Computer Scientist

Summary This position is located in the Air Traffic Organization (ATO), Program Management Organization (PMO), Terminal 2nd Level Engineering Group, AJM-24. Responsibilities This position serves as a computer scientist supporting the National Airspace System (NAS). He/she applies experience and advanced knowledge of computer science methods and techniques to store, manipulate, transform to accomplish assignments and to develop plans and techniques to improve programs and policies. The employee will perform multiple, varying, and complex assignments limited under the direction of a team or sub-team manager, team lead, or more experienced technical specialist. He/she has advanced knowledge of IT principals, including concepts, methods, standards, software development and practices in order to provide support in the delivery of sprints and ensure information interoperability. As a contributing specialist, he/she develops software systems using a knowledge of techniques, procedures, and processes such as operating system theory, data structures, software engineering, and computer communication. Assists in the development of improved processes for automation and information processing display, control, and transfer. He/she aids in ensuring that applicable policies are applied to technical solutions, and procedures are followed. Analyzes data to identify trends or relationships among variables. Investigates and identifies complex problems or system malfunctions associated with aviation related automation systems and recommends techniques to address problems. He/she is involved with the design and integration of new systems. Provides support in the development and implementation of computer hardware and software solutions. Works with senior scientists to determine design specifications or details, incorporate new tools and systems for efficiencies, and improve computer hardware performance and increase the efficiency of computer software and/or hardware. Assists in the development of program and project plans in accordance with FAA's Acquisition Management System, such as requirements documents and cost benefit analyses, and may serve as a Control Account Manager or Contract Officers Representative. He/she provides guidance to lower-level technical staff on how to solve difficult technical issues. Resolves all but unique technical problems without the intervention of management or a more experienced technical specialist. Identifies and informs management of problems that require their attention. Contacts are internal and external. He/she may act as a key technical point of contact for assigned activities. Contributes to the preparation of management/technical reports or contractual documents, and may communicate the overall results of a project or work activity to internal and external stakeholders and customers. Work is reviewed periodically, typically at major milestones and at completion, for technical compliance and alignment with the requirements of the project or other work activity. Requirements Conditions of Employment We are not accepting applications from noncitizens. Qualifications To view the complete qualifications standard, applicants should reference-U.S. Office of Personnel Management Group Coverage Qualification Standard for the Computer Science, 1550, Series. Basic Requirements: Bachelor's degree in computer science or bachelor's degree with 30 semester hours in a combination of mathematics, statistics, and computer science. At least 15 of the 30 semester hours must have included any combination of statistics and mathematics that included differential and integral calculus. All academic degrees and course work must be from accredited or pre-accredited institutions. In addition to meeting the basic qualifications listed above, to qualify for this position you must demonstrate in your application that you possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the FV-H, FG/GS-12. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. Specialized experience is: Experience collecting, recording and analyzing data/information and identifying system problems and experience providing support in the development and implementation of computer hardware and software solutions. Applicants should include examples of specialized experience in their work history. Qualifications must be met by the closing date of this vacancy announcement. Some, all, or none of the applicants may be interviewed. Education This position has a positive education requirement: Applicants must submit a copy of their college or university transcripts(s) and certificates by the closing date of announcement to verify qualifications. If selected, an official transcript will be required prior to appointment. You may upload these documents with your application in USAJOBS or fax it to fax number provided in the announcement (please include announcement number on each page). Failure to do so will result in loss of consideration. Schools must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Accreditation may be verified at the following website: Foreign education must be evaluated by a private professional organization specializing in interpretation of foreign education credentials or an accredited U.S. educational institution in terms of equivalence to a degree acquired at an American college or university. A copy of the evaluation results must be included, otherwise your foreign education will not be considered. Additional Information We may use this vacancy to fill other similar vacant positions. Position may be subject to a background investigation. A one-year probationary period may be required. The person selected for this position may be required to file a financial disclosure statement within 30 days of entry on duty. FAA policy limits certain outside employment and financial investments in aviation-related companies. This position is covered by the Department of Transportation's Drug and Alcohol Testing Program. Any applicant tentatively selected for this position will be subject to pre-employment or pre-appointment drug screening. Persons occupying a "testing designated position (TDP)" will be subject to random drug and/or alcohol testing. As a part of the Federal-Wide Hiring Reform Initiative (streamlining the hiring process), the FAA is committed to eliminating the use of the Knowledge, Skills and Ability (KSA) narratives from the initial application in the hiring process for all announcements. Therefore, as an applicant for this announcement, you are NOT required to provide a narrative response in the text box listed below each KSA. In lieu of providing a KSA narrative response in the text box listed below each KSAs, in your work history, please include information that provides specific examples of how you meet the response level or answer you chose for each KSA. Your work history examples should be specific and clearly reflect the highest level of ability. Your KSA answers will be evaluated further to validate whether the level that you selected is appropriate based on the work history and experience you provided. Your answers may be adjusted by a Human Resource Specialist as appropriate. Eligible applicants meeting the minimum qualification requirements and selective factor(s), if applicable, may be further evaluated on the Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA) listed in the announcement. Based on this evaluation, applicants will be placed in one of the following categories: score order, category grouping, or alphabetical order and referred to the selecting official for consideration. Links to Important Information: Locality Pay, COLA