TABLE OF CONTENTS

[Pages:69]Technical Work in the Engineering and Architecture Group, 0800

TABLE OF CONTENTS

May 2007

INTRODUCTION........................................................................................................................................... 2

COVERAGE ...............................................................................................................................................2 MODIFICATIONS TO OR CANCELLATIONS OF OTHER EXISTING OCCUPATIONAL SERIES AND

STANDARDS ..........................................................................................................................................3

PART I ? OCCUPATIONAL INFORMATION .................................................................................................. 4

GENERAL SERIES DETERMINATION GUIDELINES...................................................................................4 DISTINGUISHING BETWEEN TECHNICAL AND TRADE, CRAFT, OR LABOR WORK ................................5 DISTINGUISHING BETWEEN TECHNICAL AND PROFESSIONAL WORK ...................................................6 OFFICIAL TITLING PROVISIONS ..............................................................................................................7 INFORMATION BY SERIES IN NUMBER ORDER ........................................................................................8 OCCUPATIONAL INFORMATION BY SERIES .............................................................................................9

ENGINEERING TECHNICAL, 0802.......................................................................................................9 CONSTRUCTION CONTROL TECHNICAL, 0809 ................................................................................11 SURVEY TECHNICAL, 0817...............................................................................................................12 ELECTRONICS TECHNICAL, 0856.....................................................................................................14 MARINE SURVEY TECHNICAL, 0873 ................................................................................................16 INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING TECHNICAL, 0895................................................................................17 IMPACT OF AUTOMATION......................................................................................................................19 ADDITIONAL OCCUPATIONAL CONSIDERATIONS .................................................................................20 CROSSWALK TO THE STANDARD OCCUPATIONAL CLASSIFICATION ...................................................23

PART II ? GRADING INFORMATION ......................................................................................................... 25

HOW TO USE THIS GRADING INFORMATION ........................................................................................25 GRADE CONVERSION TABLE ...........................................................................................................25

POSITION EVALUATION SUMMARY WORKSHEET.................................................................................26 FACTOR LEVEL DESCRIPTIONS (FLDS)................................................................................................27

FACTOR 1 ? KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED BY THE POSITION ................................................................27 FACTOR 2 ? SUPERVISORY CONTROLS ............................................................................................31 FACTOR 3 ? GUIDELINES..................................................................................................................33 FACTOR 4 ? COMPLEXITY................................................................................................................35 FACTOR 5 ? SCOPE AND EFFECT......................................................................................................37 FACTOR 6 ? PERSONAL CONTACTS..................................................................................................39 FACTOR 7 ? PURPOSE OF CONTACTS...............................................................................................39 FACTOR 8 ? PHYSICAL DEMANDS ....................................................................................................41 FACTOR 9 ? WORK ENVIRONMENT .................................................................................................42 FACTOR ILLUSTRATIONS .......................................................................................................................43 FACTOR 1 ILLUSTRATIONS...............................................................................................................43 FACTOR 4 ILLUSTRATIONS...............................................................................................................55 FACTOR 5 ILLUSTRATIONS...............................................................................................................62

PART III ? EXPLANATORY MATERIAL .................................................................................................... 66

U.S. Office of Personnel Management

1

Technical Work in the Engineering and Architecture Group, 0800

May 2007

INTRODUCTION

This job family standard (JFS) provides series definitions, titling instructions, and grading criteria for nonsupervisory technical positions in the Engineering and Architecture Group, 0800, for General Schedule (GS) and other "white collar" pay plans. In the General Schedule position classification system established under chapter 51 of title 5, United States Code, the positions addressed here would be one-grade interval positions.

This JFS is divided into three parts. Part I contains occupational information applicable to Federal work covered by the JFS without regard to pay plan or classification system. Part II provides the grading criteria for positions classified in accordance with GS grade definitions. Part III includes explanatory material about the development of this JFS.

The term "General Schedule" or "GS" denotes the major position classification system and pay structure for white collar work in the Federal government. Agencies no longer subject to chapter 51 have replaced the GS pay plan indicator with agency-unique pay plan indicators. For that reason, reference to General Schedule or GS has been omitted from much of this JFS.

Coverage

This job family standard covers the following occupational series:

Series

Engineering Technical 0802 Construction Control Technical 0809

Survey Technical 0817

Series

Electronics Technical 0856 Marine Survey Technical 0873 Industrial Engineering Technical 0895

U.S. Office of Personnel Management

2

Technical Work in the Engineering and Architecture Group, 0800

May 2007

Modifications to or Cancellations of Other Existing Occupational Series and Standards

Issuance of this JFS renames, supersedes, or cancels occupational series and classification standards as described in the following table.

