Computational Physicist

US National Institute of Standards and Technology; Gaithersburg (MD); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in Gaithersburg, MD is seeking a Computational Physicist to support computing infrastructure across the Material Measurement Laboratory. The role emphasizes reproducible workflows, deploying CPU/GPU resources, and aligning IT policy.

You will migrate data, administer the CTCMS projects, and work with cross-disciplinary teams to advance materials science computing capabilities.

Qualifications

• Degree in physics or related degree with at least 24 semester hours in physics.
• Combination of education and experience may satisfy requirements.
• 1 year of specialized experience at GS-9 level in Linux system administration, HPC cluster operations, and resource management.
• 3 years of progressively higher education leading to a Ph.D. or a Ph.D. itself.

Responsibilities

• Support computing infrastructure across the Material Measurement Laboratory.
• Enhance performance and reproducibility of materials science workflows.
• Deploy CPU/GPU resources.
• Administer CTCMS projects and data migration; ensure IT policy alignment.

Skills

Linux system administration

HPC cluster operations

Resource management

Education

Physics degree with at least 24 semester hours in physics

Graduate education up to PhD

Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree

Tools

Linux

CTCMS

Job description

NIST is seeking a Computational Physicist to support computing infrastructure across the Material Measurement Laboratory. This role enhances the performance and reproducibility of materials science workflows, and involves deploying CPU/GPU resources, administering CTCMS projects, migrating data, and ensuring IT policy alignment.

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:

• Degree: physics; or related degree that included at least 24 semester hours in physics.
• OR
• Combination of education and experience: Courses equivalent to a major in physics totaling at least 24 semester hours, plus appropriate experience or additional education.
• AND
• 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 experience in Linux system administration, HPC cluster operations and resource management.
• OR
• 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree
• OR
• Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree.
• 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.