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Interdisciplinary General EngineerPhysical Scientist

Department Of Energy Headquarters

Job Location:

Menlo Park, CA - USA

Yearly Salary: USD 133060 - 133060

Posted: 6 October 2026 (20 days ago)

Application Deadline: 3 January 2027

Vacancies: 1 Vacancy

Job Summary

Summary

This position is part of the Office of Science - SLAC Site Office Department of Energy. As a Interdisciplinary General Engineer/Physical Scientist you will be responsible for the Federal oversight of the coordination design construction and close-out phases of all assigned projects in compliance with DOE Order 413.3B Program and Project Management for the Acquisition of Capital Assets.

Duties

The SLAC Site Office (SSO) is the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) line management organization within the Office of Science (SC) which manages and administers the DOE performance based contact with Stanford University to manage and operate the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory (SLAC). The SSO reports directly to the Office of Science (SC). SLAC is a DOE national laboratory which performs and supports world-class research in photon science high-energy physics and particle astrophysics. The duty station for this position is Menlo Park CA.

We are truly honored that DOE has been named Americas #1 Best Employer for Veterans in 2023 by Forbes-not only among Government agencies but among employers across the U.S. We are so proud of this ranking which reflects our commitment to the employment of veterans. As so many veterans at DOE renew their service to our Nation we are deeply committed to their success and advancement. Veterans shape the future of energy

As a General Engineer/Physical Scientist you will:

Serve as the Federal Project Director (FPD) responsible for leading the coordination design construction and close-out phases of capital asset construction Major Item of Equipment (MIE) and minor projects.
Evaluate complex scientific and engineering challenges to resolve technical uncertainties manage design or operational risks and address conflicting project goals.
Assess the viability of emerging or improved technologies industry trends and technical standards to modernize engineering programs and project execution.
Prepare critical project lifecycle and business documents including program budgets procurement packages project execution plans and Statements of Work (SOWs).
Act as the primary technical authority to advise senior management and project contractors while representing the agency to present project progress objectives and technical findings at professional reviews and meetings.

Requirements

Conditions of employment

You must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
This employer participates in the e-Verify program.
If you are a male applicant born after December 31 1959 you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. See .
If selected your appointment may be subject to a suitability or fitness determination as determined by a completed background investigation.
If selected you may be required to complete a one year probationary period.
This position has been designated as PUBLIC TRUST. A preliminary background check must be completed before a new employee can begin work. Current Federal employees or others with an existing investigation may not be required to undergo another check.
Hiring incentives may be authorized for a highly qualified candidate based on budget availability and in accordance with federal regulations.

Qualifications

You must meet both the Basic Requirement and the Specialized Experience to qualify for this series as described below. See the Education section for the Basic Requirement.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS: A qualified candidates online application and resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level in the Federal service.

GS-13: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade (GS-12). Specialized experience for this position is defined as meeting ALL of the following:

Coordinating projects (such as facility construction utility or infrastructure upgrades or major technical equipment installations) from the planning and design phases through execution and close-out.
Reviewing project lifecycle and business documents such as project execution plans cost-benefit analyses technical budget estimates and detailed Statements of Work (SOWs) or technical specifications for contracted services.
Serving as a key technical point of contact to collaborate with influence and negotiate among multidisciplinary teams contractors or external partners to resolve technical disputes and align project milestones.

GS-14: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade (GS-13). Specialized experience for this position is defined as meeting ALL of the following:

Leading projects (such as facility construction utility or infrastructure upgrades or major technical equipment installations) from the planning and design phases through execution and close-out.
Reviewing project lifecycle and business documents such as project execution plans cost-benefit analyses technical budget estimates and detailed Statements of Work (SOWs) or technical specifications for contracted services.
Preparing technical briefings progress reports or business cases to senior management clients or regulatory bodies to justify project directions secure funding or resolve technical disagreements.

NOTE: There is no substitution of education for specialized experience for the GS-13 or GS-14 levels.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience. Examples of qualifying unpaid experience may include: volunteer work done through National Service programs (such as Peace Corps and AmeriCorps); as well as work for other community-based philanthropic and social organizations. 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.

CTAP/ICTAP candidates: To be considered well qualified you must meet all of the requirements as described in this section.

You must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Education

This vacancy has a positive education order to be rated as qualified you must provide copies of your college transcripts. Failure to provide copies of your college transcripts may result in a rating of Ineligible. Education must be obtained from an accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Foreign education must be reviewed by an organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For special instructions pertaining to foreign education and a list of organizations that can evaluate foreign education see the Department of Education website.

BASIC REQUIREMENT FOR 0801 SERIES:

Degree: Engineering. To be acceptable the program must: (1) lead to a bachelors 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

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:

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 Boards eminence provision as a manufacturing engineer typically would be rated eligible only for manufacturing engineering positions.
Written Test -- Evidence of having successfully passed the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE)2 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.
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.
Related curriculum -- Successful completion of a curriculum leading to a bachelors 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 bachelors 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.)

BASIC REQUIREMENT FOR 1301 SERIES

Degree: physical science engineering or mathematics that included 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science such as mechanics dynamics properties of materials and electronics.

OR

Combination of education and experience: education equivalent to one of the majors shown in A above that included at least 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science plus appropriate experience or additional education.

This vacancy has a positive education order to be rated as qualified you must provide copies of your college transcripts. Failure to provide copies of your college transcripts may result in a rating of Ineligible.

Education must be obtained from an accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Foreign education must be reviewed by an organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For special instructions pertaining to foreign education and a list of organizations that can evaluate foreign education see the Department of Education website.

Additional information

The U.S. Department of Energy fosters a diverse and inclusive workplace and is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional similar vacancies across DOE.
For general information on government-wide Telework polices visit:
Hiring incentives may be authorized in accordance with agency policy and if funding is available.
EEO Policy: or applicants may request Reasonable Accommodation (RA) for assistance when applying or competing for a job or performing a job due to their medical condition or to exercise their religious beliefs. If you need reasonable accommodation in the application or selection process please contact the Staffing Specialist listed on this vacancy announcement.
Reasonable Accommodation Policy: Information: Service Registration: Fair Chance Act prohibits specific inquiries concerning an applicants criminal or credit background unless the hiring agency has made a conditional offer of employment to the applicant. An applicant may submit a complaint to the agency within 30 calendar days of the date of alleged noncompliance by completing the Fair Chance Act Intake Form and submitting it to the Administrative Investigations Program at .

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.

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.

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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.

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