Mechanical Engineer
: Job Details :

Summary Reclamation is seeking a career professional looking for an opportunity to capitalize on their expertise as a Mechanical Engineer. Make a difference in the West by assisting in meeting increasing water demands while protecting the environment. Duty Location: Redding, California Responsibilities The following duties are at the full performance level of GS-12: - Performing specialized mechanical engineering work of varying complexity relating to the mechanical maintenance of hydro-electric generating equipment and associated systems including power plants, dams, switchyards, pumping plants, fish facilities, maintenance buildings, shops, and offices. - Work includes Mechanical Engineering support for repairs and maintenance to existing equipment as well as new construction, additions, refurbishment, and modernization of existing equipment. - Provide technical support on a variety of mechanical systems including, but not limited to, hydro-electric generation, pneumatic and hydraulic systems for valve and gate operations, piping systems, large valves and gates, cranes and hoists, bearings, lubrication, heating and air conditioning, various pumping systems for water, hydraulic oil and compressed air, temperature control devices and fish hatchery operations. - Serves as a project engineer over the planning and design phase of maintenance and improvement projects and in the installation of new equipment, including installation and testing to final on-line operations. - Evaluates mechanical condition of equipment, prepares written repair procedures, performance work statements and technical specifications as required. - Performs field inspections and investigates of equipment/systems status and operational problems. - Performs maintenance engineering analysis, diagnosing equipment anomalies and determines remedial action such as machinery vibration analysis utilizing frequency analyzer to determine the conditions of balance, alignment, and bearing function. - Develops new design or modified design of new and/or existing systems as needed. - Provides cost estimates for a wide range of engineering and mechanical maintenance activities in support of mechanical maintenance program. Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen or U.S. National. You must be suitable for federal employment, determined by a background investigation. You must submit a resume and supporting documentation (see Required Documents). You must submit eligibility documents for veterans' consideration (see Required Documents). You must meet any minimum education and/or experience requirements (see Qualifications). You must submit transcript(s) to verify education requirements (see Qualifications/Education). You must maintain a valid State Driver's License at all times as the position requires operation of government vehicles on government and public roads. Failure to maintain a valid State Driver's License at all times will result in removal from the position. You will be required to obtain a successful pre-employment physical examination by a licensed physician certifying your ability to perform the duties of this position. A physical exam may not be required if a comparable agency approved examination was performed within the last 12 months. The cost of the exam will be reimbursed by the agency. This position may require uncommon tour of duty (e.g., evenings, weekends approximately 10% of the time in connection with stated duties. You may be required to work some overtime. You must possess or obtain certification as a Contracting Officer's Technical Representative (COTR). You may be required to travel 20% of the time. Qualifications To be eligible for consideration, you must first meet the Basic Education Requirement for this position, having a Basic Requirement for Mechanical Engineer (Energy/Economic Analysis) must be met first. (NOTE: You MUST submit a copy of your transcript with your application package) 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. NOTE: You MUST attach a copy of your transcripts. 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: NOTE: You MUST attach a copy of your transcripts. 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. NOTE: You MUST attach a copy of your registration or licensure. 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. NOTE: You MUST attach a copy of your examination results. 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. NOTE: You MUST attach a copy of your transcripts. 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.) NOTE: You MUST attach a copy of your transcripts. In order to be rated as qualified for this position, the HR Office must be able to determine that you meet the education and specialized experience requirement - this information must be clearly supported in the resume. To qualify at the GS-07, you must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and complexity to at least the GS-05 level in federal service having demonstrated experience but not limited to: Perform trainee level duties to assist higher-graded engineers in data collection, designs; knowledge of mechanical engineering concepts. You could otherwise qualify on the basis of Education having: Education: One full year of graduate level education in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position, such as: Engineering. NOTE: You MUST attach a copy of your transcripts with your application package. OR Superior Academic Achievement. In order to be creditable under this provision, Superior Academic Achievement must have been gained in a curriculum that is qualifying for the position to be filled, such as that identified in Education above. NOTE: You MUST submit a copy of your transcript and/or verification of class standing for further verification. Superior Academic Achievement is based on: (1) Class Standing - Applicants must be in the upper third of the 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. OR (2) Grade-Point Average (G.P.A.) - Applicants must have a grade-point average of either (a) 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 the curriculum; or (b) 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 or the required courses in the major field completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum.; OR (3) Honor Society Membership - Applicants may be considered eligible based on membership in one of the approved national scholastic honor societies listed by the Association of College Honor Societies ( of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) by 18. Add the two percentages. NOTE: You MUST submit a copy of your transcript with your application package. To qualify at the GS-09, you must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and complexity to at least the GS-07 level in federal service having demonstrated experience but not limited to: Provide support to higher-graded engineers in reviewing inspection data of equipment/systems; knowledge of mechanical engineering concepts; experience developing mechanical engineering