Duties

The incumbent of this position will receive on-the-job-training, will be a bargaining unit employee and be a part of the Federal Communications Commission's Office of Engineering and Technology. The incumbent will receive training on the agency's policy and rulemaking processes and other administrative processes for government agencies. The incumbent will receive technical training covering a wide variety of telecommunications services and technologies. The incumbent will receive training on engineering and policy principles relevant to the fast paced telecommunications industry. In this position, the incumbent may conduct and analyze basic engineering studies, telecommunication system proposals and/or telecommunications technology proposals in order to authorize new and innovative services. The incumbent will assist more senior staff in the analysis of petitions, requests for proposals before the FCC to determine viability and the need for FCC action. The incumbent may conduct studies and perform summaries and/or communicate findings with senior staff. The incumbent may prepare written material, including summaries, memorandum letters, E-mail correspondence and other written documents to individuals within and outside the agency.

The incumbent will be trained and may be tasked with performing propagation analysis of terrestrial, satellite and/or airborne systems or evaluating the emission characteristics of various transmitters to validate the co-existence with neighboring systems. Projects may also involve various computer software engineering and scientific applications. The incumbent will be required to effectively communicate with individuals within and outside the agency on a variety of topics related to the FCC and engineering principles. The incumbent will be required to assist and work with other FCC staff.

The incumbent may be rotated throughout the agency as needed.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• Education-Transcripts Required.
• US Citizenship.
• Non-Veterans-Qualifying degree must be received within 2 yrs of appointment
• Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered with Selective Service.
• Suitable for employment as determined by a background investigation.
• Position has educational/degree requirement. (See Qualifications Section)
• Veterans-Qualifying degree must be received within 6 yrs of appointment
• If you've already graduated, transcript must reflect date degree conferred

Recent Graduates who obtained a qualifying associate, bachelors, master's, professional, doctorate, vocational or technical degree or certificate from a qualifying educational institution, within the previous 2 years. (In support of Veterans Recruitment efforts, some exceptions to the 2-year window apply to veterans whose military service obligation precluded application during any portion of the 2-year application window.)

In order to be considered for this position, applicants must within the previous 2 years, have completed a qualifying associates, bachelors, masters, professional doctorate, vocational or technical degree or certificate from a qualifying educational institution.
Preference eligible veterans who were precluded from applying due to their military service obligation begin their 2-year eligibility period upon release or discharge from active duty. Eligibility for these veterans cannot exceed 6 years from the date on which they completed their degree or certification. Preference eligible veterans unable to apply within two years of receiving their degree due to military service obligation may apply up to six years after degree or certification.

NOTE: We are also considering current students who have graduated from an accredited educational institute within the last 2 years or 6 years for veterans. In addition, we are also considering who have not yet graduated from an accredited college and are scheduled to graduate in December of 2021.

College Transcripts (For Positive Education Required positions and if qualifying based on education and or experience and education.), if applicable.

Please note that your resume is an integral part of the process for determining if you meet the basic qualifications of the position and determining if you are to be among the best qualified

This is a Recent Graduates position in the Pathways Program. This program provides an entry-level developmental experience with the potential to lead to a career in the Federal Government after successfully completing the Program. Upon completion of the developmental program, Recent Graduate appointees may be non-competitively converted to a term or permanent position without further competition.

More information about the Recent Graduates Program can be found here: http://www.usajobs.gov/StudentsAndGrads .

Qualifications

To qualify at the GS-5 Level: applicant must meet the basic requirements described in the individual occupational requirements to fully qualify for the specified entry grade GS-5 click on the following link:
https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0800/files/all-professional-engineering-positions-0800.pdf
To qualify for positions at the GS-7 level: in addition to meeting the basic requirements listed on the link above, you must also meet one of the following:

A. One year of professional experience in an appropriate field comparable in difficulty and responsibility to GS-5 level work in the Federal service. Applicants with an engineering degree who have appropriate experience as a technician equivalent to the GS-5 level or higher may have such experience credited for grade GS-7 only on a month-for-month basis up to a maximum of 12 months.

B. One full academic year of graduate education in an appropriate field. An academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent one academic year of full-time study. If that number cannot be obtained from the school, 18 semester hours should be considered an academic year of graduate study. Part-time graduate education is creditable in accordance with its relationship to a year of full-time study at the school attended.

C. Successful completion of a 5-year program of study of at least 160 semester hours leading to a bachelor's degree in engineering in an accredited college or university.

