National Institutes of Health
General Engineer (Cyclotron)
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Summary
In order to meet the Basic Qualification Requirements of an General Engineer, GS-0801 position, you must have: A. A degree in professional engineering from a school of engineering with at least one curriculum accredited by the Accreditation Board of Engineering and Technology (ABET) as a professional engineering curriculum; OR B. A degree in professional engineering that includes differential and integral calculus and courses (more advanced than first-year physics and chemistry) in 5 of the following 7 areas of engineering science or physics: (1) statics, dynamics; (2) strength of materials (stress-strain relationships); (3) fluid mechanics, hydraulics; (4) thermodynamics; (5) electrical fields and circuits; (6) nature and properties of materials (relating particle and aggregate structure to properties); and (7) any other comparable area of fundamental engineering science or physics, such as optics, heat transfer, soil mechanics, or electronics; OR C. Be registered as a professional engineer by any State, the District of Columbia, Guam, or Puerto Rico; OR D. Be currently registered as an Engineering Intern (EI) or an Engineer in Training (EIT); OR E. Successfully passed the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) 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.; OR F. Successfully completed at least 60 semester hours of courses in the physical, mathematical, and engineering sciences and in engineering that included the courses specified in the basic requirements. The courses must be fully acceptable toward meeting the requirements of a professional engineering curriculum as described above; OR G. Successfully completed a curriculum that led to a bachelor's degree in engineering technology OR in an appropriate professional field, e.g., physics, chemistry, architecture, computer science, mathematics, hydrology, or geology AND at least 1 year of professional engineering experience acquired under professional engineering supervision and guidance. In addition to the Basic Qualifications above, to qualify for a General Engineer (Cyclotron), GS-0801 position at the GS-12 level, you must have 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector, performing the following types of tasks: providing engineering support for cyclotrons, particle accelerators, or comparable electromechanical systems; diagnosing and resolving malfunctions involving integrated systems (i.e., electrical, electronic, mechanical, radio frequency (RF), high-voltage, vacuum, programmable logic controllers (PLC), embedded control, instrumentation, computerized control systems); applying engineering principles to design, modify, fabricate, integrate, test, or improve specialized equipment, components, and control or monitoring systems to enhance reliability, performance, automation, production efficiency, or maintainability; applying Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) radiation safety, regulatory, quality, and compliance requirements to engineering equipment, operations, procedures, and documentation in controlled environments; providing technical consultation and engineering guidance for technical projects. In addition to the Basic Qualifications above, to qualify for a General Engineer (Cyclotron), GS-0801 position at the GS-13 level, you must have 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector, performing the following types of tasks: managing the operation, maintenance, repair, optimization, and/or upgrade of cyclotrons, particle accelerators, or comparable multidisciplinary systems; diagnosing and resolving system-, module-, and component-level failures involving integrated systems (i.e. RF, high-voltage, electrical/electronic, mechanical, vacuum, beam-transport, PLC, embedded control, instrumentation, and computerized control systems); applying engineering principles to lead the design, fabrication, integration, testing, or modification of specialized equipment, radiation-tolerant components, control and monitoring systems, or radioisotope processing systems; applying and ensuring adherence to NRC, FDA, and current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) radiation safety, regulatory, quality and compliance requirements (or comparable standards), including developing procedures and evaluating equipment or processes for safe and compliant operation in controlled or high-hazard environments; serving as a senior technical consultant or subject matter expert by leading engineering projects and procurements, providing technical guidance to multidisciplinary professionals, or communicating engineering information through technical reports, procedures, specifications, or other documentation. You will receive credit for all experience material to the position, including experience gained in religious, civic, welfare, service, and organizational activities, regardless of whether you received pay. Do not copy and paste the duties or specialized experience from this announcement into your resume as that will not be considered a demonstration of your qualifications for this position. We may verify or assess your qualifications at any time. Inflated or unsupported qualifications may affect your rating. Any misrepresentation or material omission of facts may be sufficient cause to end further consideration of your candidacy. Persons listed as knowing your past accomplishments or experience in your application may be contacted for verification purposes at any time. Verification may, but need not, begin before receiving an offer. Preview application questionnaire before you apply: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13059352
