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PHYSICAL SCIENCE TECHNICIAN

Department of the Air Force
Department of the Air Force - Agency Wide
AFTAC - 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 to ensure that underground or atmospheric nuclear weapons testing samples or nuclear effluent materials of nuclear accidents are processed and measured to obtain alpha, beta, and gamma measurement data on the fission product and activation product radioisotopes identified by technical evaluators who will provide information to national authorities.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
08/24/2023 to 08/30/2023
Salary
$69,581 to - $90,452 per year
Pay scale & grade
GG 11
Location
Few vacancies in the following location:
Patrick AFB, FL
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
11
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Top Secret
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Special-Sensitive (SS)/High Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
8X-DCIPS-12103541-116620-PJ
Control number
745061800

Duties

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Duty 1: Responsible for selecting the alpha, beta, and gamma measurement approach for he identified fission and activation products of interest to include determining priorities for the measurement of the samples.

Duty 2: Responsible for ensuring daily calibrations are performed on the alpha, beta, and gamma measurement equipment using known standards. Whenever the instruments drift out of required tolerance parameters, incumbent makes the adjustments to bring the equipment back into proper ranges

Duty 3: Responsible for maintaining certification and proficiency in the measurement processes assigned. Has the capability to run all the alpha, beta, and gamma measurement equipment

Duty 4: Ensures all radioactive/mixed waste containers and processes are handled appropriately and will notify the appropriate personnel when waste is being moved. Ensures all deviations to handling processes are documented and the branch chief is notified

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.
  • Position is special-sensitive and requires eligibility for access to Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI), Top Secret Special Access Programs (SAP). A non-disclosure agreement must be signed.
  • If authorized, PCS will be paid IAW JTR and AF Regulations. If receiving an authorized PCS, you may be subject to completing/signing a CONUS agreement. More information on PCS requirements, may be found at: https://afciviliancareers.com/regulatory/
  • This posn is subject to provisions of the DoD Priority Placement Program
  • Must be registered for Selective Service, see Legal and Regulatory Guide
  • Drug Testing: This position has been designated by the Air Force as a Testing Designated Position (TDP) under the Air Force Civilian Testing Program. Employee must pass initial and periodic short notice drug testing
  • The employee may be required to travel in military and/or commercial aircraft to perform temporary duty assignments
  • Shift work may be required
  • Polygraph: Incumbent may be required to undergo a counterintelligence-scope polygraph examination, in accordance with security regulations involving the material handled.
  • Disclosure of Political Appointments
  • Direct Deposit: All federal employees are required to have direct deposit
  • An Associate?s or Bachelor?s degree in a technical field (such as chemistry, nuclear engineering, physics, etc) is desired. Direct experience working in an analytical laboratory is desired
  • Recruitment Incentive may be authorized for this position
  • Relocation Incentive may be authorized for this position
  • Leave accrual may be authorized upon request

Qualifications

This is a GG-11 position in the Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System (DCIPS). The GG-11 duties for the "Professional" work category are at the "Full Performance" work level and are equivalent to those at the GS-11 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.

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

BASIC REQUIREMENT OR INDIVIDUAL OCCUPATIONAL REQUIREMENT:

Examples of qualifying specialized experience include work in the fields of astronomy, physics, geophysics, chemistry, hydrology, health physics, engineering, electronics, geology, oceanography, and metallurgy.

Experience as a laboratory mechanic or in a trade or craft may be credited as general or specialized experience when the work was performed in close association with physical scientists or other technical personnel and provided intensive knowledge of appropriate scientific principles, methods, techniques, and precedents.

*** Salary ranges include local market supplements ***

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: Detailed knowledge of alpha, beta, and gamma measurement equipment and the principles, techniques, processes, procedures associated with the use of that equipment to include radioactive decay schemes, and radiation detection systems; of radiochemistry, separation and purification techniques, analytical chemical techniques, tracer and carrier techniques, and instrumental chemical techniques; of mathematical statistical methods for reduction and comparison of measurement data; skill with scientific method to apply technical measurements and research projects; skill in rapidly applying knowledge in a variety of situations to a variety of sample measurements in order to meet critical deadlines; ability to organize, interpret and present information in a clear concise manner and communicate clearly and concisely. 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. Detailed knowledge of alpha, beta, and gamma measurement equipment and the principles, techniques, processes, procedures associated with the use of that equipment to include radioactive decay schemes, and radiation detection systems.
  2. Knowledge of radiochemistry, separation and purification techniques, analytical chemical techniques, tracer and carrier techniques, and instrumental chemical techniques.
  3. Knowledge of mathematical statistical methods for reduction and comparison of measurement data.
  4. Skill in applying the scientific method to technical measurements and research projects. Skill in rapidly applying knowledge in a variety of situations to a variety of sample measurements in order to meet critical deadlines.
  5. Ability to analyze conflicting information from multiple sources and work well in an operational time critical environment.
  6. Ability to organize, interpret and present information in a clear concise manner. Ability to communicate both orally and writing in a clear and accurate fashion
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 are unable to apply online, view the following link for information regarding Alternate Application. The Vacancy ID is 12103541

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.

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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