This position is within the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board (DNFSB), Office of the Technical Director. As an independent agency in the Executive Branch, the DNFSB oversees nuclear safety across the Department of Energy's (DOE) nuclear weapons complex.
Summary
This position is within the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board (DNFSB), Office of the Technical Director. As an independent agency in the Executive Branch, the DNFSB oversees nuclear safety across the Department of Energy's (DOE) nuclear weapons complex.
Open to U.S. citizens who have recently graduated or are about to graduate with a bachelor's degree in engineering, mathematics, or science from an ABET-accredited institution and will begin in the May-September 2025 timeframe.
The DNFSB's Professional Development Program (PDP) offers a structured, multi-year training opportunity for qualified individuals, encompassing the following phases:
Internal Development at DNFSB Headquarters (approximately 2 years).
Master's Degree Program at a top-tier academic institution (approximately 1 year).
Practicum Assignment to enhance technical skills and professional experience (approximately 1 year).
Participants in the PDP will be assigned to the Office of the Technical Director (OTD) and work under the guidance of the technical staff mentors and supervisors.
Phase I: DNFSB Headquarters (approximately 2 years)
In the first phase, participants will:
Complete technical assignments.
Perform professional tasks while communicating progress, challenges, and results to supervisors and mentors.
Interact with DNFSB administrative, technical, and legal staff; DOE officials; and nuclear site operating contractors on safety--related issues.
Key activities include:
Reviewing safety documentation.
Researching design, operational, and functional requirements within the DOE directives system and national standards.
Performing calculations and computer modeling of processes and systems at defense nuclear facilities.
Visiting defense nuclear facilities for discussions with site technical personnel on safety issues.
Writing reports documenting the results of reviews, discussions, calculations, and modeling.
Documenting findings and briefing results to the agency leadership.
Phase II: Graduate School (approximately 1 year)
During this phase, participants will focus exclusively on completing a master's degree at an agreed-upon academic institution. Participants will receive a full salary, and the DNFSB will cover tuition, relocation, and qualifying expenses.
Phase III: Practicum Assignment (approximately 1 year)
In this phase, participants will apply and enhance their technical skills through a practicum assignment with an organization that meets the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) regulations. Eligible hosts include:
DNFSB resident inspector office located at one of the DOE sites.
Other federal agencies.
Federally funded research and development centers (e.g. national laboratories).
State and local government agencies.
Institutions of higher education.
Participants will continue to receive a full salary, and the DNFSB will cover relocation and other qualifying expenses.
Continued Service Agreement (CSA)
Participants are required to sign a CSA for the time spend in graduate school (3:1 - three months of service for every month of graduate school) and for the practicum (1:1 - one month of service for every one month of practicum), The CSA for the practicum will be concurrent with, not additional to, the graduate school CSA. Typically, participants will owe approximately three (3) years of service after completing the practicum.
Early Separation
Participants who leave the DNFSB before fulfilling their CSA will be required to repay a prorated amount to cover government expenses, such as tuition and relocation.
Post-Practicum Assignment
Upon completing the practicum, participants will return to DNFSB Headquarters and be assigned a position within the agency's technical staff, focusing on nuclear safety oversight. The CSA service obligation period begins when the participant returns to DNFSB Headquarters.
Suitable for Federal employment, determined by background investigation.
Must pass a drug screening.
Direct Deposit of pay is required.
Selective Service registration required for male applicants, unless exempt.
Eligibility Requirements
Must be currently enrolled in an academic institution, in a qualifying, bachelor's degree from a qualifying educational institution, with an expected graduation date of no later than September 30, 2025. OR
Must have completed, a qualifying bachelor's degree from a qualifying educational institution.
Qualifications
Basic Requirement for Engineers (NOTE: You must attach a copy of your transcripts. Failure to submit transcripts will result in an ineligible rating.)1. Degree Program - You must be currently enrolled in an undergraduate program in engineering, mathematics, or science, at an ABET-accredited institution. Please visit ABET's website (Home - ABET) for more information on engineering programs that have received accreditation.
Acceptable disciplines include:
Engineering Fields: Civil, Structural, Fire Protection, Reliability, Systems, Industrial, Mechanical, Nuclear, Electrical, or Chemical.
Mathematics and Science Fields: Seismology, Materials Science, Physics, Mathematics or Chemistry.
2. Grade Point Average - You must possess a minimum 3.4 G.P.A. or higher based on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent).
