Optical Properties of Materials Researcher

Welcome to NIST's Sensor Science Division. Our Vision is to be the primary driver of innovation in SI-traceable measurements for dimensional, thermodynamic, optical radiation, and fluid flow.

We are looking for an Optical Properties of Materials Researcher to characterize how materials interact with light through reflectance, transmittance, and BRDF.

This notice is issued under direct-hire authority to recruit new talent to occupations for which NIST has a severe shortage of candidates.

Qualifications:

Individual Occupational Requirements

Basic Requirements:

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

OR

2. 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.

In addition to the basic requirements, applicants must also have 1 year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-9 (ZP-II at NIST) level. Specialized experience is defined as conducting optical properties of materials measurements; applying traceability and measurement uncertainty principles; experience with optical systems and lasers; and developing measurement support tools using programming languages.

OR

Master's or equivalent graduate degree as defined in the basic requirements.

OR

A combination of graduate education and specialized experience as defined in the additional requirements.

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.

The qualification requirements in this vacancy announcement are based on the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards Handbook.

If requesting reconsideration of your qualification determination, please refer to the following site: Applicant Reconsideration

Responsibilities:

As an Optical Properties of Materials Researcher you will:

• Advance the understanding and measurement of optical properties of materials, specifically to characterize how materials interact with light through reflectance, transmittance, and bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF) across the ultraviolet, visible, and short-wave infrared spectral regions.
• Develop and improve high-accuracy measurement methods for determining optical properties of materials.
• Perform calibrations for customers.
• Automate instrumentation, data acquisition, and analysis using tools such as Python, MATLAB, and LabVIEW.
• Reduce measurement uncertainties and advance the reliability and traceability of optical property data.

Salary : $85,447