Interdisciplinary Physical Scientist - General Engineer

Defense Threat Reduction Agency; Fort Belvoir (VA); Remote; USD 144,000 - 187,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Telework eligible

Job summary

Defense Threat Reduction Agency seeks an Interdisciplinary Physical Scientist - General Engineer to lead offensive R&D programs in hard target defeat and related domains. You will coordinate with services, DIA, and interagency partners to ensure deliverables align with military and policy requirements, while evaluating new technologies for offensive capabilities.

You will serve as an SME on IPTs, preparing technical briefings and strategic recommendations to flag officers and senior executives,

Qualifications

• Transcripts required; all materials must be submitted by the closing date.
• Graduate education: one academic year of full-time study (as credits hours) or 18 semester hours/27 quarter hours may satisfy.
• Foreign education: must be evaluated for equivalence to U.S. education.

Responsibilities

• Lead complex R&D programs to advance theories, experiments, and technology trends in HDBT defeat and HTD.
• Coordinate joint-agency portfolios with military services, DIA, and other DoD partners.
• Assess emerging technologies to design conventional and functional defeat capabilities.
• Evaluate warfighter requirements for C5ISRT and HDBT facilities to guide program development.
• Represent the Agency on national/international committees and brief senior executives.

Education

Graduate education requirement

Job description

Interdisciplinary Physical Scientist - General Engineer

• Hiring Agency: Defense Threat Reduction Agency
• Department: Department of Defense
• Number of Openings: 1
• Security Clearance: Sensitive Compartmented Information

This position is being filled under the memorandum from the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness (USD(P&R)) "Expansion of Direct Hire Authority for Certain Personnel of the Department of Defense," dated August 12,2024. This position is part of the Defense Threat Reduction Agency.

Key Responsibilities

As a Interdisciplinary Physical Scientist - General Engineer at the GS-0801/1301-14 some of your typical work assignments may include: Leading complex, offensive research and development (R&D) programs to advance scientific theories, experiments, and technology trends in Hard and Deeply Buried Targets (HDBT) defeat and Hard Target Development (HTD).

Managing and coordinating joint-agency program portfolios with the military Services, Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), and other DoD/interagency partners to align offensive capabilities, eliminate duplication of effort, and ensure deliverables meet military and policy requirements.

Evaluating and identifying emerging technologies and strategic opportunities to design new conventional and functional target defeat capabilities, including assessing the physical construction, testing, and operational maintenance of newly developed systems.

Assessing operational warfighter requirements for Command, Control, Computing, Communications, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance, and Targeting (C5ISRT) and adversary HDBT facilities to guide offensive program development. Representing the Agency on national and international committees and board panels focused on developing strategies to hold adversary HDBTs and Command, Control, Communications, and Intelligence (C4I) infrastructure at risk.

Serving as an Agency Subject Matter Expert (SME) on Innovations Product Teams (IPTs) to prepare and deliver technical briefings, program updates, and strategic recommendations on conventional and functional defeat concepts to military flag officers and senior civilian executives.

Requirements & Education

Substitution of education may not be used in lieu of specialized experience for this grade level. TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED: All materials must be submitted by the closing date of the announcement. GRADUATE EDUCATION: One academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credits hours that your graduate school has determined to represent one academic year of full-time study. Such study may have been performed on a full-time or part-time basis.

If you cannot obtain your graduate school's definition of one year of graduate study, 18 semester hours (or 27 quarter hours) should be considered as satisfying the requirement for one year of full-time graduate study.

FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university.

For further information, visit: https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html

Which agency is hiring for this position?

This position is with Defense Threat Reduction Agency, Department of Defense.

What is the salary for this position?

The posted pay range is $143913 – $187093/yr.

Is this position remote or telework eligible?

This position is eligible for telework.

What security clearance is required?

This position requires a Sensitive Compartmented Information security clearance.

What is the application deadline?

Applications close on 2026-11-16.

Who is eligible to apply?

This position is open under the 'Mspouse' hiring path.