Civil Engineer

Summary

This is a Direct Hire Authority (DHA) solicitation utilizing the DHA for Certain Personnel of the DoD workforce to recruit and appoint qualified candidates to positions in the competitive service.

This position serves as a Civil Engineer within the assigned District, specializing in a comprehensive range of civil engineering disciplines including Operations, Civil/Structural Design, Construction, Project Management, Operations & Maintenance, Cost Engineering, and Geotechnical Engineering.

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Duties

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• GS-11 and 12: Develops engineering designs, analyses, layouts, and computations for civil engineering projects such as locks, dikes, bridges, levees/local flood protection, dams, navigation structures, and related infrastructure.
• GS-11 and 12: Provides technical oversight, management, administration and support throughout the construction phase of projects.
• GS-11 and 12: Conducts site investigations to identify problem areas and recommend solutions and incorporates findings into planning documents and feasibility studies.
• GS-11 and 12: Develops cost estimates related to designs to accurately delineate construction budgets and ultimately establish independent cost estimates to support solicitations.
• GS-11 and 12: Reviews designs and/or develops models, contractor submittals, contractor payments, contract changes, and A/E work.
• GS-12: Provides technical guidance, quality control/assurance, and coordination with agencies, stakeholders, and property owners; ensures quality standards are met.
• GS-12: Ensures safety, scope, cost, biddability, constructability, operability, environmental sustainability, and quality are met while resolving technical and fiscal issues.
• GS-12 and 13: Leads and mentors engineers/technicians and manages project teams, budgets, schedules, and reports.
• GS-13: Plans, administers, and leads large complex designs, monitors work progress, and communicates organizational strategy and project objectives to team members.
• GS-13: Serves as a technical Subject Matter Expert (SME), providing support to the local district and serves as a regional asset.
• GS-13: Provides consulting, review, mentoring, and assistance to local, regional and national work.
• GS-13: Analyzes and coordinates contract changes and participates in ATR and QA teams.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• Appointment may be subject to a suitability or fitness determination, as determined by a completed background investigation.
• This position MAY require you to submit a Public Financial Disclosure Report (OGE 278) or a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE450) upon entry, and annually thereafter.
• This position MAY require a valid state driver's license.
• This position MAY require a Professional Engineer (PE) License.
• Position MAY be designated Mission Essential in accordance with DoDI 3020.42. Incumbent is required to report for duty during inclement weather, Natural Disasters, and other emergency situations.
• Appointment is subject to a 1 year probationary period.

Qualifications

This job announcement will fill multiple vacancies at the full performance levels (FPLs) of GS-11, GS-12, and GS-13. In your application, select the duty locations and corresponding FPL grade levels you want to be considered. Applicants selected at the FPL are not eligible for promotion to a higher grade without competition or a valid non-competitive eligibility. This is not a developmental job announcement.

Who May Apply: US Citizens

In order to qualify, you must meet the education and/or experience requirements described below. 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). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application. Additional information about transcripts is in this document.

Basic Requirement Minimum Education Requirement: Bachelor's degree (or higher) in engineering. The program must: lead to a degree in a school with at least one program accredited by ABET. Degree must be documented on a transcript.

OPM General Schedule Qualification Standards - GS-0800 Series -

In addition to meeting the basic requirement above, to qualify for this position you must also meet the qualification requirement listed below at each grade level:

Experience Requirement:

For GS-11: Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience which includes Design development and engineering analysis, OR construction support and quality assurance, OR conducting site investigations and analysis and incorporating findings into planning documents, OR coordinating projects and providing technical guidance within one of the areas of Civil Engineering: Design and Planning, Construction Management and Oversight, Structural Engineering, Water Resources and Hydraulics, Geotechnical Engineering, Project Management and Coordination, OR Operations and Maintenance. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the second lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-09).

OR

Education: Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position, such as civil, structural, materials engineering.

OR

Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) beyond the second year (total graduate semester hours minus 36) by 18. Add the two percentages.

