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Computer Scientist (EDGE)

Department of the Interior
Geological Survey
Volcano Science Center
This job announcement has closed

Summary

What General Information Do I Need To Know About This Position?

Salary: $105,666 (Step 01) to $137,363 (Step 10);
NOTE: First time hires to the Federal Government are typically hired at the Step 01.

There are two position to fill; however, this announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies if they become available.

SUMMARY CONTINUED IN THE DUTIES SECTION:

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
01/09/2023 to 01/27/2023
Salary
$105,666 to - $137,363 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 13
Location
Vancouver, WA
FEW vacancies
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - An average of 3 nights per month of overnight travel may be required for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
Yes—Relocation expenses are authorized.
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
15
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
USGS-SAC-23-11509190-DE-ML
Control number
698026700

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Duties

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There are two available positions. One position designs and leads Volcano Disaster Assistance Program (VDAP) projects to create information technology solutions to enhance VDAP's crisis response and capacity building projects in the developing world. The second position designs and leads Cascades Volcano Observatory (CVO) projects to create information technology solutions with a focus on the Rainier Lahar Detection System and other volcano monitoring projects in the Cascades.

As a Computer Scientist (EDGE) within the Volcano Science Center, some of your specific duties will include:

  • Designs, documents, develops, modifies, tests, implements, and supports new and existing volcano monitoring software applications and technical solutions built using a variety of computer programming languages used throughout the worldwide volcanological community.
  • Designs, documents, develops, modifies, tests, implements, and supports databases and database applications used by VDAP/CVO. These database systems include organization of global volcano data, monitoring and evaluation of organization metrics and related team progress, creation and maintenance of volcano alert messaging systems.
  • Oversees purchasing and maintenance of the computer server systems upon which VDAP/CVO depends for its functioning.
  • Participates in the field installation and maintenance of IT systems during VDAP'S/CVO'S capacity building and volcano response missions in partner countries and domestically by solo or team international travel to remote sites and partner countries.
  • Joins in code reviews, presenting code and providing feedback and validation on code developed by center staff. This includes testing applications, presenting technical solutions, and quality assurance of software and systems quality and functionality.
  • Operates a government vehicle as an incidental driver.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

Key Requirements:

  1. Applicants must be U.S. Citizens.
  2. Suitable for Federal employment, as determined by background investigation.
  3. Selectee may be subject to serving a one-year probationary period.
  4. Selectee must provide a valid state driver's license & safe driving record.
  5. More requirements are listed under Qualifications and Other Information.
Are There Any Special Requirements For This Position?
  • If selected you may be asked to provide information regarding your COVID-19 vaccination status for the purposes of implementing workplace safety protocols, such as those related to masking, physical distancing, testing, travel, and quarantine.
  • Because this position requires travel for official business, the selectee will be required to apply for a charge card within 30 calendar days of appointment. Individuals who have delinquent account balances from a previous Government charge card will be required to satisfy their existing obligation before a new card can be issued.
  • A background investigation will be required for this position. Continued employment will be subject to the applicant's successful completion of a background security investigation and favorable adjudication. Failure to successfully meet these requirements will be grounds for termination.
  • Throughout the recruitment and hiring process we will be communicating with you via email; therefore, it is imperative that the email address you provide when applying for this vacancy remains active. Should your email address change, please notify the point of contact identified in the vacancy announcement as soon as possible so that we can update our system.

Qualifications

BASIC EDUCATION REQUIREMENT:
Applicants must meet the following to satisfy the basic education requirement for Computer Scientist, all grade levels. Bachelor's or higher degree in computer science.

**OR

A bachelor's 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.

For the GS-13: In addition to the basic education requirement as stated above, applicants must meet the following to qualify for the GS-13 level: One year of appropriate professional experience that is in or directly related to the duties of the position to be filled is qualifying if it is equivalent to at least the GS-12 level in the Federal service, and if it equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position.

Examples of such experience may include developing software systems using knowledge of techniques, procedures, and processes such as operation system theory, data structures, computer system architecture, software engineering, and computer communications, developing integrated computer systems.

The complexity of this work typically required extensive modification and adaptation of standard procedures, methods, and techniques, and the development of totally new methods and techniques to address novel or obscure problems for which guidelines or precedents were not substantially applicable.
At this level, computer scientists have wide latitude for the exercise of independent judgment to perform work of marked difficulty and responsibility.

You must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements for the position by the closing date of the announcement.

Education

  • 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.
  • Education completed in colleges or universities outside the United States may be used to meet the above requirements. You must provide acceptable documentation that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. For more information on how foreign education is evaluated, visit: https://www.usgs.gov/about/organization/science-support/human-capital/how-foreign-education-evaluated-federal-jobs .

Additional information

Other Information:

  • Applicants who include vulgar, offensive, or inappropriate language or information in their application package will be ineligible for further consideration for this position.
  • The full performance level for a Research or Development position is GS-15; however, promotion eligibility is dependent upon the scientific contributions of the incumbent as evaluated by a peer panel.
  • Under Executive Order 11935, only United States citizens and nationals (residents of American Samoa and Swains Island) may compete for civil service jobs. Agencies are permitted to hire non-citizens only in very limited circumstances where there are no qualified citizens available for the position.
  • USGS employees are subject to Title 43, USC Section 31(a) and may not: (a) have any personal, private, direct or indirect interest in lands or mineral wealth of lands under survey; (b) have any substantial personal, private, direct or indirect interests in any private mining or mineral enterprise doing business with the United States; or (c) execute surveys or examinations for private parties or corporations.
  • The application contains information subject to the Privacy Act (P.L. 93-579, 5 USC 552a). The information is used to determine qualifications for employment, and is authorized under Title 5, USC, Section 3302 and 3361.
  • DOI uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit www.dhs.gov/E-Verify.
  • The Department of the Interior (DOI) places a high value on diversity of experience and cultural perspectives and encourages applications from all interested eligible candidates. Diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) are fundamental principles that guide the Department and allow us to successfully achieve our mission.
  • THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER.
Agency Benefits:

How you will be evaluated

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

--Vacancy Related Questions: As part of the online application process, you will need to respond to a series of questions designed to assess your possession of the following knowledge skills, abilities and/or competencies:

  • Technology Application
  • Compute/Analyze Data
  • Leadership & Supervision
  • Scientific Knowledge
  • Interpersonal Communication
  • Problem Solving
  • Information Management
--Basis of Rating: Category rating will be used in the ranking and selection process for this position. The quality categories are Best Qualified, Well Qualified, and Qualified. You will be rated on the extent and quality of your experience, education, and training relevant to the duties of the position. If you are eligible, your on-line responses to the application questions will determine your placement in the appropriate quality category described above. Your responses must be substantiated by your resume. If you do not respond to the application questions you may be rated ineligible. Veterans' preference rules for category rating will be applied.

--Additional Assessment Required: If you meet the eligibility and basic qualification requirements for this position, you will be contacted via email and asked to provide responses to coding prompts that are specific to this job. The email will include the instructions and deadline in which the responses must be submitted. A subject-matter-expert(s) will use your responses to these coding prompts to further evaluate your knowledge, skills, abilities, and competences as they directly relate to the duties of this position. Failure to submit this information upon request will result in your disqualification from further consideration.

--NOTE: If it is determined that you have rated yourself higher than is supported in your description of experience and/or education as described in your resume/application, or that your resume or application is incomplete, you may be rated ineligible, not qualified, or your score may be lowered.

To preview the announcement questionnaire, click here: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/11509190

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