ELECTRONICS ENGINEER

Your tasks

Click on "Learn more about this agency" button below for IMPORTANT additional information. The primary purpose of this position is developmental to GG-0855-11. Provide hands-on electronics engineering, focused on component evaluation, system validation, and hardware-software integration of test, assessment, and experiment instrumentation equipment.

• Embedded Systems Validation and Integration: Computes and executes C/C++ programming on microcontrollers (bare-metal and/or RTOS) to generate test signals, validate sensor interfaces, and evaluate hardware logic performance.
• Hardware Analysis and Circuit Evaluation: Performs professional electronics engineering work in support of the evaluation, integration, and sustainment of instrumentation and control systems.
• PCB Implementation and Technical Documentation: Performs analysis using systematic disciplines to implement and document schematic captures and PCB layouts (2 to 4+ layers).
• Prototyping and Lifecycle Sustainment: Conducts hands-on board assembly and modification (including component population) of technical analysis and test instrumentation equipment to verify circuit functionality using oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, multi-meters, and signal generators.

Requirements

BASIC REQUIREMENT ALL GRADE LEVELS 0855 Electronic Engineer: Successfully completed a professional engineering degree: The curriculum must 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 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. Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. OR Combination of education and experience that is 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. Click on the following link to view occupational requirements for this position: ELECTRONICS ENGINEER-0855 In addition to meeting the basic requirement above, to qualify for this position you must also meet the qualification requirements listed below:

EXPERIENCE REQUIRED for GG-09: Your resume must reflect the quality level of experience which demonstrates the possession of the knowledge, skills, abilities, and competencies necessary for successful job performance required for this position. Examples of creditable experience include knowledge (such as would be acquired through a pertinent baccalaureate educational program or its equivalent in experience, training, or independent study) of basic principles, concepts, and methods of a professional or administrative occupation and skill in applying this knowledge in carrying out elementary assignments, operations, or procedures; or, in addition to the practical knowledge of standard procedures in Degree A-4, practical knowledge of technical methods to perform assignments such as carrying out limited projects which involve use of specialized, complicated techniques. Note: Creditable experience may include previous military experience, experience gained in the private sector, or experience gained in another government agency.

EDUCATION: I have 2 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the work of the position. NOTE: You must submit copies of your college transcripts. OR COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPEREINCE: Education and experience may be combined for all grade levels for which both education and experience are acceptable. This is a GG-11 position in the Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System (DCIPS). The GG-11 duties for the "Professional" work category are at the "Full Performance" work level and are equivalent to those at the GS-11 level. The selectee's salary will be set within the 11 grade equivalent to a GS/GG grade based on the selectee's qualifications in relation to the job. In order to qualify, you must meet the specialized experience requirements described in the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards for General Schedule Positions, Professional and Scientific Positions.

EXPERIENCE REQUIRED for GG-11: In additional to meeting the mandatory basic education requirement, your resume must reflect the quality level of experience which demonstrates the possession of the knowledge, skills, abilities, and competencies necessary for successful job performance required for this position. Examples of creditable experience include knowledge (such as would be acquired through a pertinent baccalaureate educational program or its equivalent in experience, training, or independent study) of basic principles, concepts, and methods of a professional or administrative occupation and skill in applying this knowledge in carrying out elementary assignments, operations, or procedures; or, in addition to the practical knowledge of standard procedures in Degree A-4, practical knowledge of technical methods to perform assignments such as carrying out limited projects which involve use of specialized, complicated techniques. Note: Creditable experience may include previous military experience, experience gained in the private sector, or experience gained in another government agency. OR EDUCATION: 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree OR COMBINATION OF EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION: Education and experience may be combined for all grade levels for which both education and experience are acceptable.

