These positions are located within VA Ventures at the Puget Sound VA Medical Center in Seattle, WA. They function 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

***THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION, YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION*** This position involves a multi-grade career ladder. The major duties listed below represent the full performance level of GS-11. At the GS-10 grade level, you will perform assignments of a more limited scope and with less independence. You will progressively acquire the background necessary to perform at the full performance level of GS-11. Promotion is at the discretion of the supervisor and is contingent upon satisfactory performance, availability of higher level work, and availability of funds. 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 chronological. 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. Modifies existing products or prototypes, design of applicable quality test processes, or complete fabrication of systems to meet customer requirements. Performs other related duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 7:00am - 3:30pm Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not approved 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. Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required

Requirements

Qualifications

In order to qualify for these positions you must meet one of the following: GS-09: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: You must have at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-8) in the Federal Service that has given you the particular knowledge, skills and abilities required to successfully perform the duties of an Engineering Technician, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled which includes experience supervising, leading, or performing work involving applying a practical knowledge of the (1) methods and techniques of engineering or architecture and (2) construction, application, properties, operations, and limitations of engineering systems, processes, structures, machinery, devices, and materials. Qualifying specialized experience includes technical work in: drafting, surveying construction estimating, physical science, mathematics, aerospace, architecture, chemicals, electrical or mechanical systems, mining, petroleum, or nuclear systems. Experience in a trade or craft may be credited as specialized experience 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; Instrument maker or model maker who performed design or development work on devices fabricated. Specialized experience is independently accomplishing 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. NOTE: Experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title, duties, month and year start/end dates AND hours worked per week. ~OR~ EDUCATION: Successfully completed two (2) full years of graduate education or a master's degree or an internship that is directly related to the work of the Engineering Technician position such as engineering, construction, or industrial technology. One year of full-time graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent 1 year of full-time study. If that information cannot be obtained from the school, 18 semester hours should be considered as satisfying the 1 year of full-time study requirement. This education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university. NOTE: Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. ~OR~ COMBINATION: Equivalent combinations of successfully completed graduate level education (beyond the first year and one-half) and specialized experience, as described above, which meet the total experience requirements for this grade level. The education portion must include graduate courses directly related to the work of the Engineering Technician position such as engineering, construction, or industrial technology. This education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university. NOTE: Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. GS-10: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: At least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-9) in the Federal Service that has given you the particular knowledge, skills and abilities required to successfully perform the duties of an Engineering Technician. Examples of qualifying specialized experience include technical work in: drafting, surveying construction estimating, physical science, mathematics, aerospace, architecture, chemicals, electrical or mechanical systems, mining, petroleum, or nuclear systems. Experience in a trade or craft may be credited as specialized experience 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; Instrument maker or model maker who performed design or development work on devices fabricated. At this grade level, 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. NOTE: Experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title, duties, month and year start/end dates AND hours worked per week. ~OR~ EDUCATION:Successful completion of two and one-half (2.5) years of progressively higher-level graduate education that is directly related to the work of the Engineering Technician position, such as engineering, construction, or industrial technology. NOTE: Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. ~OR~ COMBINATION: Equivalent combinations of successfully completed graduate level education (beyond master's degree) and specialized experience, as described above. NOTE: Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation.

Education

GS11: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: At least one (1) full year of specialized experience that equipped me with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform successfully the duties of this position, and that is typically in or related to the work of this position. To be creditable, this experience must have been equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-10) in the Federal Service. Technician experience includes supervising, leading or performing work involving applying a practical knowledge of the (1) methods and techniques of engineering or architecture and (2) construction, application, properties, operations, and limitations of engineering systems, processes, structures, machinery, devices and materials. Qualifying specialized experience includes technical work in: drafting, surveying construction estimating, physical science, mathematics, aerospace, architecture, chemicals, electrical or mechanical systems, mining, petroleum, or nuclear systems. Experience in a trade or craft may be credited as specialized experience 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; Instrument maker or model maker who performed design or development work on devices fabricated. 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. NOTE: Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must clearly indicate the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. ~OR~

EDUCATION: Successfully completed a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, or 3 academic years of progressively higher-level graduate education that is directly related to the work of the Engineering Technician position, such as engineering, construction, or industrial technology. NOTE: Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. ~OR~

COMBINATION: Equivalent combinations of successfully completed graduate level education (beyond master's degree) and specialized experience, as described above. NOTE: Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation.

You will be rated on the following Competencies as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position:

• Design
• Oral Communication
• Project Management
• Technology Application

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/.

IMPORTANT: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. All experience listed on your resume must include the month and year start/end dates. 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.

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.

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: 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: Recognition of Foreign Qualifications | International Affairs Office (ed.gov).

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: Involves moderate physical demands in terms of field work, inspections, investigations, and surveys of facilities. Requires long periods of standing, walking, stooping, bending, and climbing. Work is also performed in an office setting doing paperwork, and in conference rooms negotiating the cost proposal submitted by the contractor. Requires ability to access a variety of areas and spaces to take measurements, obtain data from facilities and equipment, and conduct required inspections. Accuracy and precision are important. Must be physically able to climb, crawl, walk, stoop, sit, and have good hearing and eyesight. Work sometimes requires extended periods of time at a computer while producing drafted products, conducting research, reviewing design submittals, or writing reports.

Contacts

• Address VA Puget Sound Health Care System 1660 South Columbian Way Seattle, WA 98108 US
• Name: VHA National Recruitment Center
• Phone: (844)456-5208
• Email: [email protected]