Liquefied Natural Gas Engineer

This position will administer essential LNG safety initiatives for the National Center of Excellence for LNG Safety at PHMSA’s new office site in Lake Charles, LA.

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 the specialized experience requirements for the grade at which you are requesting consideration.

To qualify 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 using design codes, consensus standards, or industry best practices for LNG, industrial, or petrochemical facilities.
• Experience developing Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) training and facilitating knowledge sharing.
• Experience utilizing and researching risk management to identify and test technology-based processes and activities to determine critical LNG safety and reliability impacts.

You cannot qualify on education at the GS-12 level; you must have experience.

To qualify for the GS-13 on Experience, you must have at least one year of experience equal or equivalent to the GS-12 it must include:

• Experience applying engineering concepts, principles, and practices using design codes, consensus standards, or industry best practices for LNG, industrial, or petrochemical facilities.
• Experience developing and delivering Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) training and facilitating knowledge sharing.
• Experience utilizing and evaluating LNG risk management data and documentation to identify and test technology-based processes and activities to determine critical LNG safety and reliability impacts.

You cannot qualify on education at the GS-13 level; you must have experience.

To qualify for the GS-14 on Experience, you must have at least one year of experience equal or equivalent to the GS-13 it must include:

• Experience leading and performing complex engineering evaluations of LNG, industrial, or petrochemical facilities using design codes, consensus standards, or industry best practices resulting in resolution of issues or recommendations for improving program performance.
• Experience developing and delivering technical training and facilitating knowledge sharing through technical working groups.
• Experience analyzing Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) risk management data and documentation to develop actionable recommendations and reports on technology-based processes and activities for critical safety improvements and operational advancements.

You cannot qualify on education at the GS-14 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:

• Technical Competence - Uses knowledge that is acquired through formal training or extensive on-the-job experience to perform one's job; works with, understands, and evaluates technical information related to the job; advises others on technical issues.
• Planning and Evaluating - Organizes work, sets priorities, and determines resource requirements; determines short- or long-term goals and strategies to achieve them; coordinates with other organizations or parts of the organization to accomplish goals; monitors progress and evaluates outcomes.
• Safety Engineering - Knowledge of the concepts, principles, theories, and methods to identify, control, mitigate, and eliminate safety hazards in the design and use of facilities, equipment, operations, and work processes.
• Problem Solving - Identifies problems; determines accuracy and relevance of information; uses sound judgment to generate and evaluate alternatives, and to make recommendations.
• Oral Communication - Expresses information (for example, ideas or facts) to individuals or groups effectively, taking into account the audience and nature of the information (for example, technical, sensitive, controversial); makes clear and convincing oral presentations; listens to others, attends to nonverbal cues, and responds appropriately.

For all types of consideration, 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/frequently-asked-questions/employment-faq/federal-hiring/how-do-i-apply-for-federal-jobs/

Other applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Responsibilities:

This position will directly support the Center’s mission in furthering the expertise of the Federal government in the operations, management, and regulatory practices of LNG facilities; acting as a repository of information on best practices for the operation of LNG facilities; and facilitating collaboration among LNG sector stakeholders. This position will implement the Center’s knowledge management, research, and innovation programs, including identifying best practices in consultation with LNG stakeholders and enhancing LNG training opportunities with PHMSA’s Training and Qualifications Center

As a The General Engineer (Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) will:

• Manage and update the LNG best practices program, lead interagency standards reviews, and collaborate with cross-functional teams and regulators. Conduct technical safety analyses, track emerging LNG technologies and regulatory changes, and engage in industry forums to inform and enhance technical standards development.
• Develop and deliver supplemental LNG safety training, coordinate with regulators to enhance inspector readiness, and facilitate knowledge sharing on LNG.
• Monitor LNG regulations across all jurisdictions, circulate updates, and identify compliance gaps. Recommend audit and inspection improvements, and coordinate with regulators and interagency groups.
• Lead R&D initiatives on LNG technology and safety, collaborating with industry and federal partners to identify and test innovative solutions. Analyze findings to generate actionable reports, integrate outcomes into regulations and training, and continuously evaluate project impact.

The ideal candidate for this position would be self-starter with a thorough understanding of LNG operational principles, industry standards, and federal regulatory requirements and proven skill in analyzing complex technical information to develop and implement national-scale LNG safety programs.  As an engineer, you are adept at identifying innovative best practices, managing multiple concurrent initiatives using advanced project and data-management tools, and leading interagency and industry working groups.  With excellent written and verbal communication, you effectively brief senior officials, draft program guidance, and liaise with regulatory authorities, internal teams, and external stakeholders.  Your background includes hands-on LNG operations or regulatory programs, oversight of R&D projects, and the development and delivery of supplemental training curricula in partnership with key stakeholders.

Salary : $88,621