For GS-12: Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience which includes: applying advanced civil engineering principles to develop design plans and specifications within one of the areas of Civil Engineering: Design and Planning, Construction Management and Oversight, Structural Engineering, Water Resources and Hydraulics, Geotechnical Engineering, Cost Engineering, Project Management and Coordination or Operations and Maintenance OR construction contract administration and oversight, OR coordinating projects and providing project management of projects spanning investigations, design, construction, and operations & maintenance. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-11).

For GS-13: One year of specialized experience which includes: performing professional civil engineering work that involved leading the design, technical analysis, and planning of complex infrastructure, site development, or facility construction projects; developing comprehensive technical requirements, including scopes of work, cost estimates, and project schedules for internal or contracted professional services; conducting detailed technical reviews of engineering designs, plans and specifications to ensure accuracy, safety, and compliance with established industry standards; coordinating with multidisciplinary teams and stakeholders to resolve technical challenges and ensure project completion within established budget and resource constraints; and serving in a senior-level role providing expert-level advice, mentorship and guidance spanning investigation, design, construction and O&M phases of projects. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-12).

Some federal jobs allow you to substitute your education for the required experience to qualify. For this job at the GS-12 or GS-13 level you must meet the qualification requirement using experience aloneno substitution of education for experience is permitted.

Education

FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show 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. For further information, visit:

Additional information

This announcement is being used to fill multiple Civil Engineer positions, encompassing several areas of expertise throughout the Great Lakes and Ohio River Division (duty stations may vary). Specific openings include the following locations, Branches or Sections:

• Buffalo: 1 GS-11 within Operations, 1 GS-11 in Cleveland, OH, 5 GS-12 within Civil/Structural Design, Construction, Operations & Maintenance, 1 GS-12 in Cleveland, OH, 1 GS-13 within Geotechnical Engineering
• Detroit: 3 GS-11 (1 in Sault Ste Marie), 5 GS-12, 1 GS-13
• Huntington: 3 GS-12, 3 GS-13
• Louisville : 1 GS-11, 4 GS-12, 4 GS-13
• Nashville: 1 GS-11 in Chattanooga, TN
• Pittsburgh: 4 GS-11 (1 in Neville Island), 9 GS-12 (1 in Neville Island), 1 GS-13

• Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must complete a Pre-Employment Certification Statement for Selective Service Registration.
• You will be required to provide proof of U.S. Citizenship.
• This position requires a 1 year probationary period during which the agency evaluates your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In making this determination, the agency may consider your performance and conduct; agency needs and interests; whether your continued employment supports organizational or Government goals; and whether it promotes the efficiency of the Federal service. Continued employment requires written certification that it advances the public interest.
• This position MAY be eligible for situational telework only, including emergency and OPM prescribed "Unscheduled Telework".
• Direct Deposit of Pay is required.
• This position MAY require you to submit a Public Financial Disclosure Report (OGE 278) or a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE450) upon entry, and annually thereafter.
• Selection is subject to restrictions resulting from Department of Defense referral system for displaced employees.
• If you have retired from federal service and you are interested in employment as a reemployed annuitant, see the information in the Reemployed Annuitant information sheet.
• This is a CP-18 Construction, Engineering, Infrastructure Career Field position.
• Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement.
• Position may be subject to a Special Salary Rate (SSR) under the applicable pay table.
• When you perform a Civilian Permanent Change of Station (PCS) with the government, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) considers the majority of your entitlements to be taxable. Visit for more information.
• Permanent Change of Station (PCS) allowances MAY be authorized, subject to the provisions of the Joint Travel Regulations and an agency determination that a PCS move is in the Government Interest.
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives MAY be authorized (up to 25%).
• Position MAY be designated Mission Essential in accordance with DoDI 3020.42. Incumbent is required to report for duty during inclement weather, Natural Disasters, and other emergency situations as directed by the Supervisor and/or Local command Policy and may be required to remain on duty after the official shift ends, i.e., mandatory overtime; subject to recall to duty. Incumbent must maintain a functioning telephone to aid in contact during recall/emergency situations.
• This position MAY require a Professional Engineer (PE) License.
• This position MAY require a valid state driver's license.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.