Duties

Embedded Hardware and Processing Branch: The Embedded Hardware & Processing Branch conducts applied research and development of scalable computational processing architectures to support the real-time processing of sensor, image and signal data within various size, weight and power constrained requirements. Activities include processing architecture analysis and design; component and device studies; software and algorithm optimization to maximize operations per watt; parallel programming of heterogeneous multi-processor systems; and porting of software such as machine learning algorithms to embedded hardware in support of Army application requirements.

The C5ISR Center is soliciting candidates to serve as engineers/scientists in the Embedded Hardware and Processing Branch to:

• (DB02/03 bands) Formulate and tailor embedded hardware and processing solutions to implement signal/image processing, and AI/ML solutions that address Army needs. Execute Technical aspects of both mission and customer funded programs.
• (DB02/03) Create, integrate and maintain real-time high-bandwidth process systems to facilitate data collections and /or experiments in different environments and geographic locations.
• (DB02/03) Implement and/or optimize software algorithms on multiple different scale computational processing implementations and/or integration into tactical Army Soldier, Ground Combat Vehicle, or Aviation platforms.
• (DB02/03) Assess the performance of various algorithms and applications across a spectrum of hardware and processing chips, cards, and/or computing platforms.
• (DB03) Oversee the technical execution of hardware and firmware design and development efforts with industry and academic partners.
• (DB03) Assist the Branch Chief in customer engagements, inter and intra organization collaborations, and in developing new project and research and development ideas.
• (DB03) Create papers and presentations illustrating how ongoing or proposed projects address relevant Army problems and create capabilities that enable automation and faster or better decision making.
• (DB02/03) Present briefings in multiple forums, both inside and outside the C5ISR Center.
• (DB02/03) Advise and inform leadership within the Branch and Image Processing Technology Division.

The Signal and Image Processing Branch (IPB) conducts applied research and development of signal and image processing algorithm components, and artificial intelligence/machine learning (AI/ML) approaches to detect and classify objects of interest as part of an automated system. This includes developing and training image processing algorithms that perform target detection, tracking and activity recognition to meet customer's mission goals. Additionally, emerging applications of AI/ML to aid in command decision making and course of action development are of interest. As part of algorithm development activities, data analysis of algorithm results obtained during testing is also a desired skill to determine how well different approaches perform under various environmental and target conditions, and operational scenarios.

• (DB02/03) Formulate automated signal and image processing, and AI/ML solutions to address Army needs, and to execute technical aspects of both mission and customer funded programs.
• (DB02/03) Design and conduct data collections and/or experiments in different environments and geographic locations to facilitate the training or assessment of automated processing and AI/ML algorithms.
• (DB02/03) Adapt or optimize algorithm approaches for multiple different scale computational processing implementations and/or integration into tactical Army Soldier, Ground Combat Vehicle, or Aviation platforms.
• (DB03) Oversee the technical execution of software and algorithm design and development efforts with industry and academic partners.
• (DB03) Assist the Branch Chief in customer engagements, inter and intra organization collaborations, and in developing new project and research and development ideas.
• (DB03) Create papers and presentations illustrating how ongoing or proposed projects address relevant Army problems and create capabilities that enable automation and faster or better decision making.
• (DB02/03) Present briefings in multiple forums, both inside and outside the C5ISR Center.
• (DB02/03) Advise and inform leadership within the Branch and Image Processing Technology Division.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• Appointment may be subject to a suitability or fitness determination, as determined by a completed background investigation.
• Pursuant to EO 14043, all Federal employees, regardless of duty location or work arrangement, must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 by November 22, 2021, or before entrance on duty if after November 22, subject to exceptions as required by law.
• If selected, the agency will provide information regarding what documentation is needed and how to request any legally required exceptions from this requirement.
• Proof of vaccination will be required. To ensure compliance with this mandate, review the vaccination requirements, to include timelines for receiving required doses, at the following: https://www.saferfederalworkforce.gov/faq/vaccinations/
• Must obtain/maintain a Secret Security Clearance.
• DB-02: This position requires Level II certification in Acquisition Career Field Engineering, or S and T Manager within 24 months of appointment.
• DB-03: This position requires Level III certification in Acquisition Career Field Engineering, or S and T Manager within 24 months of appointment.
• This is a 6 year Renewable Term position scheduled to last 6 years. This position may be extended, without limit, in up to six year increments depending upon the needs of management or may be made permanent without further competition.

Qualifications

Who May Apply: US Citizens

In order to qualify, you must meet the education and experience requirements described below. 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). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application. Additional information about transcripts is in this document .

In addition to meeting either of the basic education requirement, to qualify for this position you must also meet the qualification requirements listed below:

Embedded Hardware and Processing Branch:
To qualify at the DB-02/GS-05 equivalent: experience in one or more of the following is preferred but not required: 1) Knowledge of modern computer architectures, processors and various platform implementations to host real-time image processing and machine learning based algorithms; 2) Knowledge of basic statistics and probability theory to support data and performance analysis; 3) Programming skills to support algorithm optimization and implementation (e.g. Python, CUDA, C/C ++); 4) Aptitude and ability to perform as a member of a team conducting applied research and advanced technology projects. 5) Experience presenting briefings at a team level.

