LEAD COMPUTER SCIENTIST

Summary Click on "Learn more about this agency" button below to view Eligibilities being considered and other IMPORTANT information. The primary purpose of this position is to be a non-supervisory Lead Computer Scientist for various testing programs for the organization, to address their emerging computer science/operations analyst needs to better meet customer test automation requirements as they transition from Waterfall to Agile/DevSecOps software acquisition approaches. Responsibilities Works with program offices to coordinate comprehensive and efficient test processes from early developmental testing with the contractor through operational test with operators. Establishes, develops, and maintains effective working relationships with Flight and Section members, Program Office, other test agencies, and MAJCOM test and evaluation leads. Presentations must be based on the position's experience, test analysis, and system knowledge in order to simplify complex program situations for decision making. Interfaces with headquarters and other technical/analytical agencies on advances in state-of-the-art technology. This position meets the requirements outlined in the OPM General Schedule Leader Grade Evaluation Guide, Part I, dated June 1998. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications Experience requirements are described in the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards for General Schedule Positions, Professional Engineer Positions located here, Computer Science positions located here, and Operations Research positions located here. SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must have at least 1 year (52 weeks) of specialized experience at the next lower broadband NH-02, equivalent to the next lower grade GS-11 or equivalent in other pay systems. Specialized experience is experience in advanced concepts, principles and practices applicable to software test and evaluation, enabling the employee to serve as an expert in T&E planning for newly developed intelligence, space, command and control, mission planning, and/or business enterprise systems. NOTE: Due to the use of 120-day rosters, this period of experience may be completed within 120 days of the closing date of this announcement. KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs): Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following areas: Expert knowledge of the application of intelligence, space, command and control, mission planning, and/or business enterprise systems experience as it applies to one or more of these mission areas. In-depth knowledge of advanced concepts, principles and practices applicable to software test and evaluation, enabling the employee to serve as an expert in T&E planning for newly developed intelligence, space, command and control, mission planning, and/or business enterprise systems. In-depth knowledge of testing and evaluation which is sufficient to organize and plan the DT&E or OT&E phase of major joint/combined test programs and to ensure that the system requirements, needed interfaces and equipment capabilities, and program management factors are considered in the planning, conducting, analyzing, and reporting phases for such major programs. Strong ability to lead test teams; originate new ideas, projects and methodologies; and support the execution of test projects within established financial and/or time constraints. Broad understanding of acquisition program management concepts, to include understanding DOD and AF philosophy and policies. Knowledge and skill to effectively report and brief results of tests to program managers and chief developmental testers to negotiate and/or defend test findings and to advocate for courses of actions to solve complex C2 operations issues. Knowledge and skill sufficient to arbitrate or negotiate between contractors, government agencies, or any combination thereof wherein incompatibilities of the interfaces of their respective systems are in question. This requires the utmost courtesy, tact, broad technical background, and mature judgment. Knowledge and skill sufficient to maintain cognizance of current test facilities, techniques, and capabilities in order to provide advice to development and using agencies. Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing; negotiate complex issues; and maintain good working relationships Ideal Candidate Statement (cannot be used for qualification determination): An ideal candidate should be able to transform the technical, computer science aspects of all customers' program requirements into practical operations support activities as applied to the Joint All-Domain Command and Control (JADC2) laboratory. The candidate will frequently brief visitors and customers on lab capabilities as they support our various customers' test missions. They will also act as a communications catalyst between lab support sections and the test engineers for the wide variety of test support activities conducted within the JADC2 lab, clarifying coarse test objectives into supportable lab functions. PART-TIME OR UNPAID EXPERIENCE: Credit will be given for appropriate unpaid and or part-time work. You must clearly identify the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the total number of hours per week. VOLUNTEER WORK EXPERIENCE: Refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service Programs (i.e., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student and social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge and skills that can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Education ARE YOU USING YOUR EDUCATION TO