ENGINEER/SCIENTIST

Duties
Help

• You will serve as an Engineer or Scientist in the Electromagnetic and Sensor Systems Department, Advanced Radars Systems Division, Expeditionary Radars Software Engineering Branch (Code B46) of the Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division.
• You will perform and lead testing, troubleshooting, analysis, evaluation, and modification of radar (active and passive) systems.
• You will conduct research, development and analysis of engineering data, extracting and compiling specific data from records or other sources (i.e., design and assembly drawings; specifications; test plans, etc.).
• You will develop and present technical briefs, to include findings and results, in writing or orally, for higher level review or publication.
• You will develop tools, interfacing hardware to software, GUI development using high level languages (such as Python, C++, JAVA), or model development using languages such as Matlab.
• You will work proactively, both independently and as a team member, with a diverse group of scientists, engineers, technicians, and support personnel, to include military, civilian, and contractor representatives.
• You will conduct technical analysis and recommendations to project leadership.

Requirements
Help
Conditions of employment

• Must be a US Citizen.
• Must be determined suitable for federal employment.
• Must participate in the direct deposit pay program.
• New employees to the Department of the Navy will be required to successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit e-verify.gov
• Within the Department of Defense (DoD), the appointment of retired military members within 180 days immediately following retirement date to a civilian position is subject to the provisions of 5 United States Code 3326.
• Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service.
• You will be required to obtain and maintain an interim and/or final Secret security clearance prior to entrance on duty. Failure to obtain and maintain the required level of clearance may result in the withdrawal of a job offer or removal.
• This position is covered under the Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA). Certification in the Acquisition Functional Area and category assigned to the position is required within established category timeframes.
• This position may require travel from normal duty station to CONUS and OCONUS and may include remote or isolated sites. You must be able to travel on military and commercial aircraft for extended periods of time.

Qualifications

This is an interdisciplinary position and may be filled by a General Engineer (0801-series), a General Physical Scientist (1301-series), an Operations Research Analyst (1515-series), a Mathematician (1520-series), or a Computer Scientist (1550-series) depending upon the qualifications of the candidate. Applicants in positions with occupational series other than those listed (0801, 1301, 1515, 1520 and 1550) may apply; however, you must apply directly to the series listed in this vacancy that is most applicable to your qualifications.

TO QUALIFY FOR ND-4: Your resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the ND-3 pay band (GS-9 through GS-11 equivalency) in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private or public sector. Specialized experience must demonstrate the following: As a professional engineer or scientist performing the comprehensive testing, troubleshooting, and modification of radar systems and analyzing engineering data. Examples of qualifying experience may include (1) proven ability to use advanced techniques, modify and extend theories, precepts, and practices in the specialty area, related sciences and disciplines; (2) demonstrated ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing; (3) proven ability to work effectively in a multi-organizational team environment; (4) thorough understanding of electromagnetism and the electromagnetic affects of different materials; (5) broad understanding of analog and digital electronics; (6) demonstrated superb technical writing skills and ability to give presentations and communicate technical concepts; (7) thorough knowledge of analysis and problem solving techniques necessary to perform scientific/engineering work; (8) proven ability to effectively communicate ideas with a diverse group of scientists, radar and communications engineers, and technicians.

TO QUALIFY FOR ND-3: Your resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the ND-2 pay band (GS-5 through GS-8 equivalency) in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private or public sector. Specialized experience must demonstrate the following: As a professional engineer or scientist applying basic engineering or scientific principles to understand and complete limited engineering or scientific projects.

Additional qualification information can be found from the following Office of Personnel Management website: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/#url=GS-PROF

Individual Occupational Requirements (IOR):
All Professional Engineering Positions, 08XX
General Physical Science Series, 1301
Operations Research Series, 1515
Mathematics Series, 1520
Computer Science Series, 1550

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., professional, philanthropic, religious, spiritual, community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment.

