Federal

Supervisory Electronics Engineer (Associate Chief)

Federal Communications Commission Β· Other Agencies and Independent Organizations
πŸ“ Columbia, Maryland GS-15 $169,279 - $197,200/yr
Posted: Mar 26, 2026 Deadline: Apr 2, 2026 (Closed days left)

About This Position

This position is located in the Immediate Office, Office of Engineering and Technology (OET), Federal Communications Commission (FCC), in Columbia, Maryland. RELOCATION EXPENSES WILL NOT BE PAID. THIS VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT MAY BE USED TO FILL ADDITIONAL POSITIONS WITHIN 90 DAYS.

Qualifications

Interested candidates should be passionate about the ideals of our American republic, committed to upholding the rule of law and the U.S. Constitution, and committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government. Hiring decisions will not be based on race, sex, color, religion, or national origin.

Applicants must meet eligibility and qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement. Current Federal employees asking to be considered under Merit Promotion procedures must meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. Candidates must meet both the educational and specialized experience requirements outlined below in order to be deemed as qualified.

EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS Degree Professional Engineering. To view qualifying educational requirements and/or combination of education and specialized experience click on the following link: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0800/files/all-professional-engineering-positions-0800.pdf Transcripts required. The transcript may be unofficial or photocopy at time of application, but MUST provide the original if selected.

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order to receive credit towards qualifications. Therefore, applicants must report only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S.

Department of Education. Applicants can verify accreditation at the following website: http://www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html All education claimed by applicants will be verified by the appointing agency accordingly. If selected, an official transcript will be required prior to appointment.

AND SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS Specialized Experience GS-15 Experience exercising supervisory and/or managerial authority over professional engineering staff, including establishing organizational priorities, directing complex engineering work, and ensuring alignment with strategic objectives. Experience applying expert knowledge of advanced electronics engineering principles to the design, analysis, evaluation, and implementation of large-scale, nationwide communications systems (e.g., Super Headend and Video Hub Office architectures), including emerging and evolving technologies. Experience serving as a recognized technical engineering authority, providing strategic leadership to multidisciplinary teams, and coordinating with senior stakeholders across government and industry on complex, high-visibility communications and engineering related initiatives.

Experience representing an organization in high-level interagency, industry, or public forums, and directing the development, interpretation, and application of engineering policies, standards, and technical requirements to ensure regulatory compliance and mission success. Experience leading the integration and optimization of complex communications systems, including hardware, software, and virtual or cloud-based environments, and providing authoritative guidance on system architecture, engineering standards, testing frameworks, and performance evaluation. PART-TIME OR UNPAID EXPERIENCE: 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. SME REVIEW At the time of application you are required to take an external skills-based assessment which is based upon government-wide recognized competencies and consistent with OPM Merit Hiring Plan requirements and the Chance to Compete Act. Should you receive a score between 80 and 100 (scoring range for the Highly Qualified category) your application will be reviewed by subject matter experts to determine if you meet the OPM qualification requirements for this position.

COMPETENCIES Decision Making Planning and Evaluating Oral Communication Strategic Thinking Leadership HOW YOU WILL BE EVALUATED How You Will Be Evaluated-DEU Hiring Procedures The FCC determines the BEST QUALIFIED CANDIDATES based on the major job related competencies and evaluation of your knowledge, skills, and abilities reflected in your application and supporting documents using the CATEGORY RATING PROCESS. Time in grade restrictions do not apply to DEU hiring procedures. All eligible applicants under Delegated Examining (DEU) will be placed in one of the following three categories: 1.

Highly Qualified (Score 80-100) - the applicants possessing a background that demonstrates a superior level of major job related competencies and possession of all evaluation criteria; 2. Fully Qualified (Score 75-79) - the applicants possessing a background that demonstrates a satisfactory level of major job related competencies and possession of the evaluation criteria; and

  1. Minimally Qualified (Score of 70-74)- the applicants possessing only the specialized experience described in the vacancy announcement. The scores are determined based upon the external skills-based assessment required for completion by all applicants.

Application of Veterans Preference: The category rating process does not add veterans' preference points or apply the "rule of three" but protects the rights of veterans by placing them ahead of non-preference eligibles within each category. Preference eligibles who meet the minimum qualification requirements and who have compensable service-connected disability at least 10 percent MUST be listed in the highest quality category, except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-9 grade level or higher. A selecting official may make selection from the highest quality category ("HIGHLY QUALIFIED") provided no preference eligible in that category is passed over to select a non-preference eligible in the same category.

Qualified disabled veterans (30% disabled veterans and at least 10% disabled veterans) who meet the qualification criteria float to the top of the Highly Qualified category and by law must be referred over non-veterans. Non-veterans are strictly prohibited from being referred or selected over qualified disabled veterans. There are several parts to the application process that affect the overall evaluation of your application including: 1. the core questions 2. the vacancy questions 3. supplemental documentation (e.g., DD-214, SF-50, SF-15, transcripts), if applicable; and 4.

your resume.

Applicants will be rated ineligible, if they do not respond to job specific questions, provide supplemental documents and submit resume. For more information, please click on Rating Process. Merit Promotion Procedures Applicants under Merit Promotion will be considered in accordance with the agency's merit promotion plan and union agreement.

