This position is part of the Defense Threat Reduction Agency. The incumbent will be responsible for serving as SME and technical scientific advisor to include planning, coordinating, integrating, implementing and evaluating R&D programs which address war-fighter requirements for combating WMD capabilities, which requires regular contact with R&D managers and senior staff within DTRA, OSD, other DoD Agencies and external organizations to include contractors and the DOE.

Duties

As a INTERDISCIPLINARY GENERAL ENGINEER/PHYSICAL SCIENTIST at the GS-0801/1301-12/13 some of your typical work assignments may include: Contacts are primarily focused within the scientific and engineering communities supporting DTRA programs. Provides expertise in the resolution of unusually difficult or long-standing problems, and critical, sensitive and controversial scientific issues. Incumbent is considered to be an expert resource in the effective solution of scientific problems and issues. Originates, develops and modifies methods as necessary for analyzing results of laboratory and field measurements based on a thorough knowledge of research and full-scale test projects programs. Plans, designs and carries out programs and studies and takes the initiative to accomplish the desired goals. Maintains technical knowledge/leadership in the development of DTRA applications. Speaks and deals authoritatively in his/her subject area and represents the Agency in interpreting Agency policy and practices to steer specific research efforts in discussions with contractors. Establishes measures of effectiveness for R&D projects, monitors results to assess the degree to which contractors meet those measures, draws conclusions about the technical findings, draws conclusions as to the priority, timing and direction that future programs should take, and initiates necessary corrective actions. Evaluates, on a continuing basis, performance of governmental and industry organizations pursuing program objectives, particularly as they relate to efforts requiring breakthroughs or involving highly controversial objectives. Plans and independently manages programs which advance the state-of-the art in DoD capability to defeat or mitigate the effects of WMD possessed or employed by adversaries. Authors technical papers and briefings and writes technical analyses, reports, and staff studies, which requires sound understanding from a broad reference base involving combat force operations, weapon effects, computer simulations, joint experimentation, and concept development. Conveys meaning, interpretation, scope and effect to officials at all levels of command. Explores and establishes the fundamental value of new technology and identifies the most fruitful approaches for costly and unprecedented development programs. Integrates and coordinates the efforts of others who are themselves experts within the agency, other government agencies and industry pursuing research, development and engineering projects involved in his/her assignment. Maintains familiarity with state-of-the-art research and technology capabilities in counterforce weapons, combat assessment systems, and WMD reconnaissance. Analyzes technical problems and establishes and maintains technical liaison with organizations having similar problems and programs. Develops and presents technical and programmatic information to support informed decision-making by the division chief. Analyzes functional and technical deficiencies in combating WMD to determine applicable S&T issues and evaluates proposed research and development program activities for soundness of approach. Serves as technical advisor in field of responsibility. Assists in determining whether individual projects are properly designed to achieve maximum success in meeting planned objectives and will provide the most useful data under full-scale field test conditions. Provides justification for program budgets to senior leaders to request program funding or support. Presents data to interested parties both within and external to the organization.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. Citizen
• Travel in the performance of temporary assignments may be required up to 25% of duty time CONUS/OCONUS. Valid Passport Required
• Work Schedule: Full-time
• Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service
• Suitable for Federal employment, determined by a background investigation. Must be able to obtain and maintain a Top Secret/SCI Security Clearance and eligibility for Special Access Programs (SAP).
• May be required to successfully complete a probationary period
• Overtime: Occasionally
• Tour of Duty: Flexible
• Recruitment Incentives: Authorized if funds are available - https://www.dtra.mil/Careers-Opportunities/DTRA-Opportunities/
• Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA): Exempt
• Financial Disclosure: Not Required
• Telework Eligibility: This position is telework eligible
• Must consent to and pass a pre-employment drug testing and random drug testing thereafter.
• This is an Acquisition Workforce position in the Engineering and Technical Management functional area. The incumbent will be required to become certified in the Practitioner tier within 4 years.
• The incumbent is required to acquire a minimum of 40 continuous learning points (CLPs) every fiscal year as a goal and 80 CLPs being mandatory within 2 years.

Qualifications

You may qualify at the GS 13, if you fulfill the following qualifications: A. One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level in the Federal service as listed below: Experience in establishing measures of effectiveness for R&D projects and monitoring results to assess objective completion and drawing conclusions regarding technical findings. Knowledge of the process to plan, develop, coordinate, test, and evaluate research and development programs addressing war-fighter requirements for combating weapons of mass destruction. Experience integrating and coordinating with other experts at government agencies and industry who are pursuing research, development and engineering projects associated with CWMD. Experience independently interpreting policy and regulatory requirements and advising others at the program level. You may qualify at the GS 12, if you fulfill the following qualifications: A. One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service as listed below: Knowledge of the theories, principles and methods in fields of engineering, mathematics, physics, geophysics, and/or chemistry sufficient to apply these to research and development of conventional weapons. Knowledge of the process to plan, develop, coordinate, test, and evaluate research and development programs. Experience with technical planning and budgeting cycles, financial control and budget systems, and the basic principles of financial management in organizations. Ability to recognize the need for refined analyses or novel solutions to critical problems and implement appropriate changes to methodologies or strategies. Demonstrative skill to identify problems, gather information, draw conclusions and recommend solutions. Experience preparing papers and reports for publication. Experience developing statements of work, statements of objectives, evaluation criteria, and reviewing proposals in support of R&D efforts 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. In addition to meeting qualifications, your application package must reflect the applicable experience to meet the Individual Occupational Requirements for the 0801/1301, series as listed below: For the Engineering Series. 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. 2. 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 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.). General Physical Science Series, 1301 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 Combination of education and experience -- education equivalent to one of the majors shown in A above that included at least 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

Education

Substitution of education may not be used in lieu of specialized experience for this grade level.

You MUST provide transcripts or other documentation to support your educational claims.

All materials must be submitted by the closing date of the announcement.

GRADUATE EDUCATION: One academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credits hours that your graduate school has determined to represent one academic year of full-time study. Such study may have been performed on a full-time or part-time basis. If you cannot obtain your graduate school's definition of one year of graduate study, 18 semester hours (or 27 quarter hours) should be considered as satisfying the requirement for one year of full-time graduate study.

FOREIGN EDUCATION: 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 and such education has been 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://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html

Contacts

• Address Defense Threat Reduction Agency 8725 JOHN J KINGMAN ROAD MSC 6201 FT BELVOIR, VA 22060-6201 US
• Name: DTRA Servicing Team
• Phone: 614-692-0259
• Email: [email protected]