DB-03/GS-12 equivalent grade level: in addition to meeting the basic education requirement, you must have 1 year of specialized experience at the next lower grade level, DB-02/GS-05 equivalent. Specialized experience is defined as work that involves 1) Designing and/or implementing modern computer architectures, processors, FPGA and/or various platform implementations to host real-time image processing and machine learning based algorithms; 2) Using statistics and probability theory to support data and hardware performance analysis; 3) Programming experience supporting algorithm optimization on multiple hardware processing types and platforms; 4) Experience with hardware description languages (e.g.VHDL, Verilog), development processes and/or integrated development environments (IDE) to support real-time FPGA or ASIC implementations; 5) Circuit card assembly (CCA) design, analysis and layout; 6) Teamwork conducting complex applied research and advanced technology development projects. 7) Identifying solutions to resolve technical problems. 8) Presenting briefings at various levels. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed in the federal service DB-02 pay band/GS-11 equivalent grade level.

The Signal and Image Processing Branch (IPB):

DB02/GS-11: To qualify at the DB-02/GS-5 equivalent: In addition to meeting the basic requirements, experience in one or more of the following is preferred but not required: 1) Knowledge of image processing and machine learning based algorithms, their training, implementation and use to perform a desired function successfully; 2) Knowledge of basic statistics and probability theory to support data; 3) Software programming skills to support algorithm development/programming, training and analysis (e.g. Python, C/C ++), knowledge of ML tools/environments such as TensorFlow, Anaconda, Singa; 4) Aptitude and ability to perform as a member of a team conducting applied research and advanced technology projects. 5) Experience presenting briefings at a team level.

DB-03/GS-12 equivalent grade level: in addition to meeting the basic education requirement, you must have 1 year of specialized experience at the next lower grade level, DB-02/GS-11 equivalent. Specialized experience is defined as work that involves 1) Training ML based algorithms to perform a desired function successfully; 2) partitioning datasets for training, validation, and self-evaluation; 3) Software programming experience supporting algorithm development/programming, training and analysis (e.g. Python, C/C++); 4) Using ML tools/environments (e.g. TensorFlow, PyTorch, Anaconda, Singa); 5) Analyzing algorithm processing results and adjusting training datasets to achieve desired results; 5) working on a team conducting complex applied research and advanced technology development projects; 6) Identifying courses of action to solve technical problems; 7) Presenting briefings at the Branch (or O4) and Division (or O5/O6) levels. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed in the federal service DB-02 pay band/GS-11 equivalent grade level.

Education

Basic Education Requirement for an Engineer (800 Series):

A. Degree: Bachelor's degree (or higher degree) in engineering. To be acceptable, the program must: (1) lead to a bachelor's degree (or higher degree) in a school of engineering with at least one program accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (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), 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. For example, an applicant who attains registration through a State Board's eminence provision as a manufacturing engineer typically would be rated eligible only for manufacturing engineering positions.

2. Written Test - Evidence of having successfully passed the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) examination, or any other written test required for professional registration, by an engineering licensure board in the various States, the District of Columbia, Guam, or 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 A above. The courses must be fully acceptable toward meeting the requirements of an engineering program.

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 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.

To view the OPM education requirement for the Engineering (800 Series) go to: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0800/files/all-professional-engineering-positions-0800.pdf

Basic Education Requirement for a Computer Scientist (1550 series):

Degree: Bachelor's degree (or higher degree) in computer science or bachelor's degree (or higher 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.

To view the OPM education requirement for the Computer Science (1550 series) go to: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/1500/computer-science-series-1550/

Basic Requirements for Physical Science (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.

Basic Requirements for Physics (1310):

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.

FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show 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: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html

Additional information

This announcement uses the Engineering and Scientificdirect hire authority to recruit and appoint qualified candidates to certain positions in the competitive service.
• Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must complete a Pre-Employment Certification Statement for Selective Service Registration.
• You will be required to provide proof of U.S. Citizenship.
• Three year trial/probationary period may be required.
• Direct Deposit of Pay is required.
• Selection is subject to restrictions resulting from Department of Defense referral system for displaced employees.
• If you have retired from federal service and you are interested in employment as a reemployed annuitant, see the information in the Reemployed Annuitant information sheet.
• This is a Career Program (CP) 16- Engineering and Scientific position.
• Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement.
• Salary includes applicable locality pay or Local Market Supplement.
• When you perform a Civilian Permanent Change of Station (PCS) with the government, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) considers the majority of your entitlements to be taxable. Visit https://www.dfas.mil/civilianemployees/civrelo/Civilian-Moving-Expenses-Tax-Deduction/ for more information.
• Permanent Change of Station (PCS) allowances may be authorized, subject to the provisions of the Joint Travel Regulations and an agency determination that a PCS move is in the Government Interest.
• Due to COVID-19, the agency is currently in an expanded telework posture. If selected, you may be expected to temporarily telework, even if your home is located outside the local commuting area. Once employees are permitted to return to the office, you will be expected to report to the duty station listed on this announcement within a designated time frame identified by the organization. At that time, you may be eligible to request to continue to telework one or more days a pay period depending upon the terms of the agency's telework policy.
• This is a Science and Technology Laboratory Demonstration Project position and incorporates the following grades: DB-02 (GS-05 step 01 through GS-11 step 10), DB-03 (GS-12 through GS-14 step 10).
• This is a 6 year Renewable Term position scheduled to last 6 years. This position may be extended, without limit, in up to six year increments depending upon the needs of management or may be made permanent without further competition.