Public Notice - Research Computer Scientist (Direct Hire)

NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 105,000 - 135,000; Full time

Job summary

NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration seeks qualified researchers for GS-12/13 science and engineering roles across Langley Research Center and Glenn Research Center. The positions focus on computer science, statistics, and data analytics in support of mission-critical programs.

Selected candidates will conduct advanced quantitative research, develop analytical methods, and provide technical leadership while collaborating with multidisciplinary teams and guiding senior leadership

Qualifications

• Specialized experience in quantitative research with advanced mathematical or statistical methods.
• Ability to serve as analytical authority on moderately complex quantitative topics.
• Experience collaborating with multidisciplinary analytical or scientific teams.

Responsibilities

• Directs quantitative research across organizational boundaries and guides senior officials on complex analytics.
• Leads and conducts advanced quantitative research including modeling, simulation, and data analysis of mission-critical datasets.
• Develops analytical standards, methodologies, and mathematical formulation requirements at program level.
• Authors technical reports and supports leadership decisions with quantitative insights.
• Mentors and provides technical leadership in mathematics, statistics, and computational science.

Education

ABET-accredited engineering program

Computer Science/Math advanced coursework

Job description

Summary

Positions to be filled are in various organizations at the following NASA Centers - Langley Research Center and Glenn Research Center. NASA may fill positions in any of the following series and at any grade level listed in this announcement (GS-1550 at the GS-12/13). These positions focus on research and development in computer science and related computational disciplines.

Duties

• Duties described below are at the highest grade advertised. Duties assigned at lower grade levels will be of more limited scope, performed with less independence and limited complexity; duties will be commensurate with the grade of selected employee.
• Directs quantitative research activities across organizational boundaries and provides authoritative guidance to senior officials on highly complex mathematical, statistical, and computational investigations.
• Leads and conducts advanced quantitative research involving mathematical modeling, statistical inference, algorithm development, simulation, and analysis of mission-critical datasets.
• Develops novel analytical approaches, validates methodological assumptions, and drives data-derived insights using expert mathematical judgment.
• Advise executive leadership and program managers on the implications of research findings, statistical risks, predictive trends, and analytical uncertainty. Represent the organization in research panels, technical boards, and interagency forums.
• Develops and approves analytical standards, research protocols, statistical methodologies, and mathematical formulation requirements at the program or enterprise level.
• Authors rigorous technical reports, statistical assessments, and research publications that guide senior leadership decisions and future analytical strategies.
• Provides mentorship and technical leadership across experience levels in mathematics, statistics, and computational science.
• Serves as a recognized quantitative research authority, enhancing organizational analytical capability and long-term workforce development in quantitative disciplines.
• Represents the organization in analytics-focused research collaborations with contractors, academia, partner agencies, and external scientific groups.
• Leads formal analytical reviews, independent research teams, and multidisciplinary investigative groups requiring senior-level mathematical and statistical expertise.

Requirements

• This position is open to U.S. citizens, nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.
• This position may require a one-year probationary period. If selected, the requirement to serve such period will be determined by Title 5 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 11. **See Additional Information section**
• You must meet qualifications requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
• Position subject to pre-employment background investigation or higher-level clearance. Investigation/Clearance may differ and be required based on the duty location/NASA Center requirements.
• Financial Disclosure, Drug Testing, and/or the Travel Requirements for this position may differ and be required based on the duty location/NASA Center requirements.
• To be considered for employment, you must submit your complete application by 11:59 PM ET on September 15, 2026.

Qualifications

In addition to the Basic Education Requirement (in the Education section below), to qualify for this position you must meet the requirements below. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the particular ability, skill, and knowledge to successfully perform the duties of this position and is typically in or related to this line of work.

NASA utilizes OPM-approved qualification and rating requirements specific for Aerospace Technology (AST) positions which recognizes NASA's unique aerospace work. The specific qualifications and minimum education requirements are further described below and within the education section of the job announcement.

Vacant research positions may be filled at one of several grade levels depending upon the scientific impact of the person selected. A review may be required to determine the appropriate grade level of the position and supplemental materials may be required from the selectee. Please keep this in mind when indicating the lowest grade you will accept. If selected at the lower grade level, your scientific impact will be examined in addition to other factors, to determine if you are eligible for promotion.

To qualify for GS-12

• One year of directly related specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level:
• Conducting complex quantitative research requiring advanced mathematical or statistical methodologies;
• Serving as an analytical authority on moderately complex quantitative topics;
• Collaborating with multidisciplinary analytical or scientific teams.

To qualify for GS-13

• Serving as a recognized quantitative research authority for complex mathematical, statistical, or computational problems;
• Developing advanced analytical techniques, research-grade algorithms, or mathematical models;
• Integrating multi-source quantitative findings to support scientific or programmatic decisions.

