Job Details

Technical Surveillance Specialist

ATF is a law enforcement agency in the U.S. Department of Justice that protects our communities from violent criminals/criminal organizations, illegal use/trafficking of firearms, illegal use/storage of explosives, acts of arson/bombings, acts of terrorism, and illegal diversion of alcohol/tobacco products. We partner with communities, industries, law enforcement, and public safety agencies to safeguard the public through information sharing, training, research, & technology.

The positions are located in the Office of Field Operations, Chicago Field Division, Darien, IL, St. Paul Field Division, St. Paul, MN, San Francisco Field Division, San Francisco, CA, Seattle Field Division, Seattle, WA, Philadelphia Field Division, Philadelphia, PA, Atlanta Field Division, Atlanta, GA, and Louisville Field Division, Louisville, KY.

Each incumbent serves as an expert source for all technical activities related to law enforcement electronic surveillance technologies in support of ATF criminal investigations, missions and operations for his/her assigned field division. These positions also provide mission/operational support and guidance to his/her assigned field offices, field division management officials and field division senior leadership for said technologies.

NOTE: The incumbent is required to adhere to the policy and training requirements in ATF O 3260.2 Certified Technical Operator Program to remain in good standing as a Technical Surveillance Specialist.

Administratively Uncontrollable Overtime (AUO) is a category of premium pay that generally applies when you are responsible for recognizing, without supervision, circumstances that require you to remain on duty to complete specific work assignments on a routine, ongoing basis. AUO pay is a substitute form of payment for irregular, unscheduled overtime work and is paid annually instead of hourly. AUO pay is determined as a percentage, not less than 10% no more than 25%, of the rate of your annual adjusted rate of pay and is fixed by law or administrative action for the position.

Must operate a Government-owned vehicle. The position requires the incumbent to carry a cellular telephone and be on-call 24 hours a day.

Position requires moderate to heavy lifting, climbing high ladders and antenna towers, bending, crouching, etc. These activities occur over prolonged periods of time during the installation, repair, and removal of surveillance systems in field environments.

Installation, maintenance, and repair activities often take place outdoors or in isolated areas. May frequently be required to work outdoors under a variety of climatic conditions.

As a Technical Surveillance Specialist, GS-1801-13, your typical work assignments may include:

• Serves as an expert source, strategic planner, representative, coordinator, technical leadership and advisor for ATF's electronics surveillance (ES) techniques in support of ATF criminal investigations for an assigned field division.
• Designs, fabricates, acquires, assembles, modifies, tests, diagnoses, repairs, calibrates, installs/re-installs, maintains, expands, improves, and/or prepares electronic surveillance (ES) equipment in accordance with plans, specifications and instructions to meet ATF's criminal investigative mission/operational requirements for an assigned field division.
• Surveys, analyzes, and evaluates the effectiveness of ATF's specialized electronic surveillance (ES) requirements specific to ATF's criminal enforcement/operations through studies, compilation of available data, testing and evaluation of complex ES systems; monitors technology advancements and independently presents detailed observations to ATF management.
• Monitors all legislative and judicial actions which impact ATF electronic surveillance (ES) operations; evaluates investigative objectives and conducts site surveys to identify and develop written technical plans with recommendations to ensure officer safety and evidence integrity for assigned field division.
• Conducts covert installations in a variety of locations, to include high-voltage environments and directly accompanies, participates and assists authorized personnel in making court-authorized entries onto a suspect's property to install, adjust and/or recover surveillance units for an assigned field division.
• Recommends, develops, prepares, coordinates and implements: electronic surveillance (ES) operating guidance; preventative maintenance standards and schedules; technical bulletins; technical training; directions for ATF's clandestine technologies; long and short-term planning for assigned field division.

Conditions of Employment:

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• Suitable for Federal employment determined by background investigation.
• Must be registered or exempt from the Selective Service. See www.sss.gov
• May be required to serve a one year probationary period.

The time-in-grade requirement must be met by the closing date of this announcement. The qualification requirements listed below must be met by the closing date of the announcement.

This is a non-bargaining unit position.

MOBILITY PLAN: New employees hired pursuant to this vacancy announcement must sign a mobility agreement. The purpose of ATF's mobility policy is to enhance career development and progression, and achieve mission and business effectiveness. To accomplish these objectives, the mobility plan will facilitate the movement of employees through special short-term assignments or permanent reassignments throughout the Bureau. Applicants who decline to sign a mobility agreement, as required, will be removed from the hiring process.

Qualifications:

To qualify for GS-13, (starting salary is $98, 496.00) candidates must also have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level GS-12. You qualify if you possess one year of specialized experience, equivalent to the GS-12 grade level in the Federal, State, or Local government or equivalent public or private sector experience, performing the following duties:

• Performing technical electronic surveillance project/program management duties, such as: acquiring, assembling, modifying, testing, and preparing electronic surveillance (ES) equipment for installation; and
• Coordinating all technical activities related to ES technologies and operations; and Professional knowledge of and/or expertise in the theories, principles, designs, developments, practices, techniques, uses, and operation of electronic technical surveillance equipment across multiple disciplines (e.g. IP technology and applications, video management system, global positioning system (GPS), microwave technologies, cellular technologies, tactical mesh technologies | etc.); and
• Expert knowledge of electronic equipment design, development, evaluation, testing, installation, operation and maintenance; and
• Applying complex electronic surveillance investigative techniques; diagnosing, troubleshooting and repairing technical surveillance and other electronic equipment that have malfunctioned; designing and analyzing circuits; determining design feasibility, evaluating equipment performance under varying environmental conditions, and collecting performance data; analyzing and diagnosing faults in the operational configuration of electronic systems and equipment to interpret circuit wiring and ability to troubleshoot various systems; evaluating and recommending potential uses of state-of-the art technical surveillance equipment to management.

Although not required, applicants with documented certifications, training in and/or experience with the application of electronics surveillance technologies in a law enforcement environment are highly desirable.

Please do not cut and paste the position description, specialized experience, or occupational assessment questionnaire from this announcement into your resume, as this will not be considered a demonstration of your qualifications for this position.

Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP). The ICTAP provides eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. If your agency has notified you in writing that you are a displaced employee eligible for ICTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if: 1) this vacancy is within your ICTAP eligibility; 2) you apply under the instructions in this announcement; and 3) you are found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well qualified, you must satisfy all qualification requirements for the vacant position and score 85 or better on established ranking criteria. You must provide proof of eligibility with your application to receive selection priority. Such proof may include a copy of your written notification of ICTAP eligibility or a copy of your separation personnel action form. Additional information about ICTAP eligibility is at:

The Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provides eligible surplus and displaced competitive service employees in the Department of Justice with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. If your Department of Justice component has notified you in writing that you are a surplus or displaced employee eligible for CTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if: 1) this vacancy is within your CTAP eligibility, 2) you apply under the instructions in this announcement, and 3) you are found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well qualified, you must satisfy all qualification requirements for the vacant position and score 85 or better on established ranking criteria. You must provide a copy of your written notification of CTAP eligibility with your application. Additional information about CTAP eligibility is at: