This position is located within the Agricultural Research Service, Northeast Area, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Adaptive Cropping Systems Laboratory, Beltsville MD. In this position, you will provide support by working with scientists to maintain hardware and software for computers, develop simulation models, user interfaces, and databases. This is a term time-limited appointment with an initial duration no less than 13 months and can be extended up to a total of 4 years.

Duties

Installs and modifies software for data analysis and programming. Assists with documenting code and testing (through verification and validation) software and databases as assigned by lab scientists. Assists in efforts to manage the source code control revision system for storing and archiving all changes to ACSL software products, documenting its correct use for other programmers and scientists. Assists in setup of new computer equipment, installs and configures scientific software packages, and with archival and retrieval of data from experiments. Works with scientists to develop data sets for crop model simulations. Provides online access to and distributes ACSL software and databases as requested. Assists scientists and technicians at ACSL with computer programming and database questions related to their research. Trouble shoots simple network and computer issues related to scientific computing and interfaces with location IT specialists. Helps set up network access to databases. Assists in developing technical manuals and web pages describing the approach taken in building user interfaces, coding the database, and creating data acquisition software; communicates to others how to use the resulting products. Details the limitations of user interface and data acquisition software as well as the requirements for use. Develops simple electronic forms to record experimental data in server databases.

Requirements

• You must be a US Citizen or US National.
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt.
• Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
• Successful completion of one year probationary period, unless previously served.
• Direct Deposit: Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution.
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit https://www.e-verify.gov

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including time-in-grade restrictions, specialized experience and/or education, as defined below. Time in grade: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience at the next lower grade to be considered for the next higher grade (e.g. one year at the GS-11 grade level for consideration for the GS-12 grade level.) Basic Requirements Individuals must have IT-related experience demonstrating each of the four competencies listed below: Attention to Detail - Is thorough when performing work and conscientious about attending to detail. Customer Service - Works with clients and customers (that is, any individuals who use or receive the services or products that your work unit produces, including the general public, individuals who work in the agency, other agencies, or organizations outside the Government) to assess their needs, provide information or assistance, resolve their problems, or satisfy their expectations; knows about available products and services; is committed to providing quality products and services. Oral Communication - Expresses information (for example, ideas or facts) to individuals or groups effectively, taking into account the audience and nature of the information (for example, technical, sensitive, controversial); makes clear and convincing oral presentations; listens to others, attends to nonverbal cues, and responds appropriately. Problem Solving - Identifies problems; determines accuracy and relevance of information; uses sound judgment to generate and evaluate alternatives, and to make recommendations. AND in addition to meeting the basic requirements listed above, all applicants must meet the following minimum qualification requirements GS-07 Specialized Experience: Specialized experience is experience directly related to the position to be filled and must be described for each grade level advertised. The specialized experience requirements for this position are as follows: Qualifying experience for GS-07 includes one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-05 which is directly related to the work of this position and which has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. For this position, specialized experience is experience experience installing software for programming; and manipulating or managing databases. OR Education: Successful completion of 1 full year of graduate level education leading to a degree in computer science, engineering, information science, information systems management, mathematics, operations research, statistics, or technology management or graduate degree that provided a minimum of 24 semester hours in one or more of the fields identified above and required the development or adaptation of applications, systems or networks. OR Superior Academic Achievement: as demonstrated by a bachelor's degree in a related field from an accredited college or university with one of the following. NOTE It is your responsibility to ensure your application clearly states how you meet one of the provisions: A grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher based on a 4.0 scale for all completed undergraduate courses, or those completed in the last 2 full years of undergraduate study; a GPA of 3.5 or higher based on a 4.0 scale for required courses completed in a major field of study, or those courses completed in a major field of study during the last two years of undergraduate study; class standing of upper third of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision of the college; or membership in a national Scholastic Honor Society certified by the Association of College honor Societies, excluding freshman honor societies. GS-09 Specialized Experience: Specialized experience is experience directly related to the position to be filled and must be described for each grade level advertised. The specialized experience requirements for this position are as follows: Qualifying experience for GS-09 includes one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-07 which is directly related to the work of this position and which has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. For this position, specialized experience is experience installing software for data analysis and programming; manipulating or managing databases; and assisting in developing technical manuals or web pages. OR Education: Completion of a master's degree or equivalent graduate degree in a related major field of study; or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a master's degree or equivalent graduate degree in computer science, engineering, information science, information systems management, mathematics, operations research, statistics, or technology management or degree that provided a minimum of 24 semester hours in one or more of the fields identified above and required the development or adaptation of applications, systems or networks. GS-11 Specialized Experience: Specialized experience is experience directly related to the position to be filled and must be described for each grade level advertised. The specialized experience requirements for this position are as follows: Qualifying experience for GS-11 includes one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-09 which is directly related to the work of this position and which has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. For this position, specialized experience is experience installing and modifying software for data analysis and programming; manipulating or managing databases; cleaning and summarizing data; developing technical manuals or web pages; and formulating, adjusting, or testing code. OR Education: Completion of a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in computer science, engineering, information science, information systems management, mathematics, operations research, statistics, or technology management or degree that provided a minimum of 24 semester hours in one or more of the fields identified above and required the development or adaptation of applications, systems or networks. 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 and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Education

This position does not have an education qualification requirement.

Contacts

• Address Agricultural Research Service 10300 Baltimore Avenue Beltsville, MD 20705 US
• Name: Nelly Wilson
• Phone: (703) 259-9360
• Email: [email protected]