Skip to main content
U.S. flag
Back to results

Physical Science Technician

Department of Transportation
Maritime Administration
This job announcement has closed

Summary

The Mission of the United States Merchant Marine Academy is to educate and graduate licensed merchant mariners and leaders of exemplary character who will serve America’s marine transportation and defense needs in peace and war.

The position is located in the Department of Mathematics and Science at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, Kings Point, New York. The Academy is a four-year, accredited, degree granting institution of higher education where selected young men and women are prepared for service as officers in the American Merchant Marine and as officers in the U.S. Naval Reserve. This position is responsible for providing equipment set-up, equipment modification, maintenance and repair, testing and calibration, preparation and standardization of chemical solutions and provide instructions to Midshipmen in the Physics and Chemistry Laboratories.

Ideal Candidate Statement: The ideal candidate is a mid-level professional possessing the knowledge of scientific principles of chemistry, as well as physics, and other physical science disciplines.

PLEASE NOTE:  This vacancy may be used to fill similar positions within 90 days for these locations.

Overview

Help
Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
06/26/2018 to 07/06/2018
Salary
$57,948 - $91,147 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 09 - 11
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Kings Point, NY
1 vacancy
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
Not required
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time - Full Time -
Service
Promotion potential
11
Supervisory status
No
Drug test
No
Announcement number
MARAD.MMA-2018-0025
Control number
503404200

This job is open to

Help

Duties

Help

As a Physical Science Technician, you will

  • Be responsible for the safe and accurate preparation of standard chemical solutions with precise normality and molarity specifications.
  • Be responsible for setting up the apparatus and/or chemicals for demonstrations and each of the General Physics and General Chemistry experiments.
  • Be responsible for modifying the existing equipment as necessary to meet training objectives outlined by the chemistry and physics instructor.
  • Be responsible for planning and revising of periodic maintenance programs to ensure that there is a minimum of equipment downtime.
  • Be responsible for reliability, the precise calibration, and the technical operations of all the electronic and electric equipment.
  • Provides technical guidance to students in the performance of chemistry laboratory experiments; assist faculty members and students in the performance of physics and chemistry laboratory experiments and conducting lecture demonstrations.
  • Be responsible in keeping an up-to-date inventory of equipment, supplies, spare parts, and maintenance needs for chemistry and physics. Also responsible for requisitioning supplies and equipment.
  • Be responsible for disposing of acids in a safe manner and monitoring the safety of chemical storage, laboratory conditions and operational procedures.

Requirements

Help

Conditions of employment

  • Must meet specialized experience requirements.
  • Submit application and resume online by 11:59 PM EST on the closing date.
  • Provide all required documents by closing date.
  • This position is NOT telework eligible.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

  • SELECTIVE SERVICE: Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for the Selective Service.
  • PROBATIONARY PERIOD: You must complete a one-year probationary period (unless already completed).
  • DEU REQUIREMENTS: Applicants selected under delegated examining procedures may be required to successfully complete a one-year probationary period (unless already completed).

Qualifications

To meet the minimum qualifications for this position, you must meet either the education or experience qualifications for the grade at which you are requesting consideration. 

To qualify for the GS-09 on Experience, you must have at least one year of experience equal or equivalent to the GS-08, it must include:

  • Experience applying analytical methods, laboratory procedures, and theoretical concepts, principals and practices of chemistry and other physical science disciplines to employ procedures ad techniques for utilization of instruments and equipment (such as electronic balances, pH meters, temperature probes, UV/VIS spectrometers, multimeters, computers, etc.)

To qualify for the GS-09 on Education alone, you must have:

At least 2 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a master's degree or have been awarded a master's or equivalent graduate degree.

You can also qualify based on a combination of graduate education and experience.  This must be fully supported by your resume and transcripts, provided with your application.

To qualify for the GS-10 on Experience, you must have at least one year of experience equal or equivalent to the GS-09, it must include:

  • Experience applying analytical methods, laboratory procedures, and theoretical concepts, principles, and  practices of chemistry and other physical science disciplines to modify existing procedures and techniques for more effective utilization of an advanced instrument or equipment (such as atomic absorption spectrometers, ion chromatographs, gas chromatographs, oscillosopes, atomic force microscope, etc.) under supervision.

To qualify for the GS-10 on Education alone, you must have:

At least 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree.  

You can also qualify based on a combination of higher level graduate education and experience.  This must be fully supported by your resume and transcripts, provided with your application.  

To qualify on for the GS-11 on Experience, you must have at least one year of experience equal or equivalent to the GS-10, it must include:

  • Experience applying analytical methods, laboratory procedures, and theoretical concepts, principles, and practices of chemistry and other physical science disciplines to develop new procedures and techniques for more effective utilization of multiple advanced instruments and equipment (such as atomic absorption spectrometers, ion chromatographs, gas chromatographs, oscilloscopes, atomic force microscopes, etc.) independently without supervision.

To qualify for the GS-11 on Education alone, you must have:

At least 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree.

You can also qualify based on a combination of higher level graduate education and experience.  This must be fully supported by your resume and transcripts, provided with your application.  

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.

For additional information about applying to Federal positions, please click on the following link:  https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-policies/#url=e4

Students enrolled in a qualifying degree program can apply if the anticipated graduation date is within six months of closing date of the announcement. Graduation transcript must be received before start date.

Other applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.


 

 



Additional information

Displaced employees may be eligible for ICTAP or CTAP priority consideration. For more information, please review the OPM Employee's Guide to Career Transition.

The Department of Transportation (DOT) maintains a model federal work environment that is free of discrimination. DOT ensures equal employment opportunity for employees and applicants for employment, regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), genetic information, age, disability, sexual orientation, or protected activity.

How you will be evaluated

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

DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE: PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. If your resume/ application does not support your questionnaire answers, we will not allow credit for your response(s). Your resume must contain sufficiently detailed information upon which to make a qualification determination. Please ensure that your resume contains specific information such as position titles, beginning and ending dates of employment for each position, average number of hours worked per week, and if the position is/was in the Federal government, you should provide the position series and grade level. 

If you meet the qualification requirements, your application will be placed in one of four categories: Platinum, Gold, Silver or Bronze, which is based upon your responses to the vacancy questions. Within these categories, applicants eligible for veteran's preference that have provided supporting documents will receive selection priority over non-veterans. The top rated applications will be reviewed for the quality of your experience, education and training relevant to the position.

Your application will be rated on the extent and quality of your experience, education and training relevant to the position. The answers you select in the on-line process must be substantiated in your application package.  If upon review, it is determined that your described work history, competencies, and/or supporting documents do not support your answer choices, your application may be updated or you may not be referred to the selecting official. Please ensure that your work history provides enough details to support your answers.  The Automated Staffing Office is ultimately responsible for determining your final rating.


To preview questions please click here.

Maritime Administration

Agency contact information

Automated Staffing Office
Phone
202-366-1298
Fax
0000000000
Email
TRANSJOBS@dot.gov
Address
DOT, MARITIME ADMINISTRATION
Submit Application and Documents Online
1200 New Jersey Ave SE / HAHR - 50
Washington, District of Columbia 20590
United States

Visit our careers page

Learn more about what it's like to work at Maritime Administration, what the agency does, and about the types of careers this agency offers.

https://jobs.monstergovt.com/dot/vacancy/preview.hms?orgId=2&jnum=79519#overview

Your session is about to expire!

Your USAJOBS session will expire due to inactivity in 8 minutes. Any unsaved data will be lost if you allow the session to expire. Click the button below to continue your session.