The incumbent works in the 3D Innovation Center at the Ralph H. Johnson 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

VHA IE's mission is to enable the discovery and spread of health care innovations within VHA that exceed expectations, restore hope, and builds trust within the Veteran community. Working with VA doctors, nurses, Veterans, educators, and private industry from across the country, VHA Innovation Ecosystem is at the forefront of health care innovation. Within VHA IE exists VHA Agile Design and Product Transfo1mation (VHA ADAPT), an initiative focused on the design and transformation of manufacturing within VHA. As an Additive Manufacturing technician, perfo1ms 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. Performs assignments typically dealing with the 3D production, engineering of assigned items, and components as well as equipment maintenance and troubleshooting. Serves as a product manufactu1ing technical expert and advisor for the development of additive manufactured components in accordance with new and changing technical requirements as well as understanding and complying to medical device manufacturing guidelines and regulations per FDA, ISO and AAMI standards. 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. Performs fit analysis of complex assemblies using the Computer Aided Design system. Broad practical knowledge and skill in using, computer-aided design (CAD), modeling software including mesh modeling and slicing software, 3D scaill1ing and manipulating scans in CAD software. Know ledge of basic anatomy in order to perform segmentation of medical in1ages for purposes of anatomical modeling and pre-surgical planning printing. Thorough understanding of material properties and which material applies to the fabrication process being utilized. Understanding of different failure modes and how they are applicable to different processes, different applications and different geometries thus knowing the weaknesses amongst the fabrication process of choice. Broad practical knowledge in 2D Laser Cutting and Engraving including materials utilized for such processes. Broad practical knowledge in injection molding procedures and knowledge in machining molds for such procedures. Knowledge of FDA design controls and ability to work in design control environment per FDA Title 21CFR820.30. Ability to in1plement work within a stage gate product development process. Understanding process development in a medical device environment per FDA Title 21CFR820.75. Knowledge of ISO 1345 and 14971 in application to medical device manufacturing. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday; 0800 am -1630 pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Engineering Technician/PD10055O 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, 03/07/2024. 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-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-9 level. 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. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: Basic Requirement: Individual Occupational Requirements You must have the following basic requirements: This series covers technical positions supervising, leading or performing work involving applying a practical knowledge of the: methods and techniques of engineering or architecture; and construction, application, properties, operations and limitations of engineering systems, processes, structures, machinery, devices and materials. Specialized Experience (for positions GS-4or equivalent and above): Examples of qualifying specialized 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 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. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: 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. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Skill in using 3D printers of multiple fabrication processes, including not but limited to FDM, SLA, cDLM, computer-aided design (CAD) PolyJet/Multi-Fusion and SLS, computer-aided design (CAD),modeling software including mesh modeling and slicing software, 3D scanning and manipulating scans in CAD software, comply to medical device manufacturing guidelines and regulations per FDA, ISO and AAMI standards.. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Customer ServiceProblem SolvingTechnical Problem SolvingTechnology 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: Project inspections require a great deal of walking, climbing, standing and bending. Inspections may also require carrying of moderate loads such as tools weighing up to 30 lbs. and measuring equipment common to the position. Office work involves extensive computer input, typing, bending and lifting of project specifications and drawings. 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

There is no educational substitution at this grade level.

Contacts

• Address Ralph H Johnson Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center 109 Bee Street Charleston, SC 29401 US
• Name: Juan Cruz
• Phone: (860) 938-7296
• Email: [email protected]