Computer Engineer/Electronic Engineer

Summary

This position is located in the Channel Design & Deployment Section, Program Delivery Division, National Library Service Blind/Print Disabled, Library Collections and Services Group.

The position description numbers for this position are 446912 and 446914.

The salary range indicated reflects the locality pay adjustments for the Washington, D.C., Metropolitan area.

The incumbent of this position will work a flextime work schedule.

This is a non-supervisory, bargaining unit position.

This job is open to

Clarification from the agency

Anyone may apply - By law, employment at most U.S. Government agencies, including the Library of Congress, is limited to U.S. citizens. However, non-citizens may be hired, provided that other legal requirements are met and the Library determines there are no qualified U.S. citizens available for the position.

Duties

This is an interdisciplinary position (0854 Engineer (Computers), 0855 Engineer (Electronics)). The person selected for this position will be placed on the position description that corresponds with their qualifications.

The position serves as a member of the Channel Design and Deployment (CDD) section of the Program Delivery Division (PDD) of the National Library Service for Blind and Print Disabled (NLS) and works under the technical and administrative supervision of the Head of the CDD section. The position provides engineering support for current National Library Services for Blind and Print Disabled (NLS) braille and talking book programs. The position also provides engineering analysis for special projects, future projects, and planning of new systems and capabilities to support delivery of the braille and talking book programs.

Participates in inter-disciplinary product engineering design, development, and integration activities in a broad scope of technologies. Integrates prototype and proof-of-concept products with other NLS program systems in a development environment for analysis of the performance and impact on existing system. Analyzes requirements, develops strategies, and implements actions involving highly complex technical problems. Designs development of software, APIs, and computer systems in support of products used for delivery of the NLS braille and audio book programs. Creates systems diagrams, and writes, modifies and debugs source code for applications software/computer products. Applies the latest technology available to the Library to create products for reading, searching, and browsing the NLS collection of audio and braille books. Follows project guidelines and strategies that require innovation and leading-edge technology. Document unknown conditions, resolves critical problems, or develops new algorithms. Provides technical, administrative, and project management leadership in research and development activities in the specialized area of accessible technology and systems for delivery of the NLS braille and talking book programs. Serves as the SME in product design, which incorporates state of the art technologies, components, and techniques for embedded systems, mobile computing systems, and other consumer electronic systems capable of digital media playback, search and discovery, storage, and streaming via the internet.

Provides guidance and technical advice to program stakeholders, specialists within NLS, and partners throughout the cooperating network of libraries in the use and operation of products for delivery of the braille and talking book programs to patrons. Resolves technical difficulties that can be overcome by changes in development methodology criteria, or requirements in areas such as software design, API integration or business analysis. Maintains technical insight into the cause and solution when damaged, failed, or otherwise nonconforming products, services, or systems are encountered. Develops requirements, technical evaluations, and recommendations to management for engineering change orders to improve NLS products and services. Serves as an engineering technical specialist in the test, verification, and validation of software that may be utilized in embedded systems or computer equipment.

Implements the product development project strategy. Performs product design and development. Serves on project teams. Consults with other Library of Congress organizations for compatibility with existing systems and policies. Serves as product engineer and technical SME. Ensures that all essential actions for successful product development are identified, planned and accomplished. Recognized as an authority in product engineering for development of integrated computer systems involving commercially available mobile platforms, embedded systems, edge-computing systems, and cloud-based systems. Works with and participates in meetings with other functional managers and SMEs to identify requirements, write and review specifications, creates systems diagrams and identify costs for product development. Develops, modifies, monitors and evaluates project plans. Contributes to the overall engineering efforts of product development teams. Performs Product Owner and Product Engineer roles as a product moves through the life cycle.

Provides expert technical advice and direction to contractor professionals on product development issues and requirements. Directs contractors in development of software, APIs, and computer systems in support of products used for delivery of the NLS braille and audio book programs. Participates as necessary in the evaluation and selection process of proposals submitted in response to contract solicitations.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

Library of Congress employees are prohibited from using illegal drugs, including marijuana. The Library is part of the Federal Government and abides by federal law, so regardless of individual state or District of Columbia laws, marijuana use is illegal, considered criminal activity, and can affect your employment at the Library. In addition, past or current drug use and activities (e.g., selling or distributing) may deem you ineligible for employment.

