The Computer Engineer's primary focus will be providing engineering support, predominately in software development, to projects in the Central Engineering Department of the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO).
Summary
The Computer Engineer's primary focus will be providing engineering support, predominately in software development, to projects in the Central Engineering Department of the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO).
Yes—SAO requires employees physically work onsite 3 days per week.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - Travel nationally and internationally may be required in support of duties
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent - Indefinite Trust Appointment. This is NOT a Federal position.
Work schedule
Full-time - Full Time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
13 - Selection may be made at the grade 12 or 13. If selection is made at the grade 12, the selectee may be non-competitively promoted to the grade 13, upon the recommendation of the supervisor based on classification, performance and qualifications.
Selection maybe made at either grade. If selected at grade 12, candidates maybe promoted to the next grade level upon the recommendation of the of the supervisor based on classification requirements, satisfactory performance, qualifications of the employee and recommendation of the Promotion Review Committee for Engineers ( PRCE). First consideration maybe made 14 days after the opening date.
Duties at the grade 12 may include but are not limited to:
Functions as a computer engineer with a focus on software development across the various astrophysics-based research, operational, and instrumentation projects which the Central Engineering department supports at CfA. Participates in and leads code reviews to maintain a high standard of code quality across CfA.
Develops real-time, embedded device control software and high-performance data processing pipelines with web-based user interfaces.
Leads the development of project software as an independent contributor, responsible for the project software schedule, delivering software which meets requirements both on time and within budget.
Collaborates with scientists and engineers of other disciplines on projects. Provides software expertise where needed to inform non-software design decisions. Incorporates feedback from colleagues of other disciplines into software designs. Participates in system-level and software design reviews at all stages of design, including preliminary design, critical design, assembly, system integration, and commissioning.
Writes software requirements. Validates and verifies software requirements through inspection, testing, and analysis.
Documents software for both peer software developers and users of the software. Documentation includes both diagrams (UML, SysML), text, and code comments.
Provides a good level of customer support to colleagues and other software users. Performs troubleshooting and failure analysis and provides long term support for projects.
Develops software tests, including unit and regression tests, which are used to verify requirements and measure system performance.
Duties at the grade 13 will include those at the grade 12 in addition to the following:
Functions as a senior computer engineer with a focus on software development across the various astrophysics-based research, operational, and instrumentation projects which the Central Engineering department supports at CfA. Leads code reviews to maintain a high standard of code quality across CfA.
Develops real-time, embedded device control software and high-performance data processing pipelines with web-based user interfaces. Reviews the work of junior engineers.
May be required to serve a one-year probationary period
Pre- and post-appointment background investigation
Must participate in Direct Deposit/Electronic Funds for salary payment
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Qualifications
BASIC REQUIREMENTS: (A) Degree: professional engineering. To be acceptable, the curriculum must: (1) be in a school of engineering with at least one curriculum accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) as a professional engineering curriculum; 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 professional 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.
Basic qualification requirements can be found at https://www.opm.gov/qualifications/SEC-IV/A/GS-PROF.asp and https://www.opm.gov/qualifications/SEC-IV/B/GS0800/0800.htm.
In addition to the Basic Requirements, applicants must meet the following requirements:
Grade 12: One year of professional experience equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to grade 11 level. Specialized experience for this position would typically include: Specialized experience may include designing software using modern programming languages to meet functional and performance requirements, documentation of designs in both text and SysML/UML diagrams, real-time device control, data processing, web application programming and/or formal software testing to verify that requirements are met.
Grade 13: One year of professional experience equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to grade 12 level. Specialized experience would typically include: designing software using modern programming languages to meet functional and performance requirements, documentation of designs in both text and SysML/UML diagrams, real-time device control, data processing, web application programming and/or formal software testing to verify that requirements are met.
This position has a mandatory education requirement; you must furnish a copy of your transcript of college work completed (unofficial copy is acceptable) or a copy of your degree certificate. Non-submission may result in you being rated ineligible for the position.
Applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
Additional information
Additional Information:
Recruitment Incentive: Recruitment incentive(s) may be authorized for this position. However, approval for incentives are contingent upon various availability. If authorized, certain incentives will require the incumbent to sign a service agreement to remain employed with the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory for a certain time period.
