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GEOPHYSICIST

Department of the Air Force
Department of the Air Force - Agency Wide
22ND SURVEILLANCE SQUADRON
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: Provide services of a professional geophysicist by overseeing technical development of systems and automation of geophysical missions and to enable AF Technical Operations Center timedominant operations for surveillance of nuclear and tactical problem sets.

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
09/08/2025 to 09/12/2025
Salary
$131,437 to - $170,870 per year
Pay scale & grade
GG 13
Location
Few vacancies in the following location:
Patrick AFB, FL
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
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Excepted
Promotion potential
13
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Sensitive Compartmented Information
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Special-Sensitive (SS)/High Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
8X-DCIPS-12794034-954584-GG
Control number
845118100

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

Open to DoD Employees only

Duties

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-Develops new geophysical algorithms and integrates them into operational use to provide increased fidelity of geophysical sensor data for automated detection capabilities of tactically relevant signature classes.
-Plans, coordinates, and manages integration of applied geophysics research into operational detection and identification capabilities for time-dominant technical surveillance.
-Trains and works as needed, as the 24/7 on-call operational Seismic Duty Alert Officer (SADO) on a rotational basis for theater support as part of a 24/7 operations floor crew.
-Serves as a technical advisor for geophysical surveillance technologies and capabilities within the Group

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.
  • 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
  • Employee must maintain current certifications
  • Disclosure of Political Appointments
  • Direct Deposit: All federal employees are required to have direct deposit
  • The employee may be required to travel in military and/or commercial aircraft to perform temporary duty assignments.
  • Employee may be required to work other than normal duty hours such as evenings, weekends and/or holidays to satisfy urgent operational support requirements
  • Employee may be required to undergo CI polygraph examinations in accordance with security regulations involving material handled.
  • A Bachelor’s degree or operational experience in the field of study is highly desired.
  • This is a key position. Incumbent must be removed from any military recall status if alternatives are not available for filling this position during an emergency are not available.
  • This is a Mission Essential (ME) position performing a Mission Critical Function (MCF) which must continue uninterrupted after the occurrence of an emergency and continued through full resumption
  • (cont.) of all functions. IAW, DoDI 3020-42, Defense Continuity Programs.

Qualifications

This is a GG-13 position in the Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System (DCIPS). The GG-13 duties for the "Professional" work category are at the "Full Performance" work level and are equivalent to those at the GS-13 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 education and/or experience requirements described in the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards for General Schedule Positions, Professional and Scientific Positions.

POSITIVE EDUCATION REQUIREMENT: This position has a positive education requirement. If transcripts are not provided, your resume MUST list the appropriate academic field (e.g. biology, mechanical engineering, economics, sociology, etc.) and all courses you have taken (including those failed), which appear to satisfy the qualification requirements of the position for which you are applying. List graduate and undergraduate courses separately. Include the descriptive title and course code, completion date, grade, number of semester, quarter or classroom hours (for education completed at business, secretarial, technical school or military schools) and graduate and undergraduate classes. **As of 1 Sep 2016, current internal AF employees must attach their transcripts. Failure to do so will result in not being referred for the position.

INDIVIDUAL OCCUPATIONAL REQUIREMENT:

1: Degree: that included at least 30 semester hours in mathematics (including calculus) and the physical sciences (geophysics, physics, engineering, geology, astronomy, meteorology, electronics, etc.).

OR

2: Combination of education and experience -- courses as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

In addition to meeting the basic requirements above, to qualify for this position you must also meet the qualifcation 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:
A highly competent professional and technical understanding of applied geophysics, in particular infrasound and seismology. 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. Experience in physical sciences (geophysics, geology, and engineering). Field experience required in planning, conducting and/or participating in special studies to determine and satisfy current operations and requirements for integration of geophysical data into strategic and operational communities.
2. Knowledge of a wide range of concepts, principles and practices in a physics, engineering, computer science or data science-based occupation and the skill to apply this knowledge to exercise ingenuity, originality and judgement to develop unusual and/or novel advancements in geophysical technology. Experience in leading and producing Processing Exploitation Dissemination concepts with geophysics. Decisions and/or recommendations will affect the techniques and procedures to meet time dominant operations requirements across multiple combatant commands and national customers.
3. Skill in transitioning new technical capabilities, techniques, research programs, improvements, and concepts for seismic analysis to time-dominant operational missions. Familiar of modern coding standard languages (Python, C++, Java, etc.) in a development environment is highly desired but not required.
4. Ability to direct and coordinate the efforts of a technical assessment team in an operational environment with constantly changing work environments and deadlines in a logical method of prioritization, including operating semi-autonomously in the absence of direction for higher-level priorities based on mission needs.
5. Ability to work across other organizations within the center and with external customers, contractors, research partners, and system developers for all geophysical project requirements supporting time dominant operations.
6. Knowledge of security procedures to maintain control of classified material is required.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT CONT'D:
1. Position is designated special-sensitive and requires eligibility for access to Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI), other intelligence-related Special Sensitive information, or involvement in Top Secret Special Access Programs (SAP) to fully perform the duties and responsibilities of the position. A non-disclosure agreement must be signed.

2. Drug Testing: This position has been designated by the Air Force as a Testing Designated Position (TDP) under the Air Force Civilian Drug Demand Reduction Program. Employee must pass initial and periodic short notice drug testing. Illegal drug use by employees in sensitive positions presents a clear threat to the mission of the Air Force, national security, and public safety.

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.

Disabled veteran leave is available to a Federal employee hired on/after 5 Nov 2016, who is a veteran with a service-connected disability rating of 30% or more. For more information, click here.

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.

Tax Law Impact for PCS: On 22-Dec-2017, Public Law 115-97 - the "Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017" suspended qualified moving expense deductions along with the exclusion for employer reimbursements and payments of moving expenses effective 01-Jan-2018 for tax years 2018 through 2025. When you perform a Civilian Permanent Change of Station (PCS) with the government, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) considers the majority of your entitlements to be taxable. Visit GSA Bulletin FTR 20-04 here for additional information.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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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