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Computer Scientist (Test Lead)

Department of Transportation
Federal Aviation Administration
Air Traffic Organization, Program Management Organization, AJM-3150
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position is in AJM-3150 which the applicant will be selected. The PMO provides program and acquisition management for the systems and capabilities that modernize and sustain the National Airspace System (NAS) to advance NAS programs from concept to operation while providing technical support for air traffic control communication¿s and decision support systems.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Posted 09/29/22
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Work site options
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Salary
$108,281 - $167,866 per year

The salary includes the 26.95% locality pay for the Atlantic City, New Jersey Area.

Pay scale & grade
FV J
Promotion potential
NA
Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.
Work schedule
Full-time
Travel Required
Occasional travel - The job may require travel from time- to-time, but not on a regular basis. The travel may be for training or other work-related duties.
Appointment type
Permanent
Occupations and job series
Supervisory status
No
Federal service type
This job is in the Excepted Service
Drug test
No
Security clearance
Other
Announcement number
AWA-AJM-22-0028RJ-79841
Control number
680439300

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

Also open to former excepted service federal employees eligible under an interchange agreement. Current or former federal employees must have met a one year probationary period or trial period in the competitive or excepted service. Applications will be accepted from preference eligibles and veterans who are honorably discharged from the Armed Forces after completing at least 3 years of continuous active duty service.

Duties

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This position is in AJM-3150 which the applicant will be selected.

The incumbent serves as a computer scientist for work involving both application and development of computer-simulated models and applications associated with aviation related communication systems. Consults with users, management, vendors, and technicians to determine computing needs and system requirements. Uses mathematical and software engineering principles and disciples to the building of software systems. Performs multiple, varying and complex duties under the minimal direction of a manager, project/program manager, team leader, or more experienced technical specialist. Applies experience and comprehensive knowledge of computer science methods and techniques to monitor vendor efforts to store, manipulate, transform or present information to solve complex problems and develop improved technical processes, tools or systems.

Leads teams in large work activities that identify, analyze and recommend implementation of operational strategies and tools to accomplish directorate missions, goals, and objectives that would improve the productivity and efficiencies of the ATO. Conducts logical analyses of engineering and other technical problems to formulate mathematical models of problems for solution. Investigates complex problems or system malfunctions related to aviation communications systems and recommending techniques to address problems. Performs significant software engineering program management functions in order to solve problems. Maintains network hardware and software, leads network security measures, and monitors networks to ensure availability to system users. Leads teams in developing, integrating, and implementing solutions to diverse, complex problems.

Analyzes documentation of complex NAS programs to assess adequacy in addressing technical requirements, operational requirements, and the contract requirements needed for effective oversight and execution of aviation communication systems. Evaluates work against established standards. Develops plans, techniques, and policies to address current or anticipated problems and issues. Leads the development of program and project documentation in accordance with FAA's Acquisition Management System, such as requirements documents and cost benefit analyses.

Defines, organizes, and assigns resources to accomplish organizational objectives. Allocates resources to accomplish large work activities within established schedules. Leads teams that develop or analyze standards, processes, and procedures that include software engineering, risk assessments, and configuration management processes. Provides policy guidance and instructions to others on all levels, both internally, and externally. Monitors contractor software and system development efforts. Often represents FAA as a senior technical point of contact and as a Control Account Manager or Contract Officers Representative on complex projects, programs, and other work activities. Presents briefings to obtain consensus/approval on policies.

Broad policies and objectives provide general guidance for addressing issues, but allow considerable discretion to develop new and innovative approaches. Uses previous experience to solve unusual problems and may create new solutions and policy interpretations as the situation requires. Provides guidance to lower-level staff on how to solve difficult technical issues. Resolves all but unique technical problems without the intervention of management or a more experienced technical specialist. Work is reviewed rarely, typically through status reports and at project completion, to ensure technical compliance and alignment with the requirements of the project or other work activity.

Perform other duties as assigned!

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Review the Additional Information Section of this vacancy announcement for important information regarding your COVID vaccine status.
  • US Citizenship is required.
  • Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
  • This position has a positive education requirement. Transcript(s) required.

Qualifications

Applicants must demonstrate at least one year (52 weeks) of SPECIALIZED experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (FV-I or FG/GS-13) that is typically related to the line of work of the position to be filled and which has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been at least equivalent to the next lower level in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE is defined as:

  • Extensive experience in communication tools such as System Loading and Throughput Analysis Tools and Voice Quality Tools; AND
  • Expert ability to analyze Call Traffic and Throughput Analysis Data

You should include relevant examples of the specialized experience in your work history. Errors or omissions may impact your rating or may result in you not being considered.

Answer all questions to the best of your ability. DO NOT ASSUME THAT BECAUSE YOU HOLD, OR HAVE HELD THIS POSITION, YOU WILL AUTOMATICALLY BE FOUND ELIGIBLE. You may be asked to provide evidence or documentation that you have this type of experience later in the selection process. Your responses are subject to verification through job interviews, or any other information obtained during the application process. Any exaggeration of your experience or any attempt to conceal information can result in disqualification.

