Join the team! This position is located in the Office of Hazard Identification and Reduction, Directorate for Engineering Sciences, Division of Mechanical Engineering (ESME). As the repository of technical expertise on mechanical product hazards for the Consumer Product Safety Commission, ESME staff has the opportunity to regularly interact with national and international experts in product safety.

Duties

This position offers the chance to work on a blend of short term and long-term projects that are highly topical and relevant with an opportunity to effect changes to the safety of mechanical products within the very near term. The Division is responsible for providing the full range of professional mechanical engineering expertise required for the analysis and evaluation of the safety of consumer products. The Division designs, conducts, and evaluates product safety tests and test methods; develops and evaluates performance criteria and design requirements for consumer products; participates in the development of product safety standards and provides or evaluates technical content of proposed standards; performs or manages research programs in the engineering sciences; develops, reviews, and evaluates scientific and engineering evidence in connection with enforcement actions relating to substantial product hazards; and serves as a technical liaison with other organizations concerned with the engineering and scientific aspects of product safety.

Requirements

• U.S. Citizenship Required.
• Background Investigation Required.
• Must meet education requirements.

Qualifications

In addition to the mandatory education requirement, all applicants must have 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level in the Federal Service. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped the candidate with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. Qualifying specialized experience must demonstrate the following: GS-11: 1) performing routine engineering tests, evaluations and analyses and developing reports based on findings; 2) designing and implementing engineering studies; and 3) applying knowledge of mechanical engineering principles, theories, and research to determine whether a consumer product is a hazard. GS-12: 1) performing complex engineering tests, evaluations and analyses and developing formal reports based on findings; 2) designing and implementing engineering studies; and 3) applying professional knowledge of complex mechanical engineering principles, theories, and research to assist in the determination whether a consumer product is a hazard. GS-13: 1) performing complex mechanical engineering-based tests, evaluations and analyses and developing reports based on findings; 2) designing and implementing mechanical engineering studies; 3) applying expert knowledge of mechanical engineering principles, theories, and research to determine whether a consumer product is a hazard; and 4) preparing and conducting formal presentations to senior management and high-ranking officials. Evidence of the above specialized experience must be supported by detailed documentation of duties performed in positions held.  Your resume is the key means we have for evaluating your skills, knowledge, and abilities as they relate to this position. Therefore, we encourage you to be clear and specific when describing your experience. We will not make assumptions regarding your experience or based on job titles alone.  If your resume does not support your questionnaire answers, we will not allow credit for your response(s). Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement.  Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. 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. Applicants must meet the qualifications for this position by the closing date of this announcement.

Education

Mandatory Education Requirement - All applicants must meet one of the following requirements to qualify:

Successful completion of a professional engineering degree from an accredited university or college. 

OR

You must have a combination of college-level education or training, AND technical experience that furnished you with (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. Please review the OPM page on specifics about required curriculum and for more information on qualifications, please visit GS-0800: All professional Engineering Positions qualifications. Engineering Qualifications

In addition to meeting the basic education requirements indicated above, applicants must have specialized experience and/or directly related education in the amounts shown below:

GS-11: Applicants must have 1 year of specialized experience (as stated above) equivalent to at least the GS-9 grade level OR a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree OR 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree OR a combination of education AND specialized experience.

GS-12: There is no substitution for specialized experience for this grade level. Applicants must have 1 year of specialized experience (as stated above) equivalent to at least the GS-11 grade level.

GS-13: There is no substitution for specialized experience for this grade level. Applicants must have 1 year of specialized experience (as stated above) equivalent to at least the GS-12 grade level.

You MUST provide transcripts to support your educational claims. Unless otherwise stated unofficial transcripts are acceptable. Official transcripts will be required upon appointment.

All education claimed by applicants will be verified. 

All materials must be submitted by the closing date of this announcement.

Contacts

• Address CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION Consumer Product Safety Commission Office of Human Resources Management Room 523 4330 East West Highway Bethesda, Maryland 20814 United States
• Name: HR Specialist
• Phone: 301-504-7925
• Email: [email protected]