General Engineer

National Cemetery Administration•Philadelphia, PA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

This position is located in the National Cemetery Administration’s North Atlantic District Office in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and works under the general administrative direction of the NAD Executive Director. The district supports 54 cemeteries in the North Atlantic Region. The engineer is responsible for the district’s Non-Recurring Maintenance and Maintenance and Repair construction programs, designated major and minor construction projects, and the district’s Environmental Management Program. The position also provides professional engineering expertise for special studies, cost comparisons, landscape plans, and General Operating Expense, NRM, and M&R programs. The engineer must account for applicable local, county, state, and federal building, safety, fire, and environmental codes. The role also provides guidance and support to appropriate VA Central Office program officials and all districts on national cemetery design and construction. As a General Project Engineer, the incumbent performs engineering analysis and develops, designs, and prepares complete plans and specifications for new district projects. The engineer assists the Senior Engineer in oversight of district construction projects and independently determines the actions needed to develop and complete design projects. Assignments cover engineering design phases for complex construction, extension, alteration, maintenance, and repair projects, and may involve coordinating non-VA architects, engineers, and technicians. The position requires extensive knowledge of environmental and general engineering and its application to problems in national cemeteries, including geographic concerns relevant to the North Atlantic District. The engineer reviews reports and complaints concerning cemetery environmental issues, assesses regulatory compliance and the technical adequacy of state-agency actions, and coordinates corrections of deficiencies with state agencies. The incumbent conducts or coordinates cemetery-site environmental assessments as needed to comply with applicable laws and regulations and performs public outreach as needed. The regular schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The position is not eligible for a compressed or flexible schedule, telework, or remote work. Occasional weekends may be required. Staff must work Memorial Day and Veterans Day annually, and may need to work holidays, weekends, overtime, or emergency call-back hours to meet cemetery needs. The position is primarily sedentary and performed in an office environment. The full performance level is GS-13. Relocation expenses and recruitment or relocation incentives are not authorized.

Requirements

One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 level in federal service, involving knowledge and skills related to the duties of the position.
Specialized experience must include knowledge of concepts, principles, theories, and methods for planning, designing, constructing, operating, and maintaining facilities such as buildings, transportation systems, and water and sanitary systems.
Specialized experience must include knowledge of methods or tools for developing, scheduling, coordinating, and managing projects and resources, including monitoring and inspecting costs, work, and contractor performance.
Specialized experience must include knowledge of concepts, theories, and practices used in planning, designing, constructing, and maintaining buildings or other structures.
Meet the professional engineering education requirement through a qualifying engineering bachelor’s degree or higher, or an accepted combination of education and experience demonstrated through qualifying engineering registration/licensure, a written engineering examination, specified academic coursework, or a related curriculum plus professional engineering experience, as detailed in the announcement.
Be a U.S. citizen.
Meet applicable background or security investigation requirements; designated or random drug testing may be required.
Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must be registered for Selective Service.
Serve a one-year probationary period and complete the required online onboarding process.
The position is primarily sedentary and performed in an office environment.

Responsibilities

Manage the district’s Non-Recurring Maintenance and Maintenance and Repair construction programs and designated major and minor construction projects.
Manage all aspects of the North Atlantic District Environmental Management Program.
Provide professional engineering expertise for special studies, cost comparisons, landscape plans, and General Operating Expense, NRM, and M&R programs.
Apply relevant local, county, state, and federal building, safety, fire, and environmental codes to district work.
Provide guidance and support to VA Central Office program officials and district staff on national cemetery design and construction.
Perform engineering analysis and develop, design, and prepare complete plans and specifications for new engineering projects in the district.
Assist the Senior Engineer in overseeing district construction projects.
Determine actions needed to develop and complete design projects and coordinate project staff, including non-VA architects, engineers, and technicians.
Perform engineering design for complex construction, extension, alteration, maintenance, and repair projects.
Review discrepancy, investigation, and inspection reports and complaints concerning cemetery environmental issues; assess compliance and the technical adequacy of state regulatory agency actions.
Coordinate correction of environmental discrepancies or deficiencies with state regulatory agencies.
Conduct environmental assessments of cemetery sites or coordinate assessments by contract as needed to comply with applicable laws and regulations.
Perform public outreach as needed.
Work required overtime, weekends, holidays, or emergency call-back hours when necessary to meet cemetery needs.