Equipment Specialist; Wildland Firefighter

These positions are located on USDA Forest Service, National Technology and Development Program (NTDP) Center in San Dimas, CA and/or Missoula, MT. The equipment specialist position provides expertise and accomplishes projects related to wildland firefighting and fire aviation equipment management.

To qualify, you must meet the eligibility and qualifications requirements as defined below by the closing date of the announcement.

For more information on the qualifications for this position, visit the Office of Personnel Management's General Schedule Qualification Standards.

• One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GW‑5 grade level. Specialized experience is defined as aiding in field evaluations, testing, and/or data collection required for determining usability and service‑wide acceptance of firefighting equipment including products for firefighter safety, water handling, aerial delivery, hand tools, personal protective equipment (PPE), or other equipment used in firefighting operations.
• Assisting in surveying and obtaining the technical information required to recommend design, fabrication, and evaluation parameters of wildland firefighting equipment.
• Aiding in the planning, execution, and monitoring of projects evaluating the effectiveness of firefighter equipment for firefighter safety, water handling, aerial delivery, hand tools, personal protective equipment (PPE), helicopter rappelling, and/or smoke jumping.
• Trained in reading and interpreting specifications, standards, engineering drawings, statements of work, deviation requests, technical manuals, and other technical publications and documentation related to firefighter safety, water handling, aerial delivery, hand tools, and personal protective equipment (PPE) or other equipment used in firefighting operations.
• OR One full year of graduate level education.
• OR An appropriate combination of graduate level education and specialized experience; or superior academic achievement (qualifications are detailed by OPM).

• One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GW‑7 grade level.
• Specialized experience is defined as assisting in field evaluations, testing, and/or data collection required for determining usability and service‑wide acceptance of firefighting equipment including products for firefighter safety, water handling, aerial delivery, hand tools, personal protective equipment (PPE), or other equipment used in firefighting operations.
• Surveying and obtaining the technical information required to recommend design, fabrication, and evaluation parameters of wildland firefighting equipment.
• Assisting in the planning, execution, and monitoring of projects evaluating the effectiveness of firefighter equipment for firefighter safety, water handling, aerial delivery, hand tools, personal protective equipment (PPE), helicopter rappelling, and/or smoke jumping.
• Reading and interpreting specifications, standards, engineering drawings, statements of work, deviation requests, technical manuals, and other technical publications and documentation related to firefighter safety, water handling, aerial delivery, hand tools, and personal protective equipment (PPE) or other equipment used in firefighting operations.
• –OR– A master’s or equivalent graduate degree or two full years of progressively higher‑level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B. or J.D., if related.
• –OR– An appropriate combination of specialized experience and education (only graduate education in excess of 18 semester hours may be used to qualify applicants for this grade level).

Experience performing on-the-line (Primary/Rigorous) wildland fire suppression duties as a member of an organized fire suppression crew or comparable unit that utilized knowledge of wildland fire suppression, containment or control techniques and practices under various conditions. This experience must be documented with specific dates in the online application or resume.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, Ameri Corps) and…