GENERAL ENGINEER- DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY
About This Position
Click on "Learn more about this agency" button below to view Eligibilities being considered and other IMPORTANT information. The primary purpose of this position is to serve as a Range Safety Engineer. Provide professional engineering services to support test & training operations. Provide expert technical direction for Flight Termination System development. Help develop and manage range safety policy. Provide technical & safety assessments & consultative services related to range safety.
Qualifications
Experience requirements are described in the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards for General Schedule Positions, Professional & Scientific Positions. Due to the use of 120-day rosters, this period of experience may be completed within 120 days of the closing date of this announcement. BASIC REQUIREMENT OR INDIVIDUAL OCCUPATIONAL REQUIREMENT: A bachelor's degree or higher in Engineering: To be acceptable, the curriculum must: 1) be in a school of engineering with at least one curriculum accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering & Technology (ABET) as a professional engineering curriculum; or 2) include differential & integral calculus & courses (more advanced than first-year physics & 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 & circuits; f) nature & properties of materials (relating particle & aggregate structure to properties); & g) any other comparable area of fundamental engineering science or physics, such as optics, heat transfer, soil mechanics, or electronics.
OR
COMBINATION OF EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE-college-level education, training, &/or technical experience that furnished 1) a thorough knowledge of the physical & mathematical sciences underlying professional engineering, & 2) a good understanding, both theoretical & practical, of the engineering sciences & techniques & their applications to one of the branches of engineering. The adequacy of such background must be demonstrated by one of the following: -PROFESSIONAL REGISTRATION- Current registration as a professional engineer by any State, the District of Columbia, Guam, or Puerto Rico. -WRITTEN TEST- Evidence of having successfully passed the Engineer-in-Training (EIT) examination, or the written test required for professional registration, which is administered by the Boards of Engineering Examiners in the various States, the District of Columbia, Guam, & Puerto Rico. Because of the diversity in kind & quality of BET programs, graduates of other BET programs are required to complete at least 1 year of additional education or highly technical work experience of such nature as to provide reasonable assurance of the possession of the knowledge, skills, & abilities required for professional engineering competence.
The adequacy of this background must be demonstrated by passing the EIT examination. -SPECIFIC ACADEMIC COURSES- Successful completion of at least 60 semester hours of courses in the physical, mathematical, & engineering sciences & in engineering that included the courses specified in the basic requirements. The courses must be fully acceptable toward meeting the requirements of a professional engineering curriculum as described in paragraph A. -RELATED CURRICULUM- Successful completion of a curriculum leading to a bachelor's degree in engineering technology or in an appropriate professional field, e.g., physics, chemistry, architecture, computer science, mathematics, hydrology, or geology, may be accepted in lieu of a degree in engineering, provided the applicant has had at least 1 year of professional engineering experience acquired under professional engineering supervision & guidance. For a description of how to qualify based on a combination of education & experience go to this link opm.gov
NOTE: Applicants with a bachelor's degree in engineering technology or in an appropriate professional field, e.g., physics, chemistry, architecture, computer science, mathematics, hydrology, or geology, must provide a written statement describing the extensive training plan he/she has completed to develop professional engineering competence, or how their several years of engineering-type experience has provided them with the professional knowledge of engineering, which is defined as the comprehensive, in-depth knowledge of mathematical, physical, & engineering sciences applicable to a specialty field of engineering that characterizes a full 4-year professional engineering curriculum leading to a bachelor's degree, or the equivalent. SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Subsequent to meeting the Basic Education requirements outlined above, you must also possess at least one year of professional experience in or directly related to the work of the position. This experience must have equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, & abilities to successfully perform the duties described above.
To be creditable, this experience must have been equivalent in level of difficulty & responsibility to that of the next lower grade, GS-11, or equivalent in the Federal Service. Specialized experience at the next lower grade, pay band or equivalent, or the level of difficulty & complexity. Examples of specialized experience includes a range of engineering tasks that draw on electronics, mechanical, aerospace, & other fields to satisfy customer needs & involves utilizing emerging technologies & business practices to devise effective solutions, performing analyses through systematic methods, & overseeing projects/test planning expertise to meet business & technical objectives.
NOTE: Due to the use of 120-day rosters, this period of experience may be completed within 120 days of the closing date of this announcement. IMPORTANT
NOTE: Applications will be accepted from students who expect to complete qualifying education within 9 months from the date of application. Agencies must verify that the education was completed successfully before the applicant can be appointed. FEDERAL TIME-IN-GRADE (TIG) REQUIREMENT FOR GENERAL SCHEDULE (GS) POSITIONS: Merit promotion applicants must meet applicable time-in-grade requirements to be considered eligible.