Note: This statement does not imply nor guarantee an incentive will be offered and paid.
The Smithsonian embraces diversity and equal employment opportunity.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
How you will be evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Applications will be evaluated first for the basic qualifications described above. The applications that meet the basic qualifications will be evaluated further against the following criteria:
At grade 12:
Broad professional experience demonstrating knowledge and skill in implementing computer engineering theories, concepts, principles, and methodologies. These include: data structures and data types, well-known algorithms (sorting, searching), runtime complexity, multi-threading/multi-processing, code compilation.
Knowledge and skill in at least two of the following programming languages: Python, C++, JavaScript, Go, Rust, Java, Ruby, Perl, Lua, Structured Text. Knowledge and skill is demonstrated with at least five years of professional experience writing software in each proficient language.
At least two years of professional experience demonstrating knowledge and skill in PLC (programmable logic controller), embedded, IoT (Internet of Things), or real-time software.
At least one year of professional experience demonstrating knowledge and skill in web application programming OR cloud/containerized computing.
Knowledge and skill in either SysML or UML modelling languages sufficient to produce design diagrams of software systems. Familiarity with block diagrams, state machine diagrams, and activity diagrams.
Knowledge and skill in software unit and regression testing, using a testing framework such as Python’s “unittest.”
Grade 13:
Broad professional experience demonstrating expert knowledge and skill in implementing computer engineering theories, concepts, principles, and methodologies. These include: data structures and data types, well-known algorithms (sorting, searching), runtime complexity, multi-threading/multi-processing, code compilation.
Knowledge and skill in at least two of the following programming languages: Python, C++, JavaScript, Go, Rust, Java, Ruby, Perl, Lua, Structured Text. Knowledge and skill is demonstrated with at least seven years of professional experience writing software in each proficient language.
At least four years of professional experience demonstrating knowledge and skill in PLC (programmable logic controller), embedded, IoT (Internet of Things), or real-time software.
At least one year of professional experience demonstrating knowledge and skill in web application programming OR cloud/containerized computing.
Expert knowledge and skill in either SysML or UML modelling languages sufficient to produce design diagrams of software systems. Expertise in block diagrams, state machine diagrams, and activity diagrams.
Expert knowledge and skill in software unit and regression testing, using a testing framework such as Python’s “unittest.”
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
Click on the "Apply Online" button on the upper right side of the page. Please Note:
You must apply for this position online through the 'Apply Online' button.
Clicking the "DONE" tab does not submit your application. The "DONE" tab allows you to exit the system and save your information for completion at a later time. To submit your application, click the "FINISH" tab.
The complete application package, including any required documents and responses to all questions, is due in the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory Human Resources on the closing date of the announcement by 11:59 PM Eastern Time.
SMITHSONIAN
60 Garden Street, MS17
Mail Stop 17
Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138
United States
Next steps
You will receive an e-mail to acknowledge that your application has been received. Please be aware that the confirmation e-mail could reside in your "junk" or "bulk" mail folder depending on your filters. The Smithsonian receives many applications for each job. Each application is reviewed carefully which may take a few weeks. We will send you an e-mail to update you as we go through phases of the application review process. You may also check your application status by logging into www.usajobs.gov and selecting the tab "My USAJOBS;" or by contacting the Office of Human Resources Representative listed.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
Click on the "Apply Online" button on the upper right side of the page. Please Note:
You must apply for this position online through the 'Apply Online' button.
Clicking the "DONE" tab does not submit your application. The "DONE" tab allows you to exit the system and save your information for completion at a later time. To submit your application, click the "FINISH" tab.
The complete application package, including any required documents and responses to all questions, is due in the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory Human Resources on the closing date of the announcement by 11:59 PM Eastern Time.
SMITHSONIAN
60 Garden Street, MS17
Mail Stop 17
Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138
United States
Next steps
You will receive an e-mail to acknowledge that your application has been received. Please be aware that the confirmation e-mail could reside in your "junk" or "bulk" mail folder depending on your filters. The Smithsonian receives many applications for each job. Each application is reviewed carefully which may take a few weeks. We will send you an e-mail to update you as we go through phases of the application review process. You may also check your application status by logging into www.usajobs.gov and selecting the tab "My USAJOBS;" or by contacting the Office of Human Resources Representative listed.
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
