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Interdisciplinary Engineer/Scientist

Department of Defense
Organization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Joint Force Development Directorate

Summary

This position is part of the Organization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Joint Chiefs of Staff. The incumbent will be responsible for advancing the organization's mission by leading data and artificial intelligence (AI) initiatives and facilitating, coordinating, and executing professional scientific functions to store, manipulate, transform and present information by means of computer systems.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
05/19/2026 to 05/26/2026
Salary
$127,646 - $165,945 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 14
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Suffolk, VA
1 vacancy
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
25% or less - You may be expected to travel in military or commercial aircraft for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
None
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Top Secret
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Critical-Sensitive (CS)/High Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
Yes
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
JCS-26-12961955-DH
Control number
869848800

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

All U.S. Citizens

Duties

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This position is being filled under Direct-Hire Auth (Certain DoD Personnel), PL 118-31, Sec 1250B(i)(2), 12/22/2023

As an Interdisciplinary Engineer/Scientist at the GS-0801/0854/1301/1550-14 level some of your typical work assignments may include:

  • Creating and maintaining a Data Strategy and Action Plan that addresses new approaches for incorporating and integrating existing authoritative operational data sources as the foundation for simulation data to provide an up to date and accurate depiction of the real world to support realistic and effective Joint force development and Joint training.
  • Guiding, providing technical consultation, and ensuring compliance of the Joint Training Synthetic Environment (JTSE) with DoD data policies and mandates, data standards listed in the DoD Information Technology Standards and Profile Registry (DISR), Industry standard open formats, and implementation of those standards following industry standard best practices.
  • Providing oversight for the development of cloud-based, data-centric software, implementation of conceptual, logical and physical data models, integration of multiple modeling and simulation (M&S) applications, and configuration management and governance of enterprise level data.
  • Serve as technical lead over software engineers and scientists, and as the J7 representative coordinating with CCMDs, Services, agencies, coalition partners, industry, and academia to ensure data and AI capabilities are positioned to rapidly capture, learn from, and adapt lessons from real-world operations for the Joint Force.
  • Function as a Digital and AI Steward, acting in an advisory capacity to senior leaders and key stakeholders by providing specialized data, digital modernization, and AI expertise to inform the execution of current and future J7 activities.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Must be a U.S. Citizen
  • Occasional Travel
  • Work Schedule: Full-time
  • Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service
  • Suitable for Federal employment, determined by a background investigation
  • May be required to successfully complete a probationary period
  • Overtime: Occasionally
  • Tour of Duty: Flexible
  • Recruitment Incentives: May Be Authorized
  • Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA): Exempt
  • Financial Disclosure: Required - Employee must file an OGE-450 annually
  • Telework Eligibility: This position is SITUATIONAL telework eligible
  • Employee must obtain/maintain a Critical Sensitive (Top Secret) security clearance
  • Drug Testing Designated Position: Yes
  • Offsite visits are required to monitor project status and lead studies. Incumbent may be required to wear protective equipment, e.g., sound, hard hats, safety goggles, foul weather gear, or Arctic clothing.
  • Employee must be willing to work overtime/shift work/weekend and holidays.

Qualifications

You may qualify at the GS GS-14, if you fulfill the following qualifications:

A. One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 grade level in the Federal service as listed below: Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). 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.

  • Leading strategic planning, requirements refinement, research, design, and architecting of AI/ML-enabled data solutions, technology roadmaps overseeing the development, integration, testing and transitioning of advanced analytics and machine learning systems in support of a large-scale, data-intensive environment.
  • Designing and implementing software and data pipelines compliant with Risk Management Framework (RMF) and simulation interoperability standards, and applying methods from data science, AI/ML, physical sciences, geography, and social sciences to deliver mission-driven analytic capabilities.
  • Knowledge of data schemas, ontologies, and experience working with standards to provide advice and guidance.
  • Knowledge of principles, practices, and processes required for data collection, manipulation, cleaning, transformation, analysis and visualization to drive decisions for the Department of Defense or other large organizations.
Substitution of education may not be used in lieu of specialized experience for this grade level.

In addition to meeting qualifications, your application package must reflect the applicable experience to meet the Individual Occupational Requirements for the 0801/0854/1301/1550, series as listed below:
Leading strategic planning, requirements refinement, research, design, and architecting of AI/ML-enabled data solutions, technology roadmaps overseeing the development, integration, testing and transitioning of advanced analytics and machine learning systems in support of a large-scale, data-intensive environment. For the 0801-0854 Series: Degree: a 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 aCombination 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.

For the 1301 Series 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 a 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.

For the 1550 Series-Degree: Bachelor's degree in computer science or bachelor's degree with 30 semester hours in a combination of mathematics, statistics, and computer science. At least 15 of the 30 semester hours must have included any combination of statistics and mathematics that included differential and integral calculus. All academic degrees and course work must be from accredited or pre-accredited institutions.

