Public Notice - Physical Scientist/Physicist (Direct Hire)

Summary

Positions to be filled are in various organizations at the following NASA Centers - Goddard Space Flight Center. NASA may fill positions in any of the following series and at any grade level listed in this announcement (GS-1301 and 1310 at the GS-11/12/13/14/15 levels).

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Duties

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• Duties described below are at the highest grade advertised. Duties assigned at lower grade levels will be of more limited scope, performed with less independence and limited complexity; duties will be commensurate with the grade of selected employee.
• Document important results through technical reports, peer-reviewed publications, and presentations at relevant workshops and conferences.
• Coordinate, plan, propose, execute, and evaluate projects supporting the overall objectives of NASA's Earth Science Division and its partners.
• Provide scientific and technical support or leadership in the development, interpretation, and use of remote sensing data products.
• Develop and investigate new analytical techniques to advance the use of remote sensing data to understand the coupled Earth System.
• Interact regularly with collaborating scientists and developers both within the organization and among the broader scientific and application communities to maximize cooperation and ensure compatibility with the organization's scientific objectives.
• Support or lead efforts to develop and implement new/enhanced methodological approaches and applications to study the physics and dynamics of the Earth System through a variety of remote sensing methods.
• Support, develop, implement, and investigate state-of-the-art calibration and data quality assurance approaches for remote sensing systems and data products.
• For supervisory positions, you will perform a full range of supervisory duties which includes assigning and evaluating work; recommending personnel actions; taking disciplinary actions; and identifying training needs and developing employees.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• This position is open to U.S. citizens, nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.
• This position may require a one-year probationary/trial period. If selected, the requirement to serve such period will be determined by Title 5 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 11. **See Additional Information section**
• You must meet qualifications requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
• Position subject to pre-employment background investigation or higher-level clearance. Investigation/Clearance may differ and be required based on the duty location/NASA Center requirements.
• Financial Disclosure, Drug Testing, and/or the Travel Requirements for this position may differ and be required based on the duty location/NASA Center requirements.
• For supervisory positions, a one-year supervisory probationary period may be required.
• To be considered for employment, you must submit your complete application by 11:59 PM ET on August 21, 2026.

Qualifications

In addition to the Basic Education Requirement (in the Education section below), to qualify for this position you must meet the requirements below. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the particular ability, skill, and knowledge to successfully perform the duties of this position and is typically in or related to this line of work.

NASA utilizes OPM-approved qualification and rating requirements specific for Aerospace Technology (AST) positions which recognizes NASA's unique aerospace work. The specific qualifications and minimum education requirements are further described below and within the education section of the job announcement.

To qualify for GS-11, you must have:

a) You must have one year of directly related specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 level:

• Working with others in a team environment to achieve goals set by team leads and/or supervisors;
• Using methods developed by others to apply concepts, computing techniques, or methods in mathematics, physics, remote sensing, data science, or physical science to conduct guided research;
• Using remote sensing data and/or applied science techniques to understand and characterize the interactions among the elements of the Earth System.

OR

b) Completed all requirements for a doctoral degree (i.e., Ph.D. or equivalent) in an appropriate field

OR

c) Completed 3 full academic years of graduate education in an appropriate field

OR

d) Have an equivalent combination of experience and graduate study as discussed in a), b) and c) above

To qualify for GS-12, you must have one year of directly related specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level:

• Working with others in a team environment to achieve goals set by team leads and/or supervisors;
• Using methods developed by others to apply concepts, computing techniques, and methods in mathematics, physics, remote sensing, data science, or physical science to conduct research relevant to the Earth System;
• Using remote sensing data and/or applied science techniques to understand and characterize the interactions among the elements of the Earth System in general.

To qualify for GS-13, you must have one year of directly related specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 level:

• Working with others in a team environment to achieve goals set by team leads and/or supervisors;
• Applying and adapting concepts, advanced computing techniques, and methods in mathematics, physics, remote sensing, data science, or physical science to conduct research and make predictions about the Earth System;
• Using remote sensing data and/or applied science techniques to understand and characterize the interactions among the elements of the Earth System in general.

To qualify for GS-14, you must have one year of directly related specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 level:

• Setting goals and leading others in a team environment to achieve them;
• Applying concepts, advanced computing techniques, and methods in mathematics, physics, remote sensing, data science, or physical science to conduct research and make predictions about the coupled Earth System;
• Using remote sensing data and/or applied science techniques to understand and characterize the interactions among the elements of the Earth System in general.

To qualify for GS-15, you must have one year of directly related specialized experience equivalent to the GS-14 level:

• Taking leadership through building teams and ensuring they achieve the scientific goals;
• Developing and advancing concepts, advanced computing techniques, and methods in mathematics, physics, remote sensing, data science, or physical science to conduct research and make predictions about the coupled Earth System;
• Using remote sensing data and/or applied science techniques to understand and characterize the interactions among the elements of the Earth System in general.