Previous Series or Guidance Engineering Technician 0802

Construction Control 0809 Surveying Technician 0817 Engineering Drafting 0818

Electronics Technician 0856

Ship Surveying

Industrial Engineering Technician

0873 0895

Action Taken / How to Classify Work Previously Covered ? Supersedes this classification standard, last revised in June 1969. ? Renames this series, Engineering Technical, 0802.

? Supersedes this classification standard, last revised in February 1969. ? Renames this series, Construction Control Technical, 0809.

? Supersedes this classification standard, last revised in October 1970. ? Renames this series, Survey Technical, 0817.

? Cancels this series. ? Cancels this classification standard, last revised in April 1971. ? Classify work previously covered by this series to the Engineering

Technical Series, 0802.

? Supersedes this classification standard, last revised in August 1966. ? Renames this series, Electronics Technical, 0856. ? Cancels the application of the Department of Transportation (DOT)

Position Classification Guide for Electronics Technician Positions, GS-0856, dated December 1972 and revised in 1984, to evaluate positions covered by the Electronics Technical Series, 0856.

? Renames this series, Marine Survey Technical, 0873.

? Supersedes this classification standard, last revised in April 1966. ? Renames this series, Industrial Engineering Technical, 0895.

U.S. Office of Personnel Management

3

Technical Work in the Engineering and Architecture Group, 0800

May 2007

PART I ? OCCUPATIONAL INFORMATION

Part I is intended for use by all agencies in evaluating technical positions in the Engineering and Architecture Group, 0800. It provides series definitions, titling instructions, and detailed occupational information for this job family.

General Series Determination Guidelines

Selection of the correct series for a position is an essential part of the entire human resources management process for a variety of reasons. For example, qualification requirements used in recruiting are based on the series of the position; career ladders are influenced by the series; and organizational structure is often designed with consideration of the series of assigned positions.

Determining the correct series for a position is usually apparent by reviewing the assigned duties and responsibilities and then comparing them to the series definitions and general occupational information the job family standard (JFS) provides. Generally, the series determination for a position is based on the primary work of the position, the highest level of work performed, and the paramount knowledge required to do the work of the position. Normally, it is fairly easy to make this decision. However, in other instances, determining the correct series may not be as obvious.

Use the following guidelines to determine the predominant series when the work of a position matches more than one job family or occupational group. Also, when the work of a position falls into more than one series within this job family, it may be difficult to determine which particular series predominates. Apply the guidelines below in the order listed to determine the correct series.

? Paramount knowledge required. Although there may be several different kinds of work in the position, most positions will have a paramount knowledge requirement. The paramount knowledge is the most important type of subject matter knowledge or experience required to do the work.

? Reason for the position's existence. The primary purpose of the position or management's intent in establishing the position is a positive indicator for determining the appropriate series.

? Organizational mission and/or function. Positions generally align with the mission and function of the organization to which they are assigned. The organization's function is often mirrored in the organizational title and may influence the appropriate series.

? Recruitment source. Supervisors and managers can help by identifying the occupational series providing the best qualified applicants to do the work. This is closely related to the paramount knowledge required.

Although the work of some positions may require applying practical engineering or related knowledge and skills, classification as technical positions in the Engineering and Architecture Group, 0800, may not be appropriate. The Additional Classification Considerations section of this JFS provides examples where the work may involve applying related knowledge and skills, but not to the extent it warrants classification to this job family.

Additional information may be found in The Classifier's Handbook.

U.S. Office of Personnel Management

4

Technical Work in the Engineering and Architecture Group, 0800

May 2007

Distinguishing Between Technical and Trade, Craft, or Labor Work

Determining the appropriate occupational category is one of the first decisions to make when classifying a position. This decision is based on the position description or other official record of duties and responsibilities assigned to a position or group of positions. To fully understand the position it is important to consider such factors as the position's primary duty or responsibility, its primary purpose or reason for existence, relationship to other positions, the mission and responsibility of the organization in which it is located, and the essential, requisite qualifications required to do the work.

Technical Work Involves:

Trade, Craft, or Labor Work Involves:

? developing and designing test and repair equipment, analyzing repair practices, or developing procedural instructions on methods and steps of equipment repairs;

? developing maintenance standards and procedures, testing and evaluating new or modified systems, or analyzing the compatibility of interlocking components and systems;

? planning and directing the installation of complex systems and associated facilities, particularly where there are problems of site selection and construction;

? designing and analyzing circuits, determining feasibility of these designs, evaluating equipment performance under varying environmental conditions, collecting data, or designing or modifying designs to achieve performance and cost objectives; and

? developing or evaluating new or modified systems or monitoring frequency emissions by licensed stations.

