The Architect of the Capitol, Office of Safety and Code Compliance, Fire Marshal Division is seeking a reliable and detail oriented Fire Protection Engineer to review and provide recommendations for the design, construction and/or modification of fire protection systems, equipment, assemblies for buildings under the jurisdiction of the Architect of the Capitol.
You must meet the United States Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) qualification requirements (including specialized experience and/or educational requirements) for the advertised position. You must meet all eligibility and qualifications requirements by the closing date of the job announcement. Additional information on the qualification requirements is outlined in the OPM Qualifications Standards Handbook of General Schedule Positions. It is available for your review on the OPM web site at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0800/files/all-professional-engineering-positions-0800.pdf Candidates for the GS-13 grade level must have at least 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower GS-12 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience is defined as having experience in at least 5 of the following: (1) Managing in the incorporation of fire protection engineering practices in all phases of design and construction documentation and the implementation for code adherence; (2) Ensuring the incorporation of adequate fire protection and life safety requirements are in all aspects of facility management; (3) Conducting fire safety surveys of various types of buildings. (i.e.; business, child care, industrial, assembly and historic); (4) Applying numerous fire protection codes, standards, and building codes to various types of facilities. (i.e.; business, child care, industrial, assembly and historic); (5) Developing risk assessments in accordance with the Federal Fire Safety Act; (6) Reviewing drawings and specifications for building construction and renovation to ensure compliance with current standards for fire protection and life safety; and (7) Serving as a subject matter expert for providing technical advice and guidance in the field of fire protection engineering to upper levels of management, engineers, and other personnel.
Tour of duty for the position is: Monday - Friday 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. This position requires periodic substantial periods of night and/or weekend work. Hours May Change Due To Operational Needs of Management Duties and Responsibilities: New Construction and Renovation Planning and Evaluation Manages fire protection engineering portions of major new construction and/or renovation projects and incorporates fire protection design practices into all phases of design and construction. Ensures adequate fire protection and life safety requirements are incorporated into all segments of the project. Reviews fire protection and life safety features of construction plans. Specifies and analyzes project design including a wide variety of fire protection systems for fire detection, containment, extinguishment, smoke control and evaluation. The systems involve complicated integration of fire protection, mechanical, electrical and architectural systems that must interface with facility equipment and operations. Problem Resolution Uses advanced technical knowledge of the limitations of proven concepts and practices of fire prevention/protection systems, equipment and/or hardware to correctly evaluate problem resolution alternatives or the risk associated with using or replacing a nonconforming component. Maintains technical insight into the cause and the plan of action when damaged, failed or otherwise nonconforming hardware, equipment or systems are encountered. Prepares policy development, requirements analysis and definition, technical evaluations and makes recommendations to management within the functional and/or technical area of expertise. Ascertains proper performance on completed projects, as required during the investigative portion of a project or, as assigned, performing thorough system testing in the form of airflow measurement and/or balance, heat transfer measurement, sound level testing and temperature measurement as applicable. Project Management Undertakes varied and complex project management duties in conjunction with coordinating project teams and making decisions affecting areas of responsibility that are controversial and precedent setting. Ensures proper and sufficient resource allocation by a variety of agency and contractor organizations. Reviews and critiques designs developed by associate architects and engineers and reviews the submittals from and performance of contractors, to ensure compliance with the program/project requirements and with nationally recognized and organizationally adopted codes, standards or directives as adopted by the AOC. Provides oversight and direction to associate architects and engineers performing surveys, studies, designs, etc., for the AOC. Consults with Building Superintendents and Facilities Managers for the purpose of arranging for work to be done on the equipment in the buildings and to coordinate the work schedules to maintain the highest level of fire safety while ensuring the least inconvenience possible to the occupants of the buildings. Performs field investigations, reviews preliminary design concepts, performs or reviews design calculations, reviews final working drawings, evaluates engineered products, evaluates equipment submittals and performs construction supervision and coordination as required on each assigned project. Data Analysis and Technical Guidance Makes field surveys of existing fire protection, mechanical or electrical installations when required for a specific hazard or project. Analyzes large blocks of unknown or controversial data and provides expert technical advice and guidance on unique and complex problems and issues that arise in fire prevention and protection programs. Records and reviews field data in the form of sketches, drawings, calculations or other manner for the purpose of assessing and evaluating existing or proposed fire protection systems, equipment, assemblies or buildings and their conformance to nationally recognized and organizationally adopted codes, standards or directives with jurisdictional adopted codes, specifically in the code editions adopted by the AOC. Contractor Oversight Examines plans, specifications and cost estimates for technical adequacy. Reports progress and/or problems. Directs necessary changes, resolves controversial problems, ensures consensus standards. Ability to evaluate and incorporate the latest developments in the field into the technical guidelines for which responsible.