Summary
The incumbent serves as a Supervisory General Engineer/Physical Scientist (Branch Chief, Vehicle Systems Branch) in working as a first level supervisor who exercises both technical and administrative direction of federal employees on a substantially full-time basis
Duties
As a Supervisory General Engineer/Physical Scientist you will: Provide expert guidance and administration for all design, development, prototyping, and production activities within the Vehicle Systems Branch, overseeing complex, mission-critical projects to ensure compliance with agency standards. Apply engineering and physical science expertise to manage the full project lifecycle-from initiation through closeout-while tracking progress against established cost, schedule, and technical milestones. Manage the execution of more than six major vehicle and trailer platforms supporting critical national security missions, overseeing an annual budget exceeding $100 million. Apply federal contracting, program management, and project management principles to manage facility projects and direct support personnel. Interpret federal contracting regulations to prepare and justify requirements for vehicle platforms and supporting subsystem design, development, prototyping, production, and applicable retrofitting. Provide planning, development, and oversight for integration activities across multiple complex engineering and system development efforts. Align budgets, technical activities, and integration touchpoints with overall organizational goals and initiatives. Coordinate acquisition phases across multiple programs. Provide technical and administrative supervision for complex, multi-mission engineering work. Hire, train, and manage staff, including assigning work, establishing performance standards, evaluating performance, and overseeing professional development, awards, and disciplinary actions to ensure timely, high-quality results.
Requirements
Subject to Random Drug Testing Must pass a pre-employment drug test. Favorable suitability determination required. Financial Disclosure is required. Must be able to obtain/maintain a Q level Security Clearance. You must be a United States Citizen. This employer participates in the e-Verify program. Males must abide by Selective Service registration requirements. Compliance with Homeland Security Presidential Directive (HSPD-12) governing personal identity which will require that you provide two forms of identification. More than one position may be filled from this vacancy announcement. If you are a current federal employee, appointed under the direct-hire authority, you will be given a new appointment. You will be required to serve a mandatory 1 year supervisory probationary period unless you've already met this requirement. You will be required to serve a mandatory one (1) year probationary period unless you meet the exceptions in 5 CFR, part 315.802. Probationary periods are required for new employees appointed to competitive service positions for the first time or reinstated employees who return to Federal service after a break in service of 30-days or more and who have not completed a probationary period will need to complete the requirement.
Education
All applicants must meet the basic requirements of the General Engineer/Physical Science occupational series. Transcripts or other proof of required education MUST be included in application package. 801 - Degree: professional engineering. The curriculum must: (1) be in a school of engineering with at least one curriculum accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology as a professional engineering curriculum; 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 1301- Degree: physical science, engineering, or mathematics that included 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science such as mechanics, dynamics, properties of materials, and electronics OR Combination of education and experience -- education equivalent to one of the majors shown in A above that included at least 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science, plus appropriate experience or additional education. Please refer to the OPM Qualification Standards at Physical Science Positions. OR 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 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. There are alternate methods to meeting the engineering educational requirement (e.g., holding current professional engineering registration, having passed the EIT examination, or having completed specified academic courses or a related degree). Please refer to the OPM Qualification Standards at Professional Engineering Positions. If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements: EDUCATION: Education must be obtained from an accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Applicants who have completed part or all of their education outside of the U.S. must have their foreign education evaluated by an accredited organization to ensure that the foreign education is comparable to education received in accredited educational institutions in the U.S. A written evaluation of any foreign education must be provided with your application in response to this vacancy announcement or be received by the closing date of this announcement. Failure to provide this evaluation will result in you being found unqualified for the position. For special instructions pertaining to foreign education, see the Department of Education website, and for a list of organizations that can evaluate foreign education, visit The National Association of Credential Evaluation Services. Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. **If you are selected, official transcripts will be required. FOREIGN EDUCATION: Applicants who have completed part or all of their education outside of the U.S. must have their foreign education evaluated by an accredited organization to ensure that the foreign education is comparable to education received in accredited educational institutions in the U.S. A written evaluation of any foreign education must be provided with your application in response to this vacancy announcement or be received by the closing date of this announcement. Failure to provide this evaluation will result in you being found unqualified for the position. For special instructions pertaining to foreign education, see the Department of Education website, and for a list of organizations that can evaluate foreign education, visit The National Association of Credential Evaluation Services. Please Note: If your foreign education has already been accepted by an accredited U.S. educational institution as part of a degree program with that institution, you do not need to provide an evaluation of foreign education but must submit a copy of the transcripts listing the degree from the U.S. accredited institution that accepted your foreign education. Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
How you will be evaluated
This position is announced under a government-wide Direct-Hire Authority (DHA) for Supervisory General Engineer/Physical Scientist position in the 0801/1301 series. Under the DHA, applicants who meet the Education and Qualification requirements listed in this announcement will be referred for consideration. You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents). THE APPLICATION REVIEW PROCESS WILL BE IN TWO STAGES: Minimum Qualifications: Once the application process is complete, the Human Resources Office will review the first two pages of your resume and supporting documentation to determine whether you meet the minimum job qualifications and eligibility requirements. Additional documentation (e.g., cover letter, links embedded in your resume) may not be considered. Subject Matter Expert (SME) Review: A quality review will then be conducted by the SMEs against a crediting plan in which you will receive a score. Your resume should demonstrate that you possess the Competencies listed below. Do not provide a separate narrative written statement. Rather, you must describe in your resume how your work experience demonstrates that you possess the Competencies. Cite specific examples of experience and describe how this experience has prepared you to successfully perform the duties of this position. The quality categories are usually defined as "Best Qualified", "Well Qualified" and "Qualified". Acquisition Strategy Contracting/Procurement Managing Human Resources Project Management Technical Competence Career Transition Assistance Programs: If you are eligible for career transition assistance, such as ICTAP or CTAP, you must meet the Education and Qualification requirements to be referred for consideration. You must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date (10/08/2026) of this announcement. To preview the Assessment Questionnaire, click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13057949 Note regarding USA Hire Assessment: This is a pay-banded position that is equivalent to the GS-13/14 level. The Assessment administered will be GS-13 equivalent, therefore, test results that remain on record in the USA Staffing system will reflect the GS-13 level only.