Electronics Technician

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration • Kansas City, MO

5d • Onsite

About The Position

This position is located in NOAA’s National Weather Service (NWS), Office of Business Operations and Accountability, Human Capital Management Division, Systems Training Unit. There is one vacancy in Kansas City, Missouri. The Electronics Technician serves as an instructor for specialized advanced technical courses covering NWS electronic, meteorological, and telecommunications systems. Instruction is delivered through classroom lectures, hands-on laboratory exercises, distance learning, webinars, and self-paced e-learning platforms. The role also provides high-level technical expertise on NWS systems and supports agency teams evaluating next-generation observational technologies.

The position requires a combination of classroom instruction and active laboratory work, including standing for extended periods, bending, crouching, lifting equipment weighing up to 40–50 pounds, and climbing ladders or training structures to reach elevated equipment assemblies.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship.
• Must be suitable for Federal employment based on a background investigation; the position requires a Moderate Risk Security Clearance and favorable adjudication.
• Must be registered for Selective Service, if applicable.
• For GS-12 qualification, one year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to GS-11 in the Federal service.
• Specialized experience must include installing, operating, and maintaining electronic, electro-mechanical, data acquisition, communications equipment, or related computer systems.
• Specialized experience must include instructing team members and peers on setup, operation, and maintenance of electronic, electro-mechanical, data acquisition, or communications equipment or related computer systems.
• Must meet qualification requirements by the announcement’s closing date; Federal employees seeking promotion must also meet time-in-grade requirements by that date.
• Physical ability to stand for long periods, bend, crouch, lift equipment weighing up to 40–50 pounds, and climb ladders or training structures.

Responsibilities

• Teach advanced technical courses on NWS electronic, meteorological, and telecommunications systems using classroom, laboratory, distance-learning, webinar, and self-paced formats.
• Teach concepts involving high-power RF and radar transmitters, receiver signal processing, digital signal processors, Linux- and Unix-based server hardware, meteorological sensor suites, and network routing equipment.
• Instruct students on high-voltage safety, RF hazard mitigation, and electro-static discharge procedures.
• Assess student progress through practical bench tests, written exams, and simulated field fault-troubleshooting tests; provide objective feedback and remedial coaching.
• Research, design, update, and maintain instructional materials, syllabi, lab guides, training manuals, and interactive training aids.
• Analyze engineering modifications, software upgrades, and field retrofit notifications, and update instruction to match current NWS operational baselines.
• Coordinate with NWS systems engineers and original equipment manufacturers to turn engineering documentation into standardized instructional modules.
• Apply Instructional System Design principles to address field skill gaps and operational readiness objectives.
• Configure, calibrate, maintain, and repair specialized electronic equipment, test beds, simulators, and benchtop mockups used in instructional laboratories.
• Introduce hardware, software, and system faults into simulators to test and improve student troubleshooting skills under controlled conditions.
• Evaluate and incorporate advanced electronic test equipment into laboratory exercises.
• Serve as a subject matter expert and provide high-level technical assistance and support for complex NWS systems.
• Participate in agency workgroups, system test teams, and field implementation teams evaluating next-generation observational technologies.

Benefits

• Federal employees and their families have access to a comprehensive benefits package; specific benefits depend on position type and should be confirmed with the hiring agency.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: No Education Listed