Summary This is a public notice flyer to notify interested applicants of anticipated vacancies. Applications will not be accepted through this flyer. Interested applicants must follow the directions in the "How to Apply" section of this flyer to be considered. There may or may not be actual vacancies filled from this flyer. Notice of Result letters will not be sent to applicants who respond to this flyer. Responsibilities You will use advanced manual and craft skills and design-related engineering tasks required by the instrumentation research and development activities of the U.S. Naval Observatory. You will fabricate, modify, and test complex equipment used at the Naval Observatory. You will obtain, provide, and give basic recommendations on manufacturing processes, materials and how each part interrelates with the other components of the system. You will carry out maintenance of the astronomical instruments located throughout the observatory grounds. You will create CAD drawings and work from rough sketches and verbal instructions, and must have enough familiarity with the work of the particular department involved as to be able to converse effectively with the scientists or engineers in charge. You will program the computer numerically controlled (CNC) machines through use of programming tools to create G Code and edit G Code in the CNC controller as required. You will repair instruments by fabricating replacement parts if not available, aligning and fitting those parts, finishing the surface, and testing the assembly. You will communicate with astronomers, physicists, or engineers within the agency, outside the work unit, and at various organizational levels necessary to coordinate work efforts and solve technical problems and improve performance goals. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications Your resume must also demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-09 grade level or pay band in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private or public sector. Specialized experience must demonstrate the following: Experience applying a comprehensive, intensive, practical knowledge of the methods and practices of the engineering discipline to support design, fabrication, and maintenance of new instrumentation and related procedures and techniques for the observatory. Experience applying a required in-depth knowledge of a broad area of instrumentation, including their design, manufacturing, testing, and operations, which may cross engineering and scientific disciplines. Experience reading CAD drawings and programs, blueprints and mechanical sketches. Experience working as an experimental machinist, model maker, tool and die maker or instrument maker for a minimum of six years is required to demonstrate unusual expertise in instrumentation due to the unique nature of the work; working as an instrument maker for a minimum of three years is specifically required. Additional qualification information can be found from the following Office of Personnel Management website: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/#url=Group-Standards IOR: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0800/engineering-technical-series-0802/ Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (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. Education Basic Requirements for Specialized Experience: 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. Additional Information This announcement uses the Certain Personnel of the DoD direct hire authority to recruit and appoint qualified candidates to positions in the competitive service. The work requires physical skills and training, long periods of standing, and some dexterity, agility, strength, or stamina to accomplish tasks, avoid injury, or reduce adverse effects of moderate physical stress or exertions. The work environment regularly requires constant alertness, knowledge of special safety precautions, occupational and procedural training, and protective clothing or gear to prevent, control, eliminate, or reduce the effects of moderate risks, discomforts or adverse environmental conditions such as work where moving parts and machines pose limited and moderate danger. Work in unheated buildings may on occasion be required at temperatures from below freezing to over 100 degrees. On rare occasions, maintenance work on telescopes may involve climbing to the ceiling of telescope buildings. Position may require occasional CONUS travel a few times a year and OCONUS travel no more than once per year. This position is covered by the Department of Defense Priority Placement Program. Several vacancies may be filled. A tentative offer of employment will be rescinded if the selectee fails to meet the pre-employment requirements, including failure to report to any of the scheduled appointments. Federal annuitant information: The selection of an annuitant is subject to the Department of Defense and Department of the Navy policy on the employment of annuitants. Policy information may be found at: http://www.secnav.navy.mil/donhr/Documents/CivilianJobs/FedCivAnnuitants.pdf. Veteran's preference does not apply when selecting individuals under this specific hiring authority. However, if you claim veteran's preference, you will be required to submit supporting documentation with your application as described in the Required Documents section below.