Major Duties
At the full performance GS-13 grade level, you will perform the following duties: Operate, manage, maintain, repair, and develop innovative enhancements to integrated cyclotron subsystems. Serve as senior consultant to scientific professionals on cyclotron theory and targetry. Serve as subject matter expert for the design and fabrication of custom electronic control/monitoring equipment and systems, radiation-tolerant component substitutions, radioisotope processing systems, and target and transfer systems. Diagnose and troubleshoot highly complex electrical, electronic, mechanical, programmable logic controllers (PLC) and embedded control accelerator malfunctions in cyclotron and related systems at the system, module, and component levels and their associated subsystems which include: Radiofrequency (RF) and high-voltage circuits, magnet power and beam transport systems, electronic control and monitoring equipment, instrumentation; Vacuum systems, beam-transport hardware, mechanical target assemblies, radioisotope processing systems; and PLCs, embedded control logic, electronic control and monitoring systems. Develop novel solutions for (1) unique engineering problems when troubleshooting procedures, precedents, manufacturer support, or applicable technical documentation are unavailable; (2) mechanical components and radioisotope processing systems; and (3) control and monitoring capabilities used in cyclotron operation and radioisotope production. Direct and operate cyclotron production runs, often requiring early morning shifts (pre-6:00 AM). Manage all preventative and corrective maintenance on GE PETtrace 800-series systems, electrical, electronic, and mechanical accelerator systems and computerized and embedded accelerator controls, ensuring the reliable production of radioisotopes for time-critical clinical protocols. Lead equipment upgrades intended to improve system reliability, performance, radioisotope production, automation, monitoring, and efficiency. Ensure strict adherence to Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP), and NIH Safety Branch regulations. Develops cGMP Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). Manage radiation safety protocols, including shielding evaluations and ALARA practices in high-hazard environments. Provides project mentorship and technical guidance to staff and summer interns (SIP). If selected at the GS-12 grade level, you will essentially perform the same duties as those described above; however, duties will be less complex and will be performed with more detailed guidance.
Requirements
U.S. Citizenship requirement or proof of being a U.S. National must be met by closing date. Employment is subject to the successful completion of a background investigation, verification of qualifications, completion of onboarding forms, submission of required documents, and any other job-related requirement before or after appointment. Applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement. Males born after December 31, 1959 must be registered with the Selective Service. Position requires education. Please provide transcripts (see "Qualifications" section of this announcement). The work involves moderate to strenuous physical activity, including maneuvering in confined, radiation-controlled spaces and handling items weighing up to 50 pounds (e.g., lead bricks, gas cylinders). The work involves frequent exposure to ionizing radiation, high-voltage circuits, and hazardous chemicals. If selected, you must pass a pre-employment medical examination, provide evidence of immunization, and be free from communicable diseases. Requires training and validated competency in the safe use, storage, and disposal of high levels of radioactivity and use of protective laboratory coats, safety glasses and gloves. Based on your appointment, a one or two-year trial/probationary period may be required. A decision regarding your continued employment with NIH will be made as you near the end of this period. Must be able to perform the essential duties of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation. This position is designated as an "emergency essential" position and the selected candidate will be considered an "emergency essential" employee and will be required to be available, ready, willing, and able to report for duty under all circumstances (e.g., inclement weather, government closings and holidays, lapses in appropriations, non-emergency and emergency situations) for operation 24 hours a day and 365 days per year coverage.
