Electronics Technician

Summary

Employee will serve as an Electronics Technician within Consolidated Mail Outpatient Pharmacy (CMOP) located at the Veterans Healthcare Systems in Chelmsford. MA.

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Duties

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***THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION, YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION***

Duties will include, but may not be limited to the following:

• Provides comprehensive technical support for automated equipment systems (e.g., automatic packaging systems, tote conveyor systems, and drug dosing machines) assembled from numerous constituent units or subsystems including components such as controllers, sensors, bar code scanners, industrial controls and equipment, and pulse and counting mechanisms;
• Performs preventive maintenance, installation, evaluation of system performance, repair, calibration, modification, and programming/reprogramming for various manufacturers' and models of programmable logic controllers (PLCs);
• Troubleshoots equipment problems and takes corrective actions to restore devices to fully operational levels;
• Evaluates corrective action alternatives for cost effectiveness, considering device repair history, device age and expected remaining lifetime, user needs, and parts availability;
• Recommends equipment replacement in lieu of repair;
• Identifies interim solutions when parts or outside service are not immediately available to minimize detrimental impact on program deliverables;
• Evaluates systems and subsystems and determines which test and calibration equipment is required, evaluates compatibility between subsystems, and makes modifications to interconnections, as necessary, to increase reliability of the overall system;
• Coordinates and performs preventive maintenance and frequent inspections within the context of the preventive maintenance and periodic inspection program;
• Assists the supervisor in writing preventive maintenance procedures, personal protective equipment (PPE) requirements, lock-out, tag-out (LOTO) requirements, and contract specifications required for system maintenance programs and demand repairs;
• Advises and consults with the supervisor on equipment matters pertaining to the selection, installation, or modification of equipment and evaluation of and solutions to unusual maintenance problems;
• Assists in installing and putting in operation control systems;
• Works with contractors during installation and modification of equipment system specifications, if needed, to adapt equipment to the system/environment;
• Assists in basic computer and printer maintenance and day-to-day operations, maintenance, and repair of computer equipment; and
• Performs all other duties assigned.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm

Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized

Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• Subject to background/security investigation
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements ( Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Required Documents" below for details.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your probationary, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

Applicant(s) must meet at least one of the following minimum qualification requirements to qualify for this position.

Specialized Experience: Requires one full year of specialized experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA's) to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level in the Federal service. This series covers technical positions supervising, leading, or performing work involving applying: knowledge of the techniques and theories characteristic of electronics, such as a knowledge of basic electricity and electronic theory, algebra, and elementary physics; knowledge of electronic equipment design, development, evaluation, testing, installation, and maintenance; and knowledge of the capabilities, limitations, operations, design, characteristics, and functional use of a variety of types and models of electronic equipment and systems related to, but less than, a full professional knowledge of electronic engineering. Electronics technicians may have gained experience assisting in work situations that includes: Maintenance; Installation; Fabrication; Testing and Evaluation/Research and Development; Sustainment; Troubleshooting. Qualifying specialized experience includes: Work as a technician, instructor, inspector, or mechanic (civilian or military) that showed progression in theoretical and practical knowledge of electronic theory, and of the characteristics, function, operation, and capabilities of a variety of types of electronic equipment. This experience must have included the use of schematic diagrams, a variety of test equipment, and the application of appropriate electronic formulas involved in such duties as testing, troubleshooting, modifying, designing, calibrating, installing, maintaining, repairing, constructing, and developing, and instructing on electronic equipment, or similar functions; and experience in developing policies, standards, and procedures for maintenance, installation, or similar functions, provided the work clearly shows that the applicant applied a specialized knowledge of the theories and principles of a variety of electronic systems or equipment. OR

Education (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED): Successfully completed Two full years of graduate education or a master's degree meets the requirements for GS-9. To be creditable, education must include a major study in electrical engineering, electronics engineering, or electronics technology. OR

Combination (Education and Experience (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED): Equivalent combinations of successfully completed graduate education (in excess of one year) related to the position and specialized experience as described above are also qualifying.

Physical Requirements: Work involves various situations requiring bench and/or field work that requires sitting, walking, standing, bending, lifting, pushing, etc. Handles devices weighing up to 40 pounds and is sometimes called upon to handle objects weighing in excess of 40 pounds with the assistance of equipment or other personnel. Work requires frequent inspections of equipment and systems, which may involve considerable walking, bending, stooping, crawling, climbing, reaching, and other physical movements. Often works in areas that require special safety precautions to avoid injury to self or others (e.g., lock-out, tag-out (LOTO), Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), etc.)

For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

NOTE: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit:

Additional information

Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments.

Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.

The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation and be found well-qualified (have a final rating of 80 or more before any Veterans preference points) for this vacancy. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at

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.