Reactor Engineer / Scientist (RTR Examiner)

Summary This position is in the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR), Division of Advanced Reactors and Non-Power Production and Utilization Facilities (DANU), Non-Power Production & Utilization Facility Oversight Branch (UNPO). The supervisor is Travis Tate. Selectee is not subject to Office of Government Ethics Confidential Financial Disclosure reporting requirements. This position is in the Bargaining Unit with the National Treasury Union, Chapter 208. Responsibilities If selected for this position, you will be responsible for the regulatory programs associated with operator licensing programs for non-power reactor facilities (NPUFs).Your duties may include but are not limited to: Review and evaluate efforts in the operator licensing examination area related to examination content, procedures and administration. Develop appropriate regulations, regulatory guidance and generic letters to ensure licensed operators have the skills necessary to safely operate research and test reactors, and thereby assure public health and safety and protection of the environment. Formulate examiner training programs to supplement examiner development and maintenance of skills. Manage technical assistance and research contractors in the resolution of regulatory analyses, examination concerns and the licensing process; and participate in the continuing development of computer systems related to examination content and administration. Prepare material for Commission papers, rule changes, and other policy matters. Present said material at Commission and ACRS meetings, during public hearings and to other audiences inside and outside of the NRC. Requirements Conditions of Employment U.S. Citizenship Required This is a Drug Testing position. Background investigation leading to a clearance is required for new hires. Subject to security ownership restrictions and reporting requirements. Requires Qualification as an NRC Operator Licensing Examiner after EOD. Subject to random drug testing during employment. 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. Qualifications In order to qualify for this position, you must have at least one year of specialized experience at the next lower grade level (GG/GS-13) in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private or public sector. SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE is defined as: Experience in the administration and planning of nuclear reactor operator examinations or nuclear reactor inspections, which demonstrates technical knowledge of NRC programs and policies. Nuclear reactor operator examination or nuclear reactor inspection experience must include one or more of the following: 1) resolving licensing or policy considerations; 2) developing guidance; or 3) performing nuclear reactor inspections. A description of how you possess the specialized experience as well as how you meet the qualifications desired in an ideal candidate, should be addressed in your resume and may also be addressed in the vacancy question provided for your supplemental response. The IDEAL CANDIDATE will be able to demonstrate the following: 1. Demonstrated knowledge of nuclear engineering theories and principles for operating reactor facilities (i.e., research reactors, test reactors, nuclear power reactors, or nuclear facilities) including design, operation, operator licensing, inspection, or maintenance. (EXAMPLES: Provide in your resume several examples of your specific experience, education, and training that demonstrate your knowledge of nuclear engineering theories and principles for operating reactor facilities. Describe your experience with licensing of operators, operation of nuclear reactors, inspection of nuclear reactors, and/or experience with analyzing reactor designs. Highlight any licensing and operational challenges you faced and how they were resolved. Clearly define which operating reactor facilities you have experience with, your role and the results of your individual actions.) 2. Ability to develop, apply, and/or interpret NRC rules, regulations, or other industry standards and guidelines as related to operating reactor facilities (i.e., research reactors, test reactors, nuclear power reactors, or nuclear facilities) in the areas of operator licensing or inspections. (EXAMPLES: Describe in your resume your level of expertise and all of the specific NRC rules, regulations, or other industry standards and guidelines you have experience with developing, applying, or interpreting as related to operating reactor facilities in the areas of operator licensing and/or inspections. Describe your work assignments or products (e.g., inspection reports, reactor operator examinations, code or standards working group, Commission papers, technical reviews, safety evaluation reports, etc.), that demonstrate your abilities and clearly define your role, challenges, and the results and outcomes.) 3. Demonstrated ability to communicate information, ideas, and advice in a clear, concise and logical manner, both orally and in writing. (EXAMPLES: Describe in your resume your experience in making oral presentations and preparing written documents, and the various levels of individuals for which presentations were made. Clearly describe your role for each provided example (were you the primary communicator, secondary level communicator, etc.) Discuss examples where you have used skills in communicating complex technical and policy issues to NRC staff and management, general public, governmental agencies, specific industry groups, the public, or others. Clearly describe which audiences you have communicated with (e.g., division or office management, senior executive management, the public, licensees, applicants, the NRC Commission, EDO, ACRS, Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards,, etc.) Describe the various written products you have authored (e.g. reactor operator examinations, policy papers, briefing papers, etc. Discuss how your oral or written communications have played a role in the understanding or resolution of issues.) 