Qualifications

Applicants must have had progressively responsible experience and training sufficient in scope and quality to furnish them with an acceptable level of the following knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the duties of the position without more than normal supervision.

Ability to perform product development project planning work. **

Ability to perform product development project management work. **

Knowledge of the principles, methods, and techniques of electronics/computer engineering. **

Knowledge of product prototype and proof-of-concept development.

Ability to provide management and contractor oversight for product development projects.

Ability to interact collaboratively with others.

Ability to communicate effectively other than in writing.

Education

Basic Requirements:

A. 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

B. 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:

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.)

You MUST submit a legible copy of your college/university transcripts to your online application. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable at the time of application. Official transcripts will be required if selected. Failure to submit the required legible documentation at the time of application will result in disqualification of your application.

Foreign Education – Education completed outside the U.S. must be deemed equivalent to conventional/accredited U.S. education programs to be acceptable for Federal employment. If your college/university is outside the U.S., your transcripts must be accompanied by a report from a credential evaluation service that is a member of the or the . Failure to submit a foreign education evaluation report will result in disqualification of your application.

Additional information

Although it is the Library's policy to afford the maximum pay benefit to employees when setting rates of pay, a new appointee who has had no previous Federal service will generally be paid at step one of the grade.

The Library of Congress is an equal opportunity employer. Women, minorities, and persons with disabilities who meet eligibility requirements are strongly encouraged to apply.

Applicants must submit a complete application package that is received by the closing date of this announcement.

Appointment/retention is subject to a favorable evaluation of an appropriate personnel security/suitability investigation. For more information, please see:

This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please email . The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be determined on a case-by-case basis.

Applicants with disabilities may be considered under special hiring procedures and must submit an appropriate certificate of eligibility when applying for this position. The proof or disability/certification may be issued by the State Vocational Rehabilitation Office, Disability Services or Career Services office of the applicant’s college or university, or the Department of Veterans Affairs. The letter must verify that the applicant has a severe disability and must be dated within three years of the date of the application. Certification from health care providers are not accepted. For more information contact the Library's Office of EEO/Diversity Programs at or email . FAILURE TO SUBMIT YOUR CERTIFICATION WILL CAUSE YOUR APPLICATION TO NOT BE CONSIDERED UNDER THE SELECTIVE PLACEMENT PROGRAM.

The Library of Congress is the national library of the United States and is part of the Legislative Branch of the Federal government. As such, all positions are in the excepted service.

The Library reserves the right to fill a lesser or greater number of vacancies indicated during the life of this vacancy announcement.

Initial permanent appointments to the Library of Congress require completion of a one-year probationary period. Probationary periods served at other Federal agencies do not count toward this requirement.

The Library of Congress may offer repayment for all or part of federally insured student loans. However, not all service units within the Library of Congress participates in the repayment of federally insured student loans. Therefore, determination to repay a federally insured student loan is subject to approval by the appropriate service unit.

A “Not to Exceed" (NTE) status is used to identify an appointment with a specific ending date. However, the Library has the right to separate a NTE employee at any time due to either performance issues or budget constraints.

Are you a veteran? Please indicate the type of veterans' preference you are claiming in your application materials and/or applicant profile and provide the appropriate supporting documentation to validate your claim. Those applying for 5-point preference must submit Member Copy 4 of your DD 214. Those applying for 10-point preference must fill out an SF-15 (click for the form) and provide the required documentation listed on the back of the form. If required supporting documentation is not attached, Veterans' Preference will not be considered in the application process.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

The Library of Congress evaluates applicants through an applicant questionnaire and a structured interview. Applicants may also be screened for some jobs through licensing, certification, and/or education requirements, a narrative/application review, and/or a preliminary telephone interview. The knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) that are marked with a double asterisk in the vacancy announcement and the applicant questionnaire are considered the most critical for a position. To be considered for final selection, applicants must demonstrate fully acceptable experience in these designated KSAs in the narrative/application review, preliminary telephone and/or full structured interview. The various assessment tools listed above are designed to verify or explore applicants' experience, knowledge, and training directly related to the job in order to identify the best qualified applicants for selection.

You may for this vacancy.

Required Documents

Current or former federal employees must submit their most recent Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50 or equivalent).

Applicants with disabilities may be considered under special hiring procedures and must submit an appropriate certificate of eligibility when applying for this position. The proof or