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NUCLEAR ENGINEER/PHYSICIST/CHEMIST

Department of the Air Force
Department of the Air Force - Agency Wide
USAF RADCHEM LB
This job announcement has closed

Summary

Click on "Learn more about this agency" button below for IMPORTANT additional information.

The primary purpose of this position is: Lead scientist providing planning, directing, organizing, and exercising control over nonsupervisory employees assigned and ensure that underground or atmospheric nuclear weapons testing samples or nuclear effluent materials of nuclear accidents are measured to obtain data on the radioisotopes identified by technical evaluators who inform national authorities.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
09/27/2023 to 10/10/2023
Salary
$123,437 to - $160,466 per year
Pay scale & grade
GG 13
Location
Patrick AFB, FL
Few vacancies
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Excepted
Promotion potential
13
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Sensitive Compartmented Information
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Special-Sensitive (SS)/High Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
8X-DCIPS-12143965-165947-SS
Control number
751339300

Duties

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  • Performs work requiring expert-level professional knowledge of alpha, beta, and gamma or various mass spectrometer measurement systems, instrumentation, and techniques.
  • Responsible for determining the measurement procedures and sample counting techniques that will be used and for the overall training of the personnel in the nuclear measurements laboratory.
  • Works with the Health Physicist to ensure procedures meet laboratory radiological and safety standards ensuring the safety of personnel.
  • Establishes and maintains a training program that ensures technicians are fully knowledgeable of the measurement techniques required for measuring all types of radioactive samples.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • U.S. Citizenship Required
  • All new DCIPS employees are required to complete a two-year DCIPS trial period.
  • TRAVEL AND RELOCATION EXPENSES WILL NOT BE PAID
  • This position is subject to provisions of the DoD Priority Placement Program
  • Must be registered for Selective Service, see Legal and Regulatory Guide
  • Employee must maintain current certifications
  • Disclosure of Political Appointments
  • Direct Deposit: All federal employees are required to have direct deposit
  • Advance in hire may be authorized if there is demonstrable proof provided on your resume
  • Recruitment Incentive may be authorized for this position
  • Relocation Incentive may be authorized for this position
  • Leave accrual may be authorized upon request
  • The employee may be required to travel on military and commercial aircraft
  • Shift work may be required
  • The employee may be required to work irregular duty hours
  • Incumbent is required to undergo a counterintelligence-scope polygraph examination

Qualifications

In order to qualify, you must meet the specialized experience requirements described in the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards for General Schedule Positions, Professional and Scientific Positions.

This is a GG-13 position in the Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System (DCIPS). The GG-13 duties for the "Professional" work category are at the "Full Performance" work level and are equivalent to those at the GS-13 level. The selectee's salary will be set within the grade equivalent to a GS/GG grade based on the selectee's qualifications in relation to the job.

INDIVIDUAL OCCUPATIONAL REQUIREMENT:
NUCLEAR ENGINEER GG-0840- 13 A. Degree: Engineering. To be acceptable, the program must: (1) lead to a bachelor's degree in a school of engineering with at least one program accredited by 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.

PHYSICIST GG-1310-13 A. Degree: physics; or related degree that included at least 24 semester hours in physics.

OR

B. Combination of education and experience -- courses equivalent to a major in physics totaling at least 24 semester hours, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

In either A or B above, the courses must have included a fundamental course in general physics and, in addition, courses in any two of the following: electricity and magnetism, heat, light, mechanics, modern physics, and sound.

CHEMIST GG-1320-13 A. Degree: physical sciences, life sciences, or engineering that included 30 semester hours in chemistry, supplemented by course work in mathematics through differential and integral calculus, and at least 6 semester hours of physics.

