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Interdisciplinary Research General Engineer/Research Physical Scientist

Department of Energy
Department of Energy - Agency Wide
Department of Energy
This job announcement has closed

Summary

These positions are to be filled under the OPM Government-Wide Direct Hire Authority Certain STEM Positions for grades GS 13 - 15. This serves as a public notice for the use of the Direct Hire Authority in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 3327 and 3330 and 5 CFR 330. Under this recruitment procedure, applications will be accepted for each location/ installation identified in this Public Notice. There may or may not be actual/projected vacancies at the time you submit your application.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
08/06/2024 to 09/30/2024
Salary
$103,409 to - $191,900 per year

Salary is determined by geographic location and grade level at the time of selection.

Pay scale & grade
GS 13 - 15
Locations
Many vacancies in the following locations:
Anchorage, AK
Berkeley, CA
Los Angeles, CA
Menlo Park, CA
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—As determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Multiple
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
None
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
FY24-OCDH-801/1301-12491273
Control number
803354400

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

U.S. citizens or U.S. Nationals; no prior Federal experience is required. This direct hire public notice is to gather applications that may or may not result in a referral or selection.

Duties

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This series covers interdisciplinary 0801/1301 Research General Engineer/Research Physical Scientist positions which are managing, supervising, leading, and/or performing professional research engineering work or work in the research physical sciences and may include work in a combination of physical science fields.

As a Interdisciplinary Research General Engineer/Research Physical Scientist you will:

  • Perform high quality research
  • Conduct high-level, impactful research through all phases of project evolution (propose, plan, execute and completion)
  • Conduct research or serves as a principal investigator or part of a multidisciplinary team that delivers impact and value to sponsors while advancing the mission and goals of the Lab
  • Lead and conduct research as part of multi-disciplinary research teams providing technical leadership and consultation with respect to competency- and domain-expertise.
  • Play a key role in knowledge and technology transfer by preparing reports and manuscripts for broad dissemination
  • Conceive, formulate, plan, and conduct research as part of a field work proposal focused on experimental investigation of difficult fossil energy related issues.
  • Evaluate proposals, establish long-range plans, evaluate controversial issues, problem solving, and Investigate difficulties, failures, and obstacles.
  • Lead research team that results in important changes in existing products, methods, techniques, processes, or practices.
  • Conform or modify a scientific theory or methodology

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • You must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
  • This employer participates in the e-Verify program.
  • If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. See www.sss.gov.
  • If selected, your appointment may be subject to a suitability or fitness determination, as determined by a completed background investigation.
  • If selected, you may be required to complete a one year probationary period.
  • This position does not support 100% remote work. You will be required to report physically to the official reporting worksite as specified by the supervisor, but no less than 2 days per pay period.
  • Positions may be filled as permanent, term, or temporary with a full-time or part-time work schedule. Pay will vary by geographic location.
  • Appointments made with this authority may be processed as a new appointment into the Civil Service.
  • The vacancies filled through these appointments have varying levels of background investigative requirements, up to a Top Secret - DOE "Q" clearance.
  • Positions may be covered by a bargaining unit. Bargaining unit will vary by departmental element, grade, and/or location.
  • Positions may be included in the DOE’s Technical Qualifications Program (TQP). Selectees for included positions are required to complete the TQP requirements within 18 months of entering the program or 12 months if previously qualified.
  • Positions may require submittal of a Financial Disclosure Statement, OGE-450, Executive Branch Personnel Confidential Financial Disclosure Report within 30 days of entering the position and annually.
  • Positions may be a Testing Designated Position (TDP) subject to applicant testing and random drug testing thereafter. Failure to test or a positive result on random drug tests conducted after appointment may result in removal from Federal employment.