D. Completion of all requirements for a bachelor's degree that is fully qualifying for the position which meets the eligibility requirements under the Superior Academic Achievement provision. Superior Academic Achievement is based on: (1) class standing, (2) grade-point average, or (3) honor society membership. 1. Class Standing: A standing in the upper third of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision based on completed courses. 2. Grade-point average: a. A grade-point average 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 four years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final two years of the curriculum; or b. a grade-point average of 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B+" or better) based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field of study or the required courses in the major field completed during the final two years of the curriculum. 3. Election to membership in a national scholastic honor society (other than freshman societies) that meet the requirements of the Association of College Honor Societies.

To qualify for positions at the GS-9 level: in addition to meeting the basic requirements listed on the link above, you must also meet one of the following:

A.One year of professional experience in an appropriate field comparable in difficulty and responsibility to GS-7 level work in the Federal Service. B. Two full academic year of graduate education leading to a master's degree in an appropriate field.

To qualify for positions at the GS-11 level: in addition to meeting the basic requirements listed on the link above, you must also meet one of the following:

A.One year of professional experience in an appropriate field comparable in difficulty and responsibility to GS-9 level work in the Federal Service.

B. Three full academic year of graduate education leading to a Ph.D degree in an appropriate field.

*EDUCATION DOCUMENTATION-UNOFFICIAL OR OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPTS MUST BE SUBMITTED. CANDIDATES WHO DO NOT SUBMIT THEIR TRANSCRIPTS WILL BE DEEMED AS INELIGIBLE.*

FOREIGN EDUCATION: To receive credit for education outside the U.S., you must show proof that the education has been submitted to a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign educational credentials and that such education has been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education programs.

Applicants must meet eligibility and qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement. Current Federal employees must meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Specialized Experience: Specialized experience is experience which is in or directly related to the line of work of the position to be filled and which has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the postion.

For the GS-7, specialized experience includes the following:

1. Assisting more experienced engineers

2. Conducting and analyzing basic engineering studies; and

3. Performing computer based projects using various software applications.

For the GS-9, specialized experience includes the following:

1. Assisting more experienced engineers

2. Conducting, analyzing, and write basic engineering studies; and

3. Performing computer based projects using various software applications.

For the GS-11, specialized experience includes the following:

1. Assisting more experienced engineers

2. Independently Conduct and analyze, and write basic engineering studies; and

3. Performing computer based projects using various software applications.

KSA'S

You will be evaluated for this position on the following Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Other characteristics (KSAOs):

• Knowledge of professional electronics engineering principles and concepts.
• Knowledge of engineering concepts, principles and practices of electronics engineering in order to perform studies, provide advice to applicants, industry officials, and agency representatives.
• Skill in applying standard engineering practices, methods and techniques to perform relatively limited assignments.
• Skill in evaluating the impact and/or acceptability of a variety of advanced communications technologies given existing rules, regulations and policies.

PART-TIME OR UNPAID EXPERIENCE: 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.

Education

Degree Professional Engineering. To view qualifying educational requirements and/or combination of education and specialized experience click on the following link:

https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0800/files/all-professional-engineering-positions-0800.pdf

If you are qualifying based on positive education, please provide a copy of your college transcript. The transcript may be unofficial or photocopy at time of application, but MUST provide the original if selected.

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order to receive credit towards qualifications. Therefore, applicants must report only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Applicants can verify accreditation at the following website: http://www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html

All education claimed by applicants will be verified by the appointing agency accordingly. If selected, an official transcript will be required prior to appointment.

Students who have graduated from an accredited college must submit unofficial or official transcripts at the time of application. The transcript must demonstrate the date that the degree was conferred.

NOTE: Students who have not yet graduated from an accredited college and are scheduled to graduate in December of 2021 are eligible to apply for this announcement. You must submit unofficial or official transcripts which demonstrates current enrollment . Students who are scheduled to graduate in December of 2021, if selected, must submit unofficial or official transcripts which demonstrates the date that the degree was conferred.

Additional information

Pathways Program - U.S. CITIZEN OR NON-U.S.CITIZEN EMPLOYMENT REQUIREMENTS:
There is no U. S. citizenship requirement to participate in the Pathways Programs. HOWEVER, U. S. citizenship is a requirement for conversion to the competitive service via a term or permanent appointment.
**Non-U.S. citizens may apply to the Pathways Internship Program as current students or recent graduates and be employed; however, the student must have been lawfully admitted into the United States as a permanent resident or otherwise authorized to be employed in the Pathways Internship Program.
NOTE: A non-citizen student may not be converted to career-conditional employment in the competitive service unless they are U.S. citizens at the time of conversion. Additionally, applicants must be a U.S. citizen for positions that require security clearances.

EEO Policy Statement

Reasonable Accommodation Policy Statement

Veterans Information

Legal and Regulatory Guidance