INTERDISCIPLINARY-NUCLEAR ENGINEER/PHYSICIST/CHEMIST

Summary

Click on "Learn more about this agency" button below for IMPORTANT additional information.

The primary purpose of this position is to be the civilian scientific technical expert providing continuity, subject matter expertise, training, process improvement & feedback to the technical team responsible for the sample collection and field analysis of airborne nuclear samples collected in support of the Nuclear Debris Collection and Analysis Program & National Technical Nuclear Forensics program.

Learn more about this agency

Duties

Help

• Technical Advisor to the Detachment Commander-Subject matter expert who clearly understands the science and technical details of: the airborne nuclear materials collection, the analysis, the field analysis equipment, and the supporting maintenance equipment used to analyze airborne samples.
• Training and Oversight-Ensures all personnel in the Detachment are trained on the technical science behind the operational missions to includeatomic and nuclear phenomena, radiation, chemistry, physics, and meteorological transport.
• Technical Management-Applies knowledge of nuclear physics, chemistry, and meteorological transport to the development of test criteria and thedevelopment of test plans in support of acquisition efforts to obtain new airborne collection and field analysis equipment.
• Software Development-Develops software tools using primarily Python, C++, Gammavision, R, and SQL on Windows and Linux operating systems to improve the operation, maintenance, and data products produced by the collection and analysis software.

Requirements

Help

Conditions of employment

• U.S. Citizenship Required
• All new DCIPS employees are required to complete a two-year DCIPS trial period.
• If authorized, PCS will be paid IAW JTR and AF Regulations. If receiving an authorized PCS, you may be subject to completing/signing a CONUS agreement. More information on PCS requirements, may be found at:
• This position is subject to provisions of the DoD Priority Placement Program
• Must be registered for Selective Service, see Legal and Regulatory Guide
• Employee may be required to work other than normal duty hours, to include evenings, weekends and/or holidays
• Shift work and emergency overtime may be required
• Employee must maintain current certifications
• Disclosure of Political Appointments
• Direct Deposit: All federal employees are required to have direct deposit
• Advance in hire may be authorized if there is demonstrable proof provided on your resume
• Leave accrual may be authorized upon request
• Depending on the type of position (competitive/excepted) you are selected for, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period OR 2-year trial period.
• Upon completion of your probationary/trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.
• The employee will be required to go TDY for weeks to months at a time in support of airborne collection operations and will be the materilas technical expert who oversees the technical analysis.
• The employee will be required to travel in military and/or commercial aircraft to perform temporary duty assignments.
• Advanced technical degree, at the post-graduate level, is highly desired.
• This is a key position. Incumbent must be removed from any military recall status if alternatives are not available for filling this position during an emergency are not available.

Qualifications

This is a GG-13 position in the Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System (DCIPS). The GG-13 duties for the "Professional" work category are at the "Full Performance" work level and are equivalent to those at the GS-13 level. The selectee's salary will be set within the grade equivalent to a GS/GG grade based on the selectee's qualifications in relation to the job.

This is an interdisciplinary position that may be filled as a Nuclear Engineer/ Physical Scientist/Chemist, GG-0840/1310/1320-13.In order to qualify, you must meet the education and/or experience requirements described in the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards for General Schedule Positions, Professional and Scientific Positions for the GG-0840, Professional Engineering Series or GG-1310, Physics Series, or GG-1320, Chemistry Series

INDIVIDUAL OCCUPATION REQUIREMENT: GG-0840-13, Nuclear Engineer

A. A degree in Engineering. To be acceptable, the program must: (1) lead to a bachelor's degree in a school of engineering with at least one program accredited by ABET; or (2) include differential and integral calculus and courses (more advanced than first-year physics and chemistry) in five of the following seven areas of engineering science or physics: (a) statics, dynamics; (b) strength of materials (stress-strain relationships); (c) fluid mechanics, hydraulics; (d) thermodynamics; (e) electrical fields and circuits; (f) nature and properties of materials (relating particle and aggregate structure to properties); and (g) any other comparable area of fundamental engineering science or physics, such as optics, heat transfer, soil mechanics, or electronics. Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position. NOTE: YOU MUST SUBMIT COPIES OF YOUR OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPTS.

OR

B. COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: College-level education, training, and/or technical experience that furnished (1) a thorough knowledge of the physical and mathematical sciences underlying professional engineering, and (2) a good understanding, both theoretical and practical, of the engineering sciences and techniques and their applications to one of the branches of engineering. Click here to view occupational requirements for this position.

INDIVIDUAL OCCUPATIONAL REQUIREMENT: GG-1310-13, Physics Series

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

OR

B. 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.

INDIVIDUAL OCCUPATIONAL REQUIREMENT: GG-1320-13, Chemistry

A. Degree: physical sciences, life sciences, or engineering that included 30 semester hours in chemistry, supplemented by course work in mathematics through differential and integral calculus, and at least 6 semester hours of physics.

OR

B. Combination of education and experience course work equivalent to a major as shown in A above, including at least 30 semester hours in chemistry, supplemented by mathematics through differential and integral calculus, and at least 6 semester hours of physics, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

In addition to meeting the basic requirement above, to qualify for this position you must also meet the qualification requirements listed below:

EXPERIENCE REQUIRED: Your resume must reflect the quality level of experience which demonstrates the possession of the knowledge, skills, abilities, and competencies necessary for successful job performance required for this position. Examples of creditable experience include a mastery of physics, chemical, and nuclear sciences at a detailed level and a professional knowledge of meteorology is required. A professional knowledge of nuclear technology that includes both solid and gaseous nuclear waste handling technologies. Mastery of nuclear field analysis equipment, specifically alpha, beta, gamma, and beta-gamma coincidence techniques required to oversee/perform radioactive counting and spectroscopy. Mastery of the technical concepts behind collection and nuclear measurements is required to ensure the equipment meets the technical mission requirements. Knowledge of meteorology, nuclear transport, and sampling methods sufficient to explain mission requirements to operational staff personnel working at worldwide deployed locations. Note: Creditable experience may include previous military experience, experience gained in the private sector, or experience gained in another government agency.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs ): Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following areas:

1. Extensive knowledge of physics, chemical, and nuclear sciences and a professional knowledge of meteorological transport for the detection, identification, and analysis of airborne nuclear materials.
2. Extensive knowledge of the operation of nuclear radiation measurement equipment, especially alpha, beta, gamma and beta-gamma coincidence counting equipment as well as nuclear effluent transport, detection, collection, and analysis.
3. Substantial knowledge of nuclear laboratory analysis, evaluation techniques, and radiation safety.
4. Substantial knowledge of software coding, especially Python, C++, Gammavision, R, and SQL.
5. Knowledge of security procedures to maintain control of classified materials.
6. Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing and in a clear and accurate fashion to ensure a diverse group of personnel with differing technical backgrounds understand the Detachment collection and field analysis capabilities and to complete the training of personnel whose nuclear backgrounds range from high school to college levels.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT CONTINUED:

• Position is designated special-sensitive and requires eligibility for access to Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI), other intelligence-related Special Sensitive information, or involvement in Top Secret Special Access Programs (SAP) to fully perform the duties and responsibilities of the position. A non-disclosure agreement must be signed.
• Drug Testing: This position has been designated by the Air Force as a Testing Designated Position (TDP) under the Air Force Civilian Testing Program. Employee must pass initial and periodic short notice drug testing. Illegal drug use by employees in sensitive positions presents a clear threat to the mission of the Air Force, national security, and public safety.
• This is a Mission Essential (ME) position performing a Mission Critical Function (MCF) which must continue uninterrupted after the occurrence of an emergency and continued through full resumption of all functions. IAW, DoDI 3020-42, Defense Continuity Programs.

PART-TIME OR UNPAID EXPERIENCE : Credit will be given for appropriate unpaid and or part-time work. You must clearly identify the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the total number of hours per week.

VOLUNTEER WORK EXPERIENCE : Refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service Programs (i.e., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student and social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge and skills that can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Education

POSITIVE EDUCATION REQUIREMENT : This position has a positive education requirement. If transcripts are not provided, your resume MUST list the appropriate academic field (e.g. biology, mechanical engineering, economics, sociology, etc.) and all courses you have taken (including those failed), which appear to satisfy the qualification requirements of the position for which you are applying. List graduate and undergraduate courses separately. Include the descriptive title and course code, completion date, grade, number of semester, quarter or classroom hours (for education completed at business, secretarial, technical school or military schools) and graduate and undergraduate classes. **As of 1 Sep 2016, current internal AF employees must attach their transcripts. Failure to do so will result in not being referred for the position.

IF USING EDUCATION TO QUALIFY: If position has a positive degree requirement or education forms the basis for qualifications, you MUST submit transcriptswith the application. Official transcripts are not required at the time of application; however, if position has a positive degree requirement, qualifying based on education alone or in combination with experience, transcripts must be verified prior to appointment. An accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education must accredit education. Click here to check accreditation.

FOREIGN EDUCATION : Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the requirements. You must show proof the education credentials have been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education program. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

This position is a Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel Systems (DCIPS) position implemented under Section 504, Title V of Public Law 99-569, Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1987, as codified in Sec 1601, Chap 83 of Title 10 United States Code which sets forth Air Force policies and procedures for DCIPS. This position is in the Excepted Service.

DoD Components with DCIPS positions apply Veterans' Preference to preference eligible candidates as defined by Section 2108 of Title 5 USC, in accordance with the procedures provided in DoD Instruction 1400.25, Volume 2005, DCIPS Employment and Placement. If you are a veteran claiming veterans' preference, as defined by section 2108 of Title 5 U.S.C., you must submit documents verifying your eligibility with your application package.

For additional information on DCIPS, click here

Additional information

Employed Annuitants (Reemployed Annuitants): Applicants in receipt of an annuity based on civilian employment in the Federal Service are subject to the DoD Policy on The Employment of Annuitants. Click here for more information.

120-Day Register: This announcement may result in a 120-day register that may be used to fill like vacancies for 120 days after the closing date. Applicants may be referred for consideration as vacancies occur.

Direct Deposit: All federal employees are required to have direct deposit.

Disabled veteran leave is available to a Federal employee hired on/after 5 Nov 2016, who is a veteran with a service-connected disability rating of 30% or more. For more information, click here.

If you have questions regarding this announcement and have hearing or speech difficulties click here.

Selectees who physically reside permanently in the U.S., the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico or Northern Mariana Islands, and the Possessions of the U.S., during the entire recruitment process (application, selection, and acceptance of a formal job offer) and selected for employment in the foreign area are eligible to receive certain foreign area benefits such as: Living Quarters Allowance (LQA) or government quarters, Post Allowance, Home Leave, etc. (subject to approval)

Selectees who physically reside outside the U.S., the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico or Northern Mariana Islands, and the Possessions of the U.S., during any step of the recruitment process (application, selection, and acceptance of a formal job offer) will have foreign area benefits eligibility be determined on a case by case basis.

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.

Help

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.

Review our benefits

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.