NIST works with industry and science to advance innovation and improve quality of life. We're looking for a Physicist to join our team! This notice is issued under direct-hire authority to recruit new talent to occupations for which NIST has a severe shortage of candidates.

Duties

The incumbent will design, construct, modify, and perform scientific experiments to improve an optical atomic frequency reference, with an aim toward continuous and automated operation at an absolute uncertainty and instability level less than 1e-16 (one tenth of one quadrillion). The incumbent will assist the Time and Frequency division in evaluation and official report of primary and secondary atomic frequency reference observations and comparisons. The incumbent will assist in operation, maintenance, and refinement of the atomic clock ensemble producing the UTC(NIST) time scale.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship
• Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service
• Suitable for Federal employment
• Bargaining Unit Position: No

Qualifications

Basic Requirements: Degree: physics; or related degree that included at least 24 semester hours in physics. or Combination of education and experience -- courses equivalent to a major in physics totaling at least 24 semester hours, plus appropriate experience or additional education. In either 1 or 2 above, the courses must have included a fundamental course in general physics and, in addition, courses in any two of the following: electricity and magnetism, heat, light, mechanics, modern physics, and sound. In addition to the basic requirements, you must also meet the following requirements: One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least GS-9 (ZP-II at NIST). Specialized experience is defined as experience conducting scientific research involving laser spectroscopy of trapped ions, computerized control and data acquisition, and laser frequency servo control. or Master's or equivalent graduate degree or A combination of graduate education and specialized experience. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done. We will credit all qualifying volunteer experience in your application. The qualification requirements in this vacancy announcement are based on the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards Handbook. Applicant Reconsideration

Education

This position has an education requirement. Transcripts must be submitted to validate that the education requirement has been met. Unofficial transcripts will be accepted in the application package. However, an official copy will be required prior to a final offer of employment.

Education completed outside of the U.S. must be evaluated by an accredited organization to ensure that it is comparable to education received in accredited institutions in the U.S. Click here to view a listing of accredited organizations from the Department of Education's website. A copy of the foreign education evaluation (containing the results with a course by course listing) is required with your application.

Contacts

• Address Time and Frequency Division 100 Bureau Drive Gaithersburg, MD 20899 US
• Name: Erin O'Neill
• Email: [email protected]