*NOTE: Failure to provide transcripts will result in you being rated ineligible for this position.

Education

REQUIRED:

801-854 Series: Degree: a 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
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. The adequacy of such background must be demonstrated by one of the following: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0800/files/all-professional-engineering-positions-0800.pdf

1301 Series 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
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.

1550 Series-Degree: Bachelor's degree in computer science or bachelor's degree with 30 semester hours in a combination of mathematics, statistics, and computer science. At least 15 of the 30 semester hours must have included any combination of statistics and mathematics that included differential and integral calculus. All academic degrees and course work must be from accredited or pre-accredited institutions.

**Failure to provide transcripts will result in you being rated ineligible for this position.

All materials must be submitted by the closing date of the announcement.

GRADUATE EDUCATION: One academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credits hours that your graduate school has determined to represent one academic year of full-time study. Such study may have been performed on a full-time or part-time basis. If you cannot obtain your graduate school's definition of one year of graduate study, 18 semester hours (or 27 quarter hours) should be considered as satisfying the requirement for one year of full-time graduate study.

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://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html

All materials must be submitted by the closing date of the announcement.

Additional information

RE-EMPLOYED ANNUITANT: This position DOES NOT meet criteria for re-employed annuitant. The DoD criteria for hiring Re-employed Annuitants can be found at: https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/issuances/140025/140025_vol300.PDF?ver=LQ7feWw-8-5DI2tceUpmgA%3d%3d

All applicants must meet qualifications and eligibility criteria by the closing date of the announcement.

This position is subject to an initial drug screening, and random testing thereafter. A negative drug test result must be received by HR within 30 calendar days after the EOD (i.e., start date). The selectee's inability successfully pass; or refusal to conduct the test may result in: 1) the tentative or FJO being withdrawn during the recruitment process; or 2) subsequently being removed from Federal service for failure to meet a condition of employment.

You may be required to sign a "Drug Test Statement of Understanding" if you are selected for this position.

Interagency Career Transition Assistance Programs: This program applies to employees who have been involuntarily separated from a Federal service position within the competitive service or Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed. To receive selection priority for this position, you must: 1) meet ICTAP eligibility criteria; 2) be rated well-qualified for the position; Well qualified is defined as possessing the type and quality of experience that exceeds the positions minimum qualifications. and 3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your ICTAP eligibility. For more information:
https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/

Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see Who Needs to Register | Selective Service System : Selective Service System (sss.gov))

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.

We will review your resume and supporting documents, to ensure you meet the basic qualification requirements. We will evaluate each applicant who meets the basic qualifications on the information provided and evaluate your relevant work experiences as it relates to fundamental competencies, identified below, required for this position.

Traditional rating and ranking of applications does not apply to this vacancy. Your application (resume and supporting documentation) will be evaluated to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications required as listed on the announcement under qualification requirements.

Veterans Preference: If you are entitled to veterans preference, you should indicate the type of veterans' preference you are claiming on your resume. Your veterans' preference entitlement will be verified by the employing agency.

For information on entitlement see http://www.fedshirevets.gov/job/vetpref/index.aspx

Military Spouse Preference: If you are entitled to military spouse preference, in order to receive this preference you must choose the spousal eligibility in your application package referencing MSP Military Spouse Preference. Your preference entitlement will be verified by the employing agency. To claim Military Spouse Preference (MSP) please complete the Military Spouse PPP Self-Certification Checklist, save the document and attach it to your application package.

Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program(ICTAP): This program applies to employees who have been involuntarily separated from a Federal service position within the competitive service or Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed. To receive selection priority for this position, you must: 1) meet ICTAP eligibility criteria AND 2) be rated well-qualified for the position AND 3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your ICTAP eligibility. Well-qualified means you possess the type and quality of experience that exceeds the position's minimum qualifications. See the Required Documents section of this announcement for more information.

Appointment of Military Spouses (5 CFR 315.612) (NonComp Mil Sp): To receive this preference, you must choose to apply using the " Appointment of Military Spouses (5 CFR 315.612) (NonComp Mil Sp)" eligibility. If you are claiming Military Spouse eligibility and are determined to be Well Qualified (score of 85 or above) for the position, you will be referred to the hiring manager. Information and required documentation for claiming Military Spouse eligibility may be found at the General Applicant Information and Definitions link below.

Organization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

Mission Statement: Joint Staff J-7, in support of the Chairman, trains, educates, develops, designs and adapts the globally integrated, partnered, joint force to achieve overmatch in the continuum of conflict in competition and crisis under conditions of accelerating change in the character of war.

Agency contact information

JCS Servicing team
Phone
614-692-2646
Email
DHRS-D-JCS@dla.mil
Address
Joint Chiefs of Staff
Joint Staff
Pentagon
Washington, DC 20318
US

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http://www.jcs.mil/

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