Electronics Technical Series, 0856

Individual Occupational Requirements

Series Definition:

This series covers technical positions supervising, leading, or performing work involving applying:

• knowledge of the techniques and theories characteristic of electronics, such as a knowledge of basic electricity and electronic theory, algebra, and elementary physics;
• knowledge of electronic equipment design, development, evaluation, testing, installation, and maintenance; and
• knowledge of the capabilities, limitations, operations, design, characteristics, and functional use of a variety of types and models of electronic equipment and systems related to, but less than, a full professional knowledge of electronic engineering.

Electronics technicians may have gained experience assisting in work situations including:

Maintenance - Developing maintenance standards and procedures for use by others. Analyzing repair practices and developing procedural instructions for use by others on methods and steps to repair equipment.

Installation - Planning and directing the installation of complex systems and associated facilities, particularly where there are site selection and construction problems, dealings with contractors and public utilities, and the possible need to modify equipment for novel site characteristics.

Fabrication - Designing and analyzing circuits, determining design feasibility, evaluating equipment performance under varying environmental conditions, and collecting performance data. Designing or modifying designs to achieve performance and cost objectives. Evaluating the adequacy of equipment for such purposes as repair, calibration, and testing.

Testing and Evaluation/Research and Development - Developing or evaluating new or modified electronic systems. Completing testing, evaluating data, and determining acceptability of equipment modifications, validity, test procedures and data, or legality of operation. Technicians support professional engineers in performing experiments, research, and developmental activities requiring an in-depth knowledge of technical engineering methods, applications, practices, and principles to work on concepts, prototypes, and experimental projects that are without precedent and support state-of-the-art research.

Sustainment - Developing, performing, evaluating, or modifying calibration and test equipment, systems, and procedures. Reporting, analyzing, and archiving test data. Performing complex calculations and manipulations of test data to improve performance of systems, instrumentation, measurement standards, techniques, and procedures.

Troubleshooting - Analyzing and diagnosing faults in the operational configuration of electronic systems and equipment. Interpreting circuit wiring, logic cable diagrams, drawings, specifications, and schematics of complete systems and equipment to understand the function and interconnections of the various assemblies and troubleshoot the system.

Specialized Experience (for positions at GS-4 or equivalent and above):

Some examples of qualifying specialized experience include:

• Work as a technician, instructor, inspector, or mechanic (civilian or military) that showed progression in theoretical and practical knowledge of electronic theory, and of the characteristics, function, operation, and capabilities of a variety of types of electronic equipment. This experience must have included the use of schematic diagrams, a variety of test equipment, and the application of appropriate electronic formulas involved in such duties as testing, troubleshooting, modifying, designing, calibrating, installing, maintaining, repairing, constructing, developing, and instructing on electronic equipment, or similar functions.
• Experience in developing policies, standards, and procedures for maintenance, installation, or similar functions, provided the work clearly shows that the applicant applied a specialized knowledge of the theories and principles of a variety of electronic systems or equipment.

OR

Education and Training:

For GS-4 or equivalent: Successful completion of 2 years of study that included at least 12 semester hours in engineering, physical science, technology, or mathematics. At least 6 of the 12 semester hours must have been in electronics courses.

For GS-5 or equivalent: Successful completion of (a) all the requirements for a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, electronics engineering, or electronics technology, or (b) 3 years of study in an accredited (by the Accreditation Board of Engineering and Technology, Inc. (ABET) curriculum in electronics, or (c) a full 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree that included major study or at least 24 semester hours in any combination of courses such as those shown above for GS-4 or equivalent. At least 12 of the 24 semester hours must have been in electronics courses.

Alternate Standard: The Examining Guide for Electronics Mechanic (2604) should be used as the qualification standard for qualifying applicants for either competitive or noncompetitive actions when 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 meet the definition of Trade, Craft, or Labor Work (see Technical Work in the Engineering and Architecture Group 0800).

Trade, Craft, or Labor Work Involves:

• 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.

Technical 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.

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