General Engineer (Open to both U.S. Citizens and Federal Employees)
The Volpe Center seeks two General Engineers to advance national transportation safety and innovation across high-impact domains. Joining dynamic teams, candidates will drive commercial supersonic flight through sonic boom measurement, modeling, and community test planning, or accelerate U.S. rail modernization through data analytics, safety evaluations, and applying advanced technology to engineering testing and infrastructure assessments.
As a General Engineer, you will: Perform preliminary engineering assessments, data gathering, design studies, and feasibility analyses to evaluate and improve the safety, performance, and capacity of transportation systems. Assess new technologies, equipment, and systems to determine their technical feasibility, operational applicability, cost-effectiveness, and impact on system upgrades. Participate in and conduct analytical and experimental field tests, site visits, and inspections of transportation infrastructure and installed equipment. Organize, write, review, and edit detailed technical reports, design specifications, and preliminary designs outlining methods, findings, and conclusions. Develop, assess and exercise algorithms and models. The ideal candidate holds an engineering degree and thrives on solving complex transportation challenges through data-driven analysis, modeling, and rigorous technical oversight. The candidate is passionate about applying safety-first principles and advanced engineering methodologies to modernize critical infrastructure; whether shaping the future of supersonic flight through noise and test evaluations or advancing rail network safety through in-depth evaluations and advancing rail network safety through in-depth evaluations, the practical application of technology, engineering testing and modeling, and infrastructure assessments.
CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT: As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance the organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your probationary period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. SELECTIVE SERVICE: Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for the Selective Service. GOVERNMENT TRAVEL CARD: This position involves travel. A government contractor-issued travel card will be issued and must be retained for official business only. BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION: A background security investigation is required for all selected individuals. Appointment will be subject to the applicant's successful completion of the security investigation and favorable adjudication. Failure to meet these requirements will be grounds for termination. PROBATIONARY PERIOD: You must complete a one-year probationary period (unless already completed). TIME-IN-GRADE: Federal applicants must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade in the competitive or excepted service in the executive branch to satisfy time-in-grade restrictions contained in 5 CFR 300, Subpart F. DEU REQUIREMENTS: Applicants selected under delegated examining procedures may be required to successfully complete a one-year probationary period (unless already completed).