Structural Engineer

Public Buildings Service•San Francisco, CA

11d

About The Position

The Structural Engineer provides direction in structural, seismic, and blast engineering for the design and construction of new facilities and major renovations. The role is within the Public Buildings Service (PBS) Office of Engineering, which oversees architecture, engineering, urban development, historic preservation, courthouse and border station programs, construction services, and project management. One vacancy is currently being filled, with additional vacancies potentially filled as needed. The engineer serves as a national leader and recognized technical authority and code official, providing expert direction to GSA personnel, partner agencies, contract architects and engineers, construction managers, and construction teams. The position guides design, construction, repair, alteration, and maintenance of federal properties, reviews technical reports and studies, and advises on structural design and construction policy for new, existing, and leased buildings. The position develops and implements approaches for major and complex buildings, including standards to mitigate risks from terrorist attacks and natural disasters. In this work, the engineer serves on the Interagency Security Committee (ISC); standards may exceed model building codes and may involve blast testing, advanced computer modeling, and interagency collaboration. The engineer maintains expertise through technical literature and professional conferences or society meetings, and applies new developments to unique design and construction problems. The position requires frequent construction-site visits involving moderate risks and exposure to noise, vibrations, dust, heavy machinery, irritant chemicals, and weather extremes. Appropriate safety precautions and protective head, hand, and footgear are required. The GS-14 salary range starts at $127,829 per year, with actual salary dependent on duty location and locality pay.

Requirements

U.S. citizenship or national status (residents of American Samoa and Swains Island).
Meet all eligibility requirements within 30 days of the closing date.
Register with Selective Service if male and born after December 31, 1959.
Undergo and pass a Tier 5 background investigation and receive clearance before starting the job.
Have identity and work-status eligibility verified through E-Verify if not a GSA employee, and resolve any discrepancies as a condition of continued employment.
Serve a one-year probationary period, if required.
Submit to preappointment urinalysis; appointment is contingent on a negative drug test result.
Provide a resume of no more than two pages demonstrating qualifications, including relevant employment dates, hours worked per week, and experience details.
Submit college or university transcripts and certificates by the announcement closing date; an official transcript is required before appointment if selected.
Meet the basic engineer requirement: a degree in professional engineering, or a combination of college-level education, training, and/or technical experience that qualifies under the referenced basic requirements.
Have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-13 or higher in the Federal service.
Specialized experience must include applying advanced structural engineering principles to evaluation, design, and retrofit of large, complex, or mission-critical facilities, including technical leadership on structural performance, seismic safety, blast resistance, progressive-collapse mitigation, and/or physical security.
Specialized experience includes interpreting and implementing engineering standards and facility security criteria; conducting structural and seismic risk assessments; reviewing structural designs for new construction or major modernization; and advising project teams or government officials on risk-mitigation strategies.
Provide a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with transcripts if relying on foreign education to meet qualification requirements.

Responsibilities

Represent state-of-the-art structural engineering practices as a national leader.
Conduct briefings, discussions, and negotiations with agency representatives, GSA management, contract architects, construction firms, and external stakeholders to resolve controversies, promote innovative approaches, and build consensus.
Serve as a technical authority and code official in structural, seismic, and blast engineering for GSA personnel, partner agencies, and contracted project and construction teams.
Provide guidance on the design and construction of new federal properties and the repair, alteration, and maintenance of existing federal properties.
Review and comment on reports and specialized studies related to structural engineering.
Advise specialists on GSA structural design and construction policy for new, existing, and leased buildings.
Provide leadership and expert advice on specialized structural, seismic, and blast engineering programs to GSA business lines, project teams, personnel, partner agencies, and contract architect-engineers.
Develop and guide implementation of new approaches for major, complex buildings based on legislation and executive directives.
Define building standards to mitigate risks from terrorist attacks and natural disasters, serving as a member of the Interagency Security Committee.
Sustain expertise by reviewing technical literature and attending conferences or professional society meetings.
Apply new developments in the field to unique design or construction issues.
Frequently visit construction sites and follow required safety precautions, including wearing protective head, hand, and footgear.