About This Position
See below for important information regarding this job. Additional vacancies may be filled from this announcement.
Qualifications
To qualify for an Interdisciplinary Engineer position your resume and supporting documentation must support: A. Basic Requirement: A Bachelor's Degree or higher in professional engineering. To be acceptable, the program must: (1) be in a school of engineering with at least one program accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) as a professional engineering curriculum; 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 A 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 professional 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: Professional Registration or Licensure -- Current registration as an Engineer Intern (EI), Engineer in Training (EIT), 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. Written Test -- Evidence of having successfully passed the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) 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. Specified academic courses -- Successful completion of at least 60 semester hours of courses in the physical, mathematical, and engineering sciences and in engineering that included the courses specified in the Basic Requirements above. The courses must be fully acceptable toward meeting the requirements of a professional engineering curriculum as described in the Basic Requirements above. 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. B. Specialized Experience: In addition to the basic requirement above, you must possess one year of specialized experience that equipped you with the competencies to successfully perform the duties of the position and is directly in or related to this position. To qualify for the NH-03 level, specialized experience must be at the NH-02 or GS-11 grade level or equivalent under other pay systems in the Federal service, military, or private sector. Creditable specialized experience includes: Applying software engineering/analysis principles, concepts, and standards in support of complex defense acquisition systems. Overseeing the Software Development Life Cycle for major Acquisition programs. Providing technical support for embedded software, missile systems, and sensor technologies. Reviewing contracts for contractor compliance. Providing technical advice on contract application/development changes. Leadership experience conducting engineering/analytical surveillance on substantive/critical/unique changes; implementing agency policy/processes.
Major Duties
Implements agency policy and provides expert engineering support.
Analyzes engineering surveillance applications and developments.
Administers contracts in accordance with agency policies/standards/metrics and standard operating procedures for Department of Defense (DoD) acquisitions.
Assesses/records contractor performance using DCMA engineering surveillance performance indicators; then provides expert feedback to the Chief Engineer (CE).
Prepares/evaluates documents regarding specific, unique, engineering/manufacturing issues.
Provides expert feedback to the CE based upon daily application of engineering/analyses processes and agency reporting requirements.
Performs advanced engineering functions, often in a leadership capacity, while conducting engineering and analytical surveillance.
Monitors complex contractor engineering management systems; provides expert technical recommendations on substantive/critical/unique changes; researches/designs/develops/tests/produces engineering and analytical surveillance.
Conducts Contract Receipt and Review (CRR) related to cost, schedule, and performance.
The CRR functions include evaluating production engineering/ability; reviewing facilities/nonconforming hardware; evaluating logistics/support programs/master engineering planning schedules; evaluating special tooling/testing equipment.
Analyzes engineering surveillance applications and developments.
Administers contracts in accordance with agency policies/standards/metrics and standard operating procedures for Department of Defense (DoD) acquisitions.
Assesses/records contractor performance using DCMA engineering surveillance performance indicators; then provides expert feedback to the Chief Engineer (CE).
Prepares/evaluates documents regarding specific, unique, engineering/manufacturing issues.
Provides expert feedback to the CE based upon daily application of engineering/analyses processes and agency reporting requirements.
Performs advanced engineering functions, often in a leadership capacity, while conducting engineering and analytical surveillance.
Monitors complex contractor engineering management systems; provides expert technical recommendations on substantive/critical/unique changes; researches/designs/develops/tests/produces engineering and analytical surveillance.
Conducts Contract Receipt and Review (CRR) related to cost, schedule, and performance.
The CRR functions include evaluating production engineering/ability; reviewing facilities/nonconforming hardware; evaluating logistics/support programs/master engineering planning schedules; evaluating special tooling/testing equipment.