4. Ability to use interpersonal skills to interact effectively with peers, management, and representatives of the industry, and to develop and implement successful approaches to problem solving and conflict resolution. (EXAMPLES: Describe in your resume your specific experience, accomplishments, or training, which demonstrate your interpersonal skills. Provide examples of relevant technical projects/tasks you have developed and managed with a focus on identification of problem areas, emerging issues, and processes used to achieve resolution. Describe situations where it was necessary for you to use tact, diplomacy, and negotiation skills to achieve cooperation or consensus when interacting with staff, management, or external stakeholders. Describe your role in successful team work, team building, coalition building, or small group dynamics. Describe how your interpersonal skills have played a role in the understanding or resolution of issues. Describe successful interactions with internal and external stakeholders, industry contacts, international contacts, or internal agency contacts at various levels. Include several examples demonstrating the above.) Education You must include an unofficial or official copy of your college and/or university transcripts with your application. Education must be from an accredited (or pre-accredited) college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. If you are qualifying based on foreign education, you must submit proof of credibility of education as evaluated by a credentialing agency. If you have multiple degrees (e.g., BS, MS, PhD) please submit transcripts for each degree. If you are qualifying for an 800 Series Engineering position under OPM’s basic requirements Section B, you must also provide copies of your Engineer Intern (EI), Engineer in Training (EIT)1, or licensure as a Professional Engineer (PE) by any State, the District of Columbia, Guam, or Puerto Rico; OR evidence of having successfully passed the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE)2 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. GG-0801 (General Engineering Series): 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 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)1, 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)2 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. (The above examples of related curricula are not all-inclusive.) GG-1301, (General Physical Science Series): A. 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 B. 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. Additional Information The duty location of this position is Rockville, MD. In general, employees are expected to be in the office 4 days per pay period. Telework schedules are approved, on a case-by-case basis. If selected, telework will be determined in accordance with Agency policy and the Collective Bargaining Agreement, if applicable. Based on the staffing needs of the agency/area of consideration, additional selections may be made from this vacancy announcement. The NRC may offer recruitment incentives to eligible new appointees, or relocation incentives to current Federal employees who are required to move geographically when the NRC determines that, in the absence of such incentives, it will be difficult to fill the position with a suitable candidate. Generally, current Federal employees are not eligible for a recruitment incentive, but maybe eligible for a relocation incentive. The NRC provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Individuals with disabilities may contact the Selective Placement Coordinator for assistance with the application or hiring process via *****. Deaf applicants may contact the Disability Program Manager by calling the NRC videophone at *****. Individuals who are eligible for non-competitive appointment under an OPM special appointing authority may apply for consideration under a comparable NRC non-competitive appointing authority. Veterans, please visit: http://www.fedshirevets.gov/ Selectee's will be required to complete a "Declaration of Federal Employment", (OF-306), prior to being appointed to determine their suitability for Federal employment and to authorize a background investigation. False statements or responses on your resume or questionnaire can jeopardize your employment opportunity and subject you to disciplinary action, including removal from Federal service. A transferable security clearance from another agency or a background investigation leading to a clearance is required for all new hires. To begin work at the NRC without a security clearance, you must be granted a temporary waiver of the required clearance, referred to as a 145(b) waiver. To be eligible for a 145(b) waiver you will need a favorable education verification, reference, credit, and criminal history checks. If a wavier is granted, the successful completion of a background investigation and favorable adjudication is required for continued employment. If you have resided outside the U.S. for an extended period of time, the agency may not be able to (1) grant the 145(b) waiver where the required investigation cannot be completed in a timely manner, or (2) achieve timely completion of the background investigation required for a security clearance. The NRC is a zero tolerance agency with respect to illegal drug use. Individuals selected for this position will be subject to pre-appointment drug testing unless currently in a NRC position subject to random drug testing AND will be subject to random drug testing upon appointment to the NRC.