General Engineer - Transportation Security Administration - Dallas, Texas - EXPIRED

This General Engineer position is located in the System Optimization Support Branch, Mission Analysis Division, within the Office of Security Capabilities (OSC), Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Department of Homeland Security (DHS). If you are selected for this position, you will be serving as the technical representative, providing engineering subject matter expertise to the Passenger Screening Program throughout the procurement specification development to the end of the technology’s lifecycle for multiple, complex technologies to support the screening checkpoint. Typical duties include, but are not limited to:

• Developing design standards, analyzing Baggage Handling Systems (BHS). Interfacing with the entire process of Checked Baggage Inspection System (CBIS), and Passenger Screening Portal (PSP) systems from procurement specification development to the end of technology’s lifecycle. Serving as technical expert for software issues concerning checked baggage system and Passenger Screening Portal integration issues.
• Developing, integrating and implementing solutions to highly complex and challenging technical or operational problems. Formulating recommendations, policies and plans to solve these problems and interpreting conditions. Acting as the liaison between the baggage handling industry and the TSA to address detailed technical questions and issues pertaining to operational and enhanced system functionality. Communicates complex engineering products and collaborates with OSC Program Offices, other branches within Mission Analysis, additional stakeholders to ensure effective collaboration between the Systems Optimization and Support team and other internal TSA organizations.
• Routinely interfacing with internal and external stakeholders such as Airport Directors, airlines, industry associations, and Mission Analysis Division (MAD) to define, and implement requirements in how they support TSA’s Risk-based security efforts.
• Providing expert analysis for the conceptual design for site networking requirements for Transportation Security Equipment (TSE). Supporting the development of an independent test kit and associated software to measure the image quality performance of fielded TSE to ensure proper functioning and assists in the troubleshooting of the system faults.
• Conducting special studies, and detailed analyses of equipment to evaluate suitability, reliability and effectiveness trends. Making recommendations for system improvements or enhancements and changes to practices, policies or standard operating procedures; formulating detailed briefing/discussion of areas/issues for presentation and briefs senior agency leaders for consideration.
• Leading continuous improvement activities for equipment. Monitoring key technical developments and operational trends in order to identify potential improvements to existing equipment, the development of new capability/technology, or modification of designs.
• Monitoring and consulting with the transportation security community for program/project awareness and the systems engineering community to remain current in practices, procedures and innovation.

The major duties described above reflect the full performance level of this position. Typically, the lower pay band (I Band) performs the same duties but will receive more guidance and training; and/or projects/work assignments may be less complex.

Basic Requirements for all Engineer Positions (must meet A or B):
A. Bachelor\'s or higher degree in professional engineering. To be acceptable, the curriculum must: (1) be in a school of engineering with at least one curriculum accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) as a professional engineering curriculum; or (2) include differential and integral calculus and courses (more advanced than first-year physics and chemistry) in five of the following seven areas of engineering science or physics: (a) statics, dynamics; (b) strength of materials (stress-strain relationships); (c) fluid mechanics, hydraulics; (d) thermodynamics;(e) electrical fields and circuits; (f) nature and properties of materials (relating particle and aggregate structure to properties); and (g) any other comparable area of fundamental engineering science or physics, such as optics, heat transfer, soil mechanics, or electronics.

OR B. Combination of education and experience--college-level education, training, and/or technical experience that furnished (1) a thorough knowledge of the physical and mathematical sciences underlying professional engineering, and (2) a good understanding, both theoretical and practical, of the engineering sciences and techniques and their applications to one of the branches of engineering.

The adequacy of such background must be demonstrated by one of the following:
1. Professional Registration-Current registration as a professional engineer by any State, the District of Columbia, Guam, or Puerto Rico. Absent other means of qualifying under this standard, those applicants who achieved such registration by means other than written test (e.g., State grandfather or eminence provisions) are eligible only for positions that are within or closely related to the specialty field of their registration. For example, an applicant who attains registration through a State Board\'s eminence provision as a manufacturing engineer typically would be rated eligible only for manufacturing engineering positions.

