General Engineer (Inspector) – DIRECT HIRE

Duties

As a General Engineer (Inspector), you will:
Conduct safety program reviews and provide engineering analyses and evaluations of potential pipeline safety regulatory deficiencies.
Interpret and apply Federal regulations and monitor the design, construction, operation and maintenance of gas and liquid pipeline systems.
Evaluate projects to determine compliance with existing Federal safety regulations.
Recognize discrepancies or inconsistencies between information reported or made available to the office of Pipeline safety and the true nature of the activity under review.
Participate in technical conferences, symposia and meetings as a technical expert and authority on safety issues related to the pipeline industry.
The ideal candidate for this position is a General Engineer who is seeking challenging assignments performing Federal pipeline safety compliance inspections; evaluating intrastate and interstate pipeline operators subject to Federal authority; investigating pipeline failures; and representing the Office of Pipeline Safety in all matters related to pipeline safety before Federal, state and industry authorities.

* PLEASE NOTE: This announcement establishes an open continuous (6 month) vacancy announcement for General Engineer (Inspector) GS-0801-11/12/13 Given our continuing need for top professionals in this field, we will routinely review applications and refer the top candidates for potential interviews multiple times during the open period of the announcement.

Reviews and referrals of applications will be completed on an as needed basis.

The final review will be on the closing date.

Following these dates, we will contact qualified applicants to schedule interviews.

We will give equal consideration to all applications we receive.

Duty locations will vary.

The difference in salary is determined by the locality pay in each location.

If selected, your starting salary may be different that what is listed above, as salaries are based upon your duty location.

All locality pay tables are available on the OPM website: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
You must be a U.S.

citizen & meet specialized experience to qualify
Submit application and resume online by 11:59 PM EST on the closing date
Required documents must be submitted by the closing date.
Direct Hire Authority will be used to fill this position
CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:
SELECTIVE SERVICE: Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for the Selective Service.
GOVERNMENT TRAVEL CARD: This position involves travel.

A government contractor-issued travel card will be issued and must be retained for official business only.
TELEWORK AUTHORIZED: THIS IS NOT A FULL TIME TELEWORK POSITION, however, telework is allowed for a portion of the duty week.
PROBATIONARY PERIOD: Applicants may be required to successfully complete a one-year probationary period (unless already completed).
DRUG TEST: DRUG TESTING: Tentatively selected candidates are required to undergo urinalysis in accordance with DOT 3910.1D entitled “Drug and Alcohol-Free Departmental Workplace”, which includes testing for marijuana.

Marijuana is legal in some states, however it’s still illegal at the federal level.

Therefore, if selected for the position you will be required to submit to a pre-employment/pre-appointment drug test, you will also be subject to Random Drug Testing.

Failure or refusal to take a drug test may result in disciplinary action up to and including removal from federal service.
PCS/RELOCATION/RECRUITMENT: Permanent Change of Station (PCS), Relocation, and Recruitment Incentive authorization varies by position/selection.
PLEASE NOTE: Because this position is a Mission Critical Assignment, employees must be able to report to the region office location from their home within three hours of notification.

The requirement applies due to the periodic need to address potential emerging critical mission-related events.

Qualifications

To meet the minimum qualifications for this position, you must (1) meet the Education Requirement for the series, (2) provide a copy of transcripts for verification, AND (3) meet either the education or experience qualifications for the grade at which you are requesting consideration.

To qualify on for the GS-11 on Experience, you must have at least one year of experience equal or equivalent to the GS-09, it must include:

Experience creating or reviewing engineering design and/or construction proposals/specifications for compliance with procedural, regulatory, or related requirements.

To qualify for the GS-11 on Education alone, you must have:
3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D.

degree or Ph.D.

or equivalent doctoral degree.
You can also qualify based on a combination of higher level graduate education and experience.

This must be fully supported by your resume and transcripts, provided with your application.

To qualify on for the GS-12 on Experience, you must have at least one year of experience equal or equivalent to the GS-11, it must include:

Experience applying engineering concepts, principles, and practices applicable to duties concerned with the design and construction of gas or liquid pipeline systems of operators.

You cannot qualify on education at this level, you must have experience.

To qualify for the GS-13 on Experience, you must have one year of experience equal or equivalent to the GS-12, which includes:
Experience conducting safety program reviews, engineering analyses, and evaluations of natural gas or hazardous liquid pipelines in accordance with safety regulations
Experience reviewing design specifications for pipeline systems.

Experience providing technical determinations and resolutions of compliance issues arising from pipeline safety inspections.

You cannot qualify on education at this level, you must have experience.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs): Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following areas:
Compliance Inspection: Ability to direct an enforcement program in order to determine probable violations, assess preliminary civil penalties, issue proposed compliance orders, issue corrective action order, act as a senior official at enforcement hearings, evaluate response material, recommend final enforcement actions and issue warning letters.
Technical Competence: Skill in assuring that field actions comply with national policies, objectives, and regulations, as well as ensuring those regional programs are compatible with environmental, social, and economic goals and needs.
General Engineering: Knowledge of the concepts, principles, and theories of engineering and their practical applications.
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.

For additional information about applying to Federal positions, please click on the following link: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-policies/#url=e4
Students enrolled in a qualifying degree program can apply if the anticipated graduation date is within six months of closing date of the announcement.

Graduation transcript m