Senior Electronics Engineer (Instrumentation & Control)

This position is located in Office of Advanced Reactors, Division of Advanced Reactor Engineering, Advanced Reactor Engineering Branch 3. The supervisor is Alec J. Neller. This position is subject to Confidential Financial Disclosure reporting requirements. This position is subject to security ownership restriction reporting requirements.

Major duties

The successful candidate will perform the full range of duties that consists of reviewing and evaluates highly complex analog and digital instrumentation and control aspects of systems needed for the safe operation and safe shutdown of nuclear facilities subject to the NRC regulatory program. Such duties include but are not limited to: Reviews highly complex instrumentation and control engineering safety and regulatory issues in the licensing review of operating reactor amendments, combined operating license applications, research and test reactor amendments, and certification reviews of advanced reactor designs, under 10 CFR Part 50 and 52. Evaluates the design of highly complex instrumentation and control systems and components in accordance with staff review guidance from the standpoint of functional capability, integrity, reliability, and systems operation under normal plant operation and for safe plant shutdown during normal, transient and accident conditions. Performs or participates in inspections or investigations performed in response to requests, allegations, operational events and potential generic problems. Ensures that necessary facts are developed during audits and inspections to provide a basis for determining the quality of licensee or vendor performance. Prepares papers and reports on significant technical and regulatory issues for internal use, presentation at professional conferences, or publication. Prepares written inputs for the reports of audits and inspections and presents findings to appropriate agency management. Identifies and evaluates confirmatory research to be performed by the Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research involving instrumentation and control system technical and regulatory issues; participates on research review groups to provide licensing input and monitor the progress of research programs; and recommends research or changes in research programs necessary to meet licensing and inspection needs. Participates in public meetings with licensees, applicants, industry working groups, and other stakeholders. Prepares and presents testimony in legal hearings.

Qualifications

In order to qualify for this position, you must have at least one year of specialized experience at the next lower grade level in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private or public sector. SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE is defined as: Reviews include hardware and software functional capability, integrity, reliability, surveillance, and systems operation under normal plant operation and safe plant shutdown during normal, transient and accident conditions. Manages and performs studies and analyses of highly complex technical issues within the Branch's area of review, including analog and digital control and instrumentation for operating reactors, new reactors, and advanced reactor designs. The ideal candidate will be able to demonstrate the following: Demonstrated In-depth knowledge of the theory, principles, and practices in the field of electrical engineering, electronics engineering, or software engineering, including the analysis, design, and operation of reactor analog and digital instrumentation and control systems, as it relates to NRC licensing, inspection, or other regulatory programs applicable to the safe design, construction, and operation of nuclear power plants or other nuclear facilities. Demonstrated in-depth knowledge of analog and digital technology applied to real-time systems, hardware, and software sufficient to evaluate design and operation of high reliability control and instrumentation systems, and particularly those systems as used in commercial nuclear power plants. Demonstrated in-depth knowledge and understanding of applicable NRC rules, regulations, policies, risk-informed concepts, and industry codes and standards applicable to the design, development, safety evaluation, inspection, and operation of instrumentation and control systems for nuclear power plants or other nuclear facilities. Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, on technical issues in a clear and concise manner, to a variety of audiences (e.g., colleagues, leadership, representatives of federal, state, and local governments or agencies, industry representatives, oversight or professional groups, members of the public, etc.). A description of how you possess the specialized experience as well as how you meet the qualifications desired in an ideal candidate must be addressed in your resume. Applicants may also use the supplemental vacancy question to provide additional information pertaining to the specialized experience and ideal candidate criteria. PLEASE BE CLEAR AND CONCISE. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

Education

Candidates for Federal Government professional engineering positions must meet certain basic professional knowledge requirements. Generally these knowledge requirements are met by having a bachelor's or higher degree in a relevant professional engineering discipline (e.g., mechanical, metallurgical, materials, nuclear, structural, chemical, electrical) from a school of engineering with at least one professional engineering curriculum accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). However, if you do not possess such a professional engineering degree, you may still satisfy the professional knowledge requirements if you have current Professional Engineer (P.E.) registration in one of the relevant disciplines from any U.S. State or Territory; or if you successfully passed an Engineer-in-Training (EIT) written examination administered by a State Board of Engineering Examiners; or if you have either a related professional degree or at least 60 semester hours of specified engineering-related college courses COMBINED WITH at least a year of professional engineering work experience performed under professional engineer supervision and guidance. Note: Engineering technology degrees are not generally qualifying unless supplemented by other evidence of the individual's professional knowledge (e.g., current P.E. license or EIT examination results, as discussed above). More detailed information about these alternatives for meeting the knowledge requirements for Federal professional engineering jobs are described in the U.S. Office of Personnel Management Qualification Standards Operating Manual which may be accessed at the following Web site: OPM Qualification Standards for 0800 Professional Engineering Positions You must include an unofficial or official copy of your college and/or university transcripts with your application. Transcript must include the School Name, Student Name, Degree and Date Awarded (if applicable). Education must be from an accredited (or pre-accredited) college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. If you have multiple degrees (e.g., BS, MS, PhD) please submit transcripts for each degree. 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 a conventional U.S. education program. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying. For special instructions pertaining to foreign education and a list of organizations that can evaluate foreign education, see the Department of Education website. If you are qualifying on foreign education, you MUST submit proof of creditability of education as evaluated by a credentialing agency. Transcripts must be uploaded with your application to verify education. All documentation must be in English or include an English translation.

Requirements

You must meet the qualifications for this position by no later than 30 calendar days after the closing date of this announcement and before placement in the position. All information in your resume must be true and accurate. Conditions of Employment: U.S. Citizenship Required This is a Drug Testing position Must be able to meet and maintain security & suitability requirements. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.