As an Operational Support professional, you will use skills to create the systems and tools that will be used to enhance the operation of intelligence. You will advise, administer and perform scientific projects, such as planning, designing, and constructing specialized equipment, and ensuring adherence to sound engineering and scientific standards and principles. In addition, we are seeking skills that include computer design, microelectronics, radio frequency design, and systems engineering.
Learn more about this agency
The NSA currently has opportunities for highly motivated Mechanical Design Engineers to support design, analysis and fabrication of mechanical hardware and equipment in response to limited quantity, short-duration, prototype requirements.
As a Mechanical Design Engineer at NSA, responsibilities may include:
- Design custom parts, mechanisms and equipment.
- Perform engineering calculations.
- Analyze problems to determine technical solutions.
- Decide what procedures will be required to solve technical problems. - Develop conceptual designs or models to address requirements.
- Use modeling or simulation software to evaluate designs.
- Perform engineering analyses and testing of products/parts/equipment.
- Use Computer Aided Design (CAD) software and Computer Aided Engineering (CAE) (thermal/stress/vibration analysis tools) to produce design drawings and to validate and support engineering design activities.
- Identify new and existing products, technologies, and/or manufacturing techniques to solve design, development, and operational problems.
- Develop engineering test plans to evaluate designs in real-world environment prior to operational use.
- Modify or adapt products, services, and support to meet customer needs.
- Provide timely and accurate responses to customer requests for assistance, information, products, or services.
- Work with customers to clarify their needs and to determine how their needs can be met expeditiously
. - Work on teams with engineers and fabricators of various disciplines and levels to meet customer mission needs.
Work is in a very fast paced office which requires employees to work on multiple projects simultaneously with quick turn-around schedules.
When submitting your application, please ensure that you fully populate all sections of the resume tool with all relevant skills, experience, and education, as the resume entered into the tool will be the primary resume used to evaluate your application.
Please do NOT populate the resume tool with 'see resume.' Please attach an unofficial copy of your transcripts from all schools attended when applying for this position. Providing a copy of your transcripts is especially critical to ensure the position's coursework obligations have been met.
- All applicants and employees are subject to random drug testing in accordance with Executive Order 12564.
ENTRY/DEVELOPMENTAL
Entry is with a Bachelor's degree and no experience.
FULL PERFORMANCE With a degree in Mechanical Engineering, entry is with a Bachelor's degree plus 3 years of relevant experience, or a Master's degree plus 1 year of relevant experience, or Doctoral degree and no experience.
OR
With a degree in a related field (for example, Construction Engineering, General Engineering, Architectural Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, Electronics, Chemistry, Architecture, Mathematics, Hydrology, and Geology) entry is with a Bachelor's degree plus 4 years of relevant experience, or a Master's degree plus 2 years of relevant experience, or a Doctoral degree plus 1 year of relevant experience.
Relevant experience must be in one or more of the following: Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning (HVAC) Systems (for example, heating, cooling, refrigeration, ductwork, piping systems, energy management controls, building management systems, mechanical codes, and indoor air quality standards), Project Management (for example, reading design drawings and facilities design), or Mechanical Design Engineering (for example, rapid prototyping process, thermal design and ventilation, tolerancing, properties/mechanics of materials, heat transfer, release agents, electronics, weight transfer, metallurgy), using 2D or 3D Computer Aided Design and Drafting (CAD) tools, or Industrial Control Systems (ICS).
The qualifications listed are the minimum acceptable to be considered for the position.
Degree must be in Mechanical Engineering or a related field (for example, Construction Engineering, General Engineering, Architectural Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, Electronics, Chemistry, Architecture, Mathematics, Hydrology, and Geology).
If program is not ABET accredited, it must include specified coursework.*
- Specified coursework includes courses in differential and integral calculus and 5 of the following 18 areas: (a) statics or dynamics, (b) strength of materials/stress-strain relationships, (c) fluid mechanics, hydraulics, (d) thermodynamics, (e) electromagnetic fields, (f) nature and properties of materials/relating particle and aggregate structure to properties, (g) solid state electronics, (h) microprocessor applications, (i), computer systems, (j) signal processing, (k) digital design, (l) systems and control theory, (m) circuits or generalized circuits, (n) communication systems, (o) power systems, (p) computer networks, (q) software development, (r) Any other comparable area of fundamental engineering science or physics, such as optics, heat transfer, or soil mechanics.
Pay: Salary offers are based on candidates' education level and years of experience relevant to the position and also take into account information provided by the hiring manager/organization regarding the work level for the position.
Salary Range: $87,362 - $153,082 (Entry/Developmental,
Full Performance) Salary range varies by location, work level, and relevant experience to the position. Training will be provided based on the selectee's needs and experience.
Benefits: NSA offers a comprehensive benefits package.
Work Schedule:This is a full-time position, Monday - Friday, with basic 8hr/day work requirement between 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. (flexible).
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.
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.
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
The ideal candidate is extremely creative and has a desire for continual learning, along with excellent problem solving, analytic, and interpersonal skills. Customer service skills are a must.
Additional knowledge and experience in one or more of the following areas is desired: - Concepts, theories, and methods for designing and analyzing mechanical systems, structural assemblies, components, accessories, mechanisms and tools.
- Finite Element Analysis (FEA) and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) tools to analyze designs and provide operational solutions.
- Additive Manufacturing, 3D Printing, and Rapid Prototyping technologies
- Injection Mold Design and Manufacturing.
- Composite Mold Design and Ply Schedule Optimization.
- Material identification and selection (plastics, composites and/or metals)
- Mechanical Reverse Engineering techniques and Metrology
When submitting your application, please ensure that you fully populate all sections of the resume tool with all relevant skills, experience, and education, as the resume entered into the tool will be the primary resume used to evaluate your application.
Please do NOT populate the resume tool with 'see resume.' Please attach an unofficial copy of your transcripts from all schools attended when applying for this position. Providing a copy of your transcripts is especially critical to ensure the position's coursework obligations have been met.
The National Security Agency (NSA) is part of the DoD Intelligence Community Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System (DCIPS). All positions in the NSA are in the Excepted Services under 10 United States Codes (USC) 1601 appointment authority. DoD Components with DCIPS positions apply Veterans' Preference to eligible candidates as defined by Section 2108 of Title 5 USC, in accordance with the procedures provided in DoD Instruction 1400.25, Volume 2005, DCIPS Employment and Placement. If you are a veteran claiming veterans' preference, as defined by Section 2108 of Title 5 U.S.C., you may be asked to submit documents verifying your eligibility.
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
