Electronics Engineer (Honors Engineer) (Honors STEM Program)

This is a Recent Graduates position in the Pathways Program. Selected candidates will be placed/appointed at various Bureaus/Offices throughout the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in Washington, DC. Limited placements may also be available at one of the FCC’s Field Office Locations in Boston, New York, Columbia, Atlanta, Miami, New Orleans, Dallas, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Portland, Denver, or Chicago.

Qualifications:

Interested candidates should be passionate about the ideals of our American republic, committed to upholding the rule of law and the U.S. Constitution, and committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government. Hiring decisions will not be based on race, sex, color, religion, or national origin.

Applicants must meet eligibility and qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.  Current Federal employees must meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement.  

In order to be deemed as qualified, candidates must meet the BASIC EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS as outlined in SUBPART A below in addition to the REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS CRITERIA outlined in SUBPART B.

Candidates who apply for this position MUST upload a copy of their transcripts to verify that educational qualification requirements are met.  If transcripts are not submitted, YOUR APPLICATION WILL BE RATED AS INELIGIBLE.

Specialized experience is experience which is in or directly related to the line of work of the position to be filled and which has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position.  

SUBPART A-BASIC EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS

All applicants must meet the basic requirements described in the individual occupational requirements to fully qualify for the specified entry grade GS-5 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

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.

Students who have graduated from an accredited college must submit unofficial or official transcripts at the time of application.  The transcript must demonstrate the date that the degree was conferred.  You must have graduated by May of 2026 to be eligible for selection.

AND

SUBPART B-REQUIRED QUALIFICATION CRITERIA

GS-5

To be deemed as qualified candidates must meet the basic educational requirements per the following link: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0800/files/all-professional-engineering-positions-0800.pdf

GS-7

To be deemed as qualified you must meet one of the following (A, B, C or D) in addition to meeting the specialized experience requirements as outlined below:

A. One full academic year of graduate education in an appropriate field. An academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent one academic year of full-time study. If that number cannot be obtained from the school, 18 semester hours should be considered an academic year of graduate study. Part-time graduate education is creditable in accordance with its relationship to a year of full-time study at the school attended.

OR

B. Completion of all requirements for a bachelor's degree that is fully qualifying for the position which meets the eligibility requirements under the Superior Academic Achievement provision. Superior Academic Achievement is based on: (1) class standing, (2) grade-point average, or (3) honor society membership. 1. Class Standing: A standing in the upper third of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision based on completed courses. 2. Grade-point average: a. A grade-point average of 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B" or better) as recorded on your official transcript, or as computed based on four years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final two years of the curriculum; b. a grade-point average of 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B " or better) based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field of study or the required courses in the major field completed during the final two years of the curriculum. 3. Election to membership in a national scholastic honor society (other than freshman societies) that meet the requirements of the Association of College Honor Societies.

OR

C. Specialized Experience

In order to be deemed as qualified, candidates must demonstrate one year of specialized experience which is equivalent to the GS-5 grade level in the Federal service.  Specialized experience is defined as experience:

1. Assisting more experienced engineers
2. Conducting and analyzing basic engineering studies; and
3. Performing computer based projects using various software applications.

OR

D. A combination of both education and specialized experience.

GS-9

To be deemed as qualified you must also meet one of the following (A, B or C) in addition to meeting the specialized experience requirements as outlined below.

A. 2 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree

OR

B. Specialized Experience

In order to be deemed as qualified, candidates must demonstrate one year of specialized experience which is equivalent to the GS-7 grade level in the Federal service.  Specialized experience is defined as experience:

1. Assisting more experienced engineers
2. Conducting, analyzing and writing basic engineering studies; and
3. Performing computer based projects using various software applications.

OR

C. A combination of both education and specialized experience.

GS-11

To be deemed as qualified you must also meet one of the following (A, B or C) in addition to meeting the specialized experience requirements as outlined below.

A. 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree

OR

B. Specialized Experience

In order to be deemed as qualified, candidates must demonstrate one year of specialized experience which is equivalent to the GS-9 grade level in the Federal service.  Specialized experience is defined as experience:

1. Assisting more experienced engineers
2. Independently conducting, analyzing and writing basic engineering studies; and
3. Performing computer based projects using various software applications.

OR

C. A combination of both education and specialized experience.

PART-TIME OR UNPAID EXPERIENCE: Credit will be given for appropriate unpaid and or part-time work.  You must clearly identify the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the total number of hours per week.

*EDUCATION DOCUMENTATION-UNOFFICIAL OR OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPTS MUST BE SUBMITTED.  CANDIDATES WHO DO NOT SUBMIT THEIR TRANSCRIPTS WILL BE DEEMED AS INELIGIBLE.*

FOREIGN EDUCATION: To receive credit for education outside the U.S., you must show proof that the education has been submitted to a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign educational credentials and that such education has been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education programs.

Responsibilities:

This is a developmental position, and the incumbent is a member of the Federal Communications Commission developmental STEM Pathways Recent Graduate Program. As part of the Federal Communications Commission’s cohort of Honors Engineers, the incumbent will receive on-the-job technical training while engaging with staff throughout the Commission in developing and shaping telecommunications policy. Technical training will cover a wide variety of telecommunications services and technologies, as well as training on engineering and policy principles relevant to the fast-paced telecommunications industry. Other job duties may include, but not be limited to:

• Conducting and analyze basic engineering studies, telecommunications systems and/or technology proposals;
• Working alongside senior staff analyzing new proposals to determine whether and how new technologies can be authorized and/or introduced to the American marketplace;
• Participating with industry stakeholders, government officials, and senior Commission staff to understand the technical aspects of new technology and its potential effects on existing technology;
• Conducting studies and drafting summaries and/or communicating findings with senior staff;
• Preparing written material, including summaries, memorandum letters, e-mail correspondence and other written documents to individuals within and outside the agency, including contributing to the preparation of preparing important written materials throughout the rulemaking process for consideration by the FCC Chair and Commissioners;
• Receiving and applying technical training, including on radio frequency (RF) and network engineering principles and performing propagation analysis of terrestrial, satellite and/or airborne systems or evaluating the emission characteristics of various transmitters to validate the co-existence with neighboring systems. 
• Receiving training on the FCC’s policy and rule-making processes and other administrative processes for government agencies; and
• Assisting and work with other FCC staff.

Salary : $46,610