Electrical Engineer II

The Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO) directs the worldwide overseas building program for the U.S. Department of State. Working with other offices and bureaus, foreign affairs agencies, and Congress, OBO sets worldwide priorities for the design, construction, acquisition, maintenance, use, and sale of real properties and the use of sales proceeds. As the single real property manager for the U.S. government’s diplomatic facilities overseas, OBO’s portfolio spans 285 worldwide missions and over 80,000,000 square feet of functioning property. OBO’s primary mission is to provide safe, secure, and functional facilities that represent the U.S. government to the host nation and support the Department’s staff as they work to achieve U.S. foreign policy objectives abroad. OBO is guided by the principles of Excellence in Diplomatic Facilities. Delivering excellence is a comprehensive process that seeks to utilize the best methods, technologies, and staff abilities. Each office, person, and action in OBO contributes to the realization of this goal. Through this program, OBO employs a collaborative and integrated approach that demands solutions that are creative, economical, and environmentally appropriate. OBO project teams are challenged to apply these principles, coordinate their efforts, and deliver built embassy complexes that represent the best in American architecture, design, engineering, technology, sustainability, art, culture, and construction execution. This position is in the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations, Program Development, Coordination, and Support Directorate, Office of Design and Engineering, Electrical Engineering Division (OBO/PDCS/DE/EE). DE serves as OBO’s code officials and provides design, research, and technical assistance bureau-wide for all Department of State (DOS) facilities overseas. Within DE, EE is responsible for all aspects of electrical engineering design, telecommunications, and emanations security for our embassy facilities worldwide, new, and existing, including maintaining an up-to-date set of design criteria for this type of work. The Division’s electrical engineers conduct surveys on existing facilities, provide troubleshooting, and on-site consultations for resolution to electrical engineering problems. EE covers power systems from point of connection to the local commercial power system to the on-site transformer substations, on-site standby power plants, exterior and interior power distribution, and lighting (area and security) systems. The Division prepares scopes of work and provides design review services for both post-initiated projects and in support of all OBO’s capital and non-capital projects. Responsibility for telecommunications and emanations security – RF and acoustical shielding and cabling systems for classified and unclassified data and voice to monitoring, testing, and acceptance of the finished related systems. Electrical engineering systems include, but are not limited to, electrical power distribution systems (low and medium voltage), telecommunications cabling infrastructure, prime power generating plants, interior and exterior lighting, equipment and devices, radio frequency (RF), and acoustical shielding. As an Electrical Engineer assigned to the Electrical Engineering Division of OBO/PDCS/DE, the incumbent serves as an engineer with responsibility to apply engineering concepts and principles to analyze and evaluate electrical systems for the technical business management of designated design, construction, and renovation or alteration projects at embassies, consulates, senior officers’ residences, staff quarters, special use structures, and other facilities at diverse overseas locations, and for collaborating with planning and design managers and OBO construction Project Executives on the planning, design, and construction of specific projects and ensuring that timely and accurate technical information is available to top management in OBO. In furtherance of these responsibilities, the incumbent performs tasks and assignments under the guidance and direction of a senior engineer or the Division Chief that typically include, but are not necessarily limited to the following: Provide professional engineering advice and assistance to OBO staff participating in the formulation and establishment of electrical and/or telecommunications design criteria, and facilitates architect/engineer (A/E) contractor design of the Department’s diplomatic and consular office buildings, residences, staff apartments, commissaries, and associated special use structures based upon this criteria, the use of accepted professional engineering practices, and information from electrical engineering Consult with contract architects, engineers, and others during project design, advising them on the Department’s established electrical design criteria and specific design problems caused by worldwide variations in climatic conditions, local skill levels in various locations, availability of local utilities, and other major problems inherent in the design and construction of OBO activities. Reviews and revises preliminary drawings and specification relating to electrical work, including design proposals suggested by tenant agencies as well as other Federal agencies whose requirements impact a facility’s electrical system designs, and coordinates these proposals with contract architect/engineers involved in the design of OBO construction projects. Assists in the oversight and direction of the activities of contract architect/engineers in the development of RF and acoustical engineering design drawings, test plans, and test reports; assist in the process by providing professional advice to resolve complicated and critical electrical engineering problems found in a variety of situations and structure throughout the world. Provides technical expertise to the Office of Design and Engineering in electrical engineering, power distribution, telecommunications, RF, and acoustical shielding During the planning and programming phase, and coordinates with the Cost Management Division in the preparation of budget and construction estimates. Provides electrical engineering advice and assistance by initiating and directing capital programs for new and retrofitted buildings; reviewing and approving electrical projects; reviewing