Remote Research Engineer Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

Summary
This position is in the Office of Research, Development, and Technology at the Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center in McLean, Virginia. This position serves as a Communications Engineer on the Safety Design and Operations Team specializing in highway engineering research related to wireless technologies for Connected Vehicles and the application of communications to support the safe operation of emerging technologies such as automated vehicles, digital infrastructure, and AI.
Learn more about this agency
Duties
Help
As a Research Highway Engineer, you will:

• Execute complex studies (and lead exceptionally difficult research of considerable depth for the GS-14 level) on wireless technologies and systems to advance Connected Vehicle safety and highway operations and implementation of emerging technologies.
• Manage staff research and external contracts focused on solving engineering problems through advanced technological integration.
• Work closely with other FHWA offices (i.e., FHWA Office of Safety, Office of Operations, ITS Joint Program Office, Division Offices, etc.), other DOT Operating Administrations, and State and local highway personnel, where appropriate, to coordinate and obtain input on planned, ongoing, or completed research.
• Serve as Contracting Officer's Representative (COR), requiring knowledge of the Federal procurement process to prepare procurement request packages, write proposal evaluation reports, monitor contracts, and review deliverables.

The ideal candidate for this position is a competent and productive researcher (or a recognized research leader at the GS-14 level) capable of conceiving, formulating, and conducting complex research studies in the field of general engineering. This candidate possesses an advanced professional knowledge of general engineering with a specialization in the theories, principles, practices, and techniques of the use of radio-frequency (RF) (wireless) technologies and systems to enable the Connected Vehicles component of the safety and operations research program, RF spectrum issues related to system capabilities, in-band and out-of-band interference, cybersecurity, vulnerability assessment, and credential management, and the broader range of Federal, state, and local RF spectrum requirements to support implementation of advanced technologies into the transportation system.
Requirements
Help
Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. citizen & meet specialized experience to qualify
• Submit application and resume online by 11:59 PM EST on the closing date
• Required documents must be submitted by the closing date.
• Direct Hire Authority/SME will be used to fill this position

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:
As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance the organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your probationary period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

• SELECTIVE SERVICE: Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for the Selective Service.
• GOVERNMENT TRAVEL CARD: This position involves travel. A government contractor-issued travel card will be issued and must be retained for official business only.
• BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION: A background security investigation is required for all selected individuals. Appointment will be subject to the applicant's successful completion of the security investigation and favorable adjudication. Failure to meet these requirements will be grounds for termination.
• PCS/RELOCATION/RECRUITMENT: Permanent Change of Station (PCS), Relocation, and Recruitment Incentive authorization varies by position/selection and a service agreement may be required.
• PROBATIONARY PERIOD: Applicants may be required to successfully complete a one-year probationary period (unless already completed).
• CERTIFICATION: This position will require the applicant to obtain COR certification at a later date.

Qualifications
To meet the minimum qualifications for this position, you must (1) meet the Education Requirement for the series, (2) provide a copy of transcripts for verification, AND (3) meet either the education or specialized experience requirements for the grade at which you are requesting consideration.
To qualify for the GS-13 on Experience, you must have at least one year of experience equal or equivalent to the GS-12 it must include:

• Experience managing research and development of transportation connectivity which may include the following: radio-frequency (RF) (wireless) technologies and systems to enable the Connected Vehicles, RF spectrum issues related to system capabilities, in-band and out-of-band interference, cybersecurity, and credential management, or knowledge of the broader range of Federal, state, and local RF spectrum requirements. The research and development may support connectivity with emerging technology, for example automated vehicles, digital infrastructure, and artificial intelligence.

You cannot qualify on education at the GS-13 level; you must have experience.
To qualify for the GS-14 on Experience, you must have at least one year of experience equal or equivalent to the GS-13 it must include:

• Experience in leading research and development of transportation connectivity which may include the following: radio-frequency (RF) (wireless) technologies and systems to enable the Connected Vehicles, RF spectrum issues related to system capabilities, in-band and out-of-band interference, cybersecurity, and credential management, and the broader range of Federal, state, and local RF spectrum requirements. The research and development may support connectivity with emerging technologies for example automated vehicles, digital infrastructure, and artificial intelligence.
• Experience in program management (i.e. Developing research program plans, objectives, priorities, and/or schedules for accomplishment of program plans) on integrating transportation connectivity into the transportation system.

You cannot qualify on education at the GS-14 level; you must have experience.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs): Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following areas:

1. Research - Knowledge of the scientific principles, methods, and processes used to conduct a systematic and objective inquiry; including study design, collection, analysis, and interpretation of data; and the reporting of results.
2. Technical Credibility - Understands and appropriately applies principles, procedures, requirements, regulations, and policies related to specialized expertise.
3. Project Management - Knowledge of the principles, methods, or tools for developing, scheduling, coordinating, and managing projects and resources, including monitoring and inspecting costs, work, and contractor performance.
4. Transportation Engineering - Knowledge of the concepts, principles, theories, and methods applicable to planning, designing, and constructing of transportation systems including traffic analysis, signal analysis, highway capacity, pavement design, bridge construction, planning of transportation projects, environmental analysis of transportation facilities, and transportation network analysis.

For all types of consideration, experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) 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.
For additional information about applying to Federal positions, please click on the following link: https://www.opm.gov/frequently-asked-questions/employment-faq/federal-hiring/how-do-i-apply-for-federal-jobs/
Other applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
Education
MANDATORY EDUCATION 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) 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). All applicants must meet the education requirements under A or B to qualify for applying to an engineering position. Transcripts are required for this position.
PLEASE NOTE: TRANSCRIPTS are required as there is a stated education requirement for the series. The transcripts need not be official but must show that you meet the stated education requirements, including specific major or class requirements. If you are qualifying based on possessing a current Professional Engineer (PE) license or passing the Engineer in Training (EIT) exam, please provide a copy of PE license or written documented proof of passing the EIT.
Additional information
The Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act prohibits the Department of Transportation and its Operating Administrations from requesting an applicant's criminal history record before that individual receives a conditional offer of employment. In accordance with 5 U.S. Code § 9202(c) and 5 C.F.R § 920.201 certain positions are exempt from the provisions of the Fair Chance to Compete Act. Applicants who believe they have been subjected to a violation of the Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act, may submit a written complaint to the Department of Transportation by email at, FairChanceAct@dot.gov. To learn more, please visit our page at: The Fair Chance to Compete Act | US Department of Transportation
Expand Hide additional information
Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
Benef