Summary This position serves as the Electronics Technician in the Electronic Shop of the Engineering Service at the Columbia VA Health Care System (Columbia VAHCS), Columbia, South Carolina, with general supervision by the Supervisory Electronics Technician, and second level supervision provided by the Maintenance Control Manager. Responsibilities Major duties include but are not limited to: Management of Electronic Systems The incumbent is responsible for the comprehensive management of electronic systems within the Columbia VA Health Care Facility. The incumbent performs design, installation, maintenance, and administrative duties on these systems as required. Examples of what the incumbent would be managing are as follows but not limited to: Fire Alarm, Nurse Call and Code Blue, Target Vision, CCTV, Cable or Satellite television, access control, electronically controlled doors, intrusion alarms, Data support, Wi-Fi, Bio-Medical support services, Patient wandering systems, and other low voltage equipment, within a hospital setting. The incumbent's position is critical to the medical center's mission. The incumbent works in all areas of the medical center, supports both patient care and ancillary services. The incumbent is capable of planning and performing scheduled and unscheduled (emergency) maintenance on systems to ensure that they are operating properly, calibrated, and in compliance with applicable codes and standards. Electronic Systems Enhancement and Troubleshooting The incumbent seeks ways to reduce failures, eliminate safety hazards, and enhance accuracy and reliability. The incumbent recommends whether systems are to be removed from service, allowed to remain in service, or be restored to service, within a hospital setting and medical environment. The incumbent is also responsible for all the electronic systems at all satellite medical clinics in various geographical locations. The sites located in South Carolina are, Sumter CBOC, Anderson CBOC, Florence CBOC, Spartanburg CBOC, Orangeburg CBOC, and Rock Hill CBOC. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 7:00am - 3:30pm Telework: Not Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Electronics Technician/PD02059A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Physical Requirements: The incumbent handles objects weighing up to twenty (20) pounds routinely and occasionally handles objects of up to fifty (50) pounds. Frequently, work will be performed in cramped and awkward positions. The work also requires prolonged periods of standing and walking. Technical, academic, and mental demands are considerable. The work performed is of a precise nature, requiring prolonged concentration. The incumbent often works under conditions of stress caused by the nature of the work and the necessity to meet deadlines Incumbent is required to frequently travel to perform work at remote sites. Emergencies at these locations will require immediate response allowing very limited time for notice and preparation. Work Environment: The incumbent performs his duties subject to working in or near areas where patients may have communicable diseases. The incumbent must perform his work safely so as not to endanger himself, his fellow workers, patients, or members of the public. The employee will be required to use personal protective clothing and equipment furnished for his/her safety and the safety of others. His work must be done both inside the building and outdoors. Special priorities may require working in the rain, and seasonal conditions will impose the temperature extremes of winter cold and summer heat. Of particular importance is the incumbent's responsibility in the safe handling of any asbestos-containing material. The incumbent shall: Report to his supervisor any apparent asbestos exposure. Adhere to all VA policies and procedures concerning the control of asbestos. Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 You may be required to serve a probationary period Subject to background/security investigation Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP) Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details. Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 10/15/2024. Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-10. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. Basic Requirements: You must have the following: knowledge of the techniques and theories characteristic of electronics, such as a knowledge of basic electricity and electronic theory, algebra, and elementary physics; knowledge of electronic equipment design, development, evaluation, testing, installation, and maintenance; and knowledge of the capabilities, limitations, operations, design, characteristics, and functional use of a variety of types and models of electronic equipment and systems related to, but less than, a full professional knowledge of electronic engineering. This knowledge and experience may have been gained by assisting in work situations including: Maintenance - Developing maintenance standards and procedures for use by others. Analyzing repair practices and developing procedural instructions for use by others on methods and steps to repair equipment. Installation - Planning and directing the installation of complex systems and associated facilities, particularly where there are site selection and construction problems, dealings with contractors and public utilities, and the possible need to modify equipment for novel site characteristics. Fabrication - Designing and analyzing circuits, determining design feasibility, evaluating equipment performance under varying environmental conditions, and collecting performance data. Designing or modifying designs to achieve performance and cost objectives. Evaluating the adequacy of equipment for such purposes as repair, calibration, and testing. Testing and Evaluation/Research and Development - Developing or evaluating new or modified electronic systems. Completing testing, evaluating data, and determining acceptability of equipment modifications, validity, test procedures and data, or legality of operation. Technicians support professional engineers in performing experiments, research, and developmental activities requiring an in-depth knowledge of technical engineering methods, applications, practices, and principles to work on concepts, prototypes, and experimental projects that are without precedent and support state-of-the-art research. Sustainment - Developing, performing, evaluating, or modifying calibration and test equipment, systems, and procedures. Reporting, analyzing, and archiving test data. Performing complex calculations and manipulations of test data to improve performance of systems, instrumentation, measurement standards, techniques, and procedures. Troubleshooting - Analyzing and diagnosing faults in the operational configuration of electronic systems and equipment. Interpreting circuit wiring, logic cable diagrams, drawings, specifications, and schematics of complete systems and equipment to understand the function and interconnections of the various assemblies and troubleshoot the system. You may qualify for the GS-11 based on your experience as described below: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-10 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: work as a technician, instructor, inspector, or mechanic that showed progression in theoretical and practical knowledge of electronic theory, and of the characteristics, function, operation, and capabilities of a variety of types of electronic equipment; use of schematic diagrams, a variety of test equipment, and the application of appropriate electronic formulas involved in such duties as testing, troubleshooting, modifying, designing, calibrating, installing, maintaining, repairing, constructing, developing, and instructing on electronic equipment, or similar functions; developing policies, standards, and procedures for maintenance, installation, or similar functions, provided the work clearly shows that the applicant applied a specialized knowledge of the theories and principles of a variety of electronic systems or equipment. Individual Occupational Requirements: In addition to meeting basic and specialized experience requirements listed above, applicants for this Electronics Technician position must meet the below Individual Occupational Requirements (IORs). Trade, Craft or Labor Work Experience - repairing systems and equipment to include detecting and diagnosing malfunctions, tearing down equipment, repairing or replacing parts or components, or aligning, calibrating and testing the modified or repaired equipment; performing preventive and corrective maintenance to keep equipment and systems in reliable condition; installing equipment in accordance with plans, specifications, and detailed instructions, or reinstalling repaired or modified systems; fabricating electronic equipment in accordance with plans, specifications, and instructions including constructing, assembling, arranging, mounting, or wiring electronic parts and components; and making measurements to diagnose malfunctions to ensure equipment operates within prescribed standards. AND Technical Work Experience- developing and designing test and repair equipment, analyzing repair practices, or developing procedural instructions on methods and steps of equipment repairs; developing maintenance standards and procedures, testing and evaluating new or modified systems, or analyzing the compatibility of interlocking components and systems; planning and directing the installation of complex systems and associated facilities, particularly where there are problems of site selection and construction; designing and analyzing circuits, determining feasibility of these designs, evaluating equipment performance under varying environmental conditions, collecting data, or designing or modifying designs to achieve performance and cost objectives; and developing or evaluating new or modified systems or monitoring frequency emissions by licensed stations. Driver's License Requirement: The incumbent must have a current, valid driver's license. Professional License/Certification Requirement: This position requires a NICET 2 or higher certification. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Accountability Configuration Management Decision Making Electronics Engineering Problem Solving Project Management 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; religions; 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. Education There is no educational substitution at this grade level. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/. Additional Information Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.