INTERDISCIPLINARY - Nuclear Engineer/Physical Scientist

Duties

Duty 1 - Performs professional engineering and scientific work aimed at effectively and efficiently detecting and reporting on a potential nuclear event.

Duty 2 - Collates, analyses and evaluates, technical assessments made by nuclear engineers, seismologists, space scientists, nuclear materials scientists, and meteorologists.

Duty 3 - Representative to national-level interagency committee meetings focused on nuclear monitoring issues. Maintains liaison with members of interagency committees comprised of representatives from USAF, DOD, DOE, national laboratories, and other national governmental agencies.

Duty 4 - Provides the 709 SAG senior staff with an overall assessment of the operational alert mission capability. Provides decision makers with independent assessments of the relative values, strengths, and weaknesses of competing R&D systems or an assessment of the performance of a particular system compared to stated requirements in supports of efforts advancing the program's utility to support National Security customer needs.

Requirements

Conditions of employment

• U.S. Citizenship Required.
• All new DCIPS employees are required to complete a two-year DCIPS trial period.
• If authorized, PCS will be paid IAW JTR and AF Regulations. If receiving an authorized PCS, you may be subject to completing/signing a CONUS agreement. More information on PCS requirements, may be found at: https://afciviliancareers.com/regulatory/.
• This position is subject to provisions of the DoD Priority Placement Program.
• Must be registered for Selective Service, see Legal and Regulatory Guide.
• Employee may be required to work other than normal duty hours, to include evenings, weekends and/or holidays
• Shift work and emergency overtime may be required.
• Employee must maintain current certifications.
• Disclosure of Political Appointments.
• Direct Deposit: All federal employees are required to have direct deposit.
• Advance in hire may be authorized if there is demonstrable proof provided on your resume.
• Recruitment Incentive may be authorized for this position.
• Relocation Incentive may be authorized for this position.
• Leave accrual may be authorized upon request.
• Depending on the type of position (competitive/excepted) you are selected for, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period OR 2-year trial period.
• Upon completion of your probationary/trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.
• Position may require temporary duty (TDY) travel to alternate operation locations for several weeks. Travel may be via military or commercial transportation with less than 24 hour notice.
• Polygraph: Employees may be required to undergo random CI polygraph examinations in accordance with security regulations involving material handled.
• Demonstrated outstanding attainments in the field of nuclear event reporting or comparable status in the scientific research community of nationally and internationally recognized scientists highly desired.

Qualifications

This is a GG-13 position in the Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System (DCIPS). The GG-13 duties for the "Professional" work category are at the "Full Performance" work level and are equivalent to those at the GS-13 level. The selectee's salary will be set within the grade equivalent to a GS/GG grade based on the selectee's qualifications in relation to the job.

To qualify, you must meet the specialized experience requirements describes in the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards for General Schedule Positions, Professional and Scientific Positions.

BASIC REQUIREMENT OR INDIVIDUAL OCCUPATIONAL REQUIREMENT:

NUCLEAR ENGINEERING SERIES (0840).

A. Degree: Engineering. To be acceptable, the program must: (1) lead to a bachelor's degree in a school of engineering with at least one program accredited by ABET; or (2) include differential and integral calculus and courses (more advanced than first-year physics and chemistry) 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

B. Combination of education and experience -- college-level education, training, and/or technical experience that furnished (1) a thorough knowledge of the physical and mathematical sciences underlying 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. Click the following link to view occupational requirements for the General Engineer position:

GENERAL PHYSICAL SCIENCE SERIES (1301)

A. Degree: 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

B. Combination of education and experience -- education equivalent to one of the majors shown in A above that included at least 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

In addition to meeting the basic requirement above, to qualify for this position you must also meet the qualification requirements listed below:

EXPERIENCE REQUIRED: Your resume must reflect the quality level of experience which demonstrates the possession of the knowledge, skills, abilities, and competencies necessary for successful job performance required for this position. Examples of creditable experience include: Expert knowledge of nuclear sciences associated with the USAEDS, spanning from the sensors through the strengths and weaknesses in the data processing and evaluation methods. Knowledge of a wide range of concepts, principles, and practices in professional scientific occupations. Experience operating/maintaining/managing nuclear test monitoring systems, and nuclear treaty monitoring. Ability to understand and assimilate highly complex technical data and report/brief this information to prominent scientists, engineer, and management personnel of various disciplines, as well as non-technical decision-makers. Possess an understanding of Air Force policies and directives. Knowledge and experience in interacting with national-level multiagency committees. Note: Creditable experience may include previous military experience, experience gained in the private sector, or experience gained in another government agency.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs): Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following areas:

1. Substantial knowledge of the nuclear alert processes and the technical capabilities of the U.S. Atomic Energy Detection System (USAEDS) network within AFTAC.

2. Knowledge of operating/maintaining/managing nuclear test monitoring systems, nuclear treaty monitoring, and Air Force policies and directives.

3. Knowledge of a wide range of concepts, principles, and practices in professional scientific operations.

4. Ability to understand and assimilate highly technical data and report/brief this information to prominent scientists, engineers, and management personnel of various disciplines, as well as non-technical decision makers.