Applicants must carefully review the information in the "How You Will Be Evaluated" section for important information and instructions pertaining to the multi-hurdle assessment process for this position.
Education
If qualifying based on EDUCATION you MUST provide transcripts or other documentation to support your educational claims. Unless otherwise stated: (1) official or unofficial transcripts are acceptable, or (2) you may submit a list with all of your courses, grades, semester, year, and credit for the course. All materials must be submitted by the closing date of the announcement. Note: PDF Portfolio documents will not be processed or accepted as they appear as a one-page document.
Only education from institutions which are accredited or preaccredited/candidate for accreditation may be used to meet education requirements.
FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/
Additional information
Telework Suitability:
The duties of this position are suitable for occasional telework and the selectee may be allowed to telework with supervisor approval and if they meet the eligibility criterion in the 2010 Telework Act.
Stipulations of Employment:
Selection may require completion of a 2-year probationary period.
This position is subject to a negative drug test prior to entrance on duty, and random drug testing while you occupy the position.
Applicants will be subject to a background check prior to employment and must obtain and maintain a Q clearance after onboarding with the DNFSB.
Work Schedule:
This position allows for a flexible work schedule dependent on management approval.
Miscellaneous:
DNFSB 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 http://www.uscis.gov/e-verify.
This vacancy announcement may be used to fill similar positions within 90 days.
If selection is made below the full performance level, promotion up to the full performance level may be made without further competition. However, promotion(s) will depend on the performance of the incumbent and are not guaranteed.
Relocation expenses are covered including initial relocation to the Washington, D.C. area.
Position is full-time and will begin in the May 2025 to September 2025 timeframe.
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.
Applicants who "self-certify" that they meet the minimum qualification standards, and other eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement may be referred to the selecting official who may conduct their own assessment for further consideration and interviews.
The selectee's eligibility will be verified prior to extending a tentative job offer. After making a tentative job offer, all pre-employment and suitability requirements will be conducted prior to a final job offer. Selections made under this notice will be processed as new appointments to the civil service. Current civil service employees would, therefore, be given new appointments to the civil service.
Veteran's Preference:
Veterans' Preference does not apply to Direct-Hire recruitment procedures. Applicants eligible for veteran preference are encouraged to include that information in their cover letter or resume and attach supporting documentation (e.g. DD Form 214, SF-15 or other substantiating documents) to their submissions. For more information on veterans' preference (see https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/veterans-employment-initiative/vet-guide/).
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.
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:
1. Your Resume listing work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment mm/yy and duties performed. If multiple resumes are submitted, only the most current resume will be reviewed for qualifications.
2. Other supporting documents:
College transcript(s), this position has a basic education requirement
Career Transition Assistance Program/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program Documentation: If you are applying under CTAP or ICTAP, you MUST submit proof of eligibility under 5 CFR 330.602(a) for CTAP and 5 CFR 330.704 for ICTAP. This includes a copy of the agency notice, a copy of your most recent performance rating, and a copy of your most recent SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action) showing your position, grade level, and duty location. Please annotate your application to reflect that you are applying as a CTAP or ICTAP eligible
Cover Letter, optional
Do not submit photographs with your application package. Documents with photographs may not be seen by hiring officials - you must remove your image from any badges, licenses, etc.
Do not upload Adobe portfolio documents. Adobe portfolio documents are not viewable by our agency's staffing offices. Note: A PDF Portfolio contains multiple files assembled into an integrated PDF unit. The files in a PDF Portfolio can be in a wide range of file types created in different applications. To ensure the document is not a PDF Portfolio document, open the document and if there are multiple different documents with a variety of extensions, it is a PDF Portfolio document and will not be processed.
It is your responsibility to ensure all required documents have been submitted prior to the closing date of the announcement.
Career Transition Assistance Programs: CTAP/ICTAP provides placement assistance to permanent Federal employees who are surplus, displaced, or involuntarily separated. Applicants claiming CTAP/ICTAP eligibility must submit a copy of their most recent performance appraisal, proof of eligibility, and most current SF-50 noting position, grade level, and duty location with their application. To be considered under CTAP/ICTAP, applicants must be well-qualified (i.e., meet the minimum qualification requirements, including any selective placement factors; education, and experience requirements), score at least 85 on the assessment questionnaire, and be able to perform the duties of the position upon entry. For information on CTAP and ICTAP visit here.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
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.
To apply for this position, you must complete the online application and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section of this vacancy.
