This position is located within VA Ventures at the Seattle VA Medical Center. The incumbent functions as the Engineering Technician, Additive Manufacturing Technician for the Additive Manufacturing Program. The Additive Manufacturing Program aligns with the initiatives of the VHA Innovation Ecosystem (IE).

Duties

Major duties included but are not limited to: Participates in progress review meetings and maintains project status reports. Manages the CAD drawing library, ensuring that all drawings related to project assignments are maintained in a systematic manner, numerically and chronologically Assists with preparation of reports with all engineering matters Designs shape, size structures and mechanical aspects of assigned items and identifies support structure options in terms of feasibility for 3D printing Identifies printing materials and machine parameters to be used, as well as cost, and post-processing of 3D printed item. Computes loads, stresses, strength and other features, coordinates with engineers, scientists, and researchers for more theoretical, analytical, or specialized approaches to problems and for inter-relationships and integration of technical efforts. Performs fit analysis of complex assemblies using the Computer Aided Design (CAD) system. Determine proper model orientation and support structure required to achieve technical characteristics and successfully print a 3D component on a variety of machines and materials. Provides design coordination for engineers and technical staff using Computer Aided Design (CAD) models. Establishes production plans, in-process quality control and cost estimates in support of the 3D print. Maintains a thorough knowledge of 3D scanning operational and software capabilities of item to be 3D printed. Prepares complete final CAD design and coordinates with engineers and technical staff through use of CAD systems. Visits work areas to maintain a comprehensive understanding of overall item progress and quality, develops and monitors process and planning instructions and recommends possible solutions to minimize production and post-processing schedule. Provides recommendations for acceptance or rejection of 3D printed item on a case-by-case basis within the individual program intent and customer needs. Participates in initial planning discussions for projects, attends subsequent staff meetings and participates in discussions relating to assignments. Establishes processes for development, production, and sustainment. Phases include process development; medical scan reconstruction; design influence for manufacturing; additive manufacturing; rapid prototyping; manufacturing technology; design of tools, fixtures, surgical guides, and custom implants. Develops procedures and methods for construction of medical models, devices, and research and development (R&D) initiatives. Identifies proper materials based on requirements, dimensional tolerances, and secondary processing such as finishing. Establishes quality assurance processes, process documentation/standard operating procedures; process control; quality control, quality acceptance test planning and conduct; destructive and non- destructive testing; and inspection. Designs, sets up and conducts testing of items or systems during the R&D, production, and sustainment phases. Serves as technical subject matter expert on additive manufacturing equipment and performs maintenance and troubleshooting activities to maintain equipment's function per manufacturer's specifications. Completes training requirements as necessary to have a full understanding of the equipment's operational abilities. Serves as a technical consultant to staff engineers and supervisor for efficient and effective production/quality/manufacturing for programs of record and urgent need projects, with the majority of projects involving medically related models, products, or systems. Evaluates tasks independently with respect to product requirements and related data to make recommendations on alternative approaches and execution. Modifies existing products or prototypes, design of applicable quality test processes, or complete fabrication of systems to meet customer requirements. Other duties as assigned. Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday - Negotiable Hours between 0700-1700 Telework: VA supports the use of telework as a way to help attract and retain talented individuals in public service, increase worker productivity, and better prepare the agency to operate during emergencies. This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Engineering Technician/PD41433A, PD41432A, PD41431A, PD41430A, and PD41415A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 11/20/2023. Time-In-Grade Requirement: 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. For a GS-7 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-6, for a GS-8 served 52 weeks at the GS-7, for a GS-9 served 52 weeks at the GS-8, for a GS-9 served 52 weeks at the GS-8, for a GS-10 served 52 weeks at the GS-9, for a GS-11 served 52 weeks at the GS-10. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. 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. Basic Requirement: All applicants, regardless of grade level must meet minimum requirements. To be acceptable, experience in a trade or craft when the work provided intensive knowledge of engineering principles, techniques, methods, and precedents. Examples are trade positions with substantial developmental, test, or design responsibilities such as: Planner and estimator who analyzed designs for production purposes. OR Certification: Engineering technicians may be certified by the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies, an organization sponsored by the National Society of Professional Engineers. Certification by the Institute will be helpful as a measure of the technician's quality of experience. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: GS-7 Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-6 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience would typically include: assist in various technical engineering, scanning, modeling, and analyzing tasks in support of Additive Manufacturing design, development, and production utilizing 3D printing technologies and other manufacturing techniques under close supervision of a subject matter expert. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have one full year of graduate education meets the requirements for GS-7. OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. GS-8 Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-07 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience would typically include: accomplish various technical engineering, scanning, modeling, and analyzing tasks in support of Additive Manufacturing design, development, and production utilizing 3D printing technologies and other manufacturing techniques under intermediate supervision of a subject matter expert. There is no educational substitution at this grade level. GS-9 Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-8 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience would typically include: independently accomplish various technical engineering, scanning, modeling, and analyzing tasks in support of Additive Manufacturing design, development, and production utilizing 3D printing technologies and other manufacturing techniques with little to no supervision from subject matter expert. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have two full years of graduate education or a master's degree. OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. GS-10 Specialized Experience: You must have at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-9) in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience includes: leading team to accomplish various technical engineering, scanning, modeling, and analyzing tasks in support of Additive Manufacturing design, development, and production utilizing 3D printing technologies and other manufacturing techniques while acting as the subject matter expert and advising multidisciplinary teams to ensure timely production of patient care medical devices. There is no educational substitution at this grade level. GS-11 Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-10 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience would typically include: responsible for coordinating project teams to accomplish various technical engineering, scanning, modeling, and analyzing tasks in support of Additive Manufacturing design, development, and production utilizing 3D printing technologies and other manufacturing techniques serving as the senior subject matter expert. Ensures all teams have the proper equipment, materials, and resources to complete their projects. Coordinating with the supervisory staff on the progress of various projects. There is no educational substitution at this grade level. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: DesignOral CommunicationProject ManagementTechnology Application 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; religions; 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. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. Physical Requirements: The work requires some physical exertion. Common characteristics of the work are long periods of standing; recurring bending, crouching, stooping, stretching, climbing, or similar activities; recurring lifting of light to moderately heavy items weighing less than 40 pounds, such as testing or measuring equipment. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

Education

The education portion must include graduate courses directly related to the work of the Engineering Technician position in the field of engineering.

A transcript (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Education cannot be credited without documentation.

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: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. 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: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Contacts

• Address VA Puget Sound Health Care System 1660 South Columbian Way Seattle, WA 98108 US
• Name: Heidi Winters
• Phone: 509-434-7607
• Email: [email protected]