About this role
Job SummaryThis position is located in the Architect of the Capitol (AOC) in the Office of the Chief Engineer (OCE). The selectee will serve will on projects involving the study, design, construction, rehabilitation, inspection and/or testing of structural systems and their associated components to include but not limited to including building frames, foundations, tunnels, retaining structures, vibration‐sensitive elements, blast‐resistant components, and historic preservation.
QualificationsYou must meet the United States Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) qualification requirements (including specialized experience and/or educational requirements) for the advertised position. You must meet all eligibility and qualifications requirements by the closing date of the job announcement. Additional information on the qualification requirements is outlined in the OPM Qualifications Standards Handbook of General Schedule Positions. It is available for your review on the OPM web site at OPM qualification standards Specialized experience: is experience that has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level. For the GS-13: Candidates for the GS-13 grade level must have at least 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower (GS-12) grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience for this position must demonstrate the following: Structural engineering experience of complex, monumental, historically significant and mission-critical buildings and building-supporting structures. Coordinating and providing oversight of project lifecycles, including planning, design, construction, commissioning and close-out. Developing project requirements and specifications for new construction, renovations, and improvements to facilities. Evaluating studies, plans, design specifications and progress reports for architectural, engineering and construction processes and projects. Serving as a Contracting Officer's Technical Representative (COTR) or equivalent for construction projects. For the GS-14: Candidates for the GS-14 grade level must have at least 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower (GS-13) grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience for this position must demonstrate the following: Structural engineering experience of complex, monumental, historically significant and mission-critical buildings and building-supporting structures. Serving as the planning and program manager of major projects, from the planning/programming stage through the design, construction and equipment installation stages, to the checkout and commissioning stage or other project completion milestone. Developing project requirements and specifications for new construction, renovations, and improvements to facilities. Evaluating studies, plans, design specifications and progress reports for architectural, engineering and construction processes and projects. Coordinating and overseeing assigned project work elements in the project contract. Serving as Contracting Officer's Technical Representative (COTR) or equivalent for construction projects.
Major DutiesProject Technical Reviews (40%) • Apply expertise to review and interpret technical documents from other consultants such as structural engineering, geotechnical engineering and civil engineering • Performs primary reviews of drawings, specifications, calculations, and engineering analyses to identify technical deficiencies, noncompliance, coordination gaps, and risk concerns. • Detects omissions, discrepancies, inadequacies, and nonconformance with approved criteria; directs corrective actions and approves or rejects deliverables for the most critical projects. • Reviews and comments on SOWs, technical criteria, and proposed variances from agency standards; resolves disputes and establishes precedent‐setting technical determinations. • Reviews and evaluates A/E contractor RFI responses, submittal reviews, and change-order recommendations for adequacy and compliance with agency standards and project objectives. • Sets review procedures and quality assurance protocols for the discipline; mentors task leaders in applying advanced review principles. • Integrates findings from risk and reliability assessments into agency policy, design standards, and program decisions; ensures readiness of complex structural documents for bidding and construction. Technical Advice and Guidance (20%) • Represents the agency as the principal technical authority in coordination with external organizations (utility companies, DOTs, transit authorities, code bodies, historic preservation authorities) on matters affecting structural integrity, safety, or capacity of AOC assets. • Negotiates technical solutions and provides expert input to formal agreements developed in coordination with agency counsel and real property officials. • Mentors engineers, establishes best practices, and leads discipline-wide continuous improvement efforts, including development of guidance documents and lessons learned. Structural Engineering Designs and Specifications (15%) • Prepares or directs preparation of complete structural design documentation in the lead role and responsibility (drawings, specifications, calculations, technical reports) in accordance with agency engineering standards and applicable codes. Design efforts include concrete, steel, masonry and wood structural buildings or systems. • Performs and validates complex structural analyses, including nonlinear, performance‐based, time-history, and risk‐based evaluations to develop and justify design solutions. • Adjudicates material acceptability, design methodologies, and structural system selections for the agency's most complex projects, including those involving historic preservation or elevated operational risk. • Ensures design integration among architectural, civil, mechanical, and electrical interfaces, providing final technical determinations when conflicts arise. • Responsible for final project close to the structural design efforts or corrective actions implemented Project Management (15%) • Serves as Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) for assigned structural scope; performs contract administration activities for IDIQ A/E consulting services and specialized procurements. • Prepares Scopes of Work (SOWs), fee estimates, schedules, and solicitation documents prior to award. • Prepares responses to offeror questions, conducts proposal evaluations, and documents award recommendations. • Ensures compliance with agency policies, standards, and procedures; reviews completed work and recommends acceptance or rejection to the Contracting Officer. • Manages schedule, budget, and quality; reports status to upper management and meets project requirements. • Coordinates preparation of project working plans and specifications between junior engineers, CAD staff, and other architectural and engineering disciplines. • Prepares, revises, and maintains project documents and electronic files for agency archives. • Provides senior‐level technical oversight and direction for structural safety and compliance programs, including special inspections coordination, structural observation requirements, and structural variances, ensuring program alignment with agency policies. Structural Engineering Studies (10%) • Establishes study methodologies, acceptance criteria, and data requirements; develops or oversees development of advanced structural models and tools for risk and reliability analyses. • Ensures studies adhere to established criteria and applicable code(s), professional standards, and agency priorities; defines options and determines recommended courses of action.Requirements** Professional license, certification, and LEED AP desired, but not required. To be employed by the Architect of the Capitol in a paid position, an individual must meet one of the categories below: A citizen of the United States; A person who is lawfully admitted for permanent residence and is seeking citizenship as outlined in 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3)(B); A person who is admitted as a refugee under 8 U.S.C. 1157 or is granted asylum under 8 U.S.C. 1158 and has filed a declaration of intention to become a lawful permanent resident and then a citizen when eligible; A person who owes allegiance to the United States (nationals of American Samoa, Swains Island, and the Northern Mariana Islands, and nationals who meet other requirements described in 8 U.S.C. 1408); or A person who is currently an officer or employee of the Government of the United States.