The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on the closing date to receive consideration.
To begin, click Apply Online to access an online application. Follow the prompts to select your USAJOBS resume and/or other supporting documents. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account or you may need to create a new account.
You will be taken to an online application. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation, and submit the application.
You will receive an email notification when your application has been received for the announcement.
To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account, https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login, select the Application Status link and then select the More Information link for this position. The Application Status page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and your responses submitted to the online application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
If you have questions about this job, please contact the HR Office representative listed in the "Agency Contact Info" section of this vacancy announcement. Applying online is highly encouraged. We are available to assist you during business hours (normally 8:00a.m. - 4:00p.m., Mountain Time, Monday - Friday). If applying online poses a hardship, you may request an alternate application method from the Agency Contact listed in the vacancy. All hardship application packages must be complete and submitted no later than noon EST on the closing date of the announcement.
Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board
625 Indiana Ave NW
Suite 700
Washington, DC 20004
US
Next steps
For status updates on your application, please follow the directions listed above in the How to Apply section. Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. If you are selected for an interview for this position, you will be contacted directly. A final job offer for this position is typically made within several weeks after the closing date of the vacancy announcement. After confirming a job offer, all other applicants will be notified of their non-selection.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:
1. Your Resume listing work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment mm/yy and duties performed. If multiple resumes are submitted, only the most current resume will be reviewed for qualifications.
2. Other supporting documents:
College transcript(s), this position has a basic education requirement
Career Transition Assistance Program/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program Documentation: If you are applying under CTAP or ICTAP, you MUST submit proof of eligibility under 5 CFR 330.602(a) for CTAP and 5 CFR 330.704 for ICTAP. This includes a copy of the agency notice, a copy of your most recent performance rating, and a copy of your most recent SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action) showing your position, grade level, and duty location. Please annotate your application to reflect that you are applying as a CTAP or ICTAP eligible
Cover Letter, optional
Do not submit photographs with your application package. Documents with photographs may not be seen by hiring officials - you must remove your image from any badges, licenses, etc.
Do not upload Adobe portfolio documents. Adobe portfolio documents are not viewable by our agency's staffing offices. Note: A PDF Portfolio contains multiple files assembled into an integrated PDF unit. The files in a PDF Portfolio can be in a wide range of file types created in different applications. To ensure the document is not a PDF Portfolio document, open the document and if there are multiple different documents with a variety of extensions, it is a PDF Portfolio document and will not be processed.
It is your responsibility to ensure all required documents have been submitted prior to the closing date of the announcement.
Career Transition Assistance Programs: CTAP/ICTAP provides placement assistance to permanent Federal employees who are surplus, displaced, or involuntarily separated. Applicants claiming CTAP/ICTAP eligibility must submit a copy of their most recent performance appraisal, proof of eligibility, and most current SF-50 noting position, grade level, and duty location with their application. To be considered under CTAP/ICTAP, applicants must be well-qualified (i.e., meet the minimum qualification requirements, including any selective placement factors; education, and experience requirements), score at least 85 on the assessment questionnaire, and be able to perform the duties of the position upon entry. For information on CTAP and ICTAP visit here.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
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.
To apply for this position, you must complete the online application and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section of this vacancy.
The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on the closing date to receive consideration.
To begin, click Apply Online to access an online application. Follow the prompts to select your USAJOBS resume and/or other supporting documents. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account or you may need to create a new account.
You will be taken to an online application. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation, and submit the application.
You will receive an email notification when your application has been received for the announcement.
To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account, https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login, select the Application Status link and then select the More Information link for this position. The Application Status page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and your responses submitted to the online application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
If you have questions about this job, please contact the HR Office representative listed in the "Agency Contact Info" section of this vacancy announcement. Applying online is highly encouraged. We are available to assist you during business hours (normally 8:00a.m. - 4:00p.m., Mountain Time, Monday - Friday). If applying online poses a hardship, you may request an alternate application method from the Agency Contact listed in the vacancy. All hardship application packages must be complete and submitted no later than noon EST on the closing date of the announcement.
Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board
625 Indiana Ave NW
Suite 700
Washington, DC 20004
US
Next steps
For status updates on your application, please follow the directions listed above in the How to Apply section. Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. If you are selected for an interview for this position, you will be contacted directly. A final job offer for this position is typically made within several weeks after the closing date of the vacancy announcement. After confirming a job offer, all other applicants will be notified of their non-selection.
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
