Duties

Summary

This position is part of the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, Defense Threat Reduction Agency. The incumbent will be responsible for Responsible to the Division Chief, Nuclear Assessment Division, DTRA RD-NTA. Serves as a Computer Scientist and Project Manager/Contracting Officer Representative developing tailored wargaming/exercise/training tools that can visualize nuclear weapon effects and their mission impacts to the warfighter/forces.

Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

This position is being filled under DoD Modified Direct Hire Authority, Section 1109; PL, 116-92, dated 12/20/2019 .

As a COMPUTER SCIENTIST at the GS-1550-13/14 some of your typical work assignments may include:

• Unit mission includes educating Senior Leaders, Operators, Planners and Acquisition Professions on how to operate in a conventional-nuclear integrated battlespace, and to provide the nuclear wargaming tools and/or expertise necessary to support.
• Primary duty is that of a Computer Scientist leading a team of Contractors in the development of nuclear wargaming tools. Two fundamental technical steps in the tool development are to integrate existing nuclear models into a user-friendly tool and to integrate the tool with existing conventional wargame/training/analytic models and simulations. No coding will be involved, but a thorough understanding of multiple languages; how to integrate models into a common framework (i.e. High Level Architecture); and how to operate in the web-services environment will be necessary to guide the work.
• Duties will also include Program Management (PM) and Contracting Officer Representative (COR). Member, in close coordination with the Contracting Officer, will serve as the official government representative. Candidate will be given up to two years to obtain required PM/COR certification. The government will provide time and funding for required PM/COR certification. PM/COR certified members are responsible for providing technical direction and managing performance in accordance with contractual statements of work. Working closely with the Contracting Officer, PM/COR executes all functions necessary to bring procurement and acquisition actions to successful conclusion.
• Duties will include working with Services, Combatant Commands, other DoD, interagency nuclear and wargaming communities. Military operations knowledge is desired, but not required, but is expected to be gained by daily experience and formal training. Duties may evolve to participating in DoD, FEMA, NATO, etc. wargames, exercises, training events. Your participation would then be to operate the Nuclear Wargame Tool and gain insights into product enhancement.
• Duties will also include presenting program information to interested parties both within and external to the organization - including justifying program budgets to senior leaders and/or requesting program funding or support.
• Duties will be in the field of nuclear effects and wargaming. Specificially, helping educate the DoD on operations in a nuclear environment. Nuclear effects experience is desired, but not required. Training courses, daily interactions will provide the desired knowledge. Wargaming / Exercise execution / Training experience is desired, but not required. Participation in wargames, exercises, and training events will impart the desired knowledge of nuclear effects and wargaming.

Travel Required

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

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
14

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• Must be a U.S. Citizen
• Occasional Travel
• 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
• May be required to successfully complete a probationary period
• Overtime: Occasionally
• Tour of Duty: Flexible
• Recruitment Incentives: Authorized
• Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA): Exempt
• Financial Disclosure: Not Required
• Telework Eligibility: This position is telework eligible
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a TOP SECRET clearance with and access to Special Compartmented Information.
• Subject to pre-employment drug testing and periodic random drug testing thereafter.
• Overtime: The employee has considerable management responsibilities and occasional sort lead-time requirements that can require overtime.
• Travel: Up to 25% of the time.
• This is an Acquisition Workforce position in the Science and Technology Manager career field.
• The incumbent is required to become certified, Level II in the applicable career field within 24 months, unless a position requirements waiver is approved to extend the 24 months.
• The incumbent must obtain a minimum of 80 continuous learning points (CLPs) for every 2 year CLP period, with a goal of at least 40 annually.
• COVID19: All Federal Employees must be fully vaccinated by November 22, 2021. Please see, additional information.

Qualifications

You may qualify at the GS -14 , if you fulfill the following qualifications:

A. One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 grade level in the Federal service as listed below:

• Expert knowledge and strong experience integrating / developing a common framework for sharing information and/or data across multiple models and simulations.
• Expert knowledge and strong experience across a diverse set of languages (i.e. C, C++, JAVA, JAVA script, python). Writing code on a daily basis will not be required. However, an expert level of knowledge is necessary to interact with performers.
• Working knowledge and documented experience working with and within web-services and/or web-applications.
• Basic experience managing projects/programs, to include performance, cost and schedule.
• While not being fully certified, a successful candidate should have the experience to lead a project/program within 1-month. Government will provide additional training to acquire required certification levels.
• Experience with the DoD acquisition process. This is different than program managements as it deals with the financial and legal rules of the contracting process. Government will provide additional training to acquire required certification levels.

You may qualify at the GS-13 , if you fulfill the following qualifications:

B. One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level in the Federal service as listed below:

• General knowledge and experience across a diverse set of languages (i.e. C, C++, JAVA, JAVA script, python).
• Working knowledge and general experience integrating ad and developing a common framework for sharing information and/or data across multiple models and simulations.
• Writing code on a daily basis will not be required. However, a fundamental level of knowledge is necessary to interact with performers. Rudimentary knowledge and experience working with and within web-services and/or web-applications.
• Working knowledge of managing projects/programs, to include performance, cost and schedule.
• A successful GS-13 candidate is expected to be able to lead a project/program within 12-months. Government will provide additional training to acquire required certification levels.
• Experience with any acquisition process. This is different than program managements as it deals with the financial and legal rules of the contracting process. Government will provide additional training to acquire required certification levels.

