Summary

This position is part of the Office of Environmental Management - Carlsbad Field Office, Department of Energy. As a Quality Assurance Specialist, you will be managing, planning, integrating, and implementing National Transuranic (TRU) Waste Program (NTWP) activities at Department of Energy (DOE) facilities throughout the United States.

Learn more about this agency

This job is open to

The public

U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

Military spouses

Military spouses of active duty service members or whose spouse is 100 percent disabled or died on active duty.

Clarification from the agency

U.S. citizens or U.S. Nationals; Military Spouses; no prior Federal experience is required.

Duties

As a Quality Assurance Specialist, you will:

Provide expertise in Quality Assurance (QA) for Transuranic (TRU) waste disposal.
Develop and implement operational policies for the direction, control, review, and evaluation of the Carlsbad Field Office (CBFO) QA programs
Ensure that the CBFO QA programs are in compliance with applicable standards.
Provide programmatic direction to organization personnel and contractors on the responsibilities, requirements, best business practices, procedures, or implementation guidance.
Oversee National TRU Waste Program compliance audits and recommends certification of the sites to the CBFO Manager.
Engage in scientific and technical information and related activities, to include planning work, setting priorities, providing advice and counselling, and determining training needs.

Requirements

Conditions of employment

You must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
This employer participates in the e-Verify program.
If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. See www.sss.gov.
If selected, your appointment may be subject to a suitability or fitness determination, as determined by a completed background investigation.
If selected, you may be required to complete a one year probationary period.
This position is not remote, the selectee will be expected to report to the duty station(s) listed. If selected, military spouses, veteran caregivers, and spouses of foreign service employees may be eligible for applicable workplace flexibilities.
Obtain and maintain a Q-level security clearance. Failure to obtain and maintain the required security clearance may result in the withdrawal of a job offer or removal.
You are required to submit a Financial Disclosure Statement, OGE-450, Executive Branch Personnel Confidential Financial Disclosure Report upon entering the position and annually (5CFR Part 2634, Subpart I USOGE, 6/08).
This position is a Testing Designated Position (TDP) subject to random drug testing. Selectee will participate in drug urinalysis testing, unless currently occupying a TDP in accordance with the Federal Substance Abuse Program (DOE O 343.1).
Occasional travel may be required.
This position is not included in a Bargaining Agreement.
You will be required to complete an OF-306, "Declaration for Federal Employment" form used to (a) determine your suitability for Federal employment and/or (b) in conducting an investigation.
This position is included in the DOE's Technical Qualification Program (TQP). The selectee is required to meet core, position, and site-specific TQP standards within a reasonable period (typically 12-18 months) from placement in the position.
Technical Qualifications in functional areas of Technical Training (DOE-STD-1179) and General Technical Base (DOE-STD-1146) within 18 months of employment and maintaining continue education.
Valid State Driver's License required.
A preliminary background check must be completed before a new employee can begin work. Current Federal employees or other individuals with an existing completed background investigation may not be required to undergo another background check.

Qualifications

BASIC REQUIREMENT:
Education

Undergraduate and Graduate Education: Major study - quality assurance, statistics, mathematics, production management, industrial management, computer science, engineering, engineering technology, physical sciences, textiles, or other fields related to the position.

or

Experience

Experience that demonstrated a practical knowledge in monitoring, controlling, or maintaining the quality of products or services in quality assurance, procurement, inspection, production, or related areas. Examples include:

Reviewing production activities and capabilities in light of contract quality requirements.
Reviewing written quality or inspection procedures for adequacy and evaluating the implementation and effectiveness of quality/inspection systems, including sampling plans.
Analyzing quality data to detect unsatisfactory trends or weaknesses in the quality/inspection system.
Verifying by test or inspection, using sampling inspection or intensive product inspection techniques, that products comply with requirements prior to acceptance.
Identifying inadequacies and requesting corrective action.
Computing data, summarizing results, and preparing reports or charts depicting pertinent relationships using statistical methods.
Investigating customer complaints and deficiency reports and providing identification of causes to appropriate authorities.
Reading, interpreting, and applying technical data such as blueprints, engineering drawings, product specifications, or technical manuals.
Reviewing and evaluating supply systems operations and procedures through periodic audits and surveillance inspections.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:
GS-13:
A qualified candidate's online application and resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level GS-12 in the Federal service. Specialized experience for this position is defined as meeting 2 of 3 of the following

Assisting with oversight and assessments to evaluate contractors' quality assurance performance.

Providing support with written and oral input to federal and/or contractor quality assurance program implementation.

Reviewing corrective action plans submitted by the contractor.

GS-14:
A qualified candidate's online application and resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level GS-13 in the Federal service. Specialized experience for this position is defined as meeting ALL of the following

Developing and implementing quality assurance (QA) programs.

Conducting technical evaluations and audits of quality control systems or service processes.

Communicating technical quality issues, findings, and recommendations to diverse audiences.

