Electronics Engineer

Federal Communications Commission•Washington, DC

4d•Onsite

About The Position

The Electronics Engineer works in the Experimental Licensing Branch within the Electromagnetic Compatibility Division of the Office of Engineering and Technology at the Federal Communications Commission in Washington, DC. The incumbent serves as a senior technical authority on complex, novel, sensitive, controversial, and precedent-setting matters involving experimental radio operations and spectrum use. Assignments involve emerging technologies and proposed uses for which established engineering standards, technical precedents, propagation methodologies, interference criteria, or regulatory approaches may be incomplete, inapplicable, or nonexistent. The engineer provides authoritative advice to FCC leadership, other bureaus and offices, Commissioners and their staffs, Federal agencies, industry representatives, engineers, attorneys, research institutions, manufacturers, technology developers, and other stakeholders. The position independently evaluates unprecedented engineering issues, develops analytical approaches and technical criteria, resolves spectrum compatibility and interference matters, and makes recommendations that may shape Commission approaches, technical policies, rules, spectrum-management practices, and communications technologies. The role covers electronics engineering, radio frequency spectrum management, electromagnetic compatibility, propagation analysis, communications systems, interference analysis, and experimental use of the radio spectrum. The position is at the GS-14 level. Relocation expenses will not be paid. The vacancy announcement may be used to fill additional positions within 90 days.

Requirements

Meet the OPM basic education requirements for the Electronics Engineering Series 0855 and submit transcripts by the announcement closing date; applications without transcripts will be rated ineligible.
Have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 level in Federal service, independently analyzing the engineering feasibility and spectrum compatibility of proposed operations involving advanced or emerging radio technologies.
Have experience evaluating proposals involving emerging or evolving technologies that may significantly affect spectrum use, such as advanced wireless systems, dynamic and adaptive spectrum access, next-generation communications, advanced antennas, high-density wireless networks, experimental satellite and terrestrial systems, autonomous or remotely controlled communications platforms, broadband technologies, or sensing and communications systems.
Demonstrate knowledge of radio frequency spectrum and telecommunications systems sufficient to provide technical assistance to government agencies, private-sector engineers and attorneys, and the public.
Demonstrate mastery of electronics engineering concepts, principles, and practices, including in-depth knowledge of propagation models and spectrum-management techniques as they relate to telecommunications.
Demonstrate expert knowledge and ability to act as a technical authority in resolving unique and controversial telecommunications problems and service issues involving licensing novel, unconventional, or complex radio spectrum uses.
Have knowledge of spectrum allocated to U.S. Federal government agencies and the experimental radio service under Part 5 of the Rules.
Meet eligibility and qualification requirements by the announcement closing date.
Meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date if applying as a current Federal employee under Merit Promotion procedures.
Submit a resume of no more than two pages that meets the resume format criteria.
Receive a score of at least 80 on the scored competency-based resume review to be eligible for referral.
Meet U.S. citizenship and suitability requirements; males born after December 31, 1959, must be registered with Selective Service or have an exemption.
Provide required SF-50 documentation if a current or former Federal employee, and if a current FCC employee, provide an SF-50 verifying grade and status.
Complete required background investigation and, if applicable, serve a one-year probationary or trial period; a financial disclosure statement may be required.

Responsibilities

Serve as a senior technical authority and expert consultant to OET and the Commission on electronics engineering, spectrum management, electromagnetic compatibility, propagation, communications systems, interference analysis, and experimental radio operations.
Provide authoritative engineering advice on novel, unconventional, exceptionally complex, sensitive, or precedent-setting experimental radio operations.
Independently evaluate complex and unprecedented engineering issues involving emerging technologies and proposed spectrum uses.
Develop new analytical approaches and technical criteria when established methods or precedents are inadequate.
Resolve significant spectrum compatibility and interference matters.
Provide engineering recommendations that may establish Commission approaches or influence future technical policies, rules, spectrum-management practices, and communications technologies.
Advise FCC management, bureaus and offices, Commissioners and their staffs, Federal agencies, industry, research institutions, manufacturers, developers, and other stakeholders.
Oversee activities related to applications and issuing licenses in the experimental radio service under Part 5 of the Rules, including consideration of spectrum allocated to U.S. Federal government agencies.