Education

Applicants must meet at least one of the following positive education qualifications requirements of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualifications Standards Manual:

• Professional Engineering Series (08XX) - Degree: A professional engineering degree from an ABET-accredited college or university; OR a degree with curriculum in differential and integral calculus, with additional courses in five of the following seven areas of engineering science or physics: (a) statics, dynamics; (b) strength of materials (stress-strain relationships); (c) fluid mechanics, hydraulics; (d) thermodynamics; (e) electrical fields and circuits; (f) nature and properties of materials (relating particle and aggregate structure to properties); and (g) any other comparable area of fundamental engineering science or physics, such as optics, heat transfer, soil mechanics; or electronics; OR
• Professional Engineering Series (08XX) - Substitution of Education/Experience: A combination of education and experience that furnished (1) a thorough knowledge of the physical and mathematical sciences underlying professional engineering; and (2) a good understanding, both theoretical and practical, of the engineering sciences and techniques and their applications to one of the branches of engineering. The adequacy of such background must be demonstrated by one of the following: (a) professional registration, (b) evidence of successfully passing the Engineer-in-Training (EIT) examination; (c) successful completion of at least 60 semester hours of courses in the physical, mathematical, and engineering sciences and in engineering that included the courses specified above; or (d) successful completion of a curriculum leading to a bachelor's degree in engineering technology or in an appropriate professional field, e.g., physics, chemistry, architecture, computer science, mathematics, hydrology, or geology, may be accepted in lieu of a degree in engineering provided that it included at least 1 year of professional engineering experience acquired under professional engineering supervision and guidance. (Note to Applicants: Please see the Qualifications & Education sections of this announcement for a link to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Individual Occupational Requirements. OPM guidance indicates that there should be either an established plan of intensive training to develop professional engineering competence, or several years of prior professional engineering-type experience. This training plan or experience must be well documented and provided at time of application.); OR
• 1301-General Physical Science Series: A degree in physical science, engineering, or mathematics that included 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science such as mechanics, dynamics, properties of materials, and electronics; or education equivalent to one of the majors shown above that included at least 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science, plus appropriate experience or additional education; OR
• 1515-Operations Research Series: A degree in operations research; or a related degree that included at least 24 semester hours in a combination of operations research, mathematics, probability, statistics, mathematical logic, science, or subject-matter courses. At least 3 of these 24 semester hours must have been in calculus; OR
• 1520-Mathematics Series: A degree in mathematics; or a combination of education and experience - courses equivalent to a major in mathematics (including at least 24 semester hours in mathematics), plus appropriate experience or additional education. The total coursework described above must have included differential and integral calculus and, in addition, four advanced mathematics courses requiring calculus or equivalent mathematics courses as a prerequisite; OR
• 1550-Computer Science Series: A degree in computer science; or a degree with at least 30 semester hours in a combination of mathematics, statistics, and computer science. At least 15 of these 30 semester hours must have been in a combination of statistics and mathematics that included differential and integral calculus.

TO QUALIFY FOR ND-3: In lieu of specialized experience, you may qualify with the following education or combination of both education and experience:

• A master's or equivalent graduate degree; OR
• Two full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a master's or equivalent graduate degree; OR
• A combination of experience and graduate education as described above that equates to one year of experience.

A transcript must be submitted with your application if qualifying using education. See Required Documents for additional information.?

Additional information

This position is part of the Warfare Centers Personnel Demonstration Project. The ND-3 pay band encompasses positions equivalent to GS-9 through GS-11; the ND-4 pay band encompasses positions equivalent to GS-12 and GS-13.

This announcement uses the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) Science and Technology Reinvention Laboratory (STRL) Direct Hire Authority for Scientists and Engineers with Bachelor's or Advanced Degrees to recruit and appoint qualified candidates to positions in the competitive service.

This position is covered by the Department of Defense Priority Placement Program.

Several vacancies may be filled.

A tentative offer of employment will be rescinded if the selectee fails to meet the pre-employment requirements, including failure to report to any of the scheduled appointments.

Federal annuitant information: The selection of an annuitant is subject to the Department of Defense and Department of the Navy policy on the employment of annuitants. Policy information may be found at: http://www.secnav.navy.mil/donhr/Documents/CivilianJobs/FedCivAnnuitants.pdf .

Veteran's preference does not apply when selecting individuals under this specific hiring authority. However, if you claim veteran's preference, you will be required to submit supporting documentation with your application as described in the Required Documents section below.

Vacancies filled from this announcement may be filled at any grade level listed.

If selected below the full performance level, you may be noncompetitively promoted to the next higher grade level after meeting all regulatory requirements, and upon the recommendation of management. Promotion is neither implied nor guaranteed.