Federal

General Engineer

National Nuclear Security Administration ยท Department of Energy
๐Ÿ“ Kansas City, Missouri NN-4 $127,829 - $195,469/yr
Posted: Mar 6, 2026 Deadline: Mar 16, 2026 (Closed days left)

About This Position

This position is part of the NNSA - Kansas City Field Office, Department of Energy. As a General Engineer, you will be providing technical leadership, direction and oversight of sophisticated and technologically advanced national nuclear weapons, nonproliferation, or other research programs or policy initiatives that are an important facet of the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) mission.

Qualifications

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE

In addition to the positive education requirement, a qualified candidate's online application and resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower NNSA Demonstration Project pay band or GS grade level in the Federal service, i.e., EN/NN/NQ-03 pay band or GS-13. Specialized experience for this position is defined as experience includes leading and managing technical or engineering programs involving resource planning, budget oversight, risk identification, and performance monitoring; evaluating technical proposals and program requirements; coordinating with cross-functional stakeholders and contractors to resolve issues; and providing technical guidance to ensure projects are delivered on schedule and aligned with mission objectives. Examples of Specialized Experience: 1.

Managing engineering or scientific projects by tracking cost, schedule, and technical performance and implementing corrective actions to address risks or delays.

  1. Developing program plans, multi-year work plans, or budgets and aligning resources to meet changing mission or operational requirements.
  2. Reviewing technical proposals, designs, or contractor deliverables and providing recommendations to leadership on feasibility, risks, and priorities.
  3. Leading or supporting coordination with contractors, partners, or internal teams while serving as a technical point of contact or mentor to junior staff.

Major Duties

As a General Engineer (Weapon Program Engineer), you will: Lead program management activities by directing technical oversight, resource allocation, risk analysis, and budget execution; evaluates proposals and advises leadership to ensure strategic alignment with organizational priorities and mission requirements. Provide technical leadership for complex engineering and scientific programs by establishing performance measures, monitoring cost, schedule, and milestones, and coordinating with internal and external stakeholders to mitigate risks and achieve program objectives. Direct short- and long-range planning efforts, including multi-year work plans and budget formulation; identifies program challenges, sets priorities, and serves as a subject matter expert to guide leadership decision-making and mission execution.

Represent the organization in engagements with contractors and partner agencies, leads cross-functional collaboration, and mentor junior staff to strengthen workforce capability and ensure effective program delivery.

Education

This position has a positive education requirement.

You must meet the education requirements of either the General Engineer (0801) series listed below.

You MUST provide documentation supporting the education claims in your application. This can include unofficial transcripts or any report listing institution, course title, credits earned and final grade. Transcripts or other proof of required education MUST be included in application package. 0801 - Degree: professional engineering.

The curriculum must: (1) be in a school of engineering with at least one curriculum accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology 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

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. There are alternate methods to meeting the engineering educational requirement (e.g., holding current professional engineering registration, having passed the EIT examination, or having completed specified academic courses or a related degree). Please refer to the OPM Qualification Standards at Professional Engineering Positions.

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements: EDUCATION: Education must be obtained from an accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Applicants who have completed part or all of their education outside of the U.S. must have their foreign education evaluated by an accredited organization to ensure that the foreign education is comparable to education received in accredited educational institutions in the U.S.

A written evaluation of any foreign education must be provided with your application in response to this vacancy announcement or be received by the closing date of this announcement. Failure to provide this evaluation will result in you being found unqualified for the position. For special instructions pertaining to foreign education, see the Department of Education website, and for a list of organizations that can evaluate foreign education, visit The National Association of Credential Evaluation Services.

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S.

Department of Education.If you are selected, official transcripts will be required.FOREIGN EDUCATION: Applicants who have completed part or all of their education outside of the U.S. must have their foreign education evaluated by an accredited organization to ensure that the foreign education is comparable to education received in accredited educational institutions in the U.S. A written evaluation of any foreign education must be provided with your application in response to this vacancy announcement or be received by the closing date of this announcement. Failure to provide this evaluation will result in you being found unqualified for the position.

For special instructions pertaining to foreign education, see the Department of Education website, and for a list of organizations that can evaluate foreign education, visit The National Association of Credential Evaluation Services. Please

Note: If your foreign education has already been accepted by an accredited U.S. educational institution as part of a degree program with that institution, you do not need to provide an evaluation of foreign education but must submit a copy of the transcripts listing the degree from the U.S. accredited institution that accepted your foreign education. Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the eligibility and qualification requirements above. Once the announcement closes, we will conduct a review of your application package to verify your eligibility and qualifications. If you are found qualified, your application will move forward to additional phases of the review process.

Merit Promotion & VEOA Procedures: If you are minimally qualified for this job, your responses to the self-assessment questions (True/False, Yes/ No, Multiple Choice questions) will be evaluated to determine if you are a best qualified candidate. If you rate yourself higher than is supported by your application materials, your responses may be adjusted and/or you may be excluded from consideration for this job. Due weight will also be given to federal employees, when applicable, for performance appraisals and awards in accordance with 5 CFR ยง 335.103(b)(3).

Federal employees must meet time-in-grade requirements and current employees must have at least a fully successful or equivalent performance rating to receive consideration.

Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics): Technical Competence - Uses knowledge that is acquired through formal training or extensive on the job experience to perform one's job. Works with, understands, and evaluates technical information related to the job. Advises others on technical issues.

