Physical Science Technician

National-Oceanic-; Gulfport (MS); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

NOAA's National Ocean Service is seeking a qualified candidate for a position in Gulfport, MS, focused on hydrographic surveys and data processing. The role involves maintenance of survey equipment, data acquisition, processing, and contributing to reports and procedures.

The position emphasizes experience with hydrographic tools and the ability to develop standard operating procedures, with options for education-based substitutions as outlined in the vacancy.

Qualifications

• One year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-04.
• Experience in maintenance or repair of survey vessel or equipment.
• Experience in processing hydrographic survey data.
• Experience developing hydrographic survey reports or SOPs.

Responsibilities

• Assist in maintenance, repair, or operation of hydrographic survey equipment.
• Assist in acquisition, processing, and analysis of survey data.
• Contribute to development of hydrographic survey reports or SOPs.

Skills

Data processing

Equipment maintenance

Survey data analysis

Report writing

Education

Bachelor's degree in physical science or related field

Master's degree in physical science/engineering/math

Tools

Multibeam echosounders

Side scan sonars

Job description

This position is located in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Ocean Service (NOS), Office of Coast Survey (OCS), with one vacancy in Gulfport, MS.

This position is also announced under vacancy number NOS OCS-26-13070813-ST, which is open to Status Candidates. You must apply to both announcements if you want to be considered for both.

Qualification requirements in the vacancy announcements are based on the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards Handbook, which contains federal qualification standards. This handbook is available on the Office of Personnel Management's website located at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/

EDUCATION: There is no positive education requirement for this position.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to the next lower grade level in the Federal Service. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular competencies/knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. This experience need not have been in the federal government.

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.

To qualify at the ZT-2 or GS-05 level:

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the ZT-1 or GS-04 in the Federal service. Specialized experience MUST include all of the following:

• Assisting in performing maintenance and repair of survey vessel or equipment; and
• Assisting in processing or compiling data from hydrographic surveys.

OR

SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION: Successful completion of a 4-year course of study above high school leading to a bachelor's degree (a) with major study in an appropriate field of physical science, or (b) that included at least 24 semester hours in any combination of courses such as physical science, engineering, or any branch of mathematics, except financial and commercial mathematics.

OR

COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: A combination of education and experience equivalent to that described above. Note: Only post-high school education in excess of two years leading to a bachelor's degree is qualifying for combination.

To qualify at the ZT-3 or GS-09 level:

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the ZT-2 or GS-08 in the Federal service. Specialized experience MUST include all of the following:

• Participating in the maintenance, repair, or operation of hydrographic survey equipment (e.g. multibeam echosounders, side scan sonars, etc.);
• Assisting in the acquisition, processing, and analysis of survey data; and
• Contributing to the development of hydrographic survey reports or standard operating procedures.

OR

SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION: Master's or equivalent graduate degree in an appropriate field of physical science, engineering, or any branch of mathematics (except financial and commercial mathematics) or 2 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree.

OR

COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: A combination of successfully completed graduate-level education and specialized experience may be used to meet the total experience requirements. Note: Only graduate education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade may be combined with experience.