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Fire Protection Engineer

Employer
USAJobs
Location
District of Columbia, D.C
Closing date
Sep 28, 2021
Duties

Summary

Are you a graduating student or a recent grad? Join our Pathways Recent Graduate Program! This one-year program offers professional and technical training, mentoring and developmental opportunities.

Location of position:
Public Buildings Service
1800 F Street, Washington, DC 20006

We are currently filling one vacancy, but additional vacancies may be filled as needed.

Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

  • Under the guidance of an experienced Fire Protection Engineer, applies numerous fire protection codes, standards, and building codes to GSA owned and leased facilities.
  • Maintains close liaison with government and private engineers and architects, research organizations, industry and technical code and standard organizations to keep abreast of the latest developments.
  • Assists an experienced Fire Protection Engineer in the development of risk assessments of government owned and leased buildings in accordance with the Federal Fire Safety Act.
  • Reviews drawings and specifications for building construction and renovation projects and most space layouts to ensure compliance with GSA standards for fire protection, exiting arrangements, and other safety features.
  • Under the mentorship of an experienced Fire Protection Engineer, learns the realm of fire protection engineering aspects including fire, smoke, life safety, and egress as related to owned and leased buildings.
  • Coordinates with Project Managers in the Design and Construction Division to ensure consistency of practices.
  • Identifies fire hazards and their risks, the cost of protection, and fire safety design.
  • Under the guidance of an experienced Fire Protection Engineer, conducts fire safety surveys of GSA owned and leased buildings and conducts pre-lease and pre-lease renewal surveys.


Travel Required

Occasional travel - Occasional travel is required.

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
12 - Certification as a "qualified fire protection engineer" is required for promotion to the GS-12 grade level.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment



If selected, you must meet the following conditions:
  • Receive authorization from OPM on any job offer you receive, if you are or were (within the last 5 years) a political Schedule A, Schedule C or Non-Career SES employee in the Executive Branch.
  • Register with the Selective Service, if you are a male born after 12/31/1959.
  • Serve a one year trial period, if required.
  • Undergo and pass a background investigation (Tier 1 investigation level).
  • Have your identity and work status eligibility verified if you are not a GSA employee. We will use the Department of Homeland Security's e-Verify system for this. Any discrepancies must be resolved as a condition of continued employment.
  • Signed participant agreement is required for employment under this Program


Qualifications

For each job on your resume, provide:
  • the exact dates you held each job (from month/year to month/year)
  • number of hours per week you worked (if part time).

If you have volunteered your service through a National Service program (e.g., Peace Corps, Americorps), we encourage you to apply and include this experience on your resume.

For a brief video on creating a Federal resume, click here .

The GS-7 salary range starts at $49,157 per year, and the GS-9 salary range starts at $60,129 per year.

If you are a new federal employee, your starting salary will likely be set at the Step 1 of the grade for which you are selected.

It is preferred that you have an undergraduate or graduate degree from a college or university offering a course of study in fire protection engineering, fire protection engineering technology, or fire safety engineering that is accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology or a similar accreditation

BASIC REQUIREMENTS FOR ENGINEERS: A Degree in professional engineering OR a combination of college-level education, training, and/or technical experience. For specifics on qualifying education and/or experience - use the following link: Basic Requirements for Engineer Positions.

GS-7 Level:
In addition to the Basic Requirements listed above, you must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-05 in the Federal service. Specialized experience is applying professional fire protection engineering principles, concepts, and practices to perform routine assignments; the ability to determine the technical ramifications resulting from changes in such things as item design or customer requirements; and familiarity with related architectural and engineering disciplines.
OR
Superior Academic Achievement (SAA) at the baccalaureate level is fully qualifying at the GS-7 level. To claim SAA, submit documentation of one of the following:
  • Class standing -- You must be in the upper third of your graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision, such as the College of Liberal Arts or the School of Business Administration, based on completed courses.
  • Grade-point average (rounded to one decimal point) of :

  • **3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B" or better) as recorded on your official transcript, or as computed based on 4 years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of your curriculum; or

    **3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B+" or better) based on the average of the required courses completed in your major field or the required courses in your major field completed during your final 2 years of the curriculum.

    3. Election to membership in a national scholastic honor society in one of the national scholastic honor societies listed by the Association of College Honor Societies
    OR
    A combination of graduate level education and appropriate specialized experience that together meet the qualification requirements of this position.


    GS-9 Level:
    In addition to the Basic Requirements listed above, you must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 in the Federal service. Specialized experience is progressively responsible experience applying professional fire protection engineering principles, concepts, and practices in the design of construction or alteration projects involving buildings or major building systems of moderate complexity; or assisting in the coordination of the activities of architects, engineers, tenants and construction contractors on such projects. Such experience must also include having assisted in managing projects and/or portions of projects (balance scope/quality, schedule and budget) requiring the services of multiple disciplines from project initiation phase through project closeout.
    OR
    Two years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a master's degree, or a master's or equivalent graduate degree that is directly related to the position.
    OR
    A combination of graduate level education and appropriate experience that together meet the qualification requirements of this position.

