Summary
This vacancy is for a GS-0801-13, Research General Engineer located in the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Coast Guard, CG R and D CENTER TECHNICAL DIVISION in NEW LONDON, Connecticut. This Vacancy announcement has been extended from 8/14/20206 to 08/21/2026
Duties
As a Research General Engineer in the Technical Division at the Coast Guard Research and Development Center (RDC), you will join a fast-paced, diverse, and collaborative group of scientists and engineers working under the Autonomy research program. You will participate in the execution of projects as a member, and leader, of teams conducting applied research to support all 11 missions of the Coast Guard. Successful projects identify transformative technologies and new techniques to improve the mission performance of the Service. Assignments include project management, test design and execution, technology foraging, prototyping, data analysis, and reporting. The focus of this position is to apply the required research, development, test, and analysis methodologies to mature novel concepts and transition tangible results to the fleet. Specific competencies include remote sensing, machine learning, computer vision, control systems, uncrewed systems, advanced networking, test engineering, and integration of autonomy into legacy or emerging systems. Being a Coast Guard civilian makes you a valuable member of the Coast Guard team. Typical work assignments include: Executing the planning, programming, scheduling, and management of resources and milestones for multiphase research projects in the field of Autonomy. Applying research methodologies to problem areas that are highly complex, answering important questions related to autonomous technology development and integration. Designing comprehensive test and evaluation plans to govern dynamic data generation events. Design and engineering of prototypes, and integration schemes, for application of autonomous technology within USCG systems. Engaging with autonomous technology development partners and conducting literature reviews to build and maintain knowledge of emerging technology, practices and techniques. Analyzing mission and USCG operator needs to develop preliminary requirements for autonomous systems that address capability gaps. Writing comprehensive research reports, presenting findings to sponsors and stakeholders, and briefing a wide range of audiences from field technicians and operators to senior level agency executives. Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments. Reasonable Accommodation Information
Requirements
All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement. Do NOT include the following types of information in your resume: Social Security Number (SSN) Date of Birth (DOB) Photos of yourself (if included on your resume you will not be considered for this position) Personal information: such as age, gender, religious affiliation, etc. Key Requirements: Must be a U.S. Citizen. Must be registered or exempt from the Selective Service. See www.sss.gov A one-year probationary period may be required. To ensure the accomplishment of our mission, DHS requires every employee to be reliable and trustworthy. To meet those standards, all selected applicants must undergo and successfully pass a background investigation. This position requires a Secret clearance. This is not a Bargaining Unit position. All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit. Time-in-Grade requirement must be met by the closing date of the vacancy. The Office of Personnel management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule, C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.
Education
This position does have a positive education requirement. If you are including education on your resume, report only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. See Required Documents section for detail. Are you qualifying based on education? Submit a copy of your college transcript (unofficial is acceptable) from an accredited institution. Once selected & prior to appointment, applicants must provide an official college transcript. Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet Federal qualification requirements if you can show that your foreign education is comparable to education received in accredited educational institutions in the U.S. (see FOREIGN EDUCATION below). College Transcript: If this position requires specific educational course work to qualify, or you are qualifying based in whole or part on education, you are required to provide all unofficial transcripts (undergraduate, graduate, etc.) by the closing date of this announcement or you will be disqualified from further consideration. Transcripts should be legible and detailed, showing course number and department (i.e., bio 101, math 210, etc.), course title, number of credit hours, and grade earned. If course content cannot be easily identified from the title of the course as listed on your transcript, you must submit an official course description from the college/university that reflects the content at the time the course was taken. FOREIGN EDUCATION: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet Federal qualification requirements if you can show that your foreign education is comparable to education received in accredited educational institutions in the United States. To receive this credit, you must submit evidence of equivalency as provided by a credentialling evaluation service. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence with your application. See Recognition of Foreign Qualifications click here Only experience and education obtained by the closing date of this announcement will be considered.
How you will be evaluated
We will review your resume and supporting documentation to ensure you meet the basic qualification requirements. If you meet the minimum qualifications, your experience, education and training, along with any applicable assessments, will be rated. The best qualified candidates will be identified for referral to the hiring manager and may be invited for an interview. The necessary Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities to perform this job are: Attention to Detail Customer Service Decision Making Flexibility Influencing/Negotiating Integrity/Honesty Interpersonal Skills Learning Reading Comprehension Reasoning Self-Management Stress Tolerance Teamwork Engineering &Technology Compliance & Regulatory Knowledge Information Technology Research and Development Technical Competence Attention to Detail Data Collection & Analysis To preview the announcement questionnaire, click here: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13025191 Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration. Veterans Employment Opportunities Act (VEOA): To be eligible for a VEOA appointment, the veteran must be 1) be a preference eligible; or 2) be a veteran separated after 3 or more years of continuous active service performed under honorable conditions. In addition, you must submit the supporting documents listed under the required documents section of this announcement. (Note: Veteran's preference does not apply under Merit Promotion procedures. View VEOA information on Feds Hire Vets. Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) and Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) documentation. CTAP and ICTAP Eligibles: CTAP candidates will be eligible for selection priority if it is determined that they have exceeded the minimum qualifications for the position. If you are a Federal employee in the competitive service and your agency has notified you in writing that you are a displaced employee eligible for ICTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority for this position. Individuals must be well-qualified by attaining at least a rating of 85 out of 100. Information about CTAP and ICTAP eligibility is on the Office of Personnel Management's Career Transition Resources website.