VACANCY INFORMATION

POSITION:  General Engineer, GS-801-7 to12
JOB LOCATION:   Ocean Construction Div, Ocean Facilities Dept (OP55)
DUTY STATION:   ECDET, Washington, DC

SUMMARY OF DUTIES:
The incumbent performs program and project management, coordination,
direction, evaluation, and documentation of all inspection, design,
planning, construction, and support for ocean engineering and construction
projects.  This includes inspection reports, design reports, construction
and construction management, and providing maintenance information for
fixed ocean and waterfront facilities such as platforms, pipelines, piers,
wharves, bridges, waterfront security systems, shallow and deep sensor
arrays, hyperbaric facilities, water tanks, magnetic silencing facilities
and moorings.   Products of the Branch include study reports,
environmental, structural and economic analysis reports, plans,
specifications, inspections, designs, and constructed facilities.

The purpose of this position is to provide structural, mechanical and
foundation systems engineering, inspection and design support for ocean
engineering and construction projects. The incumbent will provide support
to other engineers within the Ocean Construction Division on current
projects and on future systems requirements. The incumbent will primarily
work in one of these product lines Hyperbaric Facilities, Marine
Structures, Moorings and Waterfront Security Systems, Bridge Inspections,
Magnetic Silencing Facilities, Water Tank Inspections, or Pier and Wharf
Condition Inspections.

OTHER SIGNIFICANT FACTORS:
·	Requires pursuit of Professional Engineering registration
·	Must be able to obtain a Secret clearance 
·	This position requires some travel, both domestic and international
·	Employee may be required to file a yearly Confidential Statement of
Affiliations and Financial Interests 
·	Must be able to reach Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act
(DAWIA) certification at Level 3 Facilities Engineering
·	Potential for obtaining Navy Diver qualification

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The incumbent will:

1. Analyze, design, construct, install and inspect ocean structures,
pipelines, seafloor foundations, bridges, water tanks, magnetic silencing
facilities, specialized and fleet moorings, or hyperbaric facilities for
current and future complex ocean systems.  Systems include sea surface and
sub-surface fixed facilities. The work requires the incumbent to be
familiar with marine equipment applications and with the unique factors in
the ocean environment relevant to design and operation of marine systems
and equipment. The design and development effort requires the application
of innovative and inventive skills to meet new and unusual requirements. 10%

2. Performance of design studies utilizing advanced software applications
and the preparation of drawings, work statements and specifications for
these designs. 10%

3. Provide input into operating procedures and specifications for work
systems and equipment.  Work includes start-up and recovery/launch
procedures, maintenance criteria, etc. 10%

4. From broad general definitions, generate performance, installation, and
acceptance test specifications for approval. Specification types include
those for complex hyperbaric or ocean structural, mechanical,
electro-mechanical, electronic assemblies, and components. 10%

5. Monitors inspection, construction and development of ocean equipment and
systems.  Includes developing quality control, evaluation and testing of
the product prior to acceptance. 10%

Incumbent may be required to participate in various site or plant visits as
expert on acceptance.

6. Preparation of engineering drawings and documents requiring a thorough
knowledge of materials and properties such as strength, weakness,
corrosion, etc., as well as construction and fabrication techniques and
processes. 10%

7. Perform engineering analysis as required to verify existing designs
and/or validate proposals and to develop new ocean equipment and facilities
designs. Designs may be conceptual, preliminary, or final as warranted by
project needs. 10%

8. The incumbent is required to represent NFESC in dealing with
contractors, other commands and laboratories. 10%

9. When directed, the incumbent assumes responsibilities for project
elements as the responsible engineer. When functioning as a responsible
engineer, incumbent is responsible to the Ocean Construction Division
Director for (1) detailed analysis of project requirements, (2) tasking,
coordinating, and acquiring project requirements, inputs from various
Branches, and (3) reporting and documenting all phases of effort. The
incumbent ensures completion of project elements within assigned time and
cost constraints. Must plan, request, and coordinate necessary action to
procure required resources when otherwise not available. 10%

10. Support generation of contractual documents (statements of work,
independent government cost estimates, specifications, drawings, etc.) for
inspection or installation of ocean equipment or facilities.  Act as Navy
Technical Representative or Contracting Officers Technical Representation
on contracted actions.  Support contract award process through contribution
or coordination of award documentation.  10%

