Physical Scientist

This position is located in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Office of Space Commerce (OSC) with one vacancy in Washington, D.C.

Qualifications:

Qualification requirements in the vacancy announcements are based on the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards Handbook, which contains federal qualification standards. This handbook is available on the Office of Personnel Management's website located at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/

To qualify for the 1301 series:

BASIC REQUIREMENTS: This position requires applicants to meet a Basic Education Requirement in addition to at least one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience OR substitution of education for experience OR combination (if applicable) in order to be found minimally qualified. Transcripts must be submitted with your application package. You MUST meet one of the following basic education requirements:
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.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to the next lower grade level in the Federal Service. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular competencies/knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. This experience need not have been in the federal government.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations 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. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

To qualify at the ZP-3 or GS-11 level:
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: In addition to meeting the Basic Requirements above, applicants must also possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the ZP-2 or GS-09 in the Federal service. Specialized experience MUST include all of the following:

• Participating in the analysis of remote sensing satellite system data products and capabilities; and
• Preparing reports or memoranda detailing satellite data, analysis, uncertainties, findings, and recommendations.

OR

SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION: 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree.

OR

COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: A combination of successfully completed graduate-level education and specialized experience may be used to meet the total experience requirements. Note: Only graduate-level education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level may be combined with experience.

To qualify at the ZP-4 or GS-13 level:
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: In addition to meeting the Basic Requirements above, applicants must also possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the ZP-3 or GS-12 in the Federal service. Specialized experience MUST include all of the following:

• Planning or executing analysis on remote sensing satellite system capabilities, data, and operations;
• Performing comparative analysis between remote sensing satellite data sources product qualities and uses; and
• Developing documents, analytic reports, memoranda, findings and recommendations pertaining to remote sensing data.

Responsibilities:

As a Physical Scientist, you will perform the following duties:

• Lead, plan, and conduct complex quantitative and qualitative analysis of remote sensing satellite capabilities, remote sensing payload specifications, remote sensing data, spacecraft operations, imagery, image metadata, and satellite telemetry. Perform comparative analysis between the characteristics and uses of remote sensing systems and remote sensing data products.
• Execute the planning and timely completion of technical and programmatic analysis projects including managing program timelines, products, and goals and recommending actions to achieve organizational objectives and improvements. Exercise significant technical judgement and accountability over analytic and programmatic products.
• Provide technical guidance to licensing officers, compliance specialists, and policy decision makers. Work closely with personnel to identify impacts of remote sensing data products on policy decisions and directions.

NOTE: These duties are described at the full performance level of the ZP-4; the ZP-3 is developmental leading to such performance.

Throughout the recruitment and hiring process we will be communicating with you via email; therefore, it is imperative that the email address you provide when applying for this vacancy remains active. Should your email address change, please notify the point of contact identified in the vacancy announcement as soon as possible so that we can update our system.

Salary : $85,447