General Engineer

Position Summary

You will serve as a General Engineer/Safety Compliance Engineer in the Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance (OVSC). You will be responsible for enforcing Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards by managing and executing a compliance test program, overseeing compliance tests, and conducting safety investigations. You will also conduct business in a manner that complies with NHTSA's internal processes and policies.

To meet the minimum qualifications for this position, you must meet the mandatory education and specialized experience requirements for the grade at which you are requesting consideration. The following lists outline the required experience for each eligible grade.

• At least one year of experience equal or equivalent to GS‑11.
• Experience planning, initiating, and working on mechanical, electrical, and/or engineering programs.
• Experience conducting reviews, examinations, and testing of motor vehicles and equipment or other mechanical systems, and evaluating and reporting of test results, including writing and editing engineering test reports and test procedures.
• Experience conducting investigations, performing root‑cause analysis, and using problem‑solving techniques.

• At least one year of experience equal or equivalent to GS‑12.
• Experience planning, initiating, and working on mechanical, electrical, and/or engineering programs, including providing full lifecycle contractual support to enable execution of technical programs/projects.
• Experience conducting reviews, examinations, and testing of motor vehicles or motor vehicle equipment, and evaluating and reporting of test results, including writing and editing engineering test reports and test procedures.
• Experience using problem‑solving techniques to conduct investigations of motor vehicles or motor vehicle equipment, including performing root‑cause analysis of a system, product, or process that failed to meet established criteria.

• At least one year of experience equal or equivalent to GS‑13.
• Experience applying engineering principles, contracting oversight, and project management concepts to plan, implement, manage and report on testing of and investigations into FMVSS related to motor vehicle equipment, and a demonstrated ability to set priorities, establish and meet deadlines.
• Experience applying technical safety statutes and authorities in a testing and/or enforcement role and developing test procedures to evaluate performance against standards, analyze and present technical information supporting standards enforcement while exhibiting professionalism and sound judgment.
• Experience communicating technical ideas orally and in writing, including the ability to write and edit technical documents in an effective, clear, and concise manner, and performing oral presentations to audiences of technical and non‑technical backgrounds.

• Testing Knowledge – Demonstrated knowledge and experience conducting reviews, examinations or testing of motor vehicles and equipment or other complex electrical/mechanical systems and the evaluation and reporting of test results.
• Test Program Management – Ability to plan, implement, manage and report on engineering test programs.
• Communications – Ability to express technical ideas orally and in writing, including the ability to write and edit engineering test reports and test procedures.
• Prioritization and Time Management – Ability to set priorities, establish and meet deadlines.
• Vehicle Knowledge – Knowledge of motor vehicles and motor vehicle equipment with a special emphasis on Federal standards.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, Ameri Corps) and other organizations (e.g., professional, philanthropic, religious, spiritual, community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

All applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.