Required Documents
REQUIRED FOR ALL APPLICANTS RESUME: Your resume must clearly demonstrate, in two pages or less, how your skills and experiences align with the "Qualifications" section and support your questionnaire responses. While cover letters provided with your application will be shared with hiring officials, they will not be used for initial qualification determinations. We cannot assume required experience based on your work or academic history. If your resume exceeds two pages, only the first two will be reviewed. Use a legible font such as Lato, Calibri, Helvetica, or Arial, with 0.5-inch margins. Suggested formatting: 14-point for titles and 10-point for body text. You may use the USAJOBS Resume Builder or upload your own resume. If uploading, ensure it includes all required information and is organized so we can match the following to each position: Job title Employer name Employment dates (MM/DD/YYYY) Hours worked per week (full-time assumed; part-time prorated) Detailed duties, accomplishments, skills, responsibilities, and supervisory details (if applicable) Series and grade or equivalent (for federal positions) If the position has an education requirement or you are qualifying on the basis of education, you must list your education history including the type of degree and your major of study. If the position requires a certain number of credit hours, you are strongly encouraged to list the relevant courses in your resume. Do not include a photograph or video of yourself, or any sensitive information (age, date of birth, marital status, protected health information, religious affiliation, social security number, etc.) on your resume or cover letter. We will not access web pages linked on your resume or cover letter to determine your qualifications. For resume writing guidance, please visit the following resources: NIH Help Applying, USAJOBS Resource Center, and the USAJOBS Resume Guidance. If the position has an education requirement or you are qualifying on the basis of education, you need to list your education history including the type of degree and your major of study. APPLICATION QUESTIONNAIRE: You must submit a completed application questionnaire. Unless otherwise stated, we will only use the information above to determine your qualifications. Not providing the required information may result in a determination that you do not meet minimum requirements for the position (e.g., an ineligible rating) or a lower rating. REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION FOR CAREER TRANSITION CLAIMS Visit our websites to claim selection priority through the Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP): CTAP: Career Transition Assistance Program | Office of Human Resources ICTAP: Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan | Office of Human Resources If you do not provide the required information, we will assume you are not eligible or you do not wish to be considered for any preference or eligibility. Please do not submit any other supplementary documentation that is not requested of you. To protect your personal information, we will only send your resume and cover letter to the selecting official or hiring manager.
How to Apply
To apply for this position, please read and follow all instructions in this announcement, complete the online application, and submit the documentation specified in the "Required Documents" section. Your complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM Eastern Time (ET) on 10/21/2026 to receive consideration. Click the Apply Online button. Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all necessary supporting documentation. Click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59 PM (ET) on the announcement closing date. If you are required to complete any USA Hire Assessments, you will be notified after submitting your application. The notification will be provided in your application submission screen and via email. The notification will include your unique assessment access link to the USA Hire system and the completion deadline. Additionally, in USAJOBS you can click "Track this application" to return to your assessment completion notice. Access USA Hire using your unique assessment link. Access is granted through your USAJOBS login credentials. Review all instructions prior to beginning your assessments. You will have the opportunity to request a testing accommodation before beginning the assessments should you have a disability covered under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended. Set aside about two (2) hours to take the USA Hire Assessments; however, most applicants complete the assessments in less time. If you need to stop the assessments and continue later, you can re-use your unique assessment link. Your responses to the USA Hire Assessments will be reused for one year (in most cases) from the date you complete an assessment. If future applications you submit require completion of the same assessments, your responses will be automatically reused. Visit the USA Hire Applicant Resource Center for practice assessments and assessment preparation resources at https://support-usahire.opm.gov/hc/en-us. To update your application, including supporting documentation: During the announcement open period, return to your USAJOBS account, find your application record, and click Edit my application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed. To view the announcement status or your application status: Visit https://help.usajobs.gov/how-to/application/status. Your application status page is where you can view your application status, USA Hire assessment completion status, and review your notifications sent by the hiring agency regarding your application. In addition to the required documents, we encourage you to submit a cover letter, copy of your transcripts, and any applicable certifications or licenses. Even though this information is not required at the time of application, we may request this information later. We cannot assume responsibility or grant extensions for personal issues (e.g., troubles navigating the application process, loss of internet, not understanding a question) when applying to our announcements. For technical difficulties, contact HR Systems Support between 8:00 AM and 4:30 PM ET Monday through Friday at [email protected]. If you need any other accommodation or assistance with applying, please contact NIH HR Service Desk Branch E at [email protected]. Requests for reasonable accommodations must be made before the announcement closing date. Visit our site for information on NIH's EEO program, Reasonable accommodation procedures, laws, policy statements, and the operation of the EEO complaint process.