Applied Research Engineer

US National Institute of Standards and Technology; Gaithersburg (MD); On-site; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) seeks an Applied Research Engineer to perform complex calibration and experimental tasks, ensuring traceability of measurements and adherence to metrology standards. The role focuses on developing systems for measuring and calibrating to support calibration services and research initiatives.

The position emphasizes rigorous engineering practice, advanced data acquisition, and adherence to laboratory requirements, with opportunities to

Qualifications

• Engineering degree with ABET-accredited program or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Specialized experience includes flow metrology, traceability, data acquisition and analysis.
• Qualification standards follow OPM guidelines for federal engineering positions.

Responsibilities

• Perform complex calibration and experimental tasks to ensure traceability and adherence to metrology standards.
• Develop systems for measuring and calibrating to support calibration services and research initiatives.

Skills

Flow metrology

Measurement traceability

Data acquisition

Data analysis

Education

ABET-accredited engineering program

Bachelor's degree in engineering

Professional Engineer licensure (PE)

FE examination or equivalent

Job description

NIST is seeking an Applied Research Engineer to perform complex calibration and experimental tasks. The role involves ensuring traceability of measurements and adherence to laboratory standards and metrology requirements. This position will focus on developing systems for measuring and calibrating to support calibration services and research initiatives.

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

BASIC REQUIREMENTS:

A. Degree: 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:

• statics, dynamics
• strength of materials (stress‑strain relationships)
• fluid mechanics, hydraulics
• thermodynamics
• electrical fields and circuits
• nature and properties of materials (relating particle and aggregate structure to properties)
• and any other comparable area of fundamental engineering science or physics, such as optics, heat transfer, soil mechanics, or electronics.

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 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. The adequacy of such background must be demonstrated by one of the following:

1. Professional registration or licensure -- Current registration as an Engineer Intern (EI), Engineer in Training (EIT), or licensure as a Professional Engineer (PE) by any State, the District of Columbia, Guam, or Puerto Rico. Absent other means of qualifying under this standard, those applicants who achieved such registration by means other than written test (e.g., State grandfather or eminence provisions) are eligible only for positions that are within or closely related to the specialty field of their registration. For example, an applicant who attains registration through a State Board's eminence provision as a manufacturing engineer typically would be rated eligible only for manufacturing engineering positions.
2. Written Test -- Evidence of having successfully passed the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) examination or any other written test required for professional registration by an engineering licensure board in the various States, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico.
3. Specified academic courses -- Successful completion of at least 60 semester hours of courses in the physical, mathematical, and engineering sciences and that included the courses specified in the basic requirements under paragraph A. The courses must be fully acceptable toward meeting the requirements of an engineering program as described in paragraph A.
4. Related curriculum -- Successful completion of a curriculum leading to a bachelor's degree in an appropriate scientific field, e.g., engineering technology, physics, chemistry, architecture, computer science, mathematics, hydrology, or geology, may be accepted in lieu of a bachelor's degree in engineering, provided the applicant has had at least 1 year of professional engineering experience acquired under professional engineering supervision and guidance. Ordinarily there should be either an established plan of intensive training to develop professional engineering competence, or several years of prior professional engineering-type experience, e.g., in interdisciplinary positions. (The above examples of related curricula are not all-inclusive.)

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 flow metrology measurements and calibrations
• Applying principles of measurement traceability and analysis
• Performing technical data acquisition and analysis

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