Qualified individuals may also have completed all requirements for a doctoral degree (i.e., Ph.D. or equivalent) in an appropriate field.

Required college majors for applicants qualifying on the basis of graduate education only (GS-12 research):

• Code 735 Data: Computer Engineering. Other majors will qualify if the major includes or is supplemented as follows: a. Computer Science and Pure Mathematics are fully qualifying for Data Analysis, Modeling and Theoretical Simulation Techniques positions without further course requirements. For Data Systems, Hardware Systems and Software Systems positions, Computer Science and Pure Mathematics are qualifying if the major includes or is supplemented by 12 semester hours (or the equivalent) in appropriate Physical Science or Engineering courses and includes or is supplemented by at least two courses shown under "b.2." b. Applied Mathematics is qualifying if includes or is supplemented by at least two of the following courses: 1. For Data Analysis, Modeling and Theoretical Simulation Techniques: numerical methods (or numerical analysis); linear algebra, theory of equations, differential equations, mathematical statistics (if six semester hour course), operating systems, theory of computation, computer networks, programming languages, data base management, computer graphics, compiler construction, computer architecture, software engineering. 2. For Data Systems, Hardware Systems and Software Systems: electronics, electrical networks, solid-state physics (for transistors, tapes, etc.), optics (for simulation), electricity and magnetism, computer organization, logic design, control systems, communication theory. c. Other appropriate physical science and engineering majors are qualifying if the major includes or is supplemented by six semester hours (or the equivalent) in Mathematics beyond Basic Calculus and includes or is supplemented by at least two courses shown above under "b."
• Other appropriate physical science and engineering majors that qualify with at least six semester hours in mathematics beyond basic calculus and at least two courses in the list provided.

Promotion Potential

The full performance level (FPL) will vary based on the position in which the selectee is placed and does not default to the highest grade advertised.

Education

This position requires education or exceptional experience.

Basic Education Requirement

• Engineering from a college or university that has ABET accredited engineering programs
• Physical Science, Mathematics, Life Science or other field of Science
• Computer Science that included 30 semester hours or 45 quarter hours of course work in any combination of mathematics, statistics and computer science with at least half of those hours in mathematics and statistics courses that included differential and integral calculus; and that provided an in-depth knowledge of theoretical and practical applications of computer science, including digital computer system architecture and system software organization, the representation and transformation of information structures, and the theoretical models for such representations and transformations.

Engineering degrees earned within the United States: Engineering degrees earned within the United States must be from a college or university that has at least one ABET accredited engineering program. To find out if a school has at least one ABET accredited program, please visit http://www.abet.org.

Engineering degrees earned outside the United States: Engineering degrees earned outside the United States must be recognized by a Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA), often known as accords. These are non-governmental agreements among organizations that accredit academic degree programs. MRAs recognize the substantial equivalence of mature accreditation systems and programs accredited by signatory organizations within their jurisdictions. For a listing of Signatories, please visit, https://www.abet.org/global-presence/mutual-recognition-agreements/is-your-program-recognized/.

Science and other related degrees earned within the United States: Science and other related degrees must have been awarded from colleges or universities that are accredited by recognized accrediting organizations. For a list of schools that meet this criteria, go to http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/.

Science and other related degrees earned outside the United States: 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. These education credentials must be 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://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

All degrees must have been received in the year of, or any year subsequent to the original date of accreditation.

Additional information

In the Announcement Questionnaire, you will be prompted to select the location and lowest grade you wish to be considered for.

Additional selections may be made for similar positions across NASA within the local commuting area(s) of the location(s) identified in this announcement. By applying, you agree to have your application shared with interested selecting official(s) within NASA. CTAP/ICTAP will be cleared for any additional selection from this announcement.

For purposes of CTAP/ICTAP selection priority under 5 CFR part 330, subparts F and G, when specific positions are identified to be filled, well-qualified is defined in accordance with 5 CFR 330.704(a) as possessing knowledge, skills, abilities, and/or competencies which clearly exceed the minimum qualification requirements for the position. If you have special priority selection rights under the Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP), you must:

• Indicate your eligibility when applying for a position. The questionnaire asks you to identify your ICTAP/CTAP eligibility.
• Meet or exceed the well-qualified definition for the position being filled as described above.
• Submit proof that you meet the requirements for CTAP/ICTAP as indicated in "Required Documents"

Any applicant that received a Voluntary Separation Incentive Payment (VSIP) from the federal government within the last five years based of the closing date of this announcement, if selected, may be required to repay the full amount prior to establishing a start date. For additional information on the VSIP repayment requirement, click here - https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/voluntary-separation-incentive-payments/.

Per Executive Order 14343, this position is not part of a bargaining unit.

Probationary Period

You may be required to serve a one-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. If selected, the requirement to serve such period will be determined by Title 5 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 11.

In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government;
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

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. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Review our benefits

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.