Summary This engineer supports the USDA Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory in Madison, WI. The employee serves as a support engineer responsible for testing, data acquisition using modern instrumentation, and preliminary data analysis and assessment within the project. For additional information about the duties of this position, please contact Umesh Agarwal at umesh.p.agarwal@usda.gov or John Considine at john.m.considine@usda.gov. Responsibilities Duties listed are at the full performance level. Perform laboratory and field tests using knowledge of current engineering testing standards and procedures. Prepare test specimens and test samples materials such as wood, modified wood fiber, biopolymers, pulp, cellulose, etc. Apply technical methods, equations, and analyses to solve technical engineering problems. Adapt precedents or existing strategies to meet unusual equipment and technology development requirements. Use computer hardware and software related to word processing, database management, spreadsheet, presentation software, and web applications to complete engineering projects. Convey technical concepts and information to diverse audiences such as collaborators in academia, private industry, other government agencies, and the general public. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications In order to qualify, you must meet the eligibility and qualifications requirements as defined below by the closing date of the announcement. For more information on the qualifications for this position, visit the Office of Personnel Management's General Schedule Qualification Standards. Your application and resume must clearly show that you possess the experience requirements. Transcripts must be provided for qualifications based on education. Provide course descriptions as necessary. Work Experience: Your resume must clearly document the following for each block of work experience; the beginning day, month and year the work assignment started and ended; the hours worked per week; position title, and series and grade if applicable; and description of duties performed. This information must be provided for each permanent, temporary or seasonal appointment/work assignment or volunteer work and should be clearly documented as a separate block of time. Incomplete, inaccurate or conflicting work history may not be credited for qualifications purposes. This can result in an applicant not being considered for the position. Required Education all Engineers: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0800/files/all-professional-engineering-positions-0800.pdf. In addition to meeting the basic requirement, you must also possess experience and/or directly related education in the amounts listed below. Minimum Qualifications: For GS-9 Level: 1 year of specialized professional engineering experience equivalent to at least the GS-07 in federal service. Specialized experience is defined as: Using general engineering concepts, principles, and knowledge of current testing standards and procedures to assist with lab and field testing, data acquisition using modern instrumentation, and preliminary data analysis and assessment for a wide range of technology and development projects. Using technical methods, equations, and analyses to recommend solutions to technical engineering problems. OR 2 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree (with coursework directly related to the position being filled); OR successful completion of a 5-year program of study of at least 160 semester hours leading to a bachelor's degree in engineering and one year of appropriate professional experience. OR a combination of superior academic achievement and one year of appropriate professional experience. OR an appropriate combination of specialized experience and education. Only graduate education in excess of 18 semester hours may be used to qualify for this grade level. Professional engineering experience is defined as non-routine engineering work that required and was characterized by (1) professional knowledge of engineering; (2) professional ability to apply such knowledge to engineering problems; and (3) positive and continuing development of professional knowledge and ability. For GS-11 Level: 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 grade level. Specialized experience is defined as: Applying professional general engineering concepts, principles, and knowledge of current testing standards and procedures to serve as a support engineer responsible for lab and field testing, data acquisition using modern instrumentation, and preliminary data analysis and assessment for a wide range of technology and development projects. Applying technical methods, equations, and analyses to solve technical engineering problems. OR 3 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. equivalent doctoral degree and the education was obtained from an accredited college or university and is directly related to the work of the position as described in the specialized experience answer option A above. OR an appropriate combination of specialized experience and graduate level education beyond what is required for a master's degree, i.e., more than 36 semester hours leading to a Ph.D. The education was obtained from an accredited college or university and demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. The combination of experience and education must be directly related to the work of the position described in the specialized experience answer option A above. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Education See above for required and qualifying education. Additional Information The USDA Forest Service has legislative authority to recruit and fill Permanent (Career/Career-Conditional), Temporary, and Term Appointments under the USDA Demonstration Project. Under this authority, any U.S. citizen may apply. Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), Reemployment Priority List (RPL), or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL/ICTAP candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. CTAP/ICTAP eligibles must meet the agency's definition for a quality candidate as provided in the How You Will Be Evaluated section of this announcement to be considered. If you are selected for a position with further promotion potential, you will be placed under a career development plan, and may be non-competitively promoted if you successfully complete the requirements and if recommended by management. However, promotion is not guaranteed. This position may be eligible to telework up to four days per week, based upon the duties of the position. This position may also be eligible for flexible work arrangements as determined by agency policy and any applicable collective bargaining agreements. The Forest Service may use certain incentives and hiring flexibilities, currently offered by the Federal government, to attract highly qualified candidates. Additional information is available at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/pay-and-leave-flexibilities-for-recruitment-and-retention/ This is a bargaining unit position and is represented by either NFFE, AFGE, or NAGE. Forest Service daycare facilities are not available. Government Housing is not available. THIS IS AN OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until the close date or until the position is filled whichever comes first.