Time in grade restrictions apply. Under Merit Promotion procedures, applicants must meet the qualifications criteria and receive a score of 70 or above in order to be deemed as BEST QUALIFIED. Candidates who ask to be considered non-competitively only have to receive a score of 70.

Major Duties

The incumbent serves as Associate Chief in the Immediate Office and serves as a supervisory and technical authority for the Laboratory Division's engineering, licensing and authorization, and policy-support activities. The position provides leadership over highly complex radio frequency spectrum, and electronics engineering work involving wireless, wireline, satellite, unlicensed, broadcast, broadband, and other RF-dependent technologies; electromagnetic compatibility and interference issues; spectrum use and sharing; test and measurement systems; and equipment authorization and compliance matters with significant regulatory, economic, and public-interest implications. The incumbent exercises full supervisory and managerial authority over subordinate engineers, scientists, attorneys, analysts, technicians, and support personnel, and serves as a principal advisor to OET and Commission leadership on highly complex and sensitive engineering and policy matters.

The Associate Chief will provide leadership and direction to OET's regulatory licensing and authorization teams guiding them through operational transformation to meet emerging needs in fast-paced, deadline-driven, customer-focused environment.

Conditions of Employment

See "Qualifications".

Education

If applicable, see "Qualifications".

How You Will Be Evaluated

As this position is being advertised under DEU and Merit Promotion hiring procedures, applicants will be rated on the extent and quality of experience and education relevant to the duties of the position using the hiring procedures outlined below. In compliance with the OPM Merit Hiring Plan requirements, please be advised that candidates will not be evaluated, selected or hired based on race, sex, color, religion, or national origin. Optional Four Essay Questions At the time of application, applicants have the option of answering the following four short, free-response essay questions.

  1. How has your commitment to the Constitution and the founding principles of the United States inspired you to pursue this role within the Federal government? Provide a concrete example from professional, academic, or personal experience.
  2. In this role, how would you use your skills and experience to improve government efficiency and effectiveness? Provide specific examples where you improved processes, reduced costs, or improved outcomes.
  3. How would you help advance the President's Executive Orders and policy priorities in this role? Identify one or two relevant Executive Orders or policy initiatives that are significant to you, and explain how you would help implement them if hired.
  4. How has a strong work ethic contributed to your professional, academic or personal achievements? Provide one or two specific examples, and explain how those qualities would enable you to serve effectively in this position.

Applicants will be required to certify that they are using their own words, and did not use a consultant or AI (such as a large language model [LLM]). The responses to each question cannot exceed 200 words per question. As this position is being advertised under DEU and Merit Promotion hiring procedures, applicants will be rated on the extent and quality of experience and education relevant to the duties of the position using the hiring procedures outlined below.

You may preview questions for this vacancy.

Additional Information

EEO Policy Statement Reasonable Accommodation Policy Statement Veterans Information Legal and Regulatory Guidance

Other: - Before hiring, an agency will ask you to complete a Declaration for Federal Employment to determine your suitability for Federal employment and to authorize a background investigation. The agency will also ask you to sign and certify the accuracy of all the information in your application. If you make a false statement in any part of your application, you may not be hired; you may be fired after you begin work; or you may be fined or jailed.

If you are a male over age 18 who was born after December 31, 1959, you must have registered with the Selective Service System (or have an exemption) to be eligible for a Federal job. - If applicable, you will be required to serve a trial period of one year. - In order for you to be employed at the FCC, there are certain Commission and Federal laws governing the financial interests of you and members of your immediate family. If selected for the position, you must submit a financial disclosure statement upon assuming the position.

How to Apply

To apply to this announcement go to the website: https://www.usajobs.gov/Search/Results?a=FC00&k=Federal%20Communications%20Commission Your application, including resume, all supplemental documents, registration information and answers to job specific questions must be received no later than midnight U.S. Eastern time of the closing date. For more information on applying federal jobs, please check this webpage https://help.usajobs.gov/faq/application/process As outlined in the "Required Documents Details" section of the announcement, resumes must meet be no longer than two pages in length and must meet the resume formatting requirements.

If applying online poses a hardship, you may contact either the HR Specialist listed on the vacancy announcement or you may contact the Monster Government Solutions help desk (prior to the closing date of the vacancy announcement) via e-mail at [email protected] or you may reach them directly at 866-656-6831. The Monster Help Desk is available Monday-Friday 7:00 am to 7:00 pm EST.

NOTE: To be considered for an announced vacancy in the area of consideration within which the employee is eligible to compete, the employee must apply online using the Commission's automated recruitment system. Employees must submit all necessary application materials identified in the announcement by the specified closing date. If applying as an ICTAP or CTAP candidate...

The Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) and the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) are programs designed to afford selection priority to well-qualified Federal employees who meet the definition of a β€œsurplus” or β€œdisplaced” employee. To be eligible for consideration under CTAP you must meet all of the following criteria: 1) Be a current FCC employee who has received an official notice stating that your position is no longer needed, or that you will be separated by reduction in force (RIF); 2) Have a current performance rating of at least "fully successful" or equivalent as substantiated by the submitted/uploaded performance appraisal. This must be submitted with your application package; 3) Occupy a position in the same local commuting area of the vacancy; 4) Apply for a specific vacancy at or below your current grade level with no greater promotion potential than your current position; 5) Meet the application deadline in the announcement; and 6) Be deemed as "qualified" by meeting all of the required qualification criteria.

To be eligible for consideration under ICTAP, you must be a displaced Federal employee and have a current duty station within the local commuting area of this vacancy.

You must submit a copy of the appropriate documentation such as a RIF separation notice, a letter from OPM or your agency documenting your priority consideration status with your application package. The following categories of candidates are considered displaced Employees: Current or former career or career-conditional (tenure group I or II) competitive service employees who: Received a specific RIF separation notice; or Separated because of a compensable injury, whose compensation has been terminated, and whose former agency certifies that it is unable to place; or Retired with a disability and whose disability annuity has been or is being terminated; or Upon receipt of a RIF separation notice retired on the effective date of the RIF and submits a Standard Form 50 that indicates "Retirement in lieu of RIF", or Retired under the discontinued service retirement option, or Separated because he/she declined a transfer of function or directed reassignment to another commuting area. The additional following types of candidates are considered displaced Employees: Military/National Guard Technician--you were a Military Reserve or National Guard Technician and now receive a special OPM disability retirement annuity.

To be eligible for consideration under ICTAP you must: 1) Have a current performance rating of at least "fully successful" or equivalent; 2) Occupy (or have been separated from) a position in the same local commuting area of the vacancy; 3) Apply for a specific vacancy at or below the grade level you are being (or have been) separated from that does not have greater promotion potential than your last position; 4) Meet the application deadline; and 5) Be deemed as "qualified" by meeting all of the required qualification criteria.

Required Documents

Your resume must clearly document how you meet the specialized experience in order to meet the minimum qualification requirements for this vacancy. Some positions require supplemental document(s). All required supporting documents MUST be received by midnight U.S.

Eastern Time of the closing date of the announcement, as specified in this announcement. If you do not submit a required document (e.g. transcripts, etc.) your application will be considered incomplete and you will not receive further consideration. Additionally, you may not receive the special consideration, e.g.

Vet's Preference, for which you may be eligible without the appropriate supporting documentation. Once you apply to this vacancy you will be prompted by the system to upload the documents. If you are unable to upload the required documentation, contact the HR Specialist listed on the vacancy announcement prior to 5:00 p.m.

U.S. Eastern Time on the closing date of the announcement. Merit Hiring Plan Resume Requirements In compliance with Executive Order 14170, Reforming the Federal Hiring Process and Restoring Merit to Government Service resumes must not be longer than two pages in length.

The resume must address minimum qualifications and other requirements listed in the job announcement.

Resumes must include all of the following information outlined below: Contact Information Name and how best to contact you, including email address and phone number. Relevant Work Experience Job Title and Employer (including series and grade for any Federal positions) Start and end dates with month/year (e.g., 05/2019 –08/2022) The number of hours you worked per week Ensure work experience descriptions are aligned with the job announcement and address all required qualifications. Brief descriptions should demonstrate your ability to perform the tasks at the required level as stated in the job announcement.

Resumes must be formatted as outlined above. If the two page resume criteria and/or the resume formatting requirement is not met candidates will be rated as ineligible and will not be referred for hiring consideration. The FCC is providing the following applicant resume resources: Applicant Guidance on the Two-Page Resume Limit USAjobs-How to Write a Federal Resume Current or Former Federal Employees ALL CURRENT/FORMER FEDERAL EMPLOYEES AND CURRENT FCC EMPLOYEES MUST provide a legible Personnel Action, SF-50, that verifies your status and highest permanently held grade.

If an SF-50 is not submitted, the application will be rated as ineligible. CURRENT FCC EMPLOYEES-To request a copy of your SF-50 please send an email to [email protected] ICTAP/CTAP Employees If you are an ICTAP or CTAP eligible employee you must submit (along with your resume): 1. Copy of separation SF-50 documenting ICTAP/CTAP eligibility

  1. Copy of your final federal performance appraisal
  2. Copy of official Reduction in Force (RIF) notice
  3. Copy of any other document which documents your eligibility for CTAP or ICTAP

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the salary for the Supervisory Electronics Engineer (Associate Chief) position at Federal Communications Commission?
The salary range for this position is $169,279 - $197,200/yr. This is a GS-15 position on the General Schedule pay scale. Actual pay may vary based on locality adjustments.
Where is the Supervisory Electronics Engineer (Associate Chief) job located?
This position is located in Columbia, Maryland. This is an on-site position.
What qualifications do I need?
Interested candidates should be passionate about the ideals of our American republic, committed to upholding the rule of law and the U.S. Constitution, and committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government. Hiring decisions will not be based on race, sex, color, religion, or national origin. Applicants must meet eligibility and qua...
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 Apr 2, 2026.
Is a security clearance required?
Yes, a Sensitive Compartmented Information clearance is required.
What does GS-15 mean?
GS-15 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.