*Applicants who fail to demonstrate possession of any of the above criteria AND who do not provide the required documentation will receive no further consideration for this position.*

Applicants may be asked to verify information on your application for employment with the FAA.

**All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this vacancy announcement.**

Eligible applicants meeting the minimum qualification requirements and/or selective placement factor(s) (SPF) may be further evaluated on the Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA) and/or Quality Ranking Factor (QRF) listed in the announcement. Based on this evaluation, applicants will be placed in one of the following categories: (1) score order; (2) category grouping; or (3) alphabetical, and referred to the selecting official for selection consideration

Education

This position has a positive education requirement: Applicants must submit a copy of their college or university transcripts(s) and certificates by the closing date of announcement to verify qualifications. If selected, an official transcript will be required prior to appointment. You may upload these documents with your application in USAJOBS or fax it to fax number provided in the announcement (please include announcement number on each page).

Failure to do so will result in loss of consideration.

Schools must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Accreditation may be verified at the following website: www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html.

Foreign education must be evaluated by a private professional organization specializing in interpretation of foreign education credentials or an accredited U.S. educational institution in terms of equivalence to a degree acquired at an American college or university. A copy of the evaluation results must be included, otherwise your foreign education will not be considered.

Basic Requirements:

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.

Evaluation of Education:

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.

If you are a current or former Federal employee, and you currently hold or previously held a position classified in the 1550 occupational series, you are not required to submit a college transcript provided you upload a copy of the SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action) verifying this information.

Preview job questionnaire

Make sure your resume includes detailed information to support your qualifications and answers to the job questionnaire.

Additional information

We may use this vacancy to fill other similar vacant positions.
Position may be subject to a background investigation.
A one-year probationary period may be required.

The person selected for this position may be required to file a financial disclosure statement within 30 days of entry on duty. FAA policy limits certain outside employment and financial investments in aviation-related companies. www.faa.gov/jobs/working_here/financial_disclosure_requirements

The U.S. Department of Transportation strives to ensure that equity, transparency, accountability, collaboration, and communication permeate all that we do for the betterment of the Department, the traveling public, and our nation. As such, DOT values a highly diverse workforce of persons who promote a culture of belonging by respecting the personal dignity and worth of each individual and fostering a positive environment where all feel safe and welcome. If these commitments coincide with your personal ideals and professional aspirations, please consider joining the DOT family.

If selected, you will be required to provide information regarding your COVID-19 vaccination status for the purposes of implementing workplace safety protocols, such as protocols related to masking, physical distancing, testing, travel, and quarantine.

NOTES:

As a part of the Federal-Wide Hiring Reform Initiative (streamlining the hiring process), the FAA is committed to eliminating the use of the Knowledge, Skills and Ability (KSA) narratives from the initial application in the hiring process for all announcements. Therefore, as an applicant for this announcement, you are NOT required to provide a narrative response in the text box listed below each KSA.

In lieu of providing a KSA narrative response in the text box listed below each KSA section, in your work history, please include information that provides specific examples of how you meet the response level or answer you chose for each KSA. Your work history examples should be specific and clearly reflect the highest level of ability. Your KSA answers will be evaluated further to validate whether the level that you selected is appropriate based on the work history and experience you provided. Your answers may be adjusted by a human resource specialist as appropriate.

This position is covered by the FAA Core Compensation plan. Additional information about core compensation is available on the following website: http://jobs.faa.gov/FAACoreCompensation.htm.

This Level 1 (Low Risk) position requires favorable adjudication of a National Agency Check and Inquiries (NACI) background investigation prior to appointment.

This announcement is also being advertised under VA #AWA-AJM-22-0027RJ-79840. Please review both vacancy announcements before making application to determine your eligibility to apply.

Some, all, or none of the referred candidates may be interviewed.



This is a bargaining unit position. This position is represented by AFSCME Local 1653.

Links to Important Information: Locality Pay , COLA

How you will be evaluated

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



IMPORTANT: Applicants may be rated on the extent and quality of experience, education, and training relevant to the duties of the position(s). All answers provided in the on-line process must be substantiated. Ensure that your application package/resume supports your responses.

Federal Aviation Administration

Thanks to the work of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), over the past 50 years, aviation has become central to the way we live and do business, linking people from coast to coast and connecting America to the world. In fact, FAA has created the safest, most reliable, most efficient, and most productive air transportation system in the world.

Agency contact information

Renae Jones
Phone
1 (202) 267-8459
Fax
1 (202) 267-8330
Email
renae.jones@faa.gov
Address
Federal Aviation Administration
HQ Employment Services Branch
800 Independence Ave, SW, Room 523
AHF-100
Washington, DC 20591
US

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