Engineering Technician

at Army Test and Evaluation, Yuma Proving Ground in Yuma, Arizona, United States

Job Description

The United States Army Test and Evaluation Command is posting this advertisement to fill a current vacancy. The chosen candidate will serve as an Engineering Technician supporting the Ammunition & Armaments Division, Ammunition Prep Team at Yuma Proving Ground, Yuma, AZ. A selection will be made soon after the closing date. Selection of this position is permanent and will be made at the GS-10 grade level.

Serves as an Engineering Technician responsible for planning, coordinating, monitoring, and performing activities associated with complete test and evaluation projects in the primary area of propellants, pyrotechnics, explosives, ammunition and explosive devices during development, production, and postproduction phases. Work is of a broad scope and complexity and requires application of demonstrated ability to interpret, select, adapt, and apply many guidelines, precedents, and engineering principles and practices which relate to the area of specialization and some knowledge of related scientific and engineering fields.

As an Engineer Technician, you will:

• Determines physical security requirements, and data handling security requirements, and ensures that proper controls are in place.
• Maintains and operates Ammunition Peculiar Equipment (APE), conducts explosives operations, and ensures closed-loop ammunition control requirements are met.
• Properly controls ammunition preparation range residue and ensures environmental controls are in place and used. Maintains necessary valid licenses and certificates.
• Develops ammunition preparation schedules to ensure test program milestones are met.
• Provides specialized equipment and technical guidance, monitors program and coordinates individual and team activities to ensure timely feedback of evaluation determinations and results to augment and validate ammunition preparation phases.
• Custom loads or experimentally modifies explosives and/or ammunition test items to include a wide variety of standard, experimental, and foreign ammunition.
• Blends various types of experimental and standard high explosive and inert fillers to meet specific test requirements.
• Utilize engineering drawings, radiographs, hand sketches and other technical information to modify ammunition and explosive devices, remote controlled and directly operated machinery to assemble, disassemble, and modify ammunition and explosives.
• Examples include pulling projectiles from cases during disassembly; loading propellant, crimping projectiles in cases and verifying proper projectile alignment during ammunition assembly; and porting combustible cartridge cases.
• Modifies artillery and rocket fuses to change their function and capabilities.
• Inspects all operating and storage areas to ensure quality control is met and maintained during assembly, disassembly, modification and all phases of ammunition preparation.
• Segregates unserviceable ammunition and explosives components and residue from loading plants and service magazines and prepares documentation for appropriate demil or disposal.
• Responsible for assuring compliance with requirements related to receiving, labeling, marking, handling, storing, packaging, inventory and record keeping of unserviceable items held pending disposition.
• Performs mandated inspections of areas where unserviceable ammunition is held to ensure items are properly identified in accordance with established ammunition, explosives safety and environmental standards.
• Performs operator maintenance on all tools, equipment, hardware and machines before and after use to ensure the serviceability of the equipment.
• Operates gasoline or diesel-powered vehicles with a gross vehicle weight up to and including 26,000 pounds for the movement of ammunition, dunnage, equipment, and supplies to on-installation locations as needed.
• Operates diesel and electric powered forklifts up to 10,000 pounds for the loading, unloading and placement of ammunition, equipment and supplies in support of Ammunition Preparation Branch operations.