"Experience" refers to paid and unpaid experience. Examples of qualifying unpaid experience may include: volunteer work done through National Service programs (such as Peace Corps and AmeriCorps); as well as work for other community-based philanthropic and social organizations. Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills; and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Limit your resume to no more than two (2) pages. If more than two pages are submitted, only the first two pages will be reviewed to determine your eligibility and qualifications. Your full resume will be made available to the hiring manager if you are referred.

CTAP/ICTAP candidates: To be considered "well qualified" you must (1) meet all of the requirements as described in this section; and 2) be rated "well-qualified", which is defined as scoring in the in Well Qualified category (or higher).

You must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Education

This vacancy has a positive education or experience requirement. In order to be rated as qualified, you must provide copies of your college transcripts if you are using education to meet the basic requirement. Failure to provide copies of your college transcripts may result in a rating of "Ineligible". Education must be obtained from an accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Foreign education must be reviewed by an organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For special instructions pertaining to foreign education and a list of organizations that can evaluate foreign education, see the Department of Education website.

Additional information

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional similar vacancies across DOE.
For general information on government-wide Telework polices visit: www.telework.gov
Hiring incentives may be authorized in accordance with agency policy and if funding is available.
Equal employment opportunity policy.
Veterans Information: https://www.energy.gov/careers/veterans-military-spouses
Selective Service Registration: http://www.sss.gov/
The Fair Chance Act prohibits specific inquiries concerning an applicant's criminal or credit background unless the hiring agency has made a
conditional offer of employment to the applicant. An applicant may submit a complaint to the agency within 30 calendar days of the date of alleged noncompliance by completing the Fair Chance Act Intake Form and submitting it to the Administrative Investigations Program at AdministrativeInvestigations@hq.doe.gov.
Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Application of Veterans' Preference: If you are a preference eligible candidate, you will be listed at the top of whichever quality category your rating places you in. CP/CPS veterans are placed at the top of the highest category for all positions except professional and scientific positions at GS-9 and higher.

Non-Competitive Hiring Authority for Military Spouses: If you are a military spouse eligible under this authority, and you meet the minimum qualification requirements for the position, you will be referred to the selecting official for consideration on a separate list specific to only military spouses.

Career Transition Assistance Programs: To receive selection priority for this position, you must: 1) meet the eligibility criteria; and 2) be rated "well-qualified", which is defined as scoring in the in Well Qualified category (or higher).

Shared Certificates: The Department of Energy shares lists of applicants among its internal Departmental Elements and organizations. You may be referred for consideration to other DOE Hiring Managers throughout the Department for more than one position based on this application. By applying to this announcement, you understand your application materials may be shared with multiple Hiring Mangers throughout DOE. If additional positions are filled from this announcement conditions of employment may differ. You will be notified if you are referred for additional positions.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Benefits

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement, as demonstrated in your application and your responses to all assessments required for this position. Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application or cheating on the assessment may result in removal from consideration. Responses to assessments must be prepared solely by the applicant. The use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Gemini, CoPilot) to draft, edit, or generate responses is strictly prohibited and may result in removal from consideration.

Your application will be assessed based on your responses to an online job knowledge assessment, and you will be placed into one of three pre-defined quality categories under Category Rating procedures. These categories are "Best Qualified", "Well Qualified", and "Qualified". The online job knowledge assessment primarily consists of multiple-choice questions designed to evaluate your understanding of key concepts relevant to this position.

Your application will be assessed based on your responses to an online assessment that measures critical general competencies required to perform the job. The assessment includes a cut score based on the minimum level of required proficiency in these critical general competencies. You must meet or exceed the cut score to be considered. Your score will place you into one of three pre-defined quality categories under Category Rating procedures. These categories are "Best Qualified", "Well Qualified", and "Qualified". You will not be considered for the position if you score below the cut score or fail to complete the assessment.

Your application and resume should demonstrate that you possess the following competencies. Do not provide a separate narrative written statement. Rather, you must describe in your resume how your past work experience demonstrates that you possess the competencies identified below. Use specific examples of employment or experience contained in your resume and describe how this experience has prepared you to successfully perform the duties of this position.

Attention to Detail
Customer Service
Decision Making
Flexibility
Influencing/Negotiating
Integrity/Honesty
Interpersonal Skills
Learning
Planning and Evaluating
Problem Solving
Quality Assurance
Quality Management
Reading
Reading Comprehension
Reasoning
Self-Management
Stress Tolerance
Teamwork
Technical Competence

You must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date (08/06/2026) of this announcement.

To preview the Assessment Questionnaire, clickhttps://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12965848.

