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Computer Scientist

Employer
USAJobs
Location
Dahlgren, Virginia
Closing date
Nov 24, 2019
Duties

Summary

The PALACE Acquire Program offers you a permanent position upon completion of your formal training plan. As a Palace Acquire Intern you will experience both personal and professional growth while dealing effectively and ethically with change, complexity, and problem solving. The program offers a 3 - Year formal training plan with yearly salary increases. Promotions and salary increases are based upon your successful performance and supervisory approval.

Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

  • Performs moderately difficult and complex developmental assignments such as writing code in support of tasks to support all level of organization staff and management, in conducting development of data processing systems, functions.
  • With minimal guidance, performs software system development and troubleshooting on configurations, scripts, applications, databases, data, voice, video, imagery, and etc.
  • Carries out special projects and participates in special initiatives and studies. Performs special assignments in support of the organization; e.g., researching policy.
  • Prepares written correspondence and other documentation. Drafts or prepares a variety of documents to include newsletter items, responses to routine inquiries, reports, letters, and other related documents.


Travel Required

Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
13

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • Please read this Public Notice in its entirety prior to submitting your application for consideration.
  • U.S. Citizenship is required
  • Males must be registered for Selective Service, see www.sss.gov
  • Total salary varies depending on location of position
  • Permanent Change of Station (PCS) expenses may or may not be authorized. PCS expenses if authorized will be paid IAW JTR and Air Force Regulations
  • Recruitment incentives may be authorized
  • Position may be subject to random drug testing
  • Employee may be required to work other than normal duty hours, to include evenings, weekends and/or holidays
  • Shift work and emergency overtime may be required
  • A security clearance may be required
  • Disclosure of Political Appointments
  • Mobility - you may be required to relocate during or after completion of your training.
  • You will be required to serve a two year probationary period
  • Must meet suitability for Federal employment


Qualifications

Basic Qualification for Computer Science 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.

You may qualify at the GS-9 Level if you meet one of the following:
A. I have a Master's or equivalent degree in Computer Science or a field that provides the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position. (SUBMIT COPY OF TRANSCRIPT)

B. I have a Computer Science degree at the undergraduate level and one or more years of specialized experience at the GS-7 level. (Submit a copy of your transcript). Degree Audits are not acceptable.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Successfully completed 1 year of specialized experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA's) to successfully perform the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled. To be creditable, the specialized experience must have been at the GS-07 grade level or equivalent under other pay systems in the Federal service.

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.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-07 grade level. Specialized experience is defined as knowledge of utilizing statistical techniques and developing mathematical models in order to define and analyze problems; and advising officials of different approaches as a basis for management plans and decisions.

To view qualifying educational requirements and/or combination of education and specialized experience, click on the following link:http://www.opm.gov/qualifications/standards/indexes/num-ndx.as

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:

1. Knowledge of the theoretical foundations of computer science, including computer theory, algorithms,
data structures, programming concepts and languages, and computer architecture to include the standard
practices, methods, and techniques of the computer science and/or software development sufficient to
perform difficult, but well-precedented assignments.
OR
Knowledge in combining knowledge of engineering fundamentals and principles with knowledge of
computer hardware, systems software, as well as computer system architecture and integration to perform
difficult, but well-precedented assignments.
2. Knowledge of analysis, evaluation, fact-finding, and investigative techniques in order to gather data,
identify significant factors, and recommend a solution from a number of possible alternatives.
3. Knowledge of computer science and/or engineering to perform studies and prepare reports,
documentation, and correspondence to communicate factual and procedural information clearly.
4. Skill in applying the principles, concepts, and practices of the computer science and/or engineering
sufficient to perform moderately difficult assignments.
5. Ability to communicate clearly, concisely, and with technical accuracy, both orally and in writing, as well
as work in a professional manner with peers and management.
6. Ability to learn and apply analytical investigative techniques to accomplish work in computer science and/or engineering.

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

This position has an education requirement. You MUST provide transcripts to support your educational claims. Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. http://www2.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.htmlPlease submit copies of all transcripts to include transferred hours-Official copies are not required at time of application. If selected, you will be required to provide official copies of all transcripts.

PLEASE SUBMIT COPIES OF ALL TRANSCRIPTS TO INCLUDE TRANSFERRED HOURS-OFFICIAL COPIES ARE NOT REQUIRED AT TIME OF APPLICATION. IF SELECTED, YOU WILL BE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE OFFICIAL COPIES OF ALL TRANSCRIPTS. ***NOTE***DEGREE AUDITS ARE NOT ACCEPTED.

