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 provide technical expertise in the areas of computer software and hardware engineering. Serves as the lead technical authority and team leader in the areas of web-enabled applications, computer software and hardware engineering projects. Responsibilities Function as the senior project scientist/engineer in performing advanced hardware/software analysis for equipment or devices such as network computing, data storage, electronic messaging, and information systems by applying state-of-the-art technologies. Serve as a project manager with the responsibility for monitoring the overall financial, scheduling, testing, and performance evaluation of networked computer systems, subsystems, equipment, and software. Serve as a senior scientist/engineer assigned project manager responsibility for the support of software systems and subsystems to include web-enabled systems. Serve as a senior scientist/engineer assigned project manager responsibility for coordinating, directing, and executing major process research and development efforts involving applied research in areas of significant complexity to include software process support and Internet web-enabled applications. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications Experience requirements are described in the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards for General Schedule Positions, Professional and Scientific Positions. Basic requirements for 0854: 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: 1. Professional registration or licensure -- Current registration as an Engineer Intern (EI), Engineer in Training (EIT)1 , or licensure as a Professional Engineer (PE) by any State, the District of Columbia, Guam, or Puerto Rico. Absent other means of qualifying under this standard, those applicants who achieved such registration by means other than written test (e.g., State grandfather or eminence provisions) are eligible only for positions that are within or closely related to the specialty field of their registration. For example, an applicant who attains registration through a State Board's eminence provision as a manufacturing engineer typically would be rated eligible only for manufacturing engineering positions. 2. Written Test -- Evidence of having successfully passed the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE)2 examination or any other written test required for professional registration by an engineering licensure board in the various States, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico. 3. Specified academic courses -- Successful completion of at least 60 semester hours of courses in the physical, mathematical, and engineering sciences and that included the courses specified in the basic requirements under paragraph A. The courses must be fully acceptable toward meeting the requirements of an engineering program as described in paragraph A. 4. Related curriculum -- Successful completion of a curriculum leading to a bachelor's degree in an appropriate scientific field, e.g., engineering technology, physics, chemistry, architecture, computer science, mathematics, hydrology, or geology, may be accepted in lieu of a bachelor's degree in engineering, provided the applicant has had at least 1 year of professional engineering experience acquired under professional engineering supervision and guidance. Ordinarily there should be either an established plan of intensive training to develop professional engineering competence, or several years of prior professional engineering-type experience, e.g., in interdisciplinary positions. (The above examples of related curricula are not all-inclusive.) 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. In addition to meeting the basic requirement above, to qualify for this position you must also meet the qualification requirements listed below: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must have at least 1 year (52 weeks) of specialized experience at the next lower broadband NH-03, equivalent to the next lower grade GS-11 or equivalent in other pay systems. Specialized experience includes expert knowledge on the application of computer science principles, practices, and techniques to difficult and unprecedented design problems involving assigned network computer systems. Monitors major programs involving communications, computer, file storage, and data backup systems. project manager, directs and executes hardware and software development and configuration efforts to provide networked computer virus protections. Knowledge on project management, assigned overall project financial, scheduling, and performance responsibility 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 fundamentals and principles of professional computer science/computer engineering gained through formal education and experience; computer hardware, systems software, and computer systems architecture, modeling, and integration; and mathematics, including calculus, probability, statistics, discrete structures, as it relates to the design, development, and model maintenance of network computer systems. Knowledge of policies, programs, organizations, functions, resources, and legislation affecting the program(s) and the organizations studied or served, and related customers, functions, resources, and users. Ability to recognize and analyze problems, conducts research, summarize results, and make appropriate recommendations. Professional skill and ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, complex scientific issues and reports, or briefings prepared for senior military and civilian officials throughout the government and in private industry. Skill and ability to organize, prioritize, analyze, interpret, and evaluate computer projects, complex problems, and prediction of results. Ability through study to keep abreast of computer/IT state knowledge technology, and to utilize such knowledge in the solution of theoretical or complex problems. In-depth knowledge of diversified, computer science/computer engineering concepts, phenomena, and relationships, and ability to apply such knowledge to theoretical and practical problems with versatility, judgment, and perception in order to analyze performance of complex communication and data storage networks. 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. 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 Ideal Candidate Statement (cannot be used for qualification determination): The ideal candidate will have a strong understanding of the technology stacks necessary, and will be able to adapt their programs to resource constrained architectures such as embedded systems and arm microprocessors. The ideal candidate will also bring a thorough understanding of linux systems, to include bootloaders, kernel drivers, and containerized user application development in Docker, using both TCP/IP and UDP based communications protocols. The ideal candidate is also familiar with REST APIs, both as the server providing the interface, and a client consuming it. 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. If you have questions regarding this announcement and have hearing or speech difficulties click here.