Engineering Technician

Agricultural Research Service•Manhattan, KS

26d•Onsite

About The Position

These positions are with the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF), Facilities Engineering, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Plains Area, in Manhattan, Kansas. The Engineering Technician manages service, construction, and repair projects to maintain and improve facility quality and efficiency in support of NBAF’s scientific mission, with cost-effectiveness in mind. Projects support biocontainment, laboratories, and research facilities. The position assists with planning and developing project approaches, design formats, and illustrations, and works with NBAF program staff to identify needs and develop cost estimates and specifications for in-house repair and maintenance work. It manages facilities service, design and feasibility, repair, maintenance, and construction projects; investigates technical problems and provides alternative solutions; and applies federal construction and contracting requirements, building and mechanical codes, industry standards, manufacturer information, and NBAF policies. The technician communicates contract issues to the Contracting Officer, may serve as a Contracting Officer Representative, and develops contract packages including statements of work, cost estimates, and specifications. The job is based in a high-containment laboratory environment and carries health, safety, medical surveillance, and personal protective equipment requirements. These include required immunization where an FDA-approved vaccine applies, ongoing physical and psychological health monitoring, use of appropriate PPE and tight-fitting respirators in biological control areas, and compliance with containment, showering, jewelry, piercing, and medical-device restrictions. The position requires a motor vehicle or commercial driver’s license, drug testing, and applicable background and clearance checks.

Requirements

U.S. citizenship or U.S. national status.
Males born after December 31, 1959, must be registered with the Selective Service or exempt.
Satisfactory adjudication of a background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
Federal payments must be received by direct deposit.
Successfully pass E-Verify employment verification.
Serve a one-year probationary period unless previous federal service is creditable.
Motor vehicle or commercial driver’s license required.
Drug testing required, including pre-appointment urinalysis and random testing thereafter; appointment and continued employment are conditional on negative results for illegal drug use.
Meet the applicable GS-09, GS-10, or GS-11 qualification requirements by the announcement closing date.
For GS-09, one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-08 involving recommending solutions to technical facilities repair, maintenance, and construction work; recommending contracting approaches and negotiating with bidders and the contracting office before award; and researching technical problems and providing alternative solutions; or two full years of directly related graduate education or a directly related master’s degree; or a combination of education and experience.
For GS-10, one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-09 providing technical engineering and construction support for facilities projects or repair and maintenance programs; developing contract packages and cost estimates; reviewing shop drawings and submittals; and performing construction inspections.
For GS-11, one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-10 managing technically complex repair, maintenance, and construction contracts; interpreting and reviewing facility designs, specifications, or drawings; composing or reviewing project contracts; and developing cost estimates for multiple-use construction, repair, and service projects.
For work with BSL-3 or higher agents, or in BSL-3/BSL-4 facilities, Tier 3 clearance is required.
Participate in the Occupational Medical Surveillance Program and meet applicable medical and containment requirements.
Where applicable, receive immunization against diseases studied at NBAF that are transmissible to humans when the vaccine is FDA-approved for safety and effectiveness; investigational vaccines are voluntary, and declination requires signing a form acknowledging the risk.
Be able to undergo required physical and psychological examinations, periodic biological and serological testing, and blood draws for medical surveillance.
Use required PPE, including a tight-fitting respirator when working in biological control areas; respirator use requires medical evaluation and fit testing, and facial hair must comply with respirator fit requirements.
Be able to shower fully with soap and shampoo, without assistance, one or more times per day, and have no skin condition that prevents daily showering.
Comply with containment restrictions on jewelry, piercings, and external medical devices; items must be removable or fully sealed off as specified, and unhealed piercings are not permitted inside biocontainment.
Meet physical and sensory safety requirements for the laboratory environment; medical conditions that could create an unsafe environment, including inadequate vision or hearing, may be disqualifying.

Nice To Haves

A position with further promotion potential may include a career development plan and possible noncompetitive promotion after successful completion of requirements and management recommendation; promotion is not guaranteed.
Flexible work arrangements may be available under agency policy and applicable collective bargaining agreements.
Recruitment or relocation incentive may be authorized at the hiring official’s discretion.

Responsibilities

Assist in planning and developing approaches, design formats, and illustrations for assigned feasibility, design, facility repair, maintenance, and construction projects.
Work with NBAF program staff to determine unit needs and develop cost estimates and specifications for in-house repair and maintenance projects.
Manage facilities service, design and feasibility, repair, maintenance, and construction projects supporting biocontainment, laboratories, and research facilities.
Research unforeseen technical problems and conduct investigations to provide alternative solutions to management, project designers, or contracting officers regarding changes.
Implement Federal Construction Standards and Contracting Regulations, building and mechanical codes, industry standards, manufacturer information, and NBAF and unit policies and guidelines.
Maintain contact with the Contracting Officer and report contract issues that may affect contract performance, cost, or time.
Serve as a designated Contracting Officer Representative for contract requisitions on behalf of the Contracting Officer.
Develop contract packages, including statements of work, cost estimates, and specifications, for awards.