IF USING EDUCATION TO QUALIFY:
You MUST provide transcripts to support your educational claims. Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

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

You must have completed a 4 year course of study leading to a bachelor's from an accredited institution AND must have documented Superior Academic Achievement (SAA) at the undergraduate level in one of the following:

a) Class Standing - upper third of the graduating class based on completed courses in the college, university.

b) Grade Point Average - 2.95 out of a possible 4.0 as recorded on your official transcript as computed based on 4 years of education or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of curriculum; OR 3.45 out of a possible 4.0 based on the average of the required courses completed in your major field or the required courses in your major field completed during the final 2 years of your curriculum. If more than 10 percent of total undergraduate credit hours are non-graded, i.e. pass/fail, CLEP, CCAF, DANTES, military credit.

c) Election to membership in a national scholastic honor society (note: freshman honor society cannot be used to meet the requirements of this position). (If qualifying based on class standing or honor society membership, provide appropriate documentation).

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 in the "Highly Qualified" or "Best Qualified" Category on the rating criteria for this vacancy. 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.

Selective Service: Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service. For additional information, click here .

Direct Deposit: All federal employees are required to have direct deposit.

If you have questions regarding this announcement and have hearing or speech difficulties click here .

Tax Law Impact for PCS:
On 22-Dec-2017, Public Law 115-97 - the "Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 suspended qualified moving expense deductions along with the exclusion for employer reimbursements and payments of moving expenses effective 01-Jan-2018 for tax years 2018 through 2025. The law made taxable certain reimbursements and other payments, including driving mileage, airfare and lodging expenses, en-route travel to the new duty station, and temporary storage of those items. The Federal Travel Regulation Bulletin (FTR) 18-05 issued by General Services Administration (GSA) has authorized agencies to use the Withholding Tax Allowance (WTA) and Relocation Income Tax Allowance (RITA) to pay for "substantially all" of the increased tax liability resulting from the "2018 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act" for certain eligible individuals. For additional information on WTA/RITA allowances and eligibilities, please visit: https://www.gsa.gov/cdnstatic/FTR%20Bulletin%2018_05%20Relocation%20Allowances_0.pdf

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Your latest resume will be used to determine your qualifications.

Your application package (resume, supporting documents, and responses to the questionnaire) will be used to determine your eligibility, qualifications, and quality ranking for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment.

Your responses to the questionnaire may be compared to the documents you submit. The documents you submit must support your responses to the online questionnaire. If your application contradicts or does not support your questionnaire responses, you will receive a rating of "not qualified" or "insufficient information" and you will not receive further consideration for this job.

Applicants who disqualify themselves will not be evaluated further.

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Top Secret

Drug test required
Yes

Position sensitivity and risk
Critical-Sensitive (CS)/High Risk

Trust determination process
Suitability/Fitness

Required Documents

The following documents are required and must be provided with your application for this Public Notice:
  • Online Application - Questionnaire
  • Resume - For qualification determinations your resume must contain hours worked per week and dates of employment (i.e., month/year to month/year or month/year to present). If your resume does not contain this information, your application may be marked as insufficient and you will not receive consideration for this position. If you are a current Federal employee or previous Federal employee, provide your pay plan, series and grade, i.e. GS-0301-09. Do NOT include photographs (or links to social media such as LinkedIn ), inappropriate material, inappropriate content, nor personal information such as age, gender, religion, social security number, etc., on your resume.
  • Transcripts - if you are basing your qualifications on education or if the position requires education, you must submit copies of your transcripts
  • Registration/License - active, current registration/license if applicable for the position
  • Veterans' Preference - If you are claiming veterans' preference, you must submit a copy of your DD Form 214, which must include character of service or a Statement of Service/Proof of Service which must include service dates and character of service. In addition, if claiming 10-point preference you must submit a VA Letter or a disability determination from a branch of the Armed Forces (or documentation of Purple Heart, if applicable) and a SF 15 (Application for 10-point veteran preference).
  • ACTIVE DUTY SERVICE MEMBERS: The VOW Act requires agencies to treat active duty service member as veterans, disabled veterans, and preference eligible, when they submit, at the time they apply for a Federal job, a "certification" of active service in lieu of a DD214, assuming the service member is otherwise eligible. A "certification" letter should be on letterhead of the appropriate military branch of the service and contain (1) the military service dates including the expected discharge or release date; and (2) the character of service. The "certification" must reflect the service member is expected to be discharged or released from active duty service in the armed forces under honorable conditions not later than 120 days after the date of submission. The "certification" must be signed by, or by direction of, the adjutant, personnel officer, or commander of your unit or higher headquarters and must indicate when your terminal leave will begin (if applicable), your rank, dates of active duty service, the type of discharge and character of service (i.e. honorable). Further, agencies are required to verify a qualifying separation from military service prior to appointment, through the DD214 or other appropriate documentation. Active duty members that fail to provide a valid "certification" of service with their application will be found "not eligible." Military members may be appointed before the effective date of their military retirement/separation if member is on terminal leave.

    If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

    Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education .

    Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

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