QUALIFY? If position has a positive degree requirement or education forms the basis for qualifications, you MUST submit transcripts with the application. Official transcripts are not required at the time of application; however, if position has a positive degree requirement, qualifying based on education alone or in combination with experience; transcripts must be verified prior to appointment. An accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education must accredit education. Click here to check accreditation. BASIC REQUIREMENTS FOR 0801 OR 0855: A. Degree: Engineering. To be acceptable, the program must: (1) lead to a bachelor's degree in a school of engineering with at least one program accredited by ABET; or (2) include differential and integral calculus and courses (more advanced than first-year physics and chemistry) in five of the following seven areas of engineering science or physics: (a) statics, dynamics; (b) strength of materials (stress-strain relationships); (c) fluid mechanics, hydraulics; (d) thermodynamics; (e) electrical fields and circuits; (f) nature and properties of materials (relating particle and aggregate structure to properties); and (g) any other comparable area of fundamental engineering science or physics, such as optics, heat transfer, soil mechanics, or electronics. OR B. Combination of education and experience -- college-level education, training, and/or technical experience that furnished (1) a thorough knowledge of the physical and mathematical sciences underlying engineering, and (2) a good understanding, both theoretical and practical, of the engineering sciences and techniques and their applications to one of the branches of engineering. The adequacy of such background must be demonstrated by one of the following: (Click here for detailed explanation of each of these items) 1. Professional registration or licensure 2. Written Test 3. Specified academic courses 4. Related curriculum OR BASIC REQUIREMENTS FOR 1515: Degree: in operations research; or at least 24 semester hours in a combination of operations research, mathematics, probability, statistics, mathematical logic, science, or subject-matter courses requiring substantial competence in college-level mathematics or statistics. At least 3 of the 24 semester hours must have been in calculus. OR BASIC REQUIREMENTS FOR 1550: Bachelor's degree in computer science or bachelor's degree with 30 semester hours in a combination of mathematics, statistics, and computer science. At least 15 of the 30 semester hours must have included any combination of statistics and mathematics that included differential and integral calculus. All academic degrees and course work must be from accredited or pre-accredited institutions. FOREIGN EDUCATION: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the requirements. You must show proof the education credentials have been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education program. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying. Additional Information AcqDemo Expanded Probationary Period for Supervisors and Managers: An additional supervisory probationary period of one year may be required when an employee is officially assigned to a different supervisory position. Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP): For information on how to apply as an ICTAP eligible click here. To be well-qualified and exercise selection priority for this vacancy, displaced Federal employees must be rated well qualified or above for this position. You must submit a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting position, grade level, and duty location. Employed Annuitants (Reemployed Annuitants): Applicants in receipt of an annuity based on civilian employment in the Federal Service are subject to the DoD Policy on The Employment of Annuitants. Click here for more information. 120-Day Register: This announcement may result in a 120-day register that may be used to fill like vacancies for 120 days after the closing date. Applicants may be referred for consideration as vacancies occur. Military Spouse Preference (MSP) Eligible: MSP applicants, if determined best qualified, must be selected and placed at the highest grade for which they applied. You must include a completed copy of the DD Form 3145-4, Military Spouse PPP Self-Certification Checklist dated within 30 days along with the documents identified on the checklist to verify your eligibility for MSP. Click here to obtain/download a copy of the DD Form 3145-4, Military Spouse PPP Self-Certification Checklist. Priority Placement Program (PPP) Applicant Eligible: PPP Applicants, if determined well qualified and selected, will be placed at the at the full performance level. You must include the applicable completed copy of the PPP Self-Certification Checklist dated within 30 days along with the documents identified on the checklist to verify your eligibility as a PPP Applicant. Click here to obtain/download a copy of the applicable PPP Self-Certification Checklist (DD3145-1 through DD3145-4, select the appropriate checklist for your claimed preference). To determine the applicable PPP Self-Certification Checklist required to substantiate the eligibilities you are claiming, refer to the AF Civilian Employment Eligibility Guide located in the Required Documents section of this vacancy announcement. Disabled veteran leave is available to a Federal employee hired on/after 5 Nov 2016, who is a veteran with a service-connected disability rating of 30% or more. For more information, click here. If you have questions regarding this announcement and have hearing or speech difficulties click here.