    Quality Ranking Factors (QRFs) : QRFs are knowledge, skills, and abilities that could be expected to significantly enhance performance in a position, but are not essential for satisfactory performance. Applicants who possess such KSA's may be ranked above those who do not, but no one may be rated ineligible solely for failure to possess such KSA's . The Quality Ranking Factor for this position is Certification as a "qualified fire protection engineer" required promotion to the full performance GS 12 grade level. The incumbent must hold and retain certification as a "qualified fire protection engineer", to include either: 1) An engineer having an undergraduate or graduate degree from a college or university offering a course of study in fire protection engineering, fire protection engineering technology, or fire safety engineering that is accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology or a similar accreditation; 2) A licensed engineer (P.E.) who has passed the principles and practice of engineering examination in fire protection administered by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES); or 3) A professional engineer (P.E. or similar designation) licensed in a related engineering discipline, plus a minimum of 4 years work experience in fire protection engineering having an understanding of the principles of physics and chemistry governing fire growth, spread, and suppression.

    Education

    Note: If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html

    Additional information

    Bargaining Unit status: Not included in a bargaining unit

    If you are selected at a grade lower than the full performance level, you may be promoted up to that grade level without having to re-apply or compete against other applicants.

    Relocation-related expenses are not approved and will be your responsibility.

    Travel expenses associated with interviews maybeapproved. Determinations will be made on a case-by-case basis.

    On a case-by-case basis, the following incentives may be approved:
    • Recruitment incentive if you are new to the federal government
    • Relocation incentive if you are a current federal employee
    • Credit toward vacation leave if you are new to the federal government

    Additional vacancies may be filled from this announcement as needed; through other means; or not at all.

    How You Will Be Evaluated

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

    We will use a method called Category Rating to assess your application. Here's how it will work:

    You will be scored on the questions you answer during the application process, which will measure your possession of the following competencies or knowledge, skills, and abilities:
  • Knowledge of accepted practices for fire protection engineering sufficient to provide developmental support and assistance in planning, making recommendations and providing advice relative to the regional Fire Protection Engineering Program.
  • Knowledge and understanding of the codes and standards of the National Fire Protection Association and National Model Building Codes sufficient to locate applicable criteria and apply those criteria to specific situations.
  • Knowledge of commonly used project management practices and procedures that specifically pertain to fire protection engineering work.
  • Ability to read and understand engineering drawings sufficient to review, suggest edits and modifications for engineering specifications for the construction of fire protection systems.
  • Knowledge of basic fire protection engineering principles, concepts, and methodology; and skill in applying this knowledge in carrying out elementary assignments, operations, or procedures.
    • Your answers to the questions will be used to place you in one of three categories: Best Qualified, Well Qualified, or Qualified.
    • We will verify your answers to the questions in your resume. If your resume doesn't support your answers, we may lower your score, which could place you in a lower category.
    • Within each category, veterans will receive selection priority over non-veterans.

    To preview questions please click here .

    Background checks and security clearance

    Security clearance
    Other

    Drug test required
    No

    Position sensitivity and risk
    Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk

    Trust determination process
    Suitability/Fitness

    Required Documents

    ALL required documents must be submitted before the closing date. Review the following list to determine what you need to submit.

    If you are claiming veterans preference:
    (a)
    Copy of your Certificate of Release or Discharge From Active Duty, DD-214 that shows the dates of your active duty service. If selected, a DD-214 showing your type of discharge (member 4 copy) will be required prior to appointment.
    (b) If you are claiming 10-point preference, submit both of the following in addition to the DD-214:
    (1) completed SF-15 form; and
    (2) proof of your entitlement (refer to SF-15 for complete list).
    • If you are active duty military- Certification on a letterhead from your military branch that includes your rank, character of service (must be under honorable conditions) & military service dates including discharge/release date (must be no later than 120 days after the date the certification is submitted).

    College transcripts: Your transcripts must show a, b, and c:

    (a) Proof of recent graduate status (within past 2 years or on track to graduate within 30 days of the closing date; or within past 6 years if you were prevented from applying due to your military service)

    (b) Name of your college or university

    (c) Date your degree was awarded

    If you are currently pursuing a graduate degree, but you are claiming Recent Graduate eligibility based on a previous degree, you must also include those transcripts.

    If you completed your education outside of the U.S., see Foreign Education information for guidance on what we can accept.

    If selected, an official transcript will be required prior to appointment.

    Superior Academic Achievement: Submit transcripts as described above. If you qualify based on your class rank or honor society membership, submit documentation of it.

    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.

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