5. Ability to communicate and coordinate effectively with national level multi-agency committees.

6. Ability to develop alert manager training and exercise material, syllabi, and qualification standards. Ability to instruct and evaluate alert team personnel on alert procedures and operations

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT CONTINUED:

1. Position is designated Special-Sensitive and requires eligibility for access to Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI), other intelligence-related Special Sensitive information, or involvement in Top Secret Special Access Programs (SAP) to fully perform the duties and responsibilities of the position. A non-disclosure agreement must be signed.

2. Drug Testing: This position has been designated by the Air Force as a Testing Designated Position (TDP) under the Air Force Civilian Testing Program. Employee must pass initial and periodic short notice drug testing. Illegal drug use by employees in sensitive positions presents a clear threat to the mission of the Air Force, national security, and public safety.

3. Key: This position is designated as a key position IAW AFI 36-507. Duties of this position are essential to the accomplishment of wartime/contingency operations. Incumbents of key positions must be removed from their military recall status if alternative for filling of the position during an emergency are not available.

4. Mission Essential: This is a Mission Essential (ME) position performing a Mission Critical Function (MCF) which must continue uninterrupted after the occurrence of an emergency and continued through full resumption of all functions. IAW, DoDI 3020-42, Defense Continuity Programs.

5. The employee may be recalled to duty on short notice with a report time of one hour. Employee will be required to work overtime during other than normal duty hours, which may include evenings, weekends, and/or holidays on an emergency basis. Employee will be required to be on call 24 hours per day for at least 1 week per month, in rotation with others serving as duty Alert Managers on call. During this period, employee is limited to the local commuting area and must be available to execute duties within 30 minutes of initial notification.

PART-TIME OR UNPAID EXPERIENCE: Credit will be given for appropriate unpaid and or part-time work. You must clearly identify the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the total number of hours per week.

VOLUNTEER WORK EXPERIENCE: Refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service Programs (i.e., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student and social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge and skills that can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Education

POSITIVE EDUCATION REQUIREMENT: This position has a positive education requirement. If transcripts are not provided, your resume MUST list the appropriate academic field (e.g. biology, mechanical engineering, economics, sociology, etc.) and all courses you have taken (including those failed), which appear to satisfy the qualification requirements of the position for which you are applying. List graduate and undergraduate courses separately. Include the descriptive title and course code, completion date, grade, number of semester, quarter or classroom hours (for education completed at business, secretarial, technical school or military schools) and graduate and undergraduate classes. **As of 1 Sep 2016, current internal AF employees must attach their transcripts. Failure to do so will result in not being referred for the position.

IF USING EDUCATION TO QUALIFY: If position has a positive degree requirement or education forms the basis for qualifications, you MUST submit transcriptswith the application. Official transcripts are not required at the time of application; however, if position has a positive degree requirement, qualifying based on education alone or in combination with experience, transcripts must be verified prior to appointment. An accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education must accredit education. Click to check accreditation.

FOREIGN EDUCATION: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the requirements. You must show proof the education credentials have been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education program. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
This position is a Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel Systems (DCIPS) position implemented under Section 504, Title V of Public Law 99-569, Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1987, as codified in Sec 1601, Chap 83 of Title 10 United States Code which sets forth Air Force policies and procedures for DCIPS. This position is in the Excepted Service.

DoD Components with DCIPS positions apply Veterans' Preference to preference eligible candidates as defined by Section 2108 of Title 5 USC, in accordance with the procedures provided in DoD Instruction 1400.25, Volume 2005, DCIPS Employment and Placement. If you are a veteran claiming veterans' preference, as defined by section 2108 of Title 5 U.S.C., you must submit documents verifying your eligibility with your application package.

For additional information on DCIPS, click

Additional information

Employed Annuitants (Reemployed Annuitants): Applicants in receipt of an annuity based on civilian employment in the Federal Service are subject to the DoD Policy on The Employment of Annuitants. Click for more information.

120-Day Register: This announcement may result in a 120-day register that may be used to fill like vacancies for 120 days after the closing date. Applicants may be referred for consideration as vacancies occur.

Direct Deposit: All federal employees are required to have direct deposit.

is available to a Federal employee hired on/after 5 Nov 2016, who is a veteran with a service-connected disability rating of 30% or more. For more information, click .

If you have questions regarding this announcement and have hearing or speech difficulties click .

Selectees who physically reside permanently in the U.S., the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico or Northern Mariana Islands, and the Possessions of the U.S., during the entire recruitment process (application, selection, and acceptance of a formal job offer) and selected for employment in the foreign area are eligible to receive certain foreign area benefits such as: Living Quarters Allowance (LQA) or government quarters, Post Allowance, Home Leave, etc. (subject to approval)

Selectees who physically reside outside the U.S., the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico or Northern Mariana Islands, and the Possessions of the U.S., during any step of the recruitment process (application, selection, and acceptance of a formal job offer) will have foreign area benefits eligibility be determined on a case by case basis.