This position is located within the Biological Control of Pests Research Unit for the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS), in Stoneville, MS. In this position, you will assist scientists and research leaders in all phases of research assignments by constructing, assembling, installing, operating and maintaining a variety of highly specialized complex scientific equipment.

Duties

Constructs, assembles, and installs new equipment, and makes modifications and repairs to experimental or other equipment. Plans, installs and calibrates instrumentation for collecting research data. Performs field maintenance on instrumentation to ensure proper operation throughout the test period. Assembles, tabulates and conducts analyses of collected data, with responsibility for recognizing and correcting errors, inconsistencies and other deficiencies in the data. Utilizes prototyping tools or modeling software and creates models with 3D printing equipment. Selects the best methods for presenting the data and prepares drafts, drawings, charts, graphs, figures, and reports illustrating and summarizing research results.

Requirements

• You must be a US Citizen or US National.
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt.
• Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
• Successful completion of one-year probationary period, unless previously served.
• Direct Deposit: Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution.
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit E-Verify at https://www.e-verify.gov/

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including specialized experience and/or education, as defined below. GS-07 Specialized Experience: Specialized experience is experience directly related to the position to be filled. Specialized experience must be described for each grade level advertised. The specialized experience requirements for this position are: Qualifying experience for GS-07 includes one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-06 which is directly related to the work of this position and which has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. For this position, specialized experience is experience constructing, modifying, or repairing engineering equipment; assembling and analyzing collected experimental data; and preparing charts, graphs, or figures to summarize equipment test and evaluation data. OR Education: One full year of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's or equivalent graduate degree, if directly related to the position. Related degrees may include General Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Engineering Technology, Civil Engineering, Agricultural Engineering, or Industrial Engineering. OR A combination of education and specialized experience as described above. GS-08 Specialized Experience: Specialized experience is experience directly related to the position to be filled. Specialized experience must be described for each grade level advertised. The specialized experience requirements for this position are: Qualifying experience for GS-08 includes one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-07 which is directly related to the work of this position and which has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. For this position, specialized experience is experience operating power tools or equipment such as handsaws, table saws, lathes, welding or manufacturing equipment; performing field maintenance on instrumentation to ensure proper operation throughout the testing period; and installing, modifying, and calibrating complex/specialized instrumentation. OR Education: Two full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's or equivalent graduate degree, if directly related to the position. Related degrees may include General Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Engineering Technology, Civil Engineering, Agricultural Engineering, or Industrial Engineering. OR A combination of graduate level education and specialized experience as described above. GS-09 Specialized Experience: Specialized experience is experience directly related to the position to be filled. Specialized experience must be described for each grade level advertised. The specialized experience requirements for this position are: Qualifying experience for GS-09 includes one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-08 which is directly related to the work of this position and which has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. For this position, specialized experience is experience utilizing prototyping tools or modeling software; developing or designing various aspects of the research projects; operating, maintaining, and creating models in 3D printing equipment; and interpreting and documenting findings by preparing information to be included in manuscripts or reports summarizing equipment test and evaluation data. OR Education: Two full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's or equivalent graduate degree, if directly related to the position. Related degrees may include General Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Engineering Technology, Civil Engineering, Agricultural Engineering, or Industrial Engineering. OR A combination of graduate level education and specialized experience as described above. Physical Demands The work requires some physical exertion, such as regular and recurring walking or bending. In many situations the duration of the activity (such as most of a work day) contributes to the arduous nature of the job. In other situations, there may be special requirements for agility or dexterity such as exceptional hand/eye coordination. Work Environment The work involves regular and recurring moderate risks or discomforts which require special safety precautions, e.g., working with contagious diseases or irritant chemicals or working outdoors. The employee is required to use protective clothing such as gowns, coats, boots, goggles, gloves. 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 and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Education

Please see above for education qualification requirement information.

Contacts

• Address Agricultural Research Service 141 Experimental Station Road Stoneville, MS 38776 US
• Name: Robert Green
• Phone: (703) 259-9392
• Email: [email protected]