Direct Hire Public Notice - Project Engineer (RIDP)

Summary

Direct-Hire Authority (DHA) is a hiring authority granted by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to address critical hiring needs or severe candidate shortages. Please read this Public Notice carefully before applying. Your application goes to a resume database and may be used during the notice period. U.S. citizenship is required. Direct hiring authority for the 0801 series is being used to fill this position.

Duties

The successful candidate will perform the full range of Project Engineer (Resident Inspector Development Program (RIDP)) duties. Such duties include, but are not limited to: Participating in formal classroom training and other developmental activities to gain full certification as an NRC Inspector. Participating in the assessment of licensee performance at nuclear facilities; the selectee/s will perform direct inspections of licensee activities during operation phases. Planning, preparing, and performing in-depth inspections at assigned plant(s) during start-up, operation and decommissioning to ensure compliance with design specifications, and conditions of the operating license. Ensuring inspection program completion in accordance with schedules specified in the Inspection Manual or other official documents. Preparing and presenting inspection reports describing findings and conclusions regarding the licensee's safety performance and conformance with NRC requirements, provisions of operating licenses, and applicable industry codes and standards. Assisting the Branch Chief or Senior Project Engineer in the handling of allegations and tracking the status of allegations. Selectees will be assigned to work in the R1 office in King of Prussia, PA, the R2 office in Atlanta, GA, the R3 office in Naperville, IL or the R4 office in Arlington, TX based upon geographic preference indicated in their application. The selectees must become qualified through the NRC Inspection Manual Chapter (IMC) 1245 process within two years. Upon completion of training, developmental assignments, and Inspection Manual Chapter 1245 qualification process, selectees will be expected to seek reassignment from the offices listed above to a Resident Inspector position at one of the Resident Inspector Offices. A list of the resident inspector offices in each region is included below. To learn more about our locations, visit the NRC website at NRC Locations. NOTE THAT THE TOUR LENGTH FOR A RESIDENT INSPECTOR AT A SINGLE SITE IS LIMITED TO TEN (10) YEARS BY COMMISSION POLICY. Resident Office Locations Relocation Incentives: Provided the employee meets all relocation incentive eligibility requirements, at the time of a subsequent qualifying move to/between/from Resident Inspector positions, the employee may be eligible for a relocation incentive. The relocation incentive is a one-time payment calculated as a percentage of the employee's total pay at the time of the qualifying assignment. Dependent upon the location of the resident site, the percentage may be 15%-25% or 30%-50%. For a complete list of NRC resident office locations at the power reactor units regulated by the NRC, and their regional designation, please refer to this link: Operating Power Reactor Units Retention Incentives: Resident/senior resident inspectors may be eligible for the Resident Inspector Program Group Retention Incentive as approved on December 1, 2023. The amount of the retention incentive is 15 percent of adjusted basic pay, including any locality or special rate, to be paid annually and subject to annual review and approval. Payment will be initiated as a lump sum after completion of a service obligation period of 26 pay periods.

Qualifications

In addition to meeting the basic education requirements for professional engineering positions, as described above in the Education section, to qualify for this position at the advertised grade levels, you must meet the following: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE is defined as experience that demonstrates a thorough knowledge of the principles, theories, and practices in the field of engineering. You must also have recent experience associated with applying any of a variety of relevant professional engineering disciplines (e.g., nuclear, electrical, mechanical, metallurgical, structural, chemical). Recent experience in the industry of commercial, government or military nuclear power is preferred. You must also be familiar with nuclear industry standards, rules and regulations and be able to apply them. The ideal candidate will be able to demonstrate the following: (1) Knowledge of the design features and operating characteristics of nuclear facilities by describing professional experience with reactor facilities, commercial, government, or military. This experience may have been as a power plant operator, in a staff position in operations, or associated with plant operations. (2) Demonstrated ability to evaluate activities and events, develop inspection findings, and evaluate adequacy of corrective actions. (3) Demonstrated ability to develop and implement successful approaches to problem solving and conflict resolution. (4) Demonstrated ability to communicate well, both orally and in writing. 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. The NRC encourages applicants to provide concise job experience details in your resume. Applicants may also use the supplemental vacancy question to provide additional information pertaining to specialized experience and ideal candidate criteria. PLEASE BE CLEAR AND CONCISE. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

Education

You must include an unofficial or official copy of your college and/or university transcripts with your application. Transcript must include the School Name, Student Name, Degree and Date Awarded. Education must be from an accredited (or pre-accredited) college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. If you have multiple degrees (e.g., BS, MS, PhD) please submit transcripts for each degree. To qualify for these positions, you must meet BOTH basic education/professional knowledge requirements that apply to Federal engineering positions at all grade levels AND the specialized experience requirements outlined above no later than 30 calendar days after the closing date of this announcement and before placement in the position. Regardless of the grade level of the vacancy, candidates for Federal Government professional engineering positions must meet certain basic professional knowledge requirements. Generally, these knowledge requirements are met by having a bachelor's or higher degree in a relevant professional engineering discipline (e.g., nuclear, electrical, mechanical, metallurgical, structural, chemical) from a school of engineering with at least one professional engineering curriculum accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). If you do not possess such a professional engineering degree, you may still satisfy the professional knowledge requirements if you have current Professional Engineer (P.E.) registration in one of the relevant disciplines from any U.S. State or Territory; or if you successfully passed an Engineer-in-Training (EIT) written examination administered by a State Board of Engineering Examiners; or if you have either a related professional degree or at least 60 semester hours of specified engineering-related college courses combined with at least a year of professional engineering work experience performed under professional engineer supervision and guidance. NOTE: Engineering technology degrees are not generally qualifying unless supplemented by other evidence of the individual's professional knowledge (e.g., current P.E. licensure or EIT examination results, as discussed above). More detailed information about these alternatives for meeting the knowledge requirements for Federa