About this role
Job SummaryThis position is located in the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC), National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), Office of Spectrum Management (OSM). OSM is responsible for managing and analyzing the radio frequency (RF) spectrum used by federal government departments and agencies and advising the President on spectrum-related matters. It provides a unique career path for engineers at the intersection of policy, science, and advanced telecommunications systems.
QualificationsQualification requirements in the vacancy announcements are based on the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards Handbook, which contains federal qualification standards. This handbook is available on the Office of Personnel Management's website located at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/#url=Occupational-Series Applicants must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to the next lower grade level in the Federal Service. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular competencies/knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. This experience need not have been in the federal government. 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. BASIC REQUIREMENTS - All applicants must meet the basic requirements listed below: A. Degree: Engineering. To be acceptable, the program must: (1) lead to a bachelor's degree in a school of engineering with at least one program accredited by ABET; 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 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: Professional registration or licensure -- Current registration as an Engineer Intern (EI), Engineer in Training (EIT), or licensure as a Professional Engineer (PE) 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. Written Test -- Evidence of having successfully passed the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) examination or any other written test required for professional registration by an engineering licensure board in the various States, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico. Specified academic courses -- Successful completion of at least 60 semester hours of courses in the physical, mathematical, and engineering sciences and that included the courses specified in the basic requirements under paragraph A. The courses must be fully acceptable toward meeting the requirements of an engineering program as described in paragraph A. Related curriculum -- Successful completion of a curriculum leading to a bachelor's degree in an appropriate scientific field, e.g., engineering technology, physics, chemistry, architecture, computer science, mathematics, hydrology, or geology, may be accepted in lieu of a bachelor's 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. -AND- SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: All applicants must possess specialized experience and/or education outlined for each grade level identified below: To qualify at the GS-11 level: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: You must possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-9 in the Federal service. Specialized experience is defined as: Performing basic analyses of RF propagation including link budgets or electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) analysis for terrestrial, airborne, or space-based systems; Assisting with developing basic functions in MATLAB or Python; and Contributing to the technical writing of technical papers or reports. -OR- SUBSTITUTION OF 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 EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE that together meets 100% of the required qualifications for this position. To qualify at the GS-12 level: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: You must possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 in the Federal service. Specialized experience is defined as: Performing analyses of RF propagation including link budgets or electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) analysis for terrestrial, airborne, or space-based systems; Developing functions in MATLAB or Python; and Writing technical papers or reports. NOTE: Transcripts must be submitted with the application. Education cannot be credited without supporting documentation.
Major DutiesThis position serves as a critical technical resource for enabling national and international spectrum strategies, protecting mission-critical federal systems, and supporting global U.S. leadership in wireless technology innovation. This includes applying RF engineering principles to ensure spectrum-dependent systems are planned, coordinated, and operated efficiently, without harmful interference. These principles may include the analysis of communications, radar, and radionavigation systems; computational simulation and modeling of RF systems and electromagnetic compatibility and interference scenarios; and the development, testing, and evaluation of RF sensors, and radionavigation systems, and defense systems. As a General Engineer, you will perform the following duties: Conduct technical analyses to support the development and assessment of domestic and international spectrum policy and regulations including for spectrum repurposing activities, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) World Radiocommunication Conferences (WRCs), Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rulemakings, and NTIA Manual of Regulations and Procedures for Radio Frequency Management (Redbook). Conduct or assess analyses of RF propagation, link budgets, and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) for terrestrial, airborne, and space-based systems. Conduct or assess technical impact evaluations of new and proposed systems on shared and adjacent bands, ensuring protection of critical federal systems (e.g., communications, radar, satellite, aviation). Implement standardized methodologies and processes for conducting RF analyses and measurements within OSM. Work closely with other Federal agencies and the private sector to identify opportunities for cooperation on domestic and international initiatives related to identifying new and managing existing spectrum resources. Apply knowledge of the statutory and regulatory frameworks that serve as the basis for spectrum management policy domestically and internationally especially the NTIA Redbook and ITU Radio Regulations. Participate in interagency or intergovernmental working groups, committees, or conferences relating to technical and policy issues domestically and internationally. This Job Opportunity Announcement may be used to fill other General Engineer GS-0801-11/12, FPL GS-14 positions within the Department of Commerce in the same geographical location or local commuting area with the same qualifications and specialized experience.RequirementsYou must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this position. This position requires a SECRET CLEARANCE: Any required investigations and clearances must be completed before the selectee can be placed in the position. You must successfully pass a background investigation. This may include a credit check, a review of financial issues, as well as certain criminal offenses and illegal use or possession of drugs. A probationary period may be required. Selective Service: Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see https://www.sss.gov/). If you receive a conditional offer of employment for this position, you will be required to complete an Optional Form 306, Declaration for Federal Employment, and to sign and certify the accuracy of all information in your application. All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choosing. Bargaining Unit Position: No Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE form 450): No Permanent Change of Duty Station (PCS) Expense: will not be paid License required: No Drug Test Required: Yes, This position is subject to pre-employment drug testing and random drug testing thereafter. Recruitment Incentive may be offered (New Federal employees only) Relocation Incentive may be offered (Eligible Current Federal employees only)