Physical Scientist (General)

U.S. Customs and Border Protection; Long Beach (CA); On-site; USD 54,000 - 66,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) seeks qualified personnel for analytical roles within the Office of Laboratories and Scientific Services, across multiple sites including Long Beach, CA.

Responsibilities include handling samples, performing analyses, and preparing reports at GS-07/09 levels. Applicants must meet basic degree requirements or substitutions and demonstrate specialized experience or education alignment.

Qualifications

• Basic requirements include a degree in physical science, engineering, or mathematics with 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science.
• Combination of education and experience may substitute for the degree requirements.
• Specialized experience or education substitutions are described for GS-07 and GS-09 levels.

Responsibilities

• GS-07: Writing reports on analyses; receiving samples submitted for analyses; reviewing background material and results.
• GS-09: Providing advice on sampling procedures, analysis methodology, instrumentation validation, and troubleshooting; writing management briefs and event reports; determining identity and composition of samples.

Skills

Writing reports on analyses

Receiving samples

Reviewing background material

Education

Degree in physical science / engineering / mathematics

Graduate education substitutions (GS-07/09)

Job description

Organizational Location:

This position is with the Department of Homeland Security, within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Operations Support, Office of Laboratories and Scientific Services, located in Guaynabo, PR; Donna, TX; Memphis, TN; Anchorage, AK; Otay, CA; Long Beach, CA; and Newark, NJ.

The open period for this job opportunity announcement may be extended to allow for a sufficient applicant pool.

Basic Requirements:

1. 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

2. Combination of education and experience -- education equivalent to one of the majors shown in 1 above that included at least 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

You qualify for this position if you meet the basic requirement listed above and possess one year of specialized experience or substitution of education, if applicable, as described below.

Specialized Experience:

GS-07 Experience:

You qualify for the GS-07 grade level if you possess 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, performing duties such as:

• Writing reports on analyses;
• Receiving samples submitted for analyses; and
• Reviewing background material, performing preliminary examination and results.

GS-09 Experience:

You qualify for the GS-09 grade level if you possess 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, performing duties such as:

• Providing advice to employees on sampling and sample storage procedures, analytical methodology, instrumentation validation, application and troubleshooting, and problems associated with analyzing samples as well as solutions;
• Writing management briefs and significant event reports; and
• Developing identity, grade, and composition of sample.

NOTE: Your resume must explicitly indicate how you meet this requirement, otherwise you will be found ineligible. Please see the "Required Documents" section below for additional resume requirements.

GS-07 Education Substitution:

• Successful completion of one year of full-time graduate education from an accredited college or university may substitute for the experience required at this level. This education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. Check with your school to determine how many credit hours comprise a year of graduate education. If that information is not available, use 18 semester or 27 quarter hours.

• A bachelor's degree with Superior Academic Achievement (SAA) may also substitute for the experience required. It is based on (1) class standing, (2) grade-point average (i.e., GPA 3.0 or higher of a possible 4.0, excluding pass/fail credits. Pass/fail credits cannot be more than 10% of total credits), or (3) honor society membership. Review Superior Academic Achievement (SAA) to see if you qualify under this provision. Please see www.opm.gov for additional information.

GS-09 Education Substitution:

Two years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Master's degree or equivalent graduate degree from an accredited college or university may substitute for experience required at this level. This education must demonstrate the skills necessary to do the work. Check with your school to determine how many credit hours comprise two years of graduate education. If that information is not available, use 36 semester or 54 quarter hours.

Combining Experience and Education:

When combining education with experience, first determine the applicant's total qualifying education as a percentage of the education required for the grade level; then determine the applicant's experience as a percentage of the experience required for the grade level; finally, add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify an applicant for that grade level. More information on this qualification standard is located here.

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.

You must meet all qualification requirements, including education if applicable to this position, subject to verification at any stage of the application process by 09/01/2026.

Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on the online assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.

Background Investigation:

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is a federal law enforcement agency that requires all applicants to undergo a thorough background investigation prior to employment in order to promote the agency's core values of vigilance, service to country, and integrity. During the screening and/or background investigation process, you will be asked questions regarding any felony criminal convictions or current felony charges, the use of illegal drugs (e.g., marijuana, cocaine, heroin, LSD, methamphetamines, ecstasy), and the use of non-prescribed controlled substances including any experimentation, possession, sale, receipt, manufacture, cultivation, production, transfer, shipping, trafficking, or distribution of controlled substances. For additional information on the preemployment process, review the following link: Applicant Resources | CBP Careers.

Residency:

There is a residency requirement for all applicants not currently employed by CBP. Individuals are required to have physically resided in the United States or its protectorates (as declared under international law) for at least three of the last five years. If you do not meet the residency requirement and you have been physically located in a foreign location for more than two of the last five years, you may request an exception to determine if you are eligible for a residency waiver by meeting one or more of the following conditions:

• Working for the U.S. Government as a federal civilian or as a member of the military
• A dependent who was authorized to accompany a federal civilian or member of the military who was working for the U.S. government
• Participation in a study abroad program sponsored by a U.S. affiliated college or university
• Working as a contractor, intern, consultant or volunteer supporting the U.S. government

Probationary Period:

All employees new to the federal government must serve a one year probationary period during the first year of his/her initial permanent federal appointment to determine fitness for continued employment. Current and former federal employees may be required to serve or complete a probationary period.