Required Documents

To apply for this position, you MUST provide a complete application package which includes:

Your two (2) pageRESUME showing all relevant work experience (paid and unpaid) including: duties performed; full name and address of the each employer; start and end dates (month/day/year); work schedule (part-time, full-time, number of hours if intermittent); salary; and any completed education and training (program title, subject area, number of hours completed, and completion date).
Cover Letter, optional, expressing additional information not covered in your resume.
Transcripts, if specific educational requirements are indicated in this job announcement. Unofficial transcripts or any report listing institution, course title, credits earned (semester or quarter hour) and final grade is acceptable. It is your responsibility to provide adequate proof that you meet the educational requirements.
Veterans' Preference documentation,if applicable, DD-214 Member Copy 4 showing type of discharge/character of service; current active duty members- certification of expected discharge or release from active duty under honorable conditions dated within 120 days; SF-15 Form and related documentation; VA letter. For more information visit the USAJOBS Help Center & OPM CHCOC website for VOW information.
Career Transition Assistance Program/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program documentation, if applicable(e.g., Certification of Expected Separation, Reduction-In-Force Separation Notice, or Notice of Proposed Removal; SF-50 that documents the RIF separation action; and most recent performance appraisal.) For more information see the OPM Guide to Career Transition.
Military Spouse, if applicable, Permanent Change of Station (PCS) orders authorizing you to accompany the Military member to the new duty permanent station; OR verification of the member's 100% disability (VA Letter); and/or verification of the member's death while on active duty (DD-1300 and Death Certificate) AND verification of the marriage to the service member (i.e., a marriage license or other legal documentation verifying marriage). For more information visit the USAJOBS Help Center.

Incomplete application package. It is your responsibility to ensure all required documents have been submitted. Do not provide photos or list a Social Security Number or date of birth on any attachment.

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

How to Apply

Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply for this position, you must complete the initial online application, to include submission of the required documentation specified in the Required Documents section. A complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on the announcement closing date to receive consideration.

The application process is as follows:

Read all instructions before you begin.

Click "Apply Online."

Complete the application and attach all required documents.

Submit by 11:59 PM ET on the 08/06/2026.

Resume Tips:

Max 2 pages and 5MB file size.
PDF is recommended to preserve formatting; we also accept GIF, JPG, JPEG, PNG, RTF, TXT, ODT, or Word (DOC/DOCX). No PDF portfolios.
Use clear fonts like Lato, Calibri, Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, Open Sans, Source Sans Pro, Roboto, or Noto Sans.
Set 0.5-inch margins.
Use 14-point font for titles, 10-point for main text.

Managing Your Application:

Update: Edit your application in USAJOBS before the closing date.
Status: Log into USAJOBS to view your application status. Learn more here: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/.

Support:

USAJOBS Help: Visit https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/ for login.gov or USAJOBS assistance.
Application Issues: If you have difficulty applying online, contact the Agency Contact listed in this announcement during business hours. Take screenshots of any system errors.

To update your application, including supporting documentation: During the announcement open period, return to your USAJOBS account, find your application record, and click Edit my application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed.

To verify the status of your application, during and after the announcement open period, log into your USAJOBS account; applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each application status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/.

Agency contact information

Mandy Dixon

Phone

240-385-4716

Email

mandy.dixon@hc.doe.gov

Address

Office of Environmental Management - Carlsbad Field Office
Department of Energy
Human Capital Shared Service Center
1000 Independence Ave, SW
Washington, DC 20585
US

Next steps

Once you submit your online application, you will receive a confirmation notification by email that your submission was successful. After the closing of the announcement, we will review applications. If you are among the most qualified candidates and your name is referred to the hiring official, you may be contacted directly for a possible interview. We will notify you of the status of your Application Package at the time candidates are referred for consideration, and when the selection process is complete.

If you are interested in being added to our Schedule A or 30% or more Disabled Veterans repository, please submit your information by using the below links.

https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/859568600 - 30 Percent or More Disabled Veteran Repository 2026 for Department of Energy Headquarters and their associated field offices.
https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/859568900 - Schedule A Repository 2026 for Department of Energy Headquarters and their associated field offices.

Overview

Accepting applications

Posted today · Apply by 08/06/26

Due by 11:59 p.m. ET on August 6, 2026

Location

2 vacancies in the following location:

Carlsbad, NM

No matching locations found.

Work site options

Telework eligible

Yes—as determined by the agency policy.

Remote job

No

Relocation expenses reimbursed

Yes—You may qualify for reimbursement of relocation expenses in accordance with agency policy.

Salary

$106,437 - $163,514 per year

Pay scale & grade

GS 13 - 14

Promotion potential

14

Learn more about pay scale and grade

Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.

Work schedule

Full-time

Travel Required

Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.

Appointment type

Permanent

Occupations and job series

1910 Quality Assurance

Supervisory status

No

Federal service type

This job is in the Competitive Service

Represented by a union

No

Drug test

Yes

Security clearance

Q Access Authorization

Position sensitivity and risk

Critical-Sensitive (CS)/High Risk

Jobs require a background check and some require a security clearance. The type depends on the job.

Background check type

Credentialing
Suitability/Fitness
National security

Financial disclosure required

Yes

Some jobs require financial disclosure to identify conflicts of interests.

Announcement number

26-CB-12965848-DE

Control number

878428800

US Department of Energy - Agency Wide

About Company

Quality Assurance Specialist