One year at the GS-11 level is required to meet the time-in-grade requirements for the GS-12 level. TIG applies if you are in a current GS position or held a GS position within the previous 52 weeks. KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES (KSAs): Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities &/or competencies in the following areas: Knowledge & skill in applying engineering principles in at least one of the following areas: aerospace, safety, mechanical &/or general engineering.
Must be capable of applying advanced theoretical knowledge in at least one of these disciplines to develop optimized solutions. Requires insight into knowledge of physical phenomena & relationships underlying the varied engineering factors in extreme environments. Knowledge of safety requirements, regulations, & instructions that apply to test & training activities & mishap investigations.
Knowledge to determine design & testing requirements for new technology & prototype models & to provide flexibility for new, modified, or nonstandard components & systems, where precedents are not directly applicable. Ability to work with an engineering team to assess the risk of different courses of action & make recommendations to reduce risk. Involves negotiation & persuasion in obtaining the adoption of technical points & methods that conflict with the desires & opinions of other engineers & program managers.
PART-TIME OR UNPAID EXPERIENCE: Credit will be given for appropriate unpaid & or part-time work.
You must clearly identify the duties & responsibilities in each position held & the total number of hours per week. VOLUNTEER WORK EXPERIENCE: Refers to paid & unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service Programs (i.e., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) & other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student & social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge & skills that can provide valuable training & experience that translates directly to paid employment.
You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
Major Duties
Plans, organizes, and oversees the range safety activities of the Utah Test and Training Range. Perform safety assessments of test and training activities and programs at the UTTR. Reviews and directs modifications to program/project plans and procedures to meet existing safety standards as needed for application.
Manages and interpret range safety policy. Implements and interprets the safety program within the framework of numerous federal laws, regulations, instructions, standards, pamphlets and operating instructions. Perform real-time safety assessment of test activities as the Range Safety Engineer.
Supports investigations and reports on mishaps that occur. Serves in advisory capacity and assists in reporting on range mishaps. Follows all applicable USAF and DOD regulations and instructions to investigate and report on mishaps and potential mishaps.
Education
IF USING EDUCATION TO QUALIFY: If position has a positive degree requirement or education forms the basis for qualifications, you MUST submit transcripts with the application. Official transcripts are not required at the time of application; however, if position has a positive degree requirement, qualifying based on education alone or in combination with experience, transcripts must be verified prior to appointment. An accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education must accredit education.
Click here to check accreditation. FOREIGN EDUCATION: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the requirements.
You must show proof the education credentials have been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education program. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying.
How You Will Be Evaluated
Your application package (resume, supporting documents, and responses to the questionnaire) will be used to determine your eligibility, qualifications, and quality ranking for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment.
The resume/documents you submit must support your responses to the online questionnaire. If your application contradicts or does not support your questionnaire responses, you will receive a rating of "not qualified" or "insufficient information" and you will not receive further consideration for this job. For additional information on what to include in your resume, click here.
APPRAISALS/AWARDS: Hiring Managers use objective methods and consider previous performance appraisals and awards in the selection process. Current Federal Civilian employees should list any relevant performance related rating and/or awards in your resume. Applicants who disqualify themselves will not be evaluated further.
Additional Information
This job announcement will be used to gather applications that may or may not result in a referral or selection. Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP): For information on how to apply as an ICTAP eligible click here. To be well-qualified and exercise selection priority for this vacancy, displaced Federal employees must be rated well qualified or above for this position.
You must submit a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting position, grade level, and duty location. Employed Annuitants (Reemployed Annuitants): Applicants in receipt of an annuity based on civilian employment in the Federal Service are subject to the DoD Policy on The Employment of Annuitants.
Click here for more information. Temporary and Term Appointments: If you are selected for a temporary or term position in the competitive service, your appointment may be extended to the maximum period allowed by law without further competition. If you have questions regarding this announcement and have hearing or speech difficulties click here.
How to Apply
The complete Application Package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 11/01/2026 To preview the Application Questionnaire, please click the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12997965 To begin the process, click the Apply Online button to create an account or log in to your existing USAJOBS account.
Follow the prompts to complete the application questionnaire. Please ensure you click the Submit My Application button at the end of the process. To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes: 1.
