PHYSICAL SCIENTIST

Summary You will serve as a PHYSICAL SCIENTIST in the SUBMARINE NAVIGATION BRANCH (NP432) of NAVOCEANO BAY ST LOUIS. Responsibilities You will develop, maintain, and implement procedures to process and incorporate various data into bathymetric seafloor models, including setting priorities and schedules for completion of the work within the assigned guidelines. You will implement quality assurance procedures to control and certify the accuracy and validity of bathymetric/hydrographic data, and the processes used to produce bathymetric/hydrographic models. You will maintain liaison with cognizant personnel of other Office components, and with other Government organizations/agencies to determine/update production requirements. You will resolve technical difficulties requiring professional scientific judgement, which are referred from subordinates, and provide technical advice and assistance on subjects involving bathymetry and hydrography to other Office components. You will initiate the identification of upcoming problems from knowledge of the physical principles and engineering designs of hydrographic/bathymetric and navigation collection systems, and the accuracy requirements of various seafloor products. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications 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-12 grade level or pay band in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private or public sector. Specialized experience must demonstrate the following: Experience implementing quality assurance procedures to control and certify the accuracy and validity of bathymetric/hydrographic data and the processes used to produce seafloor models. Experience serving on multi-agency committees and working groups as an official representative to determine, conform to, and update project requirements. Experience resolving complex technical difficulties requiring professional scientific judgment, providing technical guidance to subordinates, and reviewing their work for accuracy. Experience performing duties aboard survey ships or other platforms, including operating various sonar and navigation equipment, and performing preliminary data reduction. Experience performing developmental and applications-oriented investigations to test, evaluate, and transition advanced digital procedures and technology from R&D into operational use. 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. Education Applicants must meet the following positive education qualifications requirements of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualifications Standards Manual: Applicants must possess: 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 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. TRANSCRIPTS ARE REQUIRED TO SHOW PROOF OF BASIC EDUCATION REQUIREMENT Additional Information 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. ICTAP Applicants: 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. This position is subject to an initial drug screening, and random testing thereafter. A negative drug test result must be received by HR within 30 calendar days after the EOD (i.e., start date). The selectee's inability to successfully pass; or refusal to conduct the test may result in: 1) the tentative or final job offer being withdrawn during the recruitment process; or 2) subsequently being removed from Federal service for failure to meet a condition of employment. You may be required to sign a "Drug Test Statement of Understanding" if you are selected for this position.