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 1550, series as listed below:

This series includes professional positions which primarily involve the application of, or research into, computer science methods and techniques to store, manipulate, transform or present information by means of computer systems. The primary requirements of the work are (a) professional competence in applying the theoretical foundations of computer science, including computer system architecture and system software organization, the representation and transformation of information structures, and the theoretical models for such representations and transformations; (b) specialized knowledge of the design characteristics, limitations, and potential applications of systems having the ability to transform information, and of broad areas of applications of computing which have common structures, processes, and techniques; and (c) knowledge of relevant mathematical and statistical sciences.

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. Top of Form
Applicants should have sufficient knowledge to understand the fundamental concepts and techniques of computer science. Courses designed to provide an introduction to computer science techniques and methodologies, to problems of system design, and to other specialized fields are acceptable. Courses or experience in teaching elementary, business, or shop mathematics are not acceptable.

Education

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: Foreign Education

Additional information

Other Notes:
COVID19 - All Federal Employees must be fully vaccinated by November 22, 2021. Proof of vaccination will be required. To ensure compliance with this mandate, please review the vaccination requirements, to include timelines for receiving required doses, at the following: https://www.saferfederalworkforce.gov/faq/vaccinations/

ACQUISITION POSITION: This position requires Acquisition Workforce Level II Science and Technology Manager (or as agreed to with Supervisor) DAWIA Certification prior to hiring is not essential, but must be accomplished within 24 months after entry into this position.

This position DOES NOT meet criteria for re-employed annuitant. The DoD criteria for hiring Re-employed Annuitants can be found at:
http://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/issuances/140025/1400.25-V300.pdf

All applicants must meet qualifications and eligibility criteria by the closing date of the announcement.

Interagency Career Transition Assistance Programs: This program applies to employees who have been involuntarily separated from a Federal service position within the competitive service or Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed. To receive selection priority for this position, you must: 1) meet ICTAP eligibility criteria; 2) be rated well-qualified for the position; Well qualified is defined as possessing the type and quality of experience that exceeds the positions minimum qualifications. and 3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your ICTAP eligibility. For more information:
https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/

Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see https://www.sss.gov/RegVer/wfRegistration.aspx

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

We will review your resume and supporting documents, to ensure you meet the basic qualification requirements. We will evaluate each applicant who meets the basic qualifications on the information provided and evaluate your relevant work experiences as it relates to fundamental competencies, identified below, required for this position.

Competencies:

Traditional rating and ranking of applications does not apply to this vacancy. Your application (resume and supporting documentation) will be evaluated to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications required as listed on the announcement under qualification requirements.

Veterans Preference: If you are entitled to veterans preference, you should indicate the type of veterans' preference you are claiming on your resume. Your veterans' preference entitlement will be verified by the employing agency.

For information on entitlement see http://www.fedshirevets.gov/job/vetpref/index.aspx

Military Spouse Preference: If you are entitled to military spouse preference, in order to receive this preference you must choose the spousal eligibility in your application package referencing MSP Military Spouse Preference. Your preference entitlement will be verified by the employing agency. If you are claiming military spouse preference and qualified for the position, your name will be placed below preference eligible veteran candidates and above non-preference candidates on a list sent to the hiring manager for employment consideration. To claim Military Spouse Preference (MSP) please complete the Military Spouse PPP Self-Certification Checklist , save the document and attach it to your application package.

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Sensitive Compartmented Information

Drug test required
Yes

Position sensitivity and risk
Special-Sensitive (SS)/High Risk

Trust determination process
Suitability/Fitness

Required Documents

The documents you are required to submit vary based on the authority you are using to apply (i.e., applying as a veteran, applying as a current permanent Federal employee, applying as a reinstatement, etc).

Your complete application includes your COMPLETE resume, your responses to the online questionnaire, and documents which prove your eligibility to apply. If you fail to provide these documents, you will be marked as having an incomplete application package and you will not be considered any further.

The following documents are REQUIRED
1. Your resume:

• Your resume may be submitted in any format. It must include your name and contact information and support the specialized experience described in this announcement.
• For qualifications determinations your resume must contain the number of hours worked per week and the dates of employment (i.e.," HRS per week and month/year" or "HRS per week and month/year to present").
• For additional information see: What to include in your resume.

2. Transcripts

• This position has a degree or education requirement so you are required to submit a copy of your transcript

3. Veteran's Documents

• If applying using veteran's preference or under a Veteran's hiring authority you must submit the following documents:
• DD214 showing character of service, SF-15 Form and VA letter showing final percentage, or certification of expected discharge or release from active duty.

PLEASE REVIEW THE BELOW LINK FOR OTHER SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS needed for proof of eligibility:
https://www.dla.mil/Portals/104/Documents/Careers/downloads/FourthEstateRequiredSupportingDocumentation%2011-16-2020.pdf?ver=Lgkkn1HW9a8is7V2lyCS2Q%3d%3d

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.