USDA - Mechanical Engineering Technician - MRAS

On behalf of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the General Services Administration (GSA) is conducting market research to identify qualified candidates for a service contract at the National Technology and Development Program (NTDP) facility located in Missoula, Montana. This initiative aims to support national priorities such as wildfire suppression and sustainable timber production by acquiring the services of a Mechanical Engineering Technician or Shop Support Specialist. The selected individual will play a crucial role in technical design, fabrication, machining, and testing of specialized machinery that aids critical projects in Fire and Aviation, Engineering, and Recreation across various forests nationwide.

The primary responsibilities under this contract include assisting in the technical design and development of specialized machinery using drafting and CAD modeling techniques. The role involves performing fabrication tasks such as welding, cutting, forming, and assembly of materials like metal. Additionally, operating machine-shop tools including lathes, mills, grinders, and potentially CNC equipment for precision part manufacturing is expected. The technician will also conduct functional testing and validation of newly fabricated or modified equipment while collecting performance data for analysis.

Further duties involve maintaining shop machinery by calibrating and troubleshooting to ensure operational readiness. Adherence to design specifications, engineering drawings, safety protocols, and Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) is mandatory. The technician will be responsible for identifying any design or fabrication issues while proposing solutions for improvement. They will also utilize various computer programs for design work as well as data collection and analysis related to engineering projects.

The deliverables under this contract include fabricated prototypes, maintenance logs for shop equipment, inventory evaluations of materials and tools in the shop, safety inspection reports on operations within the shop environment as well as technical summaries with recommendations on design improvements or new equipment needs. The work will be performed at NTDP facilities using government-furnished equipment with potential remote support options depending on project requirements.