Receive specialized training. Upon entry into the Foreign Service and after completion of orientation and familiarization training, a Construction Engineer will normally be assigned to an initial tour in Washington, D.C. during which temporary overseas duty assignments of two to six weeks are common. After the initial tour, assignments will be for periods of two to four years duration overseas or in the U.S. and will be based on the Department needs, career development requirements and personal preferences. Promotions beyond FP-04 are based on annual performance evaluations in competition with other Construction Engineers at the same grade level. Available promotions are awarded to those who have best demonstrated the ability and potential to perform at a higher level of responsibility.
Salaries are determined at the time offers of employment are made.
Entry level salary for federal Civil Service candidates appointed without a break in service will be set at the rate within the Foreign Service salary schedule that is nearest to the base salary rate of their previous GS salary, provided the work performed in the previous position is closely related to Construction Engineering activities. In general, persons with satisfactory performance ratings will receive a within-grade salary increase annually through step 10 and biennially through step 14 if they have not received an equivalent increase during that period. In addition to the general requirements for employment in the Foreign Service, all Construction Engineer candidates must have at least a Bachelor's degree at the time of appointment, as indicated below. The degree has been accepted for advanced study by an accredited U.S. college or university. A state university in the U.S. accepts the institution as one whose transcript is given full value in subject areas applicable to the curriculum at the state university.