Chemist-Direct Hire

US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Atlanta (GA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives' Office of Science and Technology seeks a Chemist at the GS-11 level to support forensic science laboratories.

The role focuses on applying advanced chemical analyses and generating reliable laboratory results for law enforcement mission support. Qualified candidates will have a physical sciences, life sciences, or engineering degree with chemistry coursework, plus specialized experience and ability to provide expert testimony based on

Qualifications

• Degree in physical sciences, life sciences, or engineering with 30 chemistry hours and calculus through integral calculus plus 6 physics hours.
• Combination of education and experience with 30 chemistry hours and calculus, plus physics.
• At least one year of specialized experience at GS-09 or equivalent.
• Specialized experience includes wet chemistry, instrumental analyses, and expert witness preparation.

Responsibilities

• Apply wet chemistry and instrumental analyses in forensic contexts.
• Interpret and evaluate results from chemical analyses and instruments.
• Prepare laboratory reports detailing activities and findings.
• Provide expert testimony based on laboratory examinations.

Skills

Wet chemistry

GC-MS

X-ray diffraction

Infrared spectroscopy

Expert testimony

Laboratory reporting

Education

B.S. in physical/life sciences or engineering

Chemistry coursework + calculus + physics

Job description

The Chemist will work in the Office of Science and Technology (OST) in the Forensic Science Laboratories. This position supports the mission of OST by providing highly technical and scientific services in support of the Bureau's primary law enforcement mission.

Direct-Hire Authority (DHA) is a hiring authority granted by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to address critical hiring needs or severe candidate shortages.

To qualify for the Chemist position at the GS-11 grade you must meet the following requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Basic Requirements

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.

B. A 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.

AND To qualify for this position at the GS-11, candidates must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-09).

Specialized experience is demonstrated experience, which has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform successfully the duties of this position. Experience must be in the normal line of progression or must be related to the work of the position advertised and must be reflected in resume.

Specialized experience must include all of the below:

• Using wet chemistry and chemical procedures (such as gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, X-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy, etc.); AND
• Interpreting, evaluating and analyzing the results of analysis from chemical and instrumental examinations; AND
• Preparing laboratory reports on the activities conducted; AND
• Formal training or experience preparing for and providing expert witness testimony on the basis of laboratory examinations.

OR EDUCATION: 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree.