Department of Commerce

Electronics Technician

Gulfport, Mississippi Full time

Electronics Technician

Department: Department of Commerce

Location(s): Gulfport, Mississippi

Salary Range: $61722 - $88356 Per Year

Job Summary: This position is located in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Office of Marine and Aviation Operations (OMAO), Uncrewed Systems Operations Center, with three vacancies in Gulfport, MS. This position is also announced under vacancy number OMAO-26-12949160-ST, which is open to Status Candidates. You must apply to both announcements if you want to be considered for both.

Major Duties:

  • As an Electronic Technician, you will perform the following duties: Provide support to enhance utilization and maximize transition of Uncrewed Marine Systems (UMS) research to operations and applications. Provide technical support in measurement science, instrumentation design, development, repair, and testing to include instrument calibration, modification, and operation. Plan and maintain uncrewed (i.e. unmanned or autonomous) systems in support of scientific projects. Determine equipment status and performance while underway and repair all failed equipment. Ensure calibration or service of uncrewed platform sensors and equipment to meet mission schedule. Contribute to the oversight of UMS electronics work and perform acceptance tests and quality assurance procedures. Prepare technical documents, drawing, and maintenance plans on all systems. Participate in regular information planning sessions and maintain productive interaction with the staff. Make recommendations to management and report on the status and progress of work accomplished to date and monitor work in progress. Participate in training uncrewed (i.e. unmanned or autonomous) training programs. Throughout the recruitment and hiring process we will be communicating with you via email; therefore, it is imperative that the email address you provide when applying for this vacancy remains active. Should your email address change, please notify the point of contact identified in the vacancy announcement as soon as possible so that we can update our system. CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT: Position requires ability to operate and pilot uncrewed systems aboard National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) vessels and/or from Over-The-Horizon control centers. This position requires travel (away from Gulfport, MS) for indefinite periods as required by the needs the Uncrewed Marine Systems Division. Position may require operating a small boat for field work; may be at sea for several days, weeks or months; may be exposed to weather over long, odd hours, lifting and moving heavy equipment or biological samples many times throughout the day, on an unsteady platform depending on sea state. This position requires the operation of a Federal motor vehicle. Position requires driving a government vehicle for field work, movement of equipment and/or supplies between buildings, acquisition of supplies, or meetings at other locations. Must be able to obtain and maintain a valid state driver's license to operate a government vehicle. PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: This position has physical requirements. Must be able to frequently bend, lift, and stoop to perform field work.

Qualifications: Qualification requirements in the vacancy announcements are based on the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards Handbook, which contains federal qualification standards. This handbook is available on the Office of Personnel Management's website located at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/ EDUCATION: There is no positive education requirement for this position. SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to the next lower grade level in the Federal Service. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular competencies/knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. This experience need not have been in the federal government. 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. To qualify at the ZT-3 or GS-09 level: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the ZT-2 or GS-08 in the Federal service. Specialized experience MUST include all of the following: Assisting with maintaining electronic systems or equipment for uncrewed (i.e. unmanned or autonomous) systems; and Participating in analyzing and evaluating electronic systems or equipment of uncrewed (i.e. unmanned or autonomous) systems to ensure proper working conditions. OR SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION: Two full years of graduate education or a master's degree in electrical engineering, electronics engineering, or electronics technology. OR COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: A combination of education and experience as described above. Note: Only graduate education in excess of one year is qualifying for combination.

How to Apply: Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply and be considered for this position, you must complete all required questionnaires, assessments and submit all required documentation as specified in the How to Apply and Required Documents section. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration. The application process is as follows: Click the blue "Apply Online" button. If you are not a registered USAJOBS user, please create a new account and follow the instructions to complete your application process. If you are a registered user, login to access your existing USAJOBS profile. As a registered user, select a stored resume and select one or more of your stored documents to attach to your application. Check the "Certification" box and click the "Apply for this position now!" button located at the bottom of the screen. Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all necessary supporting documentation. Click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59 PM (ET) on the announcement closing date. If you experience technical difficulties during the online application process, please contact the USAJOBS helpdesk Visit the USA Hire Applicant Resource Center for practice assessments and assessment preparation resources at https://support-usahire.opm.gov/hc/en-us. To update your application, including supporting documentation: During the announcement open period, return to your USAJOBS account, find your application record, and click Edit my application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed.

Application Deadline: 2026-05-07