Your resume must include a clear and detailed narrative description, in your own words, of how you meet the required specialized experience. Experience statements copied from a position description, vacancy announcement or other reference material constitutes plagiarism and may result in disqualification and losing consideration for the job.

Please visit to review NASA's guidance on the use of artificial intelligent (AI) or AI-assisted tools during the application process.

Required college majors for applicants qualifying on the basis of graduate education only (GS-11) :

702 Earth: Any appropriate field of engineering, physical or computer science or mathematics. Study must include or be supplemented by six semester hours (or the equivalent) in appropriate life or other natural science courses and include or be supplemented by at least two courses which would provide knowledge of subjects appropriate to the vacancy being filled.

730 Measurement: Aeronautical Engineering, Aeronautics, Aerospace Engineering, Astronautical Engineering, Astronautics, Astronomy, Astrophysics, Chemical Engineering, Electrical Engineering (except power), Electronics Engineering, Applied Mechanics, Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Mechanics, Nuclear Engineering, Nuclear Engineering Physics, Oceanography, Optical Engineering. Other majors will qualify if the major includes or is supplemented as follows: Biomedical Engineering, Chemistry, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Mathematics (Pure or Applied), Physics, Applied Physics, Engineering Physics (or other related field), if includes or is supplemented by two courses in solid state physics, materials, optics, statics and dynamics, electricity and electronics, electron optics, kinetic theory of gases, electromagnetic propagation or radiation, semiconductors, vibration, high vacuum theory, information theory or heat transfer.

Promotion Potential: The full performance level (FPL) will vary based on the position in which the selectee is placed and does not default to the highest grade advertised.

Education

Basic Education Requirement: You must have successfully completed a bachelor's degree with a major in one of the following:

a) Engineering from a college or university that has ABET accredited engineering programs

b) Physical Science, Mathematics, Life Science or other field of Science

c) Computer Science that included 30 semester hours or 45 quarter hours of course work in any combination of mathematics, statistics and computer science with at least half of those hours in mathematics and statistics courses that included differential and integral calculus; and that provided an in-depth knowledge of theoretical and practical applications of computer science, including digital computer system architecture and system software organization, the representation and transformation of information structures, and the theoretical models for such representations and transformations.

If you did not complete a qualifying bachelor's degree, you may be eligible if you have obtained a graduate degree in an AST qualifying field, as listed above.

Applicants who do not fully meet the basic education requirement may still be considered if they possess exceptional relevant experience, or a combination of education and experience, that clearly demonstrates significant full performance-level achievement directly related to the duties of this position.

Engineering degrees earned within the United States: Engineering degrees earned within the United States must be from a college or university that has at least one ABET accredited engineering program. To find out if a school has at least one ABET accredited program, please visit .

Engineering degrees earned outside the United States: Engineering degrees earned outside the United States must be recognized by a Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA), often known as accords. These are non-governmental agreements among organizations that accredit academic degree programs. MRAs recognize the substantial equivalence of mature accreditation systems and programs accredited by signatory organizations within their jurisdictions. For a listing of Signatories, please visit, .

Science and other related degrees earned within the United States: Science and other related degrees must have been awarded from colleges or universities that are accredited by recognized accrediting organizations. For a list of schools that meet this criteria, go to .

Science and other related degrees earned outside the United States: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs. These education credentials must be deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: .

All degrees must have been received in the year of, or any year subsequent to the original date of accreditation.

Additional information

In the Announcement Questionnaire, you will be prompted to select the occupational series (select as many as desired), and lowest grade you wish to be considered for.

Additional selections may be made for similar positions across NASA within the local commuting area(s) of the location(s) identified in this announcement. By applying, you agree to have your application shared with interested selecting official(s) within NASA. CTAP/ICTAP will be cleared for any additional selection from this announcement.

If you have special priority selection rights under the Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP), you must:

• Indicate your eligibility when applying for a position. The questionnaire asks you to identify your ICTAP/CTAP eligibility.
• Meet the minimum qualifications requirements for the position
• Submit proof that you meet the requirements for CTAP/ICTAP as indicated in 'Required Documents'

For additional information about CTAP/ICTAP eligibility, click here -

Any applicant that received a Voluntary Separation Incentive Payment (VSIP) from the federal governmentwithin the last five years based of the closing date of this announcement, if selected, may be required to repay the full amount prior to establishing a start date. For additional information on the VSIP repayment requirement, click here - .

Per Executive Order 14343, this position is not part of a bargaining unit.

Probationary Period

You may be required to serve a one-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. If selected, the requirement to serve such period will be determined by Title 5 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 11.

In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;

• the needs and interests of the agency;

• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and

• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Supervisory probationary periods are not subject to the above process, although, if a standard probationary period is required. You are subject to the conditions of both a standard probationary period and the supervisory probationary period.

Other duty locations not specifically listed on this announcement may be considered at management's discretion.

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Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Benefits

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.