PATHWAYS STUDENT INTERN (Civil Engineer) - Federal Highway Administration

Summary This is a Student Internship position under the Pathways Internship Program. To qualify for this Internship, you MUST be a continuing student enrolled or accepted for enrollment for the current/upcoming semesters for the duration of the internship as a condition of employment, taking at least a half-time course load. You will be required to provide documentation to support eligibility. Students may be employed throughout the academic year. Responsibilities Are you ready to start your career in a Federal Agency that consistently ranks high as a best place to work? Do you want to make a difference designing and overseeing construction of roads, bridges, and trails in National Parks, Forests, Wildlife Refuges, and Recreation Areas? Since the early 1900's our mission at the Office of Federal Lands Highway (FLH) of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has been to build safe, reliable, equitable, and resilient access to our Nation's treasures! Our partners rely upon us to solve and manage unique program and project challenges that are wide-ranging in environment, geography, and complexity, through engineering solutions that are sensitive to the context of the land. For more information, visit https://highways.dot.gov/federal-lands/careers. Western Federal Lands Highway Division #WeWorkWhereYouPlay! These internships are headquartered in a FHWA Western Federal Lands Highway Division (WFLHD) office. Assignments may be performed at any of the WFLHD projects located in the Western states. The ideal candidates are current students pursuing a degree in Civil Engineering or a related field (Construction Engineering Management, Geomatics, etc.) and has a desire to learn about the various aspects of highway engineering including design and construction of highways, trails, and bridges. The Pathways Student Trainee (Civil Engineering) will intern in support of the development, acquisition, construction, or post construction phases of projects. Duties will vary depending on summer assignment. Most interns will be assigned to the construction branch, but some may be assigned to an engineering discipline in one of the additional areas noted below. The Pathways Student Trainee (Civil Engineering) will intern in one of the following areas: Construction Inspect and test assignments on construction projects. Perform field sampling and test construction materials. Participate in partner meetings. Serve as an instrument operator or rodman on construction survey of projects or monitor contractor stakeout, including staking of centerline, slope staking, drainage staking, structural staking, and setting of grade stakes. Compute and balance quantities. Highway Design Prepare roadway plans and quantity calculations, title sheets, plan profile sheets, alignment layout, supplementary drawings, earthwork calculations, and pipe and box culvert structure detailing. Compute curves and traverses. Assemble plans, specifications, and estimate (PS&E) documents. Perform basic drafting. Materials Log in samples, prepare samples for testing, monitor testing procedures, and record data of materials such as concrete, soils, asphalt, and roadway aggregates. Visually inspect materials and determine sizes to be crushed; lift and handle samples; observe and operate sieve shakers. Retrieve and compile data. Research past mix designs and compile comparison data. Survey Assist survey crew. Perform basic engineering computations using formulas, hand held calculators, and electronic survey equipment. Serve as instrument operator and/or target cube holder on construction survey and/or engineering stakeout of project or assist in monitoring contract stakeout. Planning and Programming Collect and assemble data. Assist in preparing damage site assessments and reports for Emergency Relief projects. Prepare environmental compliance documentation. Prepare agreements for projects. Bridge Design, Management, and Inspection Prepare project specifications and perform design and quality check on PS&E packages. Prepare field assessments, gather information, and perform preliminary scoping of projects. Compile structural analysis and design of concrete, steel, or timber bridge components. Use Microstation CADD to prepare bridge plan sheets. Perform calculations of quantities and basic engineering calculations. Operate bridge inspection equipment, take and record data, develop sketches and prepare required reports. Perform structures inventory and evaluate data. Hydraulics Perform Hydrologic and Hydraulic design calculations. Assist in developing drainage design and Storm Water Management Plans. Prepare technical reports and cost estimates. Prepare project specifications and review of PS&E packages. Gather project site information, inspect construction, confirm post-construction BMP installation, or identify assets. Review and summarize permits or correspondence from regulatory agencies. Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen and meet the requirements of the program. You must be at least 16 years of age Required documents must be submitted by the closing date. Submit application and resume online by 11:59 PM EST on the closing date PATHWAYS ELIGIBILITY - To be eligible for appointment to a position in the DOT Internship Program, throughout the duration of the appointment, an individual must: Be accepted for enrollment or enrolled and seeking a degree or certificate in a qualifying educational institution on a half to full-time basis (as determined by the educational institution). Be seeking a degree that is relevant to this position. Be able to work at least 16 hours per week, depending on your academic schedule, and preferably full-time during the summer. Grade qualifications must be met prior to start date. If selected you: Must sign a Pathways Internship Program Participant Agreement; May be employed throughout the academic year; Must maintain status as a current student; Must maintain good academic standing, at least a 2.5 cumulative GPA on a 4.0 grading scale. Must furnish course registration information at the start of each school term; and Must provide verification of academic status (transcript) at the end of each academic term. For more information on the Pathways Program, please visit: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/hiring-information/students-recent-graduates/#url=Program-Fact-Sheets CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT: UNITED STATES CITIZENSHIP: Must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this position. SELECTIVE SERVICE: Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for the Selective Service. BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION: You will be required to complete a background/security investigation and meet preliminary requirements prior to onboarding. DECLARATION FOR FEDERAL EMPLOYMENT: Selectee is required to complete a Declaration for Federal Employment (OF-306) to determine suitability for federal employment. TRIAL PERIOD: The intern is in a trial period throughout the entire Pathways Internship appointment. GOVERNMENT TRAVEL CARD: A government contractor-issued travel card will be issued and must be retained for official business only. DRIVER'S LICENSE: Applicants are required to possess and maintain a valid, State-issued Driver's license and a safe driving record. WORK SCHEDULE: Full Time / Part Time. Some assignments will require varied schedules, i.e. weekends, evenings and night work. Schedules may be full-time during the