Education
Substitution of education may not be used in lieu of specialized experience for this grade level. If the position has a minimum education requirement you MUST provide transcripts (unofficial are acceptable at the time of application) to support your educational claims. Or, if you are using education to qualify in lieu of specialized experience you MUST provide transcripts (unofficial are acceptable at the time of application) to support your educational claims. The transcripts must include your name, the name of the college or university, class/course list, completed number of credits/hours, and the date degree conferred (if applicable). Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Licenses must be current at time of application. GRADUATE EDUCATION: One academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credits hours that your graduate school has determined to represent one academic year of full-time study. Such study may have been performed on a full-time or part-time basis. If you cannot obtain your graduate school's definition of one year of graduate study, 18 semester hours (or 27 quarter hours) should be considered as satisfying the requirement for one year of full-time graduate study. FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university.
How You Will Be Evaluated
The assessments for this job will measure the following Competencies: Attention to Detail Decision Making Flexibility Integrity/Honesty Interpersonal Skills Learning Reading Comprehension Reasoning Self-Management Teamwork Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your eligibility and/or score. Once the application process is complete, a manual review of your resume and supporting documentation will occur to determine if you are eligible and among the best qualified as determined by the predetermined cutoff score. Your score is based on your responses to the assessment questionnaire. If you meet the minimum qualifications of this position, you may be presented with instructions on how to access the USA Hire Assessment. This additional online assessment is required and must be completed within 48 hours following the close of this announcement unless you have requested Reasonable Accommodation for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Your results will be kept on record for one year when applying for future jobs that require the same USA Hire Competency Based Assessments.
Additional Information
This position does not meet criteria for appointment of Reemployed Annuitants. The DoD criteria for hiring Reemployed Annuitants can be found at: DoDI 1400.25-V300. Tour of Duty: 1st Shift FLSA: Exempt Bargaining Unit: No If selected for an interview, you may be required to provide your last three performance appraisals to the panel. Selectee may be required to serve a trial/probationary period. Financial Disclosure Required Acquisition, Technology & Logistics (AT&L) NON-CAP: Position requires DoD Acquisition Engineering and Technical Management, Practitioner 2 certification within required timeframes. Selectee must also achieve 80 hours of Continuous Learning Points (CLPs) every 2-years. Click here for more details and Resources.
How to Apply
To apply for this position, you must complete the online questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section above. To preview the questionnaire, please go to https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12881157. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 02/20/2026 to receive consideration. To begin, click Apply Online to access an online application. Follow the prompts to select your USAJOBS resume and/or other supporting documents. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account or you may need to create a new account. You will be taken to an online application. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation, and submit the application. NOTE: Resumes up to a total of two pages will be accepted. Resumes exceeding two pages will be removed from consideration. You will receive an email notification when your application has been received for the announcement. If you are required to complete any USA Hire Assessments, you will be notified after submitting your application. The notification will be provided in your application submission screen and via email. The notification will include your unique assessment access link to the USA Hire system and the completion deadline. Additionally, in USAJOBS you can click "Track this application" to return to your assessment completion notice. Access USA Hire using your unique assessment link. Access is granted through your USAJOBS login credentials. Review all instructions prior to beginning your assessments. You will have the opportunity to request a testing accommodation before beginning the assessments should you have a disability covered under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended. Set aside at least 3 hours to take the USA Hire Assessments; however, most applicants complete the assessments in less time. If you need to stop the assessments and continue later, you can re-use your unique assessment link. Your responses to the USA Hire Assessments will be reused for one year (in most cases) from the date you complete an assessment. If future applications you submit require completion of the same assessments, your responses will be automatically reused. Visit the USA Hire Applicant Resource Center for practice assessments and assessment preparation resources at https://support-usahire.opm.gov/hc/en-us. To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account, https://www.usajobs.gov, select the Application Status link and then select the More Information link for this position. The Application Status page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and your responses submitted to the online application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
