ENGINEERING TECHNICIAN

Eligibility Requirements

US Citizenship

Career Category

Engineering Technician

Job Summary

The mission of the US Army Aberdeen Test Center (ATC) is to provide test and test support services for authorized customers, within DoD and outside DoD, including government and non-government organizations, domestic and foreign. Provide comprehensive test and training both real and simulated; provide expert knowledge and technical services including instrumentation application, facility operations, manufacturing and fabrication; exploit emerging technologies; and develop leading edge instrumentation and test methodologies.

**ATC participates in an alternate personnel system known as the Acquisition Demonstration (AcqDemo) project.  Among other features, AcqDemo replaces GS grade levels with occupational families and pay bands. This position is subject to the NJ-03 Non-Supervisory Technician III control point of the ATEC Control Point Policy, is monetarily equivalent to the GS-11 salary range, and set at $107,590.**

Job Responsibilities

1. Serves as a subject matter expert in weapon systems operation. The incumbent is responsible for test planning, coordinating, monitoring, performing and reporting on activities associated with complete test and evaluation projects in the areas of weapons, ammunition, targeting, aiming devices, and protective equipment systems during development, production, and post production phases. Assist the test officer with test operational control responsibilities associated with opening and maintaining firing clearance. Leads test team, identifies and delineates major tasks, assignments and responsibilities for assigned government, contractor, and military test team members. Attends test project planning meetings to assure that equipment, facilities, manpower test and equipment operation and maintenance techniques and safety procedures are adequate to fulfill testing criteria. Maintains continuous liaison with test engineers and defense contractors during developmental and operational testing to ensure optimum test equipment operations and the maintenance and validity of test data. Reviews drawings, visits manufacturing site (either alone or as a member of a team), attends and participates or witnesses for the government various tests associated with test commodity systems. Responsible for selection of test concepts, set ups and data acquisition to execute defined subtests. Consults with supervisor, support specialist and test engineers from the standpoint of test item performance. Provides specialized technical support in the design, testing, production, operations and maintenance of developmental and fielded items. Equipment/systems include military and commercial, foreign and domestic. Operates and maintains weapon systems and components such as universal receivers, individual or crew served weapons, mounts, indirect and direct fire systems, and non-lethal devices. Duties require application of extensive practical knowledge of various equipment areas such as mechanical, electrical, electronic, materials, pneumatic or hydraulic. Determines proper range configurations to meet test objectives. Monitors materiel under use or test at military and commercial facilities. Provides solutions that will consider cost effectiveness, safety, technical suitability and human factors. Manages test area to insure tests are performed properly, safely, and meets all appropriate security requirements. Incumbent is responsible for the safety of test site operations and must determine appropriate Standing Operating Procedures/Risk Assessments and assure compliance with them. Determines physical security requirements, and data handling security requirements, and insures that proper controls are in place. Is knowledgeable of environmental requirements for test operations and assures compliance with all such laws, regulations and policies. Maintains and operates ranges, vehicles, and equipment, fires test weapons, and insures closed-loop ammunition control requirements are met.

2. Develops plans of instruction and participates in seminars and orientation classes in proper operation and maintenance procedures for assigned equipment/systems. Reviews and validates Draft Equipment technical publications and Test Incident Reports for completeness and accuracy. Performs diagnostic system investigations and assessments. Performs weapons and range operations and maintenance. Actively consults with government developers and commercial contractors about their products, drawing, maintenance action and failure analysis to obtain data to be used in the determination of compliance with contractor performance requirements. Studies and reports on the performance interaction of the components and/or subsystems of the materiel under test. Incumbent investigates the system and component failures and shortcomings, obtains technical data about the failure/shortcoming, selects, sets up and monitors necessary test information to obtain required data. Ingenuity and creative thinking are required when devising new ways of accomplishing objectives and adapting existing equipment and techniques to new users. Projects may entail development of new equipment or methods, modification of existing equipment and methods, standardization of equipment and methods, or a combination of several of these. Reviews Government drawings and specifications recommending appropriate corrections to project engineer. Provides specialized equipment and technical guidance, monitors overall program and coordinates individual and team activities to ensure timely feedback of evaluation determinations and results to augment and validate test/study/evaluation phases. Ensures the availability and maintenance of equipment, instrumentation, materials and evaluation facilities for equipment test/study/evaluations. Properly controls range residue and ensures environmental controls are in place and used. Maintains valid licenses and certificates for the operation of vehicles and equipment, performs test firing of weapons and handling of ammunition at the appropriate and required level. Maintains an extensive hand receipt of instrumentation, equipment and tools.

3. Performs physical measurements and inspections of test items and equipment (to include weapons, weapon components, armor, and ammunition). Uses measurement devices such as micrometers, digital scales, and force gauges. Makes digital photographs of components and test specimens. Records and transmits measurements and data electronically to team members and external customers. Ensures and enforces strict security procedures relevant to the accountability and physical security of weapons in the work location. Records issue and receipt of all test items, ammunition, weapons and security sensitive items. Inspects weapons for safe conditions and uses experience and technical judgment to determine necessary repairs and replacements. Advises supervisors, engineers and test officers of safety related conditions. Provides on the job training on the safe operation of weapons. Ensures the availability and maintenance of equipment, instrumentation, materials and evaluation facilities for the test mission. Determines stockage requirements for consumable test supplies.

4. Plans, conducts and carries through to completion sub-tests involving such areas as (a) exterior and interior ballistics, (b) automatic scoring systems, (c) other instrumentation applications relevant to weaponry, protective equipment or ammunition. Incumbent coordinates assignments with test engineers, project leaders, consultants, other organizations and agencies in order to ensure proposed execution will meet test objectives. In the pursuit of assignments, project ingenuity is used to develop new and/or modify existing equipment instrumentation and techniques. While project is in progress incumbent is required to make valid and necessary engineering compromises and decisions. Incumbent makes real time judgment on the accuracy and adequacy of test data to insure quality data is being collected and testing resources maximized.

Performs other duties as assigned.

Job Qualification

In order to qualify, you must meet the general minimum requirements described below. 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). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. To be eligible, you must have, and your resume must describe, at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-08/NJ-02 grade level.

 Engineering Technician 0802 Series: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0800/engineering-technical-series-0802/

Specialized Experience

One year of specialized experience which includes (1) testing of personal protective equipment such as hard armor plates, soft armor vests, and/or helmets and (2) operation of weapon systems, use of standardized test fixtures and instrumentation, adherence to test specifications, and/or facility management. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS8/NJ-02) or equivalent experience in the private or public sector.

HOW YOU WILL BE EVALUATED. You will be evaluated based on your level of competency in the following areas:

1. Technical Competence

2. Leadership

3. Problem Solving

4. Oral/Written Communication

Conditions of Employment

1. This position is covered by the 1996 Lautenberg Amendment to the Gun Control Act of 1968. Persons convicted of a misdemeanor or felony crime of domestic violence are not eligible for the position.

2. This position is covered by the Civilian Drug Abuse Testing Program. Incumbent is required to sign DA Form 5019-R and/or DA Form 7412, Condition of Employment for certain Civilian Positions Identified as Critical Under the Drug Abuse Testing Program, and requires an initial drug screening test as well as random drug tests for duration of employment.

3. This position requires ATC Ammunition Certification Level 1 within one year of employment in accordance with ATC Regulation 350‐8.

4. This position requires you to obtain and maintain a valid State and Federal Government Driver’s license throughout employment.

5. Overtime work may be required.

6. This position requires participation in the medical surveillance program.

7. Business travel up to 5% may be required.