Your Resume. If you submit more than one resume, only the most recent will be reviewed. The "most recent" is considered the resume with the latest timestamp. Resumes may not exceed two pages. The two-page resume ensures the most relevant experience is reviewed and considered, which is a common practice in both the public and private sectors.
Resumes exceeding two pages will be removed from consideration. Additional information on how to complete or update your resume may be located here. For qualification determination your resume must contain hours worked per week and dates of employment (i.e., month/year to month/year or month/year to present).
If your resume does not contain this information, your application may be marked as insufficient, and you will not receive consideration for this position. If you are a current Federal employee or previous Federal employee, provide your pay plan, series and grade, i.e. GS-0301-09.
Current Federal Civilian Employees may list any relevant performance related rating (given within the last three years) and/or incentive awards in your resume. Do NOT include photographs, inappropriate material, inappropriate content, nor personal information such as age, gender, religion, social security number, etc., on your resume. If the resume you submit contains such information you will not be considered for this vacancy.
Your name, first and last, MUST be included on your resume.
- A complete Application Questionnaire
- Additional Required Documents (see Required Documents section). Ensure all submitted documents contain your full name.
- Help recruiters find you. Make your resume and profile searchable, which means recruiters may contact you about possible jobs. Additional information may be located here. Current or Former Federal Civilian Employees (Includes current Air Force employees): You are required to submit legible copy/copies of your last or most recent SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, (block 24 must be a "1" or "2" AND block 34 must be a"1").
Additionally, if you are applying for a higher grade (GS) and your SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you meet the one year time-in-grade requirement so you will need to provide an SF-50 which clearly demonstrates you meet the time-in-grade requirements (examples of appropriate SF-50s include Promotions, Within-grade Grade/Range Increases, and SF-50s with an effective date more than one year old). OPTIONAL DOCUMENTS: Performance Appraisals for Current Federal Civilian Employees - Most recent performance appraisals (dated within last 3 years) showing the official rating of record, signed by a supervisor, or statement why the performance appraisal is unavailable. Awards for Current Federal Civilian employees - List any awards received within the last 3 years on the resume.
Note: Applicant must not submit award Notification of Personnel Actions (SF50s). PLEASE
NOTE: It is the applicant's responsibility to verify that information entered and/or uploaded, (i.e., resume) is received, accurate, and submitted by the closing date.
You may verify your documents have been processed with your application package successfully. You can access your USAJOBS account to do so by clicking here. Uploaded documents may take up to one hour to clear the virus scan. Human Resources WILL NOT modify or change any answers submitted by an applicant.
Required Documents
The following documents are required and must be provided with your application. Applicants who do not submit required documentation to determine eligibility and qualifications will be eliminated from consideration. Other documents may be required based on the eligibility/eligibilities you are claiming.
Click here to view the AF Civilian Employment Eligibility Guide and the required documents you must submit to substantiate the eligibilities you are claiming. Online Application: Questionnaire Resume: Your resume may NOT exceed two pages, and the font size should not be smaller than 10 pts.
You will not be considered for this vacancy if your resume is illegible/unreadable. Additional information on resume requirements can be located under "How To Apply". Transcripts/Registration/License: If qualifying on education/position requires education, you must submit copies of your transcripts and if required for the position, submit an active, current registration/license.
ACTIVE DUTY SERVICE MEMBERS: The VOW Act requires federal agencies to treat an eligible active duty service member as a veteran, disabled veteran, and preference eligible (as applicable) when applying for civil service positions before the effective release or discharge date. Appointment of military members before the release or discharge date is permissible if the member is on terminal leave. At the time the active duty member applies for a civil position, he or she must submit a "certification" memo in lieu of a DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty.
Active duty members applying for a civil service position without submitting a valid certification memo or DD Form 214 with their application will render the member ineligible for the position. The certification memo must originate from the member's military service branch on official letterhead and contain the following: Name/Rank/Grade of Service Member Branch of Armed Forces Dates of Active Service (Start and End Date(s) Expected Date of Discharge/Release from Active Duty Terminal leave start date (if applicable) Expected character of service/discharge and type of separation (i.e. separation or retirement) Must be certified within 120 days of anticipated discharge Signature by, or by direction of the adjutant, personnel office, unit commander, or higher headquarters commander.
Note: The VOW Act provides tentative preference. If appointed, a DD Form 214 must be submitted upon receipt.