Federal Communications Commission is Hiring an Electronics Engineer Near San Francisco, CA

Qualifications:

Applicants must meet eligibility and qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.  Current Federal employees asking to be considered under Merit Promotion procedures must meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement.  

Candidates must meet both the educational qualification requirements in addition to the specialized experience and/or associated educational requirements in order to be deemed as qualified. 

A. Education

Degree Professional Engineering.   To view qualifying educational requirements and/or combination of education and specialized experience click on the following link: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0800/files/all-professional-engineering-positions-0800.pdf

TRANSCRIPTS MUST BE SUBMITTED. IF YOU DO NOT SUBMIT YOUR TRANSCRIPT(S) YOUR APPLICATION WILL BE DEEMED AS INELIGIBLE.

If you are qualifying based on positive education, please provide a copy of your college transcript.  The transcript may be unofficial or photocopy at time of application, but MUST provide the original if selected.

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order to receive credit towards qualifications.  Therefore, applicants must report only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.  Applicants can verify accreditation at the following website:  http://www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html

All education claimed by applicants will be verified by the appointing agency accordingly.  If selected, an official transcript will be required prior to appointment.

AND

B. SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE

GS-9 Specialized Experience:  Applicants must have a minimum of one-year specialized experience which includes performing intermediate level engineering tasks such as performing tests, measurements, calculations and other similar work involved in radio frequency (RF) engineering, broadcast engineering, or telecommunications engineering.

OR

Education: Master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position, such as: Electrical/Electronic Engineering.

OR

Have a combination of education and experience.

GS-11 Specialized Experience:  Applicants must have a minimum of one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-09 in the Federal service. For this position, specialized experience includes the following:  assisting in and conducting a broad range of technical radio frequency (RF) engineering studies and special projects; preparing written summaries and analyses of engineering facts and developing recommendations for resolution of problems; and analyzing and evaluating RF engineering and technical data.

OR

Education: Have 3 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree, or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree

OR

Have a combination of education and experience.

GS-12 Specialized Experience: Applicants must have a minimum of one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 in the Federal service. For this position, specialized experience includes the following:  interpreting and applying engineering rules, regulations, and policies; performing engineering analysis and studies concerning wireless communications issues; operating RF test, measurement and monitoring equipment used to locate and identify RF interference sources; interacting with individuals at all levels of authority; and drafting reports based on technical data gathered.

GS-13 Specialized Experience: Applicants must have a minimum of one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 in the Federal service. For this position, specialized experience includes the following:  performing comprehensive investigations of unauthorized or unlawful radio operation and comprehensive inspections of all classes and types of installations employing RF energy; and fluent in antenna theory, propagation, wireless geolocation techniques, and signal characterization.

You will be evaluated for this position on the following Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Other characteristics (KSAOs):

• Knowledge of the concept, principles, and practices of electronic engineering.
• Skill conducting comprehensive inspections and monitoring all classes and types of installations employing Radio Frequency energy and wireless communications.
• Ability to interact with individuals at all levels of authority.
• Skill communicating in writing with a wide range of individuals on many organizational levels. YOU MAY BE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE A WRITING SAMPLE AT THE TIME OF AN INTERVIEW (if selected).
• Ability to perform complex engineering analysis and studies.
• Skill enforcing regulations.

PART-TIME OR UNPAID EXPERIENCE: 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.

Responsibilities:

The incumbent resolves Radio Frequency (RF) interference, educates users, and enforces regulations.  Investigates all services for violations of Title 47, U.S. Code, Section 301, unlicensed operations of radio transmitting equipment.

Performs and directs fieldwork in matters of importance to communications involving safety of life and property.  Serves as a point of contact for FCC licensees including the U.S. Government in matters of fixed and mobile radio direction-finding and interference resolution.  Participates in unique enforcement and engineering projects that have regional or national applications.

Operates and understands all technical equipment typically used in the Field including RF spectrum analyzers, field strength meters, RF field survey meters, and radio receivers.  Maintains contacts with and assists other Federal agencies, foreign counterparts, and local law enforcement organizations concerning interaction and utilization of the radio spectrum for both authorized and unauthorized activities. 

Initiates Official Notices of Violation, Warnings, Notices of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture, and other orders to radio operators and licensees, to bring unsatisfactory or violative conditions to their attention as a result of monitoring, investigations and inspections.  Independently initiates correspondence or other communications with complainants and radio users concerning the enforcement functions of the office and region.

Participates in regional emergency planning meetings, serves as the local expert in emergency communications restoration, participates in FEMA conducted training exercises and is able to serve on ESF-2 task force and deployments as necessary.  Participates and assists in planning of Bureau enforcement and compliance workshops for persons associated with the various industries and radio services the Commission regulates.

Operates a sport utility vehicle in conjunction with travel and routine field activities.  May be required to operate SUV under adverse weather conditions and during hours of darkness.

Field work may require lifting objects or equipment over 25 lbs.

TRAVEL REQUIRED

The incumbent must perform local travel (returning to their duty station the same day) several days per week.  The incumbent must also perform consecutive days of official overnight travel on average once a month.  However, there may be months where the incumbent may have to perform official overnight travel more often and on consecutive weeks.  The incumbent’s personal schedule can often be considered when scheduling overnight travel.   

The incumbent is expected to serve as the “as-requested” agent an average of 5 times per year over weekends and holidays to address public safety issues and emergency harmful radio interference.   When serving as the as-requested agent, the incumbent must be available while off duty and within a reasonable call‐back radius to be contacted via telephone number or electronic device and is expected to begin travel from their official duty station within 3 hours of being contacted

Job Summary