Required Documents
Required documents for submission vary based on the authority you are using to apply (e.g., applying as a veteran, a current permanent Federal employee, a reinstatement, etc). Your complete application includes your resume, your responses to the online questionnaire, and documents which prove your eligibility to apply. If you fail to provide these documents, you will be marked as having an incomplete application package and you will not be considered any further. The following documents are REQUIRED: 1. Your resume: IMPORTANT UPDATE: Your resume must not exceed two (2) pages. If your resume exceeds the two-page limit, you will be removed from consideration for this announcement. The resume and required supporting documentation should provide the minimum qualifications and relevant experience for the announced position. Must include the work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment, and duties performed. If multiple resumes are submitted by an applicant, only the last resume submitted will be reviewed for qualifications and referred for selection consideration, if eligible. The resume must not be more than 5MB and should be saved and uploaded as a PDF to maintain formatting and number of pages. We also accept GIF, JPG, JPEG, PNG, RTF, TXT, PDF, ODT or Word (DOC or DOCX). We do not accept PDF portfolio files. Page margins should be 0.5 inches, and font styles must be legible. Consider using 14-point size font for titles and 10-point for the main text. We recommend using a font like Lato, if available. Other widely available options are Calibri, Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, Open San Source Sans Pro, Roboto or Noro Sans. Additional guidance on writing a federal resume can be found at: USAJOBS Help Center - How do I write a resume for a federal job? The resume builder can help you create a resume using these recommendations and uses the information in your USAJOBS profile to help you get started. To ensure full credit for time worked regarding qualifications determinations your resume must include your work schedule. You are strongly encouraged to ensure your resume contains the number of hours worked per week and the specific dates of employment (i.e.,"40 hrs per week; 1/15/2020 - 1/14/2022" or "30 hrs per week; 1/15/2020 - Present"). 2. Veteran's Documents: If applying using veteran's preference or under a Veteran's hiring authority you must submit the following documents: DD214 showing character of service, SF-15 Form and VA letter showing final percentage, or certification of expected discharge or release from active duty. Priority Placement Program, DoD Military Reserve (MR) and National Guard (NG) Technician Eligible (PPP DoD MRNG): In order to receive this preference, you must choose the Military Reserve and National Guard Technician eligibility, and fill out and submit the Military Reserve and National Guard Technician PPP Self-Certification Checklist and copies of the appropriate documentation. 3. Current Federal Employees: You must provide a SF-50 (most current Gen Adj or WGI actions are best), or other equivalent official "Notification of Personnel Action" (Note: Request for Personnel Action (SF-52) is NOT acceptable.) Your SF-50 must reflect Tenure (Block 24) and Position Occupied (Block 34). 4. Transcripts (must include your name, the name of the college or university, class/course list, completed number of credits/hours, and the date degree conferred (if applicable): Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Licenses must be current at time of application. This position has a degree or education requirement so you are required to submit a copy of your transcript. Please review the link for ICTAP, ALL PPP ELIGIBILITIES AND OTHER SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS needed for proof of eligibility: Supporting Document.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the salary for the Computer Engineer position at Defense Contract Management Agency?
The salary range for this position is $103,526 - $158,322/yr. This is a NH-3 position on the General Schedule pay scale. Actual pay may vary based on locality adjustments.
Where is the Computer Engineer job located?
This position is located in Fairfax, Virginia. This is an on-site position.
What qualifications do I need?
To qualify for an Interdisciplinary Engineer position your resume and supporting documentation must support: A. Basic Requirement: A Bachelor's Degree or higher in professional engineering. To be acceptable, the program must: (1) be in a school of engineering with at least one program accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Tec...
How do I apply for this position?
Apply through USAJobs.gov by clicking the 'Apply on USAJobs' button. You'll need a USAJobs account, a federal-style resume, and supporting documents. The deadline is Feb 20, 2026.
Is a security clearance required?
Yes, a Sensitive Compartmented Information clearance is required.
What does NH-3 mean?
NH-3 refers to the General Schedule grade level. Higher grades require more experience and offer higher pay. Visit our GS Pay Scale page for full salary tables by grade and locality.
What benefits do federal employees receive?
Federal employees receive comprehensive benefits including health insurance (FEHB), retirement through FERS, Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) with government matching, paid annual and sick leave, paid parental leave, life insurance, and student loan repayment programs.