Electronics Technician
Job Summary
The employee is responsible for providing specialized electronics technical support and assistance to the SMA in the testing troubleshooting and documentation of electronic electrical and electromechanical systems with emphasis on the servo antenna electronic and data acquisition systems.
- Repairs and maintains antenna servo systems chopping secondary mirror systems deice systems power distribution systems and other analog and digital electronic and electrical systems as required.
- Fabricates complex mechanical assemblies and electronics consisting of chassis cables connectors (MS D JDC and coax styles) power supplies junction boxes terminal strips and multi-layer circuit boards from schematics and developed design specifications.
- Performs test procedures for electronic circuits and systems and performs electronic circuit systems integration testing troubleshooting and documenting using SMA approved methods.
- Performs hands on debugging and maintenance of a wide range of electrical mechanical and electromechanical subsystems including transporter electronics and control systems generators batteries antennas 480 VAC electrical wiring and antenna motors and brakes.
- Perform other related duties as assigned.
- May be required to pass a Pre-employment Background Investigation
- May be required to serve a one year probationary period
- Must maintain a Bank Account for Direct Deposit/Electronic Transfer
- Must possess a vaild state drivers license
- Must pass a high altitude physical examination prior to employment
- U.S. Citizenship is required
In order to qualify you must meet the experience requirements described below. 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). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience including volunteer experience. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience
Specialized Experience: Must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-10 level in the Federal service or comparable pay band system related to the work of this position. Specialized experience includes activities such as technical support for state of the art digital systems operating high-speed digital oscilloscopes and spectrum analyzers and good hands-on electronic skills to isolate and repair faults in multi-layered boards with a wide range of ICs such as FPGAs ASICs and DSPs.
Time-in-Grade Requirements: Under competitive merit promotion procedures any individual who is currently holding or who has held within the previous 52 weeks a General Schedule position under a non-temporary appointment in the competitive or excepted service must meet time-in-grade requirements (have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade of the grade for which you are applying).
Additional qualification information can be found from the following Office of Personnel Management web site: job does not have an education qualification requirement.
Veterans Employment Opportunities Act (VEOA): If you are applying for a VEOA appointment you must be a veteran and must be honorably separated and either a preference eligible or have substantially completed 3 or more years of active service. (Active Service under this law means active duty in a uniformed service and includes full-time training duty annual training duty full-time National Guard duty and attendance while in the active service at a school designated as a service school by law or by the Secretary concerned.) A veteran who is released under honorable conditions shortly before completing a 3-year tour is also eligible.
Noncompetitive Appointment Authorities:The following linkscontaininformation on the eligibility requirements to beconsidered under anoncompetitive appointing authority:
- Primary Appointing Authorities for Career and Career-Conditional Appointments
- Hiring Authorities for Veterans
- People with Disabilities
- The Smithsonian does not pay relocation expenses.
- A recruitment bonus may be paid.
- The Smithsonian Institution is an equal opportunity employer. Additional information can be foundon our website at ( 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.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
Required Experience:
IC