Electronics Technician

This position is located in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Office of Marine and Aviation Operations (OMAO), Uncrewed Systems Operations Center, with one vacancy in Gulfport, MS. This position is also announced under vacancy number OMAO-26-13073237-DE, which is open to all US Citizens or Nationals. You must apply to both announcements if you want to be considered for both. As an Electronics Technician, you will perform the following duties: Provide support to enhance utilization and maximize transition of Uncrewed Marine Systems (UMS) research to operations and applications. Provide technical support in measurement science, instrumentation design, development, repair, and testing to include instrument calibration, modification, and operation. Plan and maintain uncrewed (i.e. unmanned or autonomous) systems in support of scientific projects. Determine equipment status and performance while underway and repair all failed equipment. Ensure calibration or service of uncrewed platform sensors and equipment to meet mission schedule. Contribute to the oversight of UMS electronics work and perform acceptance tests and quality assurance procedures. Prepare technical documents, drawing, and maintenance plans on all systems. Participate in regular information planning sessions and maintain productive interaction with the staff. Make recommendations to management and report on the status and progress of work accomplished to date and monitor work in progress. Participate in training uncrewed (i.e. unmanned or autonomous) training programs. Throughout the recruitment and hiring process we will be communicating with you via email; therefore, it is imperative that the email address you provide when applying for this vacancy remains active. Should your email address change, please notify the point of contact identified in the vacancy announcement as soon as possible so that we can update our system. CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT: Position requires ability to operate and pilot uncrewed systems aboard National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) vessels and/or from Over-The-Horizon control centers. This position requires travel (away from Gulfport, MS) for indefinite periods as required by the needs the Uncrewed Marine Systems Division. Position may require operating a small boat for field work; may be at sea for several days, weeks or months; may be exposed to weather over long, odd hours, lifting and moving heavy equipment or biological samples many times throughout the day, on an unsteady platform depending on sea state. This position requires the operation of a Federal motor vehicle. Position requires driving a government vehicle for field work, movement of equipment and/or supplies between buildings, acquisition of supplies, or meetings at other locations. Must be able to obtain and maintain a valid state driver's license to operate a government vehicle. PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: This position has physical requirements. Must be able to frequently bend, lift, and stoop to perform field work. Qualification requirements in the vacancy announcements are based on the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards Handbook, which contains federal qualification standards. This handbook is available on the Office of Personnel Management's website located at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/ EDUCATION: There is no positive education requirement for this position. SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to the next lower grade level in the Federal Service. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular competencies/knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. This experience need not have been in the federal government. 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. To qualify at the ZT-3 or GS-09 level: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the ZT-2 or GS-08 in the Federal service. Specialized experience MUST include all of the following: Assisting with maintaining electronic systems or equipment for uncrewed (i.e. unmanned or autonomous) systems; and Participating in analyzing and evaluating electronic systems or equipment of uncrewed (i.e. unmanned or autonomous) systems to ensure proper working conditions. OR SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION: Two full years of graduate education or a master's degree in electrical engineering, electronics engineering, or electronics technology. OR COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: A combination of education and experience as described above. Note: Only graduate education in excess of one year is qualifying for combination. This position will be filled under the DOC Alternative Personnel System (CAPS). Under CAPS, positions are classified by career, pay plan, and pay band. The ZT-3 is equivalent to the GS-09/10. Key Requirements: Applicants must be U.S. Citizens. Suitable for Federal employment, as determined by background investigation. More requirements are listed under Qualifications and Additional Information. Must be registered for Selective Service, if applicable (www.sss.gov) Qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement. If you are a Federal employee applying for a promotion (under merit promotion procedures) you must meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of the announcement. Additional Considerations: One year probationary period may be required. Payment of relocation expenses (PCS) is not authorized. Payment of relocation incentives OR recruitment incentives may be authorized. Note: Relocation incentives are for current federal employees only. This position requires Non-Critical Sensitive Security Clearance. Must be able to obtain and maintain a Non-Critical Sensitive security clearance to carry out duties requiring access to meetings, documents/info, and/or systems labeled as confidential or secret. Background investigation will be required. Continued employment is subject to applicant's successful completion of security investigation and favorable adjudication. Failure to successfully meet these requirements will be grounds for termination. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, for those required to serve a 1-year probationary period, we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: Your performance and conduct; Needs and interests of the agency; Whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and Whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your probationary period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. College Transcript: If you are qualifying based on education, submit a copy of your college transcript that lists college courses detailing each course by the number and department (i.e., Bio 101, Math 210, etc.), course title, number of credit hours and grade earned. You must submit evidence that any education completed in a foreign institution is equivalent to U.S. education standards with your resume. You may submit an unofficial copy of the transcript at the initial phase of the application process. If course content cannot be easily identified from the title of the course as listed on your transcript, you must submit an official course description from the college/university that reflects the content at the time the course was taken. Note: Your college transcript is used to verify successful completion of degree, or college course work. An official college transcript will be required before you can report to duty. Education completed in colleges or universities outside the United States may be used to meet the above requirements. You must provide acceptable documentation that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. For more information on how foreign education is evaluated, visit: OPM Foreign Education Evaluation.