summer, and part-time flexible, or Leave without Pay, during the school year (based on agency needs). Pathways intern hours worked cannot interfere with academic studies. Qualifications Please be sure that you have read and meet the Pathways program requirements under the Requirements section. Then, to further meet the minimum qualifications for this position, review the following education requirements and grade specific requirements to determine full eligibility before applying: MANDATORY EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS: Applicants must be pursuing a degree in professional engineering. To be acceptable, the curriculum must (1) be in a school of engineering with at least one curriculum accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) as a professional engineering curriculum; 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. You then must meet the education requirements for each grade which you are requesting consideration for: GS-02: Completion of high school or GED diploma. GS-03: Completion of one academic year of post-high school study. GS-04: Completion of two academic years of post-high school study or associate's degree. GS-05: Completion of four academic years of post-high school study leading to a bachelor's degree or equivalent degree. GS-07: Completion of one academic year of graduate level education; OR eligibility under the Superior Academic Achievement* provision, as defined in the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Operating Manual for Qualification Standards, and completion of a bachelor's degree. *Superior Academic Achievement for GS-07 eligibility option: (Bachelor's degree) - In the upper one-third of graduating class; OR a GPA of 3.0 or higher out of 4.0, as recorded on official transcript, or based on courses completed during final 2 years of curriculum; OR a GPA of 3.5 or higher out of 4.0, based on average of required courses completed in major or required courses in major completed during the final 2 years of curriculum. Academic Year Clarification: At the undergraduate level, 30 semester hours or 45 quarter hours is comparable to 1 year of undergraduate education. When academic credit is expressed in units or other terms that differ from conventional semester or quarter hours, it is the responsibility of the applicant to provide an interpretation of such credits from the institution. At the graduate level (above a Bachelor's degree), one year of full-time graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent 1 year of full-time study. If that information cannot be obtained from the school, 18 semester hours should be considered as satisfying the 1 year of full time study requirement for GS-07. When academic credit is expressed in units or other terms that differ from conventional semester or quarter hours, it is the responsibility of the applicant to provide an interpretation of such credits from the institution. You may use 2024 in-progress semester/quarter hours to qualify for a higher grade level. Qualifications will be determined based on completed and in-progress hours stated on your unofficial transcript submitted at the time of application. To be qualifying, you must successfully complete and receive credit for the courses and provide an updated official transcript before you enter on duty. KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs): Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following areas: Oral Communication - Makes clear and convincing oral presentations. Listens effectively; clarifies information as needed. Written Communication - Writes in a clear, concise, organized, and convincing manner for the intended audience. Computer Skills - Uses computers, software applications, databases, and automated systems to accomplish work. 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). 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. For additional information about applying to Federal Pathways Internship Positions, please click on the following link: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/#url=GS-PIP Applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the start of the internship. Education Refer to the Qualifications section for Mandatory Education Requirements specific to this series, and the Requirements section for information pertaining to the Pathways Internship Program. Additional Information PLEASE NOTE: This announcement establishes an open continuous (approx. 6 months) vacancy announcement for Student Trainee (Civil Engineer), GS-0899-2/3/4/5/7. Given our continuing need for Interns, we will routinely review applications and refer the top candidates for potential interviews during the open period of the announcement. Review and referral of applications will be completed on an as needed basis with the initial review occurring within the two weeks after 10/21/2024. This is an Excepted Service Appointment. This is an Excepted Service appointment. As a part of the Pathways Internship Program, the appointment may be extended until the selectee's educational program requirements have been completed. The student intern may be converted, without a break in service to a term (time-limited) or permanent appointment upon graduation, to a position that has a career ladder targeted up to the GS-12, provided they are a US citizen who has worked at least 640 hours in an appropriate program and receive a favorable recommendation from the supervisor for retention. There is no guarantee of a permanent position following this internship. The selectee is on a trial period while on a Pathways Internship appointment. Additional Conditions of Employment: WORKING CONDITIONS: Fieldwork is accomplished at the project site where you may be exposed to high noise levels, hazardous chemicals, and varying weather terrain conditions. And, regular and recurring exposure to outdoor conditions involving moderate exposure to rain, snow, cold/hot weather, icy streams, and rivers. Field office work is accomplished in an office setting, typically a trailer type building on or near the project location. PHYSICAL DEMANDS: While performing outdoor fieldwork, walking and climbing in varying types of terrain and some lifting of items, up to 60 pounds, may be necessary. TELEWORK ELIGIBILITY: This position may be eligible for occasional and/or regularly scheduled telework. The number of telework days approved will be determined by your immediate supervisor or manager following the agency's telework policy and guidance. If participating in the telework program, you will be required to sign a telework agreement detailing agency telework policy requirements, working conditions, and expectations for the position. This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if similar vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificate. The Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act prohibits the Department of Transportation and its Operating Administrations from requesting an applicant's criminal history record before that individual receives a conditional offer of employment. In accordance with 5 U.S. Code § 9202(c) and 5 C.F.R § 920.201 certain positions are exempt from the provisions of the Fair Chance to Compete Act. Applicants who believe they have been subjected to a violation of the Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act, may submit a written complaint to the Department of Transportation by email at, FairChanceAct@dot.gov. To learn more, please visit our page at: The Fair Chance to Compete Act | US Department of Transportation