Civil Engineer
What you'd do
This position is with Department of Labor, Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), Technical Support, Mine Waste & Geotechnical Engineering Division. MSHA works to prevent death, illness and injury from mining; promote safe and healthful workplaces for U.S. miners. MSHA carries out the provisions of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 (Mine Act) as amended by the Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response (MINER) Act of 2006.
Major duties
The responsibilities described are for the full performance level GS-12. At developmental grade levels, assignments will be of more limited scope performed with less independence, and limited complexity. Employs basic and advanced engineering concepts and applied research techniques in executing duties and transfers the results of highly theoretical or complex studies to practical applications. Review engineering plans for dams and other mine waste disposal facilities. Evaluate problems in geotechnical engineering such as soil or rock slope stability, rockfalls, foundations, and retaining walls. Analyze structural engineering problems related to the safety of mine structures such as preparation and processing plants, storage facilities, and bulkheads. Analyze safety problems related to mining operations such as haul roads, subsidence, or mining near bodies of water. Conduct field and accident investigations in areas of Division responsibility to make observations and collect data that will allow an assessment of conditions or the cause of an accident to be determined. Develop and deliver technical training on topics related to the Division's mission. Serve as an expert witness in both civil and criminal litigations to provide engineering expertise and services to defend the agency's position. Advise the supervisor of developing issues and trends related to areas of Division responsibility. Provide input to developing a strategy to correct the issue or improve the condition.
What you need to qualify
In addition to the basic requirements as described in the Education section, your application and resume must clearly show that you possess the experience and/or additional education requirements defined below. If qualifying based on experience, be sure these types of examples are evident in your resume. Specialized Experience is the experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the duties of the position successfully, 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 this position, specialized experience is defined as professional engineering work the demonstrates a thorough comprehensive knowledge of concepts, principles, and practices of engineering in the mining industry including knowledge of rock mechanics concepts and methods of experimental stress analysis, underground mining equipment, and a comprehensive knowledge of long-wall mining as practiced in the United States. GS-7: Must have 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-5 that has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, experience and skills to successfully perform the duties of the position. Specialized experience must include the following: Assisting with the design of civil engineering projects Writing and reviewing engineering related reports to ensure compliance with requirements. OR Applicants must have one full year of graduate level education (coursework directly related to position being filled); OR Superior Academic Achievement: Class standing -- Applicants must be in the upper third of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision, such as the College of Engineering, based on completed courses. Grade-point average (G.P.A.) -- Applicants must have a grade-point average of: 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B" or better) as recorded on their official transcript, or as computed based on 4 years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum; or 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B+" or better) based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field or the required courses in the major field completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum. Election to membership in a national scholastic honor society -- Applicants can be considered eligible based on membership in one of the national scholastic honor societies recognized by the Association of College Honor Societies. Membership in a freshman honor society cannot be used to meet the requirements of this provision. (Proof of membership must be submitted.) OR Successful completion of a 5-year program of study of at least 160 semester hours leading to a bachelor's degree in engineering; OR An appropriate combination of graduate level education and specialized experience as described above. GS-9: Must have 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-7 that has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, experience and skills to successfully perform the duties of the position. Specialized experience must include the following: Working on projects with regular guidance from senior engineers, collecting data through field activities, Assisting with the preparation of reports, plans, and other project documentation. General experience with soil and rock mechanics, foundation engineering, earth dam design, hydrology, hydraulics and structural mechanics. OR Possess a master's or equivalent graduate degree with course work directly related to the position being filled that provided the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to do the work of this position; OR, Possess two (2) full years of progressively higher level graduate education with course work directly related to the position being filled that provided the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to do the work of this position; OR Successful completion of a 5-year program of study of at least 160 semester hours leading to a bachelor's degree in engineering and 1 year of appropriate professional experience. Professional engineering experience is defined as nonroutine engineering work that required and was characterized by (1) professional knowledge of engineering; (2) professional ability to apply such knowledge to engineering problems; and (3) positive and continuing development of professional knowledge and ability. OR Possess a combination of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 level in or related to the work of this position and graduate level education (only graduate education in excess of 18 semester hours may be used to qualify applicants for this grade level) with course work directly related to the position being filled that provided the specific knowledge, skills and abilities to perform successfully the duties of this position. GS-11: Must have 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-9 that has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, experience and skills to successfully perform the duties of the position. Specialized experience must include the following: Experience in the areas of soil and rock mechanics, foundation engineering, earth dam design, hydrology, hydraulics, and structural mechanics. Experience in the mining industry, including mining and processing methods. Experience of testing procedures used to determine the engineering properties of construction materials, including metals, soil, rock, and mine waste materials. OR Possess a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree that provided the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to do the work of this position; OR, Possess three (3) full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree with course work directly related to the position being filled that provided the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to do the work of this position; OR Possess a combination of Specialized Experience equivalent to the GS-09 level in or related to the work of this position and graduate level education an appropriate combination of specialized experience and graduate level education (beyond what is required for a master's degree, i.e., more than 36 semester hours leading to a Ph.D.) with course work directly related to the position being filled that provided the specific knowledge, skills and abilities to perform successfully the duties of this position. GS-12: Must have 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 that has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, experience and skills to successfully perform the duties of the position. Specialized experience must include the following: Experience in the areas of soil and rock mechanics, foundation engineering, earth dam design, hydrology, hydraulics, and structural mechanics. Experience in the mining industry, including mining and processing methods. Experience of testing procedures used to determine the engineering properties of construction materials, including metals, soil, rock, and mine waste materials. Experience conducting accident and field investigations. There is no substitution of education in lieu of specialized experience at the GS-12 grade level.
Before you apply
Federal applications are different: your resume should be 3–5 pages and mirror the language of this announcement. Read our federal resume guide first — it's the #1 reason qualified people get screened out.
Similar openings
Browse all →Don't miss the next one.
Get an email the moment a similar federal job opens — postings can close in as little as 5 days.