Summary

This position is part of the Hydrocarbons and Geothermal Energy Office, Department of Energy. As a Interdisciplinary General Engineer Physical Scientist, you will provide professional engineering or physical science expertise and support to DOE programs, projects or initiatives whose mission or responsibilities include a combination of engineering and physical science work that supports the DOE mission to maintain US preeminence in engineering and scientific technology research and applications.

Duties

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The Hydrocarbons and Geothermal Energy Office (HGEO) office works to unleash the full potential of America's hydrocarbon and geothermal resources to provide affordable, reliable, and secure energy.

As an Interdisciplinary General Engineer Physical Scientist, at the GS-13 full performance level, you will:

• Lead and manage highly complex geothermal research and development (R&D) projects, serving as the technical authority responsible for their design, implementation, and rigorous scientific evaluation.
• Act as a senior consultant to internal DOE officials, external organizations, and other engineers, providing expert opinions to resolve highly difficult, unusual, or controversial scientific and engineering challenges.
• Conduct in-depth analyses of complex technical issues to solve unique problems, successfully navigating situations characterized by rapidly changing technology, conflicting objectives, and incomplete source data.
• Evaluate the viability of emerging subsurface energy technologies and collaborate on developing brand-new engineering standards, concepts, or theories where precedents do not exist.
• Oversee project budgets and major funding investments, evaluate high-level inter-agency agreements, and manage the technical contractor selection and procurement process to establish office-wide strategic direction.
• Represent the Department of Energy at interdepartmental meetings, professional symposia, and public hearings to defend technical decisions, present R&D findings, and influence national geothermal energy initiatives.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• This employer participates in the e-Verify program.
• If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. See www.sss.gov.
• If selected, your appointment may be subject to a suitability or fitness determination, as determined by a completed background investigation.
• If selected, you may be required to complete a one year probationary period.
• Occasional travel required.
• This position is not included in a Bargaining Agreement.
• If selected, Technical Project Officer (TPO) Certification required to be obtained within 6 months of your start date.

Qualifications

BASIC REQUIREMENT FOR 0801 SERIES:

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

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:

1. Professional registration or licensure Current registration as an Engineer Intern (EI), Engineer in Training (EIT)1, 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.
2. Written Test Evidence of having successfully passed the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE)2 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.
3. 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.
4. 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. (The above examples of related curricula are not all-inclusive.)

BASIC REQUIREMENT FOR 1301 SERIES

A. Degree: physical science, engineering, or mathematics that included 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science such as mechanics, dynamics, properties of materials, and electronics.

OR

B. Combination of education and experience: education equivalent to one of the majors shown in A above that included at least 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

GS-12 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 GS-11 in the Federal service. Specialized experience for this position is defined as meeting 2 of 3 of the following:

1. Investigating, analyzing, and evaluating geothermal surface or subsurface data (such as rock mechanics, fluid flow, reservoir temperatures, thermal properties, or exploratory drilling) to solve engineering or physical science challenges.
2. Planning and coordinating phases of engineering or scientific projects (such as geothermal energy projects), including managing project schedules, tracking milestones, and monitoring project budgets or expenditures.
3. Presenting scientific findings or project progress updates to diverse technical and non-technical stakeholders, and writing comprehensive technical reports or feasibility studies.

GS-13 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 GS-12 in the Federal service. Specialized experience for this position is defined as meeting 2 of 3 of the following:

1. Primary lead or advisor to analyze, interpret, and resolve geothermal related subsurface engineering or geoscientific problems (such as those involving reservoir modeling, exploratory drilling, well testing, or hydrogeology) where standard guidelines or precedents were incomplete or required major adaptation.
2. Managing multi-year projects (such as subsurface energy development, geothermal R&D, or deep drilling operations), including establishing project strategy, setting milestones, managing multi-million-dollar budgets, and assessing project performance.
3. Leading collaborations across organizational boundaries (such as partnering with industry representatives, national laboratories, universities, or regulatory agencies) to resolve controversial technical issues, align project goals, and compile authoritative scientific or technical reports for senior leadership."

"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

This vacancy has a positive education requirement. In order to be rated as qualified, you must provide copies of your college transcripts. Failure to provide copies of your college transcripts may result in a rating of "Ineligible". 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

• This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional similar vacancies across DOE.
• For general information on government-wide Telework polices visit: www.telework.gov
• Hiring incentives may be authorized in accordance with agency policy and if funding is available.

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Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Benefits

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.