SPACE SCIENTIST / PHYSICIST / METEOROLOGIST

• You will analyze and validate environmental numerical model output against observational data and research studies across all network enclaves.
• You will present findings at internal division monthly verification and validation meetings.
• You will collaborate with subject matter experts in atmospheric and ionospheric science to ensure that environmental numerical models and related data assimilation systems are based on the best available science.
• You will provide technical support to federal agencies and other stakeholders who rely on environmental numerical model data for decision-making purposes.
• You will participate in regional and national collaborations to advance the state of the art in environmental numerical modeling.
• You will work in a Linux computational environment to integrate, port, maintain and adapt new and/or updated environmental models and applications on a variety of high performance computer systems.
• You will develop and optimize high-performance computer programs: use expertise in languages such as Fortran, Python, and C/C++ to design, modify, and develop efficient computer programs that run in high-performance computing environments.
• You will use knowledge of Linux/UNIX shell scripting languages such as Korn or Bash to write scripts that automate repetitive tasks, manage files, create visualizations, and execute commands on the command line.

• 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
• Generally, current federal employees applying for GS jobs must serve at least one year at the next lower grade level. This requirement is called time-in-grade. Time-in-grade requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.
• 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 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.
• Successful completion of a pre-employment drug test (including marijuana) is required. A tentative offer of employment will be rescinded if you fail to report to the drug test appointment or fail the test. You will be subject to random testing.
• 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.
• You will be required to obtain and maintain a U.S. Passport.
• After-hours response to telephone calls for assistance from the FNMOC Operations Center to deal with problems in software or data is occasionally required.

GS-12
In addition to the Basic Requirements for this position, your resume must also demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-11 grade level or pay band in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private or public sector. Specialized experience must demonstrate the following:
Mastery of advanced theoretical meteorology and/or ionospheric science, including the dynamics of the atmosphere and/or ionosphere and the application of computer methods of numerical weather and/or ionospheric analysis and prediction. Mastery of the theories, methods and techniques of professional meteorology and/or ionospheric science sufficient to serve as a staff specialist working to improve forecast guidance and the performance of tactical decision aids for one or more of the major product areas. Basic knowledge of satellite remote sensing. Comprehensive knowledge of satellites, their sensors and in situ observing platforms, and the algorithms used to produce environmental estimates and derived METOC and/or ionospheric products. Knowledge of the techniques used to assimilate data into atmospheric and/or ionospheric models. Comprehensive knowledge of statistical methods and standard techniques for post-processing and evaluating atmospheric and/or ionospheric numerical model analysis and forecast products. Comprehensive knowledge of an advanced programming language such as FORTRAN and/or Python, an advanced operating system such as LINUX, software configuration management, and visualization of large scientific data sets. Comprehensive knowledge of software engineering techniques as applied to the development and maintenance of automated, real-time systems. Proven skill in public speaking and in technical writing.

GS-11
In addition to the Basic Requirements for this position, your resume must also demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-09 grade level or pay band in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private or public sector. Specialized experience must demonstrate the following:
Mastery of advanced theoretical meteorology and/or ionospheric science, including the dynamics of the atmosphere and/or ionosphere and the application of computer methods of numerical weather and/or ionospheric analysis and prediction. Mastery of the theories, methods and techniques of professional meteorology and/or ionospheric science sufficient to serve as a staff specialist working to improve forecast guidance and the performance of tactical decision aids for one or more of the major product areas. Basic knowledge of satellite remote sensing. Comprehensive knowledge of satellites, their sensors and in situ observing platforms, and the algorithms used to produce environmental estimates and derived METOC and/or ionospheric products. Knowledge of the techniques used to assimilate data into atmospheric and/or ionospheric models. Comprehensive knowledge of statistical methods and standard techniques for post-processing and evaluating atmospheric and/or ionospheric numerical model analysis and forecast products. Comprehensive knowledge of an advanced programming language such as FORTRAN and/or Python, an advanced operating system such as LINUX, software configuration management, and visualization of large scientific data sets. Comprehensive knowledge of software engineering techniques as applied to the development and maintenance of automated, real-time systems. Proven skill in public speaking and in technical writing.

Additional qualification information can be found from the following Office of Personnel Management website:

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.



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

Basic Requirements:

Degree: physics; or related degree that included at least 24 semester hours in physics.

or

Combination of education and experience -- courses equivalent to a major in physics totaling at least 24 semester hours, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

In either A or B above, the courses must have included a fundamental course in general physics and, in addition, courses in any two of the following: electricity and magnetism, heat, light, mechanics, modern physics, and sound.



Basic Requirements:

Degree: in one or a combination of astronomy, physics, mathematics, space science, or electronics. The course work must have included differential and integral calculus and 12 semester hours in astronomy and/or physics.

or

Combination of education and experience -- at least 30 semester hours of courses equivalent to a major in any combination of astronomy, space science, physics, mathematics, and electronics, with required course work as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.




Basic Requirements:

Degree: meteorology, atmospheric science, or other natural science major that included:

At least 24 semester (36 quarter) hours of credit in meteorology/atmospheric science including a minimum of:

Six semester hours of atmospheric dynamics and thermodynamics;*

Six semester hours of analysis and prediction of weather systems (synoptic/mesoscale);

Three semester hours of physical meteorology; and

Two semester hours of remote sensing of the atmosphere and/or instrumentation.

Six semester hours of physics, with at least one course that includes laboratory sessions.*

Three semester hours of ordinary differential equations.*

At least nine semester hours of course work appropriate for a physical science major in any combination of three or more of the following: physical hydrology, statistics, chemistry, physical oceanography, physical climatology, radiative transfer, aeronomy, advanced thermodynamics, advanced electricity and magnetism, light and optics, and computer science.

* There is a prerequisite or corequisite of calculus for course work in atmospheric dynamics and thermodynamics, physics, and differential equations. Calculus courses must be appropriate for a physical science major.

or

Combination of education and experience -- course work as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

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

Additional vacancies may be filled by this announcement.

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.

During the application process you will have the ability to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions in the local commuting area. Depending on the hiring organization and the position being filled, job requirements (e.g., security clearance, travel, drug testing, financial disclosure filing, bargaining unit status, etc.) may vary. Other hiring managers filling similar positions may offer relocation expense reimbursement and/or may offer recruitment incentives for new employees, depending on funding availability and in accordance with policy. If you opt-in and are referred on a certificate, your resume will be available to other hiring managers for 180-days from the date the job announcement closes. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.

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:

PPP applicants will be placed at the FPL, if determined Well Qualified (WQ). To receive priority consideration, the FPL must be the same grade level or equivalent of the retained grade or the grade held immediately prior to separation.

To be considered well-qualified and exercise selection priority as an ICTAP candidate, displaced Federal employees must satisfy all qualification requirements for the position and receive a rating in the highly qualified category (score 85) or higher. ICTAP candidates must provide copies of all of the following documentation at the time of application: 1) agency notice; 2) most recent performance appraisal; and 3) most recent SF-50 or notification of personnel action that includes position, grade level, and duty location. Applicants who do not provide this documentation will not receive consideration as an ICTAP candidate. For more information about ICTAP eligibility please review the following link:

Military Spouse Preference applicants will be placed at the highest grade for which they have applied and are determined Best Qualified (BQ). A BQ military spouse possesses knowledge, skills, abilities, and competencies comparable to others who meet the competitive referral criteria for the specific position.