Qualifications

You must meet both the Basic Requirement and the Specialized Experience to qualify for this series as described below. See the Education Section for the Basic Requirement.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:

GS-13:
A qualified candidate's online application and resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level GS-12 in the Federal service. Specialized experience for this position is defined as meeting at least 2 of 4 of the following:

  • Assisting in conducting impactful research throughout all phases of project to include proposal, planning, execution, and completion.
  • Serving as a member of a multi-disciplinary research team which leads to important changes in existing product, methods, techniques, processes, or practices.
  • Conducting field research as part of field work proposal on fossil energy related issues.
  • Assisting in research that supports innovation and solutions to the Nation's energy challenges.
GS-14: A qualified candidate's online application and resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level GS-13 in the Federal service. Specialized experience for this position is defined as meeting at least 3 of 5 of the following:
  • Performing research activities that include both those that are part of an established program and pioneering efforts for advancing new program initiatives consistent with the lab's pursuit to deliver on the mission of the lab.
  • Conducting high-level, impactful research through all phases of project evolution (propose, plan, execute and complete) in support of objectives and goals.
  • Leading research as part of multi-disciplinary research teams where results are often publishable and through which the results will advance knowledge in the broad area of energy technologies.
  • Leading a multi-disciplinary research team which leads to important changes in existing product, methods, techniques, processes, or practices.
  • Participating in knowledge and technology transfer by preparing reports and/or manuscripts for dissemination through online reports, peer review journals, or oral presentation
GS 15: A qualified candidate's online application and resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level GS-14 in the Federal service. Specialized experience for this position is defined as meeting at least 3 of 5 of the following:
  • Developing important research publications for energy development of new concepts, techniques, or products some of which are recognized as having had major impact on science or technology.
  • Conducting specialized studies in engineering or physical science that addresses innovation or solutions to the Nation's most pressing energy challenges.
  • Evaluating research proposals to establish long-range planning, identify controversial issues, investigate difficulties, or identify possible failures and obstacles.
  • Coordinating with multidisciplinary research teams providing technical leadership and consultation.
  • Overseeing research projects that lead to changes to existing products, methods, techniques, processes or practices.

"Experience" refers to paid and unpaid experience. Examples of qualifying unpaid experience may include: volunteer work done through National Service programs (such as Peace Corps and AmeriCorps); as well as work for other community-based philanthropic and social organizations. 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.

OPM Qualification Standards for the GS-0801 series can be found at the following website: OPM Qualification Standards for the GS-0801 series.

OPM Qualification Standards for the GS-1301 series can be found at the following website: OPM Qualification Standards for the GS-1301 series.


CTAP/ICTAP candidates: To be considered "well qualified" you must meet all of the requirements as described in this section.

This public notice will be used to fill multiple positions as needed, therefore referral lists may be issued daily. Applications must be submitted and qualification requirements met by 11:59 p.m. ET each day in order to be referred on any certificates issued the following day.

Education

BASIC REQUIREMENT FOR 0801 SERIES:

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
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. The adequacy of such background must be demonstrated by one of the following:

  1. Professional registration or licensure -- Current registration as an Engineer Intern (EI), Engineer in Training (EIT)1, or licensure as a Professional Engineer (PE) by any State, the District of Columbia, Guam, or Puerto Rico. Absent other means of qualifying under this standard, those applicants who achieved such registration by means other than written test (e.g., State grandfather or eminence provisions) are eligible only for positions that are within or closely related to the specialty field of their registration. For example, an applicant who attains registration through a State Board's eminence provision as a manufacturing engineer typically would be rated eligible only for manufacturing engineering positions.
  2. Written Test -- Evidence of having successfully passed the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE)2 examination or any other written test required for professional registration by an engineering licensure board in the various States, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico.
  3. Specified academic courses -- Successful completion of at least 60 semester hours of courses in the physical, mathematical, and engineering sciences and that included the courses specified in the basic requirements under paragraph A. The courses must be fully acceptable toward meeting the requirements of an engineering program as described in paragraph A.
  4. Related curriculum -- Successful completion of a curriculum leading to a bachelor's degree in an appropriate scientific field, e.g., engineering technology, physics, chemistry, architecture, computer science, mathematics, hydrology, or geology, may be accepted in lieu of a bachelor's degree in engineering, provided the applicant has had at least 1 year of professional engineering experience acquired under professional engineering supervision and guidance. Ordinarily there should be either an established plan of intensive training to develop professional engineering competence, or several years of prior professional engineering-type experience, e.g., in interdisciplinary positions. (The above examples of related curricula are not all-inclusive.)
BASIC REQUIREMENT FOR 1301 SERIES
A. Degree: physical science, engineering, or mathematics that included 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science such as mechanics, dynamics, properties of materials, and electronics. OR
B. Combination of education and experience: education equivalent to one of the majors shown in A above that included at least 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

This vacancy has a positive education requirement. In order to be rated as qualified, you must provide copies of your college transcripts. Failure to provide copies of your college transcripts may result in a rating of "Ineligible".