2. Written Test-Evidence of having successfully passed the Engineer-in-Training (EIT) examination, or the written test required for professional registration, which is administered by the Boards of Engineering Examiners in the various States, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico. Applicants who have passed the EIT examination and have completed all the requirements for either (a) a bachelor\'s degree in engineering technology (BET) from an accredited college of university that included 60 semester hours of courses in the physical, mathematical, and engineering sciences, or (b) a BET from a program accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) may be rated eligible for certain engineering positions at GS-5. Eligibility is limited to positions that are within or closely related to the specialty field of the engineering technology program. Applicants for positions that involve highly technical research, development, or similar functions requiring an advanced level of competence in basic science must meet the basic requirements in paragraph A. Because of the diversity in kind and quality of BET programs, graduates of other BET programs are required to complete at least 1 year of additional education or highly technical work experience of such nature as to provide reasonable assurance of the possession of the knowledge, skills, and abilities required for professional engineering competence. The adequacy of this background must be demonstrated by passing the EIT examination.

3. Specified academic courses-Successful completion of at least 60 semester hours of courses in the physical, mathematical, and engineering sciences and in engineering that included the courses specified in the basic requirements. The courses must be fully acceptable toward meeting the requirements of a professional engineering curriculum as described in paragraph A.

4. Related curriculum-Successful completion of a curriculum leading to a bachelor\'s degree in engineering technology or in an appropriate professional field, e.g., physics, chemistry, architecture, computer science, mathematics, hydrology, or geology, may be accepted in lieu of a degree in engineering, provided the applicant has had at least 1 year of professional engineering experience acquired under professional engineering supervision and guidance. Ordinarily there should be either an established plan of intensive training to develop professional engineering competence, or several years of prior professional engineering-type experience, e.g., in interdisciplinary positions. (The above examples of related curricula are not all-inclusive.)

Special Instructions for Foreign Education: If you are qualifying by education and/or you have education completed in a foreign college/university described above, it is your responsibility to provide transcripts and/or proof of U.S. accreditation for foreign study. For instructions on where to upload these documents, see the Required Documents section of this announcement.

NOTE: You MUST provide transcripts or other documentation to support your education claims. Refer to the Required Documents section of his announcement for details. All materials must be submitted by the vacancy announcement closing date. You must meet the qualification requirements for this position no later than the closing date of the vacancy announcement.

In addition to the basic requirements, to qualify for the SV-I Pay Band (equivalent to GS-13), you must have one year of specialized experience at the SV-H Pay Band or GS-12 in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private sector. Specialized experience is defined as experience that has equipped you with the expert knowledge, skills and abilities required to successfully perform the duties of the position. Such experience includes applying engineering principles, concepts, standards and methods to conduct studies and analyses and resolve issues related to automated baggage inspection systems or similar applications related to aviation security screening systems; and identifying, recommending, and implementing strategies to assess system integration effectiveness and suitability.

In addition to the basic requirements, to qualify for the SV-J Pay Band (equivalent to GS-14), you must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the SV-I Pay Band or GS-13 in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private sector. Specialized experience is defined as experience that has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of this position. Such experience includes applying advanced engineering principles, concepts, standards and methods to conduct studies and analyses and resolve issues related to automated baggage inspection systems or similar applications related to aviation security screening systems; and applying knowledge of industrial networks, infrastructure analysis, and programmable logic controller programs.

National Service Experience (i.e., volunteer 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.

NOTE: Credit for experience is given based on a 40-hour work week. Part-time experience is credited on a part-time ratio, i.e., working 20 hours per week for two months equals one month of experience. No additional credit is given for overtime.

You must meet the qualification requirements for this position no later than the closing date of the vacancy announcement.

Conditions of Employment:

• Position requires willingness and ability to traverse physically challenging baggage handling system installations such as vertical ladders, conveyor crossings, tight passages, limited head room, etc.
• This position requires substantial travel (25% or more).