11. Other duties as work necessitates or as assigned.





Factor 1 - Knowledge Required by the Position
To successfully accomplish ocean engineering and construction projects, the
incumbent must be familiar with marine equipment applications and basic
engineering principles. This encompasses unique factors in designs,
construction, installation and operation of systems in the ocean
environment; the ability to modify standard practices and adapt equipment
or techniques to solve a variety of ocean engineering problems; ability to
apply innovative and inventive skills to meet unusual requirements.
Minimum academic requirement is completion of a full 4 or 5 year curriculum
in an accredited college leading to a bachelor's degree in Engineering.  

Professional experience in marine system design, construction, inspection
and installation can qualify for employment at a higher grade.

Various training opportunities to improve technical and administrative
skills are also offered.
Factor 2 - Supervisory Controls
The incumbent functions under the general supervision of the Director,
Ocean Construction Division.  Assignments are made in generalized form with
known financial, schedule and technical constraints. The incumbent
independently executes project planning, engineering and
construction/fabrication with little or no specific guidance. The incumbent
arranges for and utilizes other government services and contractors through
independent action and coordination with the appropriate contracting and
technical offices. The incumbent keeps the supervisor apprised of project
status, problems and their resolutions and seeks guidance when indicated.
Factor 3 - Guidelines
Guidelines include manuals, engineering regulations, established
procedures, policy statements and the terms of contracts. These guidelines
are frequently inadequate in dealing with more complex problems, requiring
the incumbent to use experienced judgment and resourcefulness in selecting,
adapting and applying engineering principles and practices to situations
where precedents are not applicable due to factors such as unfavorable
conditions, the need to deviate from established practices in order to keep
costs below a prescribed level, or to meet current requirements for
environmental regulations.
Factor 4 - Complexity
Assignments involve management of designs, fabrication, inspection and
construction of ocean engineering and construction projects. Tasks require
innovative and skillful improvisation due to the varying operating
requirements. Projects contain a combination of complex features requiring
a high degree of technical judgment, originality and resourcefulness to (1)
recognize possible new directions of approach and devise new or improved
techniques and methods for obtaining effective results, (2) overcome
difficult and unusual problems where precedents are not directly
applicable, (3) apply the latest technological advances relating to the
specialization, and (4) analyze and evaluate designs, proposals and ideas
submitted by others.
Factor 5 - Scope and Effect
This work involves the responsibility for planning, design, procurement,
construction, installation and maintenance support for complex ocean and
waterfront facilities. The engineering determinations have impact on the
efficiency, economy and safety of the systems/structures involved. The work
efforts affect a large group of naval ocean engineering projects.

Factor 6 - Personal Contacts
This position requires frequent contact with other federal personnel and
representatives of the academic and industrial communities. Well-developed
oral and written communication abilities are required.  Interact with all
levels of military and civil service personnel, including foreign officials.
Factor 7 - Purpose of Contacts
Contacts are for the purpose of exchanging information, coordinating
projects, discussing equipment requirements with manufacturers and
monitoring and recommending changes in contractor work. These contacts with
contractors often involve technical disagreements that require persuasion
and tact to resolve.

Factor 8--Physical Demands
Work is primarily is sedentary. On-site project work requires some
strenuous physical activity such as extended standing, bending, lifting,
and climbing while visiting construction sites, on board
ships/vessels/platforms used for project installation, and at-sea personnel
transfers between vessels.

Acceptable physical condition to meet standards for the U.S. Navy diving
program is desired but not required.

Factor 9--Work Environment
Most work is performed in an office setting.  When visiting construction
sites and working aboard ship during installation and construction projects
and during personnel transfers between vessels at sea, there is some
exposure to extreme weather conditions, moderate discomfort, and risks
associated with proximity to heavy machinery.
The Product Line work environments involve high risk with exposure to
potentially dangerous situations or unusual environmental stress which
requires a range of safety and other precautions, e.g., working under
extreme outdoor weather conditions.

Kevin M. Miller 
Ocean Engineer/U.S. Navy Diver 
NFESC-ECDET 
720 Kennon St. SE, Suite 333 
Washington Navy Yard, DC 20374-5063 
202-433-5327