OR

B. Combination of education and experience -- course work equivalent to a major as shown in A above, including at least 30 semester hours in chemistry, supplemented by mathematics through differential and integral calculus, and at least 6 semester hours of physics, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

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

EXPERIENCE REQUIRED: Your resume must reflect the quality level of experience which demonstrates the possession of the knowledge, skills, abilities, and competencies necessary for successful job performance required for this position. Examples of creditable experience include: Knowledge of the principles and practices of nuclear radiation detection. Knowledge of all types of mass spectrometry. Knowledge of radiochemical methods of separation and purification, tracer and carrier techniques, and instrumental chemical techniques is desired. Knowledge of counting statistics, spectral analysis, and tracer yielding the radioactive decay schemes, radiation detection systems, and the use of established nuclear measurement constants.
Knowledge of radiochemistry principles, techniques, processes, procedures, and equipment. NOTE: Creditable experience may include previous military experience, experience gained in the private sector, or experience gained in another government agency.

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. Extensive knowledge of the principles and practices of nuclear radiation detection. Extensive knowledge of all types of mass spectrometry. Knowledge of radiochemical methods of separation and purification, tracer and carrier techniques, and instrumental chemical techniques is desired.
  2. Knowledge of counting statistics, spectral analysis, and tracer yielding the radioactive decay schemes, radiation detection systems, and the use of established nuclear measurement constants
  3. Knowledge of radiochemistry principles, techniques, processes, procedures, and equipment.
  4. Skill in rapidly applying knowledge in a variety of situations to a variety of nuclear measurement systems in order to meet critical deadlines. Skills in evaluation techniques and interpretation of results are required.
  5. Ability to analyze conflicting information from multiple sources and work well in an operational environment. Ability to organize, interpret and present information in a clear concise manner.
  6. Ability to communicate both orally and writing in a clear and accurate fashion. Extensive knowledge of alpha, beta, and gamma radiation measurement equipment and the principles, techniques, processes, procedures associated with the use of that equipment to include radioactive decay schemes, radiation decay corrections, nuclear bombardment corrections, instrument dead time corrections, and calibrations of radiation detection systems.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT CONTINUED:
  • Must be able to obtain and maintain a Top Secret, Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) Security Clearance. This position is designated special-sensitive and requires eligibility for access to Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI), other intelligence-related Special Sensitive information, or involvement in Top Secret Special Access Programs (SAP) to fully perform the duties and responsibilities of the position. A non-disclosure agreement
  • must be signed.
  • This position has been designated by the Air Force as a Testing Designated Position (TDP) under the Air Force Civilian Drug Demand Reduction Program. Employee must pass initial and periodic short notice drug testing. Illegal drug use by employees in sensitive positions presents a clear threat to the mission of the Air Force, national security, and public safety.
  • A Master's or PhD degree in physics with emphasis in nuclear measurement systems is very strongly desired. A minimum of 5 years of direct experience as a nuclear measurement expert is highly desired along with 15 years' experience working in a nuclear measurements laboratory.

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

IF USING EDUCATION TO QUALIFY: If position has a positive degree requirement or education forms the basis for qualifications, you MUST submit transcriptswith the application. Official transcripts are not required at the time of application; however, if position has a positive degree requirement, qualifying based on education alone or in combination with experience, transcripts must be verified prior to appointment. An accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education must accredit education. Click here to check accreditation.

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

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.

120-Day Register: This announcement may result in a 120-day register that may be used to fill like vacancies for 120 days after the closing date. Applicants may be referred for consideration as vacancies occur.

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.

Selectees who physically reside permanently in the U.S., the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico or Northern Mariana Islands, and the Possessions of the U.S., during the entire recruitment process (application, selection, and acceptance of a formal job offer) and selected for employment in the foreign area are eligible to receive certain foreign area benefits such as: Living Quarters Allowance (LQA) or government quarters, Post Allowance, Home Leave, etc. (subject to approval)

Selectees who physically reside outside the U.S., the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico or Northern Mariana Islands, and the Possessions of the U.S., during any step of the recruitment process (application, selection, and acceptance of a formal job offer) will have foreign area benefits eligibility be determined on a case by case basis.

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. 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 GSA Bulletin FTR 20-04 here for additional information.

How you will be evaluated

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

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.

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