? repairing systems and equipment to include detecting and diagnosing malfunctions, tearing down equipment, repairing or replacing parts or components, or aligning, calibrating and testing the modified or repaired equipment;

? performing preventive and corrective maintenance to keep equipment and systems in reliable condition;

? installing equipment in accordance with plans, specifications, and detailed instructions, or reinstalling repaired or modified systems;

? fabricating electronic equipment in accordance with plans, specifications, and instructions including constructing, assembling, arranging, mounting, or wiring electronic parts and components; and

? making measurements to diagnose malfunctions to ensure equipment operates within prescribed standards.

Additional information on distinguishing between technical and trade, craft, or labor work can be found in the Introduction to the Electronic Equipment Installation and Maintenance Family, 2600.

U.S. Office of Personnel Management

5

Technical Work in the Engineering and Architecture Group, 0800

May 2007

Distinguishing Between Technical and Professional Work

It is important to determine whether a position is comprised of technical or professional work. It is not always easy to differentiate between the two because some tasks are common to both. The developmental work of professional positions and the demanding work of high level technical positions are sometimes similar. Typical distinctions between technician and professional engineering and architecture work follow.

Technical Work Involves:

Professional Work Involves:

? using recurring methods, standardized procedures, and established processes for a specialized engineering field;

? applying knowledge acquired through practical experience and on-the-job activities in the recognized processes, standards, methods, and their corresponding engineering principles and results;

? understanding and applying predetermined procedures, methods, and standardized practices or approaches in a specialized field of engineering;

? carrying out tasks, methods, procedures, and computations based on oral instructions and/or precedents, guidelines, and standards;

? collecting, observing, testing, and recording factual engineering data within the oversight and management of professional employees;

? foreseeing the effects of procedural changes or appraising the validity of results on the basis of experience and practical reasoning; and

? staying abreast of existing and new practical methods and applications through on-the-job and classroom training.

? creating, exploring, evaluating, and sharing solutions for engineering or architectural problems, conditions, and issues;

? applying a range and depth of knowledge acquired specifically through an intensive learning regimen of the phenomena, theories, and assumptions of an engineering or architectural body of knowledge;

? understanding theories, concepts, and principles, and their relationships underlying the practices of engineering or architecture;

? identifying, analyzing, advising, consulting, and reporting on scientific, theoretical, and factual data, conditions, and problems;

? assessing, resolving, and predicting the relationships and interactions of data and findings under varying conditions;

? reasoning from existing knowledge and assumptions in a professional field to unexplored areas and phenomena; and

? staying abreast of and evaluating scientific subjects, analyses, and proposals in professional literature.

U.S. Office of Personnel Management

6

Technical Work in the Engineering and Architecture Group, 0800

May 2007

Official Titling Provisions

Title 5, United States Code, requires the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to establish the authorized official position titles. These include a basic title (e.g., Industrial Engineering Technician) and may be appended with one or more prefixes and/or suffixes. Agencies must use the official position titles for human resources management, budget, and fiscal purposes. Instructions for assigning official position titles are provided in this section.

Supervisors and Leaders ? Add the prefix "Supervisory" to the basic title when the agency classifies the position as supervisory. If the position

is covered by the General Schedule refer to the General Schedule Supervisory Guide for additional titling and grading information.

? Add the prefix "Lead" to the basic title when the agency classifies the position as leader. If the position is covered by the General Schedule refer to the General Schedule Leader Grade Evaluation Guide for additional titling and grading information.

Parenthetical Titles In this JFS only one series, Engineering Technician, 0802, has a prescribed parenthetical title. For other series in this standard, agencies may supplement the titles authorized in this standard with agency-established parenthetical titles if necessary for recruitment or other human resources needs.

Organizational Titles Organizational and functional titles do not replace, but rather complement, official position titles. Agencies may establish organizational and functional titles for internal administration, public convenience, program management, or similar purposes. Examples of organizational titles are Branch Chief and Division Chief. Examples of functional titles are Chief of Operations and Chief of Policy Development. BACK TO TABLE OF CONTENTS

U.S. Office of Personnel Management

7

Technical Work in the Engineering and Architecture Group, 0800

May 2007

INFORMATION BY SERIES IN NUMBER ORDER

Engineering Technical, 0802 ? Series Definition ? Titling ? Occupational Information

Construction Control Technical, 0809 ? Series Definition ? Titling ? Occupational Information

Survey Technical, 0817 ? Series Definition ? Titling ? Occupational Information

Electronics Technical, 0856 ? Series Definition ? Titling ? Occupational Information

Marine Survey Technical, 0873 ? Series Definition ? Titling ? Occupational Information

Industrial Engineering Technical, 0895 ? Series Definition ? Titling ? Occupational Information

U.S. Office of Personnel Management

8

 ................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download