Weapons Design/Production - Knowledge of the concepts, principles, and theories used to produce, measure, use, or observe reactions in nuclear weapons systems and radiation shielding. Quality Assurance - Knowledge of principles, methods, and tools of quality assurance and quality control used to ensure product fulfills functional requirements and standards. Communication - Expresses information to individuals or groups effectively, considering audience, format, and nature of the information.

Non-competitive Procedures: If you are applying under a non-competitive or special hiring authority, you will still be required to answer the assessment questions. However, you will not be evaluated against the rating and ranking criteria.

Your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine if you are minimally qualified for this job. Veterans' Preference will be applied when required by the hiring authority (e.g., VRA, Schedule A). All qualified Non-competitive applicants and the best qualified Merit Promotion and VEOA applicants will be referred to the hiring manager for consideration. Career Transition Assistance Programs: To receive selection priority for this position, you must: 1) meet the eligibility criteria; and 2) be rated "well-qualified", which is defined as having a score of 85 or better.

You must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date ( 03/16/2026) of this announcement. To preview the Assessment Questionnaire, click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12895830.

Additional Information

The U.S. Department of Energy fosters a diverse and inclusive workplace and is an Equal Opportunity Employer. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional similar vacancies across DOE. For general information on government-wide Telework polices visit: www.telework.gov

How to Apply

Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply for this position, you must complete the initial online application, to include submission of the required documentation specified in the Required Documents section. A complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on the announcement closing date to receive consideration.

The application process is as follows: You must have a login.gov account to sign into USAJOBS: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/account/. To begin the application process in USAJOBS, click the Apply Online button. Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all required and supporting documentation.

You must click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59 pm (ET) on the announcement closing date.

You may update your application, including supporting documentation, at any time during the announcement open period by returning to your USAJOBS account, select Update Application: https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed. To verify the status of your application, during and after the announcement open period, log into your USAJOBS account; applications will appear on the Welcome screen.

The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each application status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/. If you need help with login.gov or USAJOBS (e.g., account access, Resume Builder) visit the USAJOBS Help Center: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/ If you experience difficulty applying on USAJOBS, after clicking the Apply Online button, or you are experiencing a significant hardship hindering your ability to apply online, the Agency Contact listed in the announcement can assist you during normal business hours.

If you receive any system error messages, take screenshots if possible, to aid technical support.

Required Documents

To apply for this position, you MUST provide a complete application package which includes: Your RESUME showing all relevant work experience (paid and unpaid) including: duties performed; full name and address of the each employer; start and end dates (month/day/year); work schedule (part-time, full-time, number of hours if intermittent); salary; and any completed education and training (program title, subject area, number of hours completed, and completion date). Cover Letter, optional, expressing additional information not covered in your resume. Transcripts, if specific educational requirements are indicated in this job announcement.

Unofficial transcripts or any report listing institution, course title, credits earned (semester or quarter hour) and final grade is acceptable. It is your responsibility to provide adequate proof that you meet the educational requirements. Submit one or more of the following to support your eligibility(s) to apply to this job announcement: SF-50, "Notification of Personnel Action" (current/former federal employees): Most recent Promotion, Within Rate Increase (WRI/WGI), or Appointment/Conversion SF-50 or Notification of Personnel Action showing you are/were in the competitive service and the highest grade or promotion potential held.

Veterans: DD-214 Member Copy 4 showing type of discharge/character of service; current active duty members- certification of expected discharge or release from active duty under honorable conditions dated within 120 days; SF-15 Form and related documentation; VA letter. For more information visit the USAJOBS Help Center & OPM CHCOC website for VOW information. Individuals with Disabilities: Schedule A letter from a physician, local, state or federal rehabilitation office citing your eligibility under 5 CFR 213.3102 (u).

For more information visit the USAJOBS Help Center. Certain Military Spouses: Permanent Change of Station (PCS) orders authorizing you to accompany the Military member to the new duty permanent station; OR verification of the member's 100% disability (VA Letter); and/or verification of the member's death while on active duty (DD-1300 and Death Certificate) AND verification of the marriage to the service member (i.e., a marriage license or other legal documentation verifying marriage). For more information visit the USAJOBS Help Center.

Other non-competitive or special appointing authorities: provide documentation which supports your eligibility. Career Transition Assistance Program/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program documentation, if applicable (e.g., Certification of Expected Separation, Reduction-In-Force Separation Notice, or Notice of Proposed Removal; SF-50 that documents the RIF separation action; and most recent performance appraisal.) For more information see the OPM Guide to Career Transition. Failure to submit any of the above mentioned required documents may result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package.

It is your responsibility to ensure all required documents have been submitted.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the salary for the General Engineer position at National Nuclear Security Administration?
The salary range for this position is $127,829 - $195,469/yr. This is a NN-4 position on the General Schedule pay scale. Actual pay may vary based on locality adjustments.
Where is the General Engineer job located?
This position is located in Kansas City, Missouri. This is an on-site position.
What qualifications do I need?
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE In addition to the positive education requirement, a qualified candidate's online application and resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower NNSA Demonstration Project pay band or GS grade level in the Federal service, i.e., EN/NN/NQ-03 pay band or GS-13. Specialized ex...
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 Mar 16, 2026.
Is a security clearance required?
Yes, a Q Access Authorization clearance is required.
What does NN-4 mean?
NN-4 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.