Data Scientist

US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency; Arlington (VA); On-site; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency in Arlington, VA, is advertising for a Physical Scientist (GS-1301-11/12) under Direct Hire Authority.

Applicants must meet basic education and specialized experience as described and may be considered for consideration at the GS-11 or GS-12 level based on qualifications. Qualified candidates will analyze data requirements, design data standards, and develop analytic workflows in R/Python/SQL.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in physical science, engineering, or mathematics with 24 semester hours in physical science or related engineering science.
• Combination of education and experience meeting the above requirements is acceptable.
• GS-11/GS-12 level experience includes data analysis, data standards, and analytic programming.

Responsibilities

• Analyze data requirements and develop or update data standards, policies, and procedures.
• Conduct independent quantitative analysis of large datasets using statistical methods.
• Write and refine code-based workflows (R/Python/SQL) to ensure analytic repeatability.

Skills

Data analysis

Statistical methods

Programming (R/Python/SQL)

Education

Bachelor's degree in physical science/engineering/mathematics

PhD or equivalent (desirable)

Job description

This announcement is issued under the Direct Hire Authority (DHA) to recruit for positions for which there is a critical hiring need. Selectee(s) will receive a career or career-conditional appointment in the competitive service and may be required to serve a one year probationary period.

The official title of this position is Physical Scientist GS-1301-11/12. Do NOT copy and paste the duties, specialized experience, or occupational assessment questionnaire from this announcement into your resume as that will not be considered a demonstration of your qualifications for this position. Your resume must describe your work and experience, in your own words.

To be considered minimally qualified for this position, you must demonstrate that you have the required education and experience for the respective grade level in which you are applying.

BASIC REQUIREMENTS:

A. Degree: Bachelor's degree (or higher degree) from an accredited institution that included a major field of study in physical science, engineering, or mathematics that included 24 semester hours or 36 quarter hours in physical science and/or related engineering science such as mechanics, dynamics, properties of materials, and electronics. (Note: You must attach a copy of your transcripts.

B. Combination of education and experience: Combination of education and experience with education equivalent to one of the majors shown in A above that included at least 24 semester hours or 36 quarter hours in physical science and/or related engineering science, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

IN ADDITION TO MEETING THE BASIC REQUIREMENTS ABOVE, YOU MUST ALSO MEET THE FOLLOWING MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

You qualify at the GS-11 grade level, if you have:

EXPERIENCE:

At least one (1) year of specialized experience at the GS-09 grade level (or equivalent) performing all the following duties:

1. Analyzing and defining data requirements/specifications and developing or updating data standards, policies, and procedures to support mission analytics;
2. Conducting independent quantitative analysis of large or complex datasets using statistical methods to produce defensible findings; AND
3. Writing and refining code-based workflows (e.g., R/Python/Structured Query Language (SQL); file ingestion/output; preprocessing steps such as imputation/normalization/transformation) to ensure analytic repeatability.

OR

EDUCATION:

A. Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree from an accredited institution that included a major field of study in physical science, engineering, or mathematics that included 24 semester hours or 36 quarter hours in physical science and/or related engineering science such as mechanics, dynamics, properties of materials, and electronics.

B. Three (3) full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree from an accredited institution that included major study in the field of study described in statement \"A\" above.

C. LL.M. (Master of Laws) degree, if related

OR

COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: An equivalent combination of education and experience as described above may be used to substitute for the specialized experience requirement. Only graduate education in excess of the second year (determined by the institution) or 36 semester hours or 54 quarter hours (i.e., beyond the second year) is creditable toward meeting the specialized experience requirement.

You qualify at the GS-12 grade level, if you have:

EXPERIENCE:

At least one (1) year of specialized experience at the GS-11 grade level (or equivalent) performing all the following duties:

1. Serving as a technical lead analyst for complex, multidisciplinary critical infrastructure risk/consequence analyses where established criteria or data are incomplete, requiring judgment, originality, and methodological adaptation;
2. Designing and improving analytic methodologies and procedures (theoretical and practical), including establishing standards for data use, validation, and interpretation across teams or projects; AND
3. Leading development of advanced analytic products and decision support (e.g., integrated trend/cross-sector risk analyses) that directly inform program direction, stakeholder actions, or resource prioritization.

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.

All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.