeting the "Basic Requirements" described above, you must also meet the "Specialized Experience Requirements" described below.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS: Specialized Experience is experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA's) to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled. A qualified candidate's online application and resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience for this position is defined as:

• Performing inspections, evaluations, and assessments of nuclear safety programs at nuclear facilities.
• Identifying any design, construction or operational practices that may violate safety requirements at nuclear facilities.
• Leading teams of subject matter experts that enable thorough evaluations of complex technical information resulting in high-quality written products to be presented to management for decision.

Your application and resume should demonstrate that you possess the following knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs). Do not provide a separate narrative written statement. Rather, you must describe in your application how your past work experience demonstrates that you possess the KSAs identified below. Cite specific examples of employment or experience contained in your resume and describe how this experience has prepared you to successfully perform the duties of this position. DO NOT write "see resume" in your application!

Mastery of advanced principles and practices of related disciplines and subject matter areas, such as health physics, general and occupational safety and health, and working knowledge of other professional engineering and scientific disciplines, to serve as a technical authority with respect to the full range of work associated with the conduct of assessments, special technical analyses and studies.

Knowledge to evaluate the adequacy of nuclear facility engineering design, safety basis, configuration management and operations programs and to provide advice on how to improve systems and related safety programs Department-wide.

Knowledge of DOE, OSHA, EPA, NRC, and other agency or organization safety regulations, policies, and procedures in order to determine and measure conformance with required and accepted nuclear engineering and systems safety practices and procedures applicable to the design, construction, and operation of nuclear facilities.

Ability to lead, guide, direct, and contribute to multidisciplinary teams engaged in the conduct of assessments and in the analysis and study of nuclear facility engineered safety systems, engineering and design processes, safety bases, operations, and related issues.

Skill to represent the agency in oversight matters in interagency meetings, conferences, and/or task groups.

"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.

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

EDUCATION:

This position has a positive educational requirement.

Education requirements described in the "Qualifications" section for the Nuclear Engineering series, 0800 can be found on U.S. Office of Personnel Management website at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0800/files/all-professional-engineering-positions-0800.pdf

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.

• New employees to the Department of Energy will be required to successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit www.dhs.gov/E-Verify
• 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.
• This position is included in the Bargaining Unit.
• 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://www.eeoc.gov/federal/fed_employees/index.cfm
Reasonable Accommodation Policy: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/disability-employment/reasonable-accommodations/
Veterans Information: https://www.fedshirevets.gov/job-seekers/veterans-preference/

Telework: https://www.telework.gov/

Selective Service Registration: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/fair-and-transparent/selective-servic

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 place you into an initial quality category via OPM's Category Rating procedures. Then, the HR Office and/or Subject Matter Expert (SME) will conduct a quality review of your application and supporting documentation to ensure you have been placed into the appropriate quality category.

Your application is rated based on the extent and quality of your experience, education (when applicable), and training as described in your resume and applicant assessment. Your credentials are measured against the established duties of the position at the grade level(s) being advertised.

The quality categories are usually defined as "Best Qualified", "Well Qualified", and "Qualified", although they may differ slightly based on individual agency policy.

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 you are a Veteran Preference eligible candidate, you will be listed at the top of whichever quality category your rating places you in. CP/CPS veterans are placed at the top of the highest category for all positions except professional and scientific positions at GS-9 and higher.

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
Q Access Authorization

Drug test required
Yes

Position sensitivity and risk
Critical-Sensitive (CS)/High Risk

Trust determination process
Credentialing , Suitability/Fitness , National security

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" rel="noopener">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 salary for each position and the highest 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.

Specific educational requirements are indicated for this vacancy: experience." href="https://help.usajobs.gov/index.php/Education" target="_blank" rel="noopener">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" rel="noopener">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" rel="noopener">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.