Education must be obtained from an accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Foreign education must be reviewed by an organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For special instructions pertaining to foreign education and a list of organizations that can evaluate foreign education, see the Department of Education website.

There are no specific education requirements or substitution of education for experience for GS-13, GS-14, or GS 15.

Additional information

The U.S. Department of Energy fosters a diverse and inclusive workplace and is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

  • This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional similar vacancies across DOE.
  • Applications will expire 120 days after receipt.
  • Applicants are limited to 4 geographic locations.
  • For general information on government-wide Telework polices visit: www.telework.gov
  • Status and Non-Status applicants from outside DOE selected under this authority are required to serve a mandatory one (1) year probationary period. A DOE career status employee selected for this position may be required to serve a new one (1) year probationary period, pursuant to 5 CFR 315.802.
  • If you believe that you are eligible for the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP), please visit the OPM ICTAP/CTAP website for more information. In order to be considered under the ICTAP program, your application must score within the pre-established "well qualified" category as stated in the Qualifications section.
  • This public notice is to gather applications that may or may not result in a referral or selection.
  • More than one selection may be made under this hiring authority.
  • Some positions may require completion of a probationary period of up to 1 (one) year.
  • Many positions require successful completion of a background investigation.
  • Positions may be filled at varying levels of leadership, ie Team Lead, Manager, Supervisor.
  • Supervisory positions may require a 1-year probationary period, if not yet completed.
  • New employees to the Department of Energy will be required to successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit www.dhs.gov/E-Verify
  • Veterans and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. For more information, please visit the links at the bottom of this page or visit the FedsHireVets website.
  • All males born after December 31st 1959 must abide by laws regarding Selective Service registration. To learn more about this law, visit the Selective Service web page, Who Must Register. If you are not registered and don't have an approved exemption, you will not be eligible for employment with the Federal government.
  • EEO Policy: https://www.energy.gov/justice/eeo-complaint-process
  • Reasonable Accommodation Policy: https://https://www.energy.gov/hc/department-energy-reasonable-accommodation-program
  • Veterans Information: https://www.energy.gov/careers/veterans-military-spouses
  • Selective Service Registration: http://www.sss.gov/
  • The Fair Chance Act prohibits specific inquiries concerning an applicant's criminal or credit background unless the hiring agency has made a
    conditional offer of employment to the applicant. An applicant may submit a complaint to the agency within 30 calendar days of the date of alleged noncompliance by completing the Fair Chance Act Intake Form and submitting it to the Administrative Investigations Program at AdministrativeInvestigations@hq.doe.gov

How you will be evaluated

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

This position is announced under a government-wide Direct Hire Authority (DHA) for General Engineering positions in the GS-0801 series and Physical Science positions in the GS-1301 series positions. Under this Direct-Hire authority, applicants are required to meet minimum qualification requirements at the grade level(s) of interest. Veteran's Preference, Schedule A, Category Rating, and other methods of consideration DO NOT APPLY under Direct-Hire Authority regulations.

Appointments made under this authority will be processed as new appointments to the Civil Service. Current Civil Service employees would, therefore, be given new appointments to the Civil Service. Current Federal employees may be required to serve a new probationary period (5 CFR 315.802(b).

If your resume is incomplete or does not support the responses you provided in your online questionnaire, or if you fail to submit all required documentation before the vacancy closes, you may be rated 'ineligible', 'not qualified', or your score may be adjusted accordingly.

Successful candidates will possess the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics):



You must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date (09/30/2024) of this announcement.

To preview the Assessment Questionnaire, clickhttps://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12491273.

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