Engineering Technician

Summary This position is located in the Engineering Service of the Miami VA Healthcare System in Miami Florida. The primary objective includes database and as-built architectural and utility drawing creation and maintenance as well as project design and management for all facility buildings, infrastructure, and land. Projects include such work as renovation and alterations to existing structures and utilities and upgrading existing roads, grounds building roofs, HVAC, and fire protection systems. Responsibilities Major duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to: Primary documentarian for all engineering drawings and design files both in paper and electronically. Identifies and field verifies a variety of space characteristics required for a complete and accurate database, and updates accordingly. Performs surveys of the facility and records necessary information regarding building service equipment. Maintains all facility master floor plans by utilizing AutoCAD drafting and editing techniques. Utilizes established layering schemes or creates new layers as appropriate, that are consistent with existing and AIA standards, prints and plots scaled versions of drawings using appropriate printers, plotters, and other hardware as appropriate. Compiles data from a variety of sources and field verifies in order to accurately digitize changes to the existing floor plans. Coordinates with Construction and Maintenance & Operations staff to incorporate updates to the equipment database as new building service equipment is installed. Perform field investigations to gain first-hand knowledge and to gather architectural and engineering data necessary to document conditions for design, construction, and engineering records. Creates drawings in support of both in-house projects, and design drawings in support of station level engineers and architect. Maintains a cooperative, tactful approach to promote and achieve effective work relationships. Communicates and treats customers (veterans, their representatives, visitors, and all VA staff) in a courteous, tactful and respectful manner. Handles requests for information, conflict and problems constructively and appropriately according to established policies and procedures. Serves as Contracting Officers Technician Representative (COTR) on assigned Station/NRM/Minor level projects and inspects construction and maintenance and repair projects to ensure compliance with drawings and specifications. Establishes written, telephone and face-to-face contacts with Suppliers, Sales Personnel, Contractors, Architects, Engineers, and VA employees at all levels. Performs on own initiative, working independently to plan and carry out assignments. Work Schedule: Full-Time, Monday thru Friday, 8:00AM – 4:30PM Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Engineering Technician/PD08335A and PD083350 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 You may be required to serve a probationary period Subject to background/security investigation Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP) Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) – See “Additional Information” below for details. Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 10/15/2024. Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-09 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-08. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. Individual Occupational Requirements This occupational series has an Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR) which is a minimum qualification requirement. To be considered for the position, you must ensure that the experience is reflected in your resume and/or if applicable, transcripts must be uploaded to support education requirement or substitution. This series covers technical positions supervising, leading, or performing work involving applying a practical knowledge of the: methods and techniques of engineering or architecture; and construction, application, properties, operations, and limitations of engineering systems, processes, structures, machinery, devices, and materials. Basic Requirements: Specialized Experience: Examples of qualifying specialized experience include technical work in: drafting, surveying construction estimating, physical science, mathematics, aerospace, architecture, chemicals, electrical or mechanical systems, mining, petroleum, or nuclear systems. Experience in a trade or craft may be credited as specialized experience when the work provided intensive knowledge of engineering principles, techniques, methods, and precedents. Examples are trade positions with substantial developmental, test, or design responsibilities such as: Planner and estimator who analyzed designs for production purposes. Instrument maker or model maker who performed design or development work on devices fabricate. OR, Education and Training: Two full years of graduate education or a masters degree meets the requirements for GS-9. Graduate education or an internship meets the specialized experience required above GS-5 only in those instances where it is directly related to the work of the position. OR, Certification: Engineering technicians may be certified by the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies, an organization sponsored by the National Society of Professional Engineers. Certification by the Institute will be helpful as a measure of the technicians quality of experience. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: Specialized experience: Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Practical knowledge of the methods and techniques primarily in civil engineering as it pertains to building construction and good familiarity with related fields such as architectural, mechanical and electrical engineering to design projects; Develop specifications and inspect work in progress; Thorough knowledge of engineer and computer aided drafting to prepare all drawings. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience (Graduate education or an internship meets the specialized experience required above GS-5 only in those instances where it is directly related to the work of the position). To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have a Masters degree or equivalent or two (2) full years of graduate-level education directly related to the position. NOTE: A transcript must be submitted if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Applications submitted without this information may not be considered OR, Combination of Experience & Education: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an appropriate combination of specialized experience and graduate-level education beyond the first year and a half (beyond 27 semester hours (Transcript required). You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Administration and Management Design Engineering and Technology 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; religions; 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. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. Physical Requirements: Physical demands are significant; the incumbent must be able to climb, push, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, and reach during normal project inspection procedures. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Managements website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/. Education A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. 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://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. Additional Information Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicants criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.