designs and plans for mechanical utility systems using computer software. You could otherwise qualify on the basis of Education having: Education: Master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position, such as: Engineering. NOTE: You MUST attach a copy of your transcripts with your application package. Education QUALIFICATIONS CONTINUED: To qualify at the GS-09, OR Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) beyond the first year (total graduate semester hours minus 18) by 18. Add the two percentages. NOTE: You MUST submit a copy of your transcript with your application package. To qualify at the GS-11, you must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and complexity to at least the GS-07 level in federal service having demonstrated experience but not limited to: Performing more independent data collection, designs, preparing cost estimates, and engineering duties concerned with design, construction, maintenance and operation for hydroelectric powerplants, pumping plant, dams, reservoirs, canal structures, various offices and shop facilities; knowledge of mechanical engineering concepts; perform inspections and investigation of equipment/systems. You could otherwise qualify on the basis of Education having: Education: Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position, such as: Engineering. NOTE: You MUST submit a copy of your transcript with your application package. OR Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) beyond the second year (total graduate semester hours minus 36) by 18. Add the two percentages. NOTE: You MUST submit a copy of your transcript with your application package. To qualify at the GS-12, you must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and complexity to at least the GS-07 level in federal service having demonstrated experience but not limited to: Professional mechanical engineering experience on data collection, designs, preparing cost estimates, and full range of engineering duties concerned with design, construction, maintenance and operation of a variety of mechanical, and electro-mechanical equipment/systems for hydroelectric powerplants, pumping plant, dams, reservoirs, switchyards, canal structures, various offices and shop facilities; perform inspections and investigation of equipment/systems; knowledge of mechanical engineering concepts. 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. You must meet all Eligibility and Qualification requirements, including any selective placement factors if applicable, by . The GS-12 position does not allow substituting education for experience. This vacancy announcement allows substituting education for experience at the GS-07/09/11 grade levels. Applicants must submit a copy of college transcript(s) (unofficial copy is acceptable) to support claimed education if substituting education for experience. Transcripts must include the name of the college or university and date the degree was conferred. A typed list of courses, grades, semester/quarter hours, GPA, etc. will not be accepted. Non-submission may result in being rated not-qualified for the position. You will be required to provide official college transcripts to verify educational qualifications, if selected. An official transcript must be sent directly from the University's Registrar's office and must be provided from the institution awarding the degree. Academic transcripts certified by notary publics are NOT official. Official transcripts must be submitted prior to reporting to work as a condition of employment. Failure to submit official transcripts may be grounds for dismissal or rescission of the job offer. Accreditation: Only education from an accredited college or university recognized by the Department of Education is acceptable to meet education requirements or to substitute for experience, if applicable. For additional info, refer to the Office of Personnel Management and U.S. Department of Education. Foreign Education: To receive credit for education completed outside the United States, you must show proof that the education has been submitted to a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education has been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education programs. For additional info, refer to the U.S. Network for Education Information. Additional Information You may be required to serve an initial probationary period. Current, permanent Federal employees who are selected from this announcement may be required to serve a probationary period. Reclamation has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework and you may be allowed to telework with supervisory approval. If otherwise eligible and qualified, you MAY BE offered a recruitment or relocation incentive. The decision to offer an incentive will be made on a case-by-case basis and is neither promised nor guaranteed. For information visit: Recruitment Incentive or Relocation Incentive. Permanent Change of Station (PCS) expenses MAY BE authorized with the exception of the Guaranteed Home Sale Provision or first-post-of-duty relocation expenses are authorized, as applicable. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), signed into law December 2017, suspends the moving expense deduction and the exclusion from income of qualified employer reimbursements of moving expenses that was allowed under previous tax laws. Employer reimbursements for moving costs are now generally taxed at the same rate as ordinary income. If otherwise eligible and qualified, you MAY BE offered a Student Loan Repayment Benefit (SLRB). The decision to offer an SLRB will be made on a case-by-case basis and is neither promised nor guaranteed. For information visit: SLRB Program. If otherwise eligible and qualified, you MAY request consideration for a Superior Qualifications Appointment. For information, visit: OPM Fact Sheet. Related non-Federal experience or related experience as retired members of the uniformed services MAY BE credited towards computing entitlement to leave accrual, at managerial discretion, providing that experience meets certain criteria. This provision allows new employees to earn annual leave at a higher rate than would otherwise be allowed. (5 Code of Federal Regulations, 630). For additional information, please visit: Creditable Service for Annual Leave DOI uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including applicant rights and responsibilities, please visit This position is designated as a MODERATE RISK Public Trust position. It requires a fully completed and favorably adjudicated Public Trust Suitability Background Investigation (T2S or T2RS or equivalent) that is current (within the last 5 years). This is a condition of employment. Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must certify registration with the Selective Service System or that the applicant is exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. Go to: This is a bargaining unit position represented by a Union. Additional vacancies may be filled using this job announcement.