electrical engineering aspects of minor improvement proposals and maintenance and repair programs; developing, designing, and reviewing completed replacement projects related to energy conservation of buildings; reviewing and consulting regarding electrical engineering aspects of buildings to be purchased or leased by OBO to ensure compliance with OBO criteria; and representing OBO regarding electrical matters, interagency committees relating to OBO activities, and policies in the electrical engineering design field. Remain abreast of the latest developments in electrical engineering technology through state-of-the-art conferences and symposiums and ensures that new technology in the incumbent’s assigned area(s) of expertise are incorporated into the applications and standards used by OBO. Travel to construction sites throughout the world during construction and upon completion of projects, perform detailed intermediate and final professional inspections of telecommunications cabling, RF and acoustical shielding, and electrical engineering installations; performs on-site surveys, reviews, respond to emergency situations, and schedule modifications to projects in countries that do not have sophisticated engineering capability or adequate construction capability. Travel domestically to advise architects, engineers, contractors, and suppliers of matters affecting design, fabrication, and installation of telecommunication cabling, RF and acoustical shielding, and electrical utilities. Oversee and direct development of electrical engineering design drawings and specifications to ensure technical adequacy, suitability to meet conditions found in the locality in which the work is to be accomplished, conformity with OBO telecommunication and electrical design criteria, and conformity with the U.S. National Electrical Code; provide consultation and professional representation as the Code Official on the design and construction of government facilities, ensuring that facilities are safe, secure, and fully functional; and adjudicates discrepancies in Code interpretations as the final authority on such issues. In coordination with the other agencies within and outside the Department of State, participate in initial surveys for telecommunications cabling, RF and acoustical shielding projects, develop cost estimates, scopes of work, selects architect/engineers, installation and testing firms or shielding, testing contractors, and develops survey report and design review/approval, and advises field Project Directors regarding telecommunications cabling, RF and acoustical shielding, and electrical installations, lighting systems, intent of drawings and specifications, change order requirements, substitutions for specified equipment, and required quality of work. Participate in the initial planning surveys and with the project manager and post officials, negotiates with host country utilities to obtain commercial power and telecommunications services for new embassy compounds, and participates with and assist Diplomatic Security Teams in facility accreditation surveys resolving technical problems as they arise. Provide professional advice on-site at various overseas posts to render technical assistance on engineering problems including new design work, rehabilitation work, minor improvements, analysis of a wide variety of malfunctioning equipment, and similar matters. Provide advice and assistance regarding the provision of economical electrical systems for OBO during the design of new facilities and conducts continuing engineering studies of electrical equipment in existing facilities to determine if and where economies in operating costs can be achieved. Makes technical recommendations on lease or purchase of buildings based on examination of plans and specifications, or personally perform on-site assessments, and prepares in-house designs and develops contract documents (drawings and specifications) complete for public bidding. Prepares special reports and advises higher level OBO management on complex telecommunications, electrical engineering, and RF and acoustical shielding problems, accomplishments, and objectives. A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution and eleven (11) years of related experience. Required to be a United States citizen. Professional knowledge of and skilled in applying advanced theories, concepts, and principles of professional electrical engineering, sufficient to serve as a consultant and recognized authority on electrical engineering aspects of proposed and existing plans, designs, and construction activities for a wide range of overseas Departmental facilities; to investigate and resolve problems and conditions in electrical systems and equipment impacting costs, efficiency, safety, and performance; to assess, recommend, and apply business practices (e.g., financial, contracting, administrative) to achieve timely, economical, and successful completion of projects and objectives; to evaluate, recommend, and incorporate the latest developments in the fields of electrical engineering, construction, and materials into designs, existing and proposed facilities, and construction projects; and to inspect and accept work on electrical engineering systems and equipment during and after completion of construction projects for the worldwide construction program. Professional knowledge and skills sufficient to develop, interpret and justify electrical system designs, plans, drawings, and schematics to meet Agency, national, and local building codes, standards, and requirements; analyze and interpret contractor and/or Agency engineering specifications, working drawings, and new or existing designs; perform complex calculations and produce designs and specifications using a variety of computer software; participate in feasibility studies to determine novel and unique design solutions; and evaluate test results to ensure that specifications and operating requirements are met. Knowledge of project management principles and processes, e.g., budget and resource control, life-cycle costing, cost/benefits analysis, risk management, value engineering, scheduling, construction methods, materials, and technologies, contracting techniques, contractor resources, and other technical aspects of the construction industry related to electrical engineering, to provide guidance in these. #J-18808-Ljbffr