Summary The incumbent of this position performs a variety of work requiring application of extensive technical knowledge involving various established engineering methods, procedures, techniques, and practices. Responsibilities Major duties include, but are not limited to: Reviews the needs of the medical center and makes recommendations as to the scope of the work (SOW). Incumbent will be required to completely plan, develop and supervise complex projects involving highly sophisticated medical equipment installation requiring methods and procedures not usually found in written procedures. The incumbent, with little or no supervision, will be required to develop and draw preliminary sketches, plot utility plans, maps, architectural plans, electrical schematics, electrical circuit plans, plumbing schematics, plumbing plans (piping layout), heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system layouts, etc. with an optimal level of drafting techniques and use of the CAD system. Coordinates all assigned projects, including at times leases, from conception through completion. Serves as the Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) for all construction projects and leases as assigned. Prepares and oversees the production of plans, specifications, estimates, and schedules for complex projects. Administers architectural/engineering (A/E) design contracts to ensure A/E conformance to project scope and design criteria, while ensuring accuracy, completeness, and quality of the design work. Administers construction contracts for compliance with project documents and other applicable standards, evaluates submittals, and processes payment applications and invoices within the required time frames. Protects the interest of the government by mitigating design and construction errors, omissions, oversight, and fraud, as well as fire and safety issues. At project completion, ensures all closeout documentation is received and filed. Develops new specifications from templates provided on the Technical Information Library (TIL) as needed for in-house design projects. Prepares space requirement packages for new leases. Assembles procurement packages for new leases and submits to contracting. Periodically inspects the leased property throughout the life of the lease. Tracks leases throughout the entire contract. Develops performance work statements for issuance to landlords or contractors to address modifications to accommodate for growth and meet the needs of the VA. Records information about leased property deficiencies and coordinates correction with the landlord. Performs other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday- Friday 8:00am - 4:30pm Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Engineering Technician/PD636I-26007-0 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized VA Whole Health Statement: The VA Midwest Health Care Network advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers. This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest. As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care, you will operate in a model with three core elements, seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran. This is done in the @context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community. This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being. Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position. Subject to background/security investigation Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP) Possess and maintain VA certifications as a condition of employment, including: Obtaining COR Level 1 and OSHA 30 certifications within the first 90 days of hire Completing FE/C certification within the first year of employment Achieving COR Level 2 certification within the first two years of hire As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your probationary period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 05/04/2026. 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-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. Individual Occupational Requirement: 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. 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. 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 as described below: 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 includes: Experience using computer-aided design (CAD) software to produce drawings/plan changes; preparing cost estimates for construction projects; Reviewing contractor submissions, shop drawings, and proposals for technical adequacy; Providing engineering support and recommendations during project planning and execution phases. Physical Requirements: Most of the work is performed indoors in a well-lit, temperature and sound controlled office setting. However, incumbent may be exposed to the hazards of weather, dirt, dust etc. associated with construction settings while making "on-site" inspections of assigned projects. Incumbent be physically able to climb, crawl, walk, stoop, sit and stand to perform assigned duties. Incumbent is also expected to comply with all safety codes and other practices described in the Engineering and Medical Center Safety Manuals. You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination. Work Environment: Most of the work is indoors in a lighted area, with temperature and sound-controlled office setting. However, incumbent may be exposed to the hazards of tripping, falling, shock, burns, dust, fluids, chemicals and/or a variety of diseases when making "on-site" inspections. Incumbent must comply with all safety codes and other practices described in the Engineering Service and Medical Center Safety Manuals. 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. Additional Information Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act. Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. The Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well-qualified: applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in most of the required competencies of the job. Information about CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.
