Duties

• You will serve as an ASTRONOMER in the Earth Orientation Department, GPS Analysis Division of the U.S. NAVAL OBSERVATORY.
• You will participate in GPS and GNSS analysis activities such as, estimating satellite orbits, receiver-and satellite-clock corrections, positions of the earth's rotation pole, UT1 values, and other related quantities from GNSS measurements.
• You will be responsible for the daily determination of earth orientation parameters using state-of-the-art methods in software analysis including daily monitoring activities.
• You will develop test plans, interpret test results and resolve inconsistencies.
• You will validate that existing algorithms and inputs that are currently in use at USNO produce accurate estimates with a focus on UTGPS estimates.
• You will write and present scientific/technical material to audiences and standard operating procedures.
• You will develop and maintain knowledge in celestial mechanics, orbit determination, geodesy, geophysics, time series analysis, statistics, data analysis software, and computer programming/software design.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• Must be a US Citizen.
• Must be determined suitable for federal employment.
• Must participate in the direct deposit pay program.
• New employees to the Department of the Navy will be required to successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit e-verify.gov
• Within the Department of Defense (DoD), the appointment of retired military members within 180 days immediately following retirement date to a civilian position is subject to the provisions of 5 United States Code 3326.
• Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service.
• Per E.O. 14043, selectee(s) must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 by date of employment except in limited circumstances where an exemption is approved due to a disability or sincerely held religious beliefs.
• You will be required to obtain and maintain an interim and/or final Top Secret/SCI security clearance prior to entrance on duty. Failure to obtain and maintain the required level of clearance may result in the withdrawal of a job offer or removal.
• This position may require travel from normal duty station to CONUS and OCONUS and may include remote or isolated sites. You must be able to travel on military and commercial aircraft for extended periods of time.
• You will be required to obtain and maintain a U.S. Passport.
• Successful completion of a pre-employment drug test (including marijuana) is required. A tentative offer of employment will be rescinded if you fail to report to the drug test appointment or fail the test. You will be subject to random testing.
• The ability to lift and move approximately 30 pounds may be required to work on astronomical instrumentation and computer equipment.
• The incumbent's Security clearance is based on a satisfactory Single Scope Background Investigation (SSBI) in order to fulfill the assigned duties of the position.
• The incumbent may be required to complete a Security+ training certification in order to carry out Scientific Computer Systems duties. The incumbent should have, or should be able to obtain within 4 months of starting the position.

Qualifications

GS-12: In addition to the Basic Requirement for this position (see Education), your resume must also demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-11 grade level or pay band in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private or public sector. Specialized experience must demonstrate the following:

• Evaluating existing and/or developing new astronomical algorithms and numerical methods to meet product requirements.
• Utilizing algorithms using a high-level computer language such as FORTRAN or other computer languages.
• Operating an open source operating system such as LINUX and cybersecurity.
• Analyzing GPS and GNSS signal processing.
• Documenting technical notes, preparing scientific papers, and presenting the results of research at scientific meetings.

GS-11: In addition to the Basic Requirement for this position (see Education), your resume must also demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-09 grade level or pay band in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private or public sector. Specialized experience must demonstrate the following:

• Utilizing algorithms using a high-level computer language such as FORTRAN or other computer languages.
• Operating an open source operating system such as LINUX and cybersecurity.
• Utilizing GPS or GNSS signal processing using GNSS software.
• Documenting technical notes, preparing scientific papers, and presenting the results of research at scientific meetings.
• Responding to user questions and explaining technical and scientific information provided by the products.

Substitution of Education for Experience:GS-12: There is no education substitution for the position at this grade level.
GS-11: Applicants may substitute the following graduate level of education for the required experience, provided the education demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position and is directly related to the work of the position:3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree, or Ph.D., or equivalent doctoral degree.

Additional qualification information can be found from the following Office of Personnel Management website: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/1300/astronomy-and-space-science-series-1330/

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (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.

Education

Basic Requirements:
Degree : in one or a combination of astronomy, physics, mathematics, space science, or electronics. The course work must have included differential and integral calculus and 12 semester hours in astronomy and/or physics;

or
Combination of education and experience -- at least 30 semester hours of courses equivalent to a major in any combination of astronomy, space science, physics, mathematics, and electronics, with required course work in differential and integral calculus and 12 semester hours in astronomy and/or physics, plus appropriate experience or additional education. All academic degrees and coursework must be from accredited or pre-accredited institutions. Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the qualification requirements if the applicant can provide documentation indicating that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States.

Additional information

This position is covered by the Department of Defense Priority Placement Program.

Several vacancies may be filled.

A tentative offer of employment will be rescinded if the selectee fails to meet the pre-employment requirements, including failure to report to any of the scheduled appointments.

Federal annuitant information: The selection of an annuitant is subject to the Department of Defense and Department of the Navy policy on the employment of annuitants. Policy information may be found at: http://www.secnav.navy.mil/donhr/Documents/CivilianJobs/FedCivAnnuitants.pdf .

Veteran's preference does not apply when selecting individuals under this specific hiring authority. However, if you claim veteran's preference, you will be required to submit supporting documentation with your application as described in the Required Documents section below.

This position requires evening and weekend work.

Recruitment incentives may be authorized to eligible new hires.

This position is eligible for part time, full time or ad-hoc telework at the discretion of management.

If selected below the full performance level, you may be noncompetitively promoted to the next higher grade level after meeting all regulatory requirements, and upon the recommendation of management. Promotion is neither implied nor guaranteed.