PHYSICAL SCIENTIST

U.S. Fleet Forces Command; Mississippi; On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. Fleet Forces Command in Mississippi seeks a Physical Scientist to develop and maintain bathymetric seafloor models and implement QA procedures ensuring data accuracy. You will liaise with DoD organizations, provide technical guidance on hydrography, and identify upcoming problems from physical principles and system designs.

Travel to CONUS/OCONUS possible; pre-employment requirements apply. This role supports NAVOCEANO activities in Bay St. Louis and requires U.S.

Qualifications

• Experience implementing quality assurance procedures for bathymetric/hydrographic data.
• Experience serving on multi-agency committees and updating project requirements.
• Experience resolving complex technical difficulties and providing guidance to subordinates.
• Experience operating sonar and navigation equipment aboard survey ships or platforms.
• Experience transitioning advanced digital procedures from R&D to operations.

Responsibilities

• Develop, maintain, and implement procedures to process and incorporate data into bathymetric seafloor models.
• Implement QA procedures to certify accuracy and validity of data and models.
• Maintain liaison with cognizant personnel and other agencies to determine production requirements.
• Provide technical advice on bathymetry and hydrography to office components.
• Identify upcoming problems from physical principles and engineering designs of hydrographic systems.

Skills

Quality assurance

Bathymetric data

Seafloor models

Inter‑agency liaison

Technical guidance

Survey ships operations

Education

B.S. or higher in physical science or engineering or mathematics

Tools

Sonar equipment operation

Navigation equipment operation

Job description

Summary

You will serve as a PHYSICAL SCIENTIST in the SUBMARINE NAVIGATION BRANCH (NP432) of NAVOCEANO BAY ST LOUIS.

Duties

• You will develop, maintain, and implement procedures to process and incorporate various data into bathymetric seafloor models, including setting priorities and schedules for completion of the work within the assigned guidelines.
• You will implement quality assurance procedures to control and certify the accuracy and validity of bathymetric/hydrographic data, and the processes used to produce bathymetric/hydrographic models.
• You will maintain liaison with cognizant personnel of other Office components, and with other Government organizations/agencies to determine/update production requirements.
• You will resolve technical difficulties requiring professional scientific judgement, which are referred from subordinates, and provide technical advice and assistance on subjects involving bathymetry and hydrography to other Office components.
• You will initiate the identification of upcoming problems from knowledge of the physical principles and engineering designs of hydrographic/bathymetric and navigation collection systems, and the accuracy requirements of various seafloor products.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• Must be a US Citizen.
• Must be determined suitable for federal employment.
• Must participate in the direct deposit pay program.
• New employees to the Department of the Navy will be required to successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit e-verify.gov
• Generally, current federal employees applying for GS jobs must serve at least one year at the next lower grade level. This requirement is called time-in-grade. Time-in-grade requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.
• Within the Department of Defense (DoD), the appointment of retired military members within 180 days immediately following retirement date to a civilian position is subject to the provisions of 5 United States Code 3326.
• Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service.
• You will be required to successfully complete a pre-appointment physical examination.
• MSP/PPP applicants must currently hold the required security clearance.
• Successful completion of a pre-employment drug test (including marijuana) is required. A tentative offer of employment will be rescinded if you fail to report to the drug test appointment or fail the test. You will be subject to random testing.
• This position may require travel from normal duty station to CONUS and OCONUS and may include remote or isolated sites. You must be able to travel on military and commercial aircraft for extended periods of time.
• Work is performed in areas where potentially harmful physical and chemical agents are present (e.g. fumes, dust, heat, ionizing and non-ionizing radiation and chemicals). You will be required to participate in medical surveillance programs.
• You will be required to obtain and maintain an interim and/or final security clearance prior to entrance on duty. Failure to obtain and maintain the required level of clearance may result in the withdrawal of a job offer or removal.
• You will be required to perform occasional sea duty.

Qualifications

• Experience implementing quality assurance procedures to control and certify the accuracy and validity of bathymetric/hydrographic data and the processes used to produce seafloor models.
• Experience serving on multi-agency committees and working groups as an official representative to determine, conform to, and update project requirements.
• Experience resolving complex technical difficulties requiring professional scientific judgment, providing technical guidance to subordinates, and reviewing their work for accuracy.
• Experience performing duties aboard survey ships or other platforms, including operating various sonar and navigation equipment, and performing preliminary data reduction.
• Experience performing developmental and applications-oriented investigations to test, evaluate, and transition advanced digital procedures and technology from R&D into operational use.

Additional qualification information can be found from the following Office of Personnel Management website:

https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/#url=List-by-Occupational-Series

https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/1300/general-physical-science-series-1301/

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (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.

Education

• Degree: physical science, engineering, or mathematics that included 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science such as mechanics, dynamics, properties of materials, and electronics. OR
• Combination of education and experience -- education equivalent to one of the majors shown in A above that included at least 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

***TRANSCRIPTS ARE REQUIRED TO SHOW PROOF OF BASIC EDUCATION REQUIREMENT***

Additional information

This position is covered by the Department of Defense Priority Placement Program.

Additional vacancies may be filled by this announcement.

A tentative offer of employment will be rescinded if the selectee fails to meet the pre-employment requirements, including failure to report to any of the scheduled appointments.

During the application process you will have the ability to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions in the local commuting area. Depending on the hiring organization and the position being filled, job requirements (e.g., security clearance, travel, drug testing, financial disclosure filing, bargaining unit status, etc.) may vary. Other hiring managers filling similar positions may offer relocation expense reimbursement and/or may offer recruitment incentives for new employees, depending on funding availability and in accordance with policy. If you opt-in and are referred on a certificate, your resume will be available to other hiring managers for 180-days from the date the job announcement closes. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.

Federal annuitant information: The selection of an annuitant is subject to the Department of Defense and Department of the Navy policy on the employment of annuitants. Policy information may be found at: http://www.secnav.navy.mil/donhr/Documents/CivilianJobs/FedCivAnnuitants.pdf

PPP applicants will be placed at the FPL, if determined Well Qualified (WQ). To receive priority consideration, the FPL must be the same grade level or equivalent of the retained grade or the grade held immediately prior to separation.

ICTAP Applicants

To be considered well-qualified and exercise selection priority as an ICTAP candidate, displaced Federal employees must satisfy all qualification requirements for the position and receive a rating in the highly qualified category (score 85) or higher.

ICTAP candidates must provide copies of all of the following documentation at the time of application: 1) agency notice; 2) most recent performance appraisal; and 3) most recent SF-50 or notification of personnel action that includes position, grade level, and duty location.

Applicants who do not provide this documentation will not receive consideration as an ICTAP candidate.

For more information about ICTAP eligibility please review the following link: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/unique-hiring-paths/federal-employees/career-transition/

Military Spouse Preference applicants

Military Spouse Preference applicants will be placed at the highest grade for which they have applied and are determined Best Qualified (BQ). A BQ military spouse possesses knowledge, skills, abilities, and competencies comparable to others who meet the competitive referral criteria for the specific position.

This position is subject to an initial drug screening, and random testing thereafter. A negative drug test result must be received by HR within 30 calendar days after the EOD (i.e., start date). The selectee's inability to successfully pass; or refusal to conduct the test may result in: 1) the tentative or final job offer being withdrawn during the recruitment process; or 2) subsequently being removed from Federal service for failure to meet a condition of employment. You may be required to sign a "Drug Test Statement of Understanding" if you are selected for this position.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding.

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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.