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:

1. Basic technical understanding of fundamental electronics (translating specifications into functional circuits using transistors, op-amps, filters, power supplies) to effectively apply theories to system evaluation and integration.
2. Basic knowledge in C/C++ for embedded targets, specifically focused on writing code to test, read, and evaluate hardware performance.
3. Experience with specific Electronic Design Automation (EDA) tools (e.g., Altium Designer, KiCAD, Eagle) sufficient to review, modify, and analyze layouts for analysis and test equipment for signal integrity and manufacturability.
4. Use laboratory equipment (Oscilloscopes, Logic Analyzers, Signal Generators, Multi-meters) for hands-on troubleshooting and hardware verification. Basic knowledge of configuration management practices for firmware and hardware files (e.g., version control) sufficient to maintain controlled documentation and records. Ability to automate measurements and analyze test data using scripting/tools and instrument interfaces (as applicable).
5. Report technical findings clearly to non-engineering stakeholders and collaborate with mechanical and software teams. Ability to author and execute test plans and test procedures, define acceptance criteria, and document test results with traceability to requirements.
6. Basic knowledge of specific communication protocols (I2C, SPI, UART, CAN, RS-485, USB) for system interfacing, including SPI-based MCU-to-FPGA interfaces and register map concepts.

POSITIVE EDUCATION REQUIREMENT: This position has a positive education requirement. If transcripts are not provided, your resume MUST list the appropriate academic field (e.g. biology, mechanical engineering, economics, sociology, etc.) and all courses you have taken (including those failed), which appear to satisfy the qualification requirements of the position for which you are applying. List graduate and undergraduate courses separately. Include the descriptive title and course code, completion date, grade, number of semester, quarter or classroom hours (for education completed at business, secretarial, technical school or military schools) and graduate and undergraduate classes. **As of 1 Sep 2016, current internal AF employees must attach their transcripts. Failure to do so will result in not being referred for the position.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT CONTINUED: A professional engineering degree from an ABET accredited institution at the Bachelor's level in Electrical, Electronics, Computer, Mechatronics, or Control Systems Engineering. Minimum of 1 to 5 years of professional experience in hardware analysis, electronics integration, or embedded systems testing. Broad professional knowledge of electronics engineering theories, concepts, and principles sufficient to execute actions for assignments involving low-voltage circuits and instrumentation. Knowledge of radio frequency (RF) principles (preferred) including antenna evaluation and impedance analysis. Hands-on experience with circuit debugging is essential. Coding proficiency in C/C++ is required for hardware validation purposes. RF Knowledge and specific EDA tool experience are preferred but not mandatory.

FOREIGN EDUCATION: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the requirements. You must show proof the education credentials have been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education program. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying.

How to apply

IF USING EDUCATION TO QUALIFY: If position has a positive degree requirement or education forms the basis for qualifications, you MUST submit transcripts with the application. Official transcripts are not required at the time of application; however, if position has a positive degree requirement, qualifying based on education alone or in combination with experience, transcripts must be verified prior to appointment. An accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education must accredit education. Click here to check accreditation.

Other

Qualifications This position is a developmental position and can be filled at the GG-09 level with promotion potential to the GG-11 or can be filled at the target grade GG-11. The individual selected for this position may be promoted to the target level without further competition upon meeting any legal and regulatory requirements. This is a GG-09 target 11 position in the Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System (DCIPS). The GG-09 target 11 duties for the "Professional" work category are at the "Developmental" work level and are equivalent to those at the GS-09 target 11 level. The selectee's salary will be set within the 09 target 11 grade equivalent to a GS/GG grade based on the selectee's qualifications in relation to the job. In order to qualify, you must meet the specialized experience requirements described in the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards for General Schedule Positions, Professional and Scientific Positions.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: This position is a Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel Systems (DCIPS) position implemented under Section 504, Title V of Public Law 99-569, Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1987, as codified in Sec 1601, Chap 83 of Title 10 United States Code which sets forth Air Force policies and procedures for DCIPS. This position is in the Excepted Service. DoD Components with DCIPS positions apply Veterans' Preference to preference eligible candidates as defined by Section 2108 of Title 5 USC, in accordance with the procedures provided in DoD Instruction 1400.25, Volume 2005, DCIPS Employment and Placement. If you are a veteran claiming veterans' preference, as defined by section 2108 of Title 5 U.S.C., you must submit documents verifying your eligibility with your application package. For additional information on DCIPS, click here