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Physical Science Technician

Department of Commerce
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS)
This job announcement has closed

Resumes limited to two pages

Summary

This position is located in the National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS), Office of Satellite & Product Operations (OSPO), Mission Operations Division (MOD), Operations Branch, with 5 vacancies in Suitland, MD.

This position is also announced under vacancy number NESDIS OSPO-25-12641641-ST, which is open to Status Candidates. You must apply to both announcements if you want to be considered for both.

Overview

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Job canceled
Open & closing dates
12/18/2024 to 02/03/2025
Salary
$68,405 to - $128,956 per year
Pay scale & grade
ZT 3 - 4
Location
5 vacancies in the following location:
Suitland, MD
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Multiple Schedules
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
4 - If you are selected for a position with further promotion potential, you may be non-competitively promoted if you perform successfully and if recommended by management.
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Secret
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Noncritical-Sensitive (NCS)/Moderate Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
Yes
Announcement number
NESDIS OSPO-25-12641642-DE
Control number
824561900

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Duties

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This is an open continuous announcement. The open period is 12 months. Applications will be reviewed on the established cut-off dates: January 2, 2025; February 18, 2025; April 4, 2025; May 19, 2025; July 3, 2025; August 18, 2025; October 2, 2025; November 17, 2025; December 17, 2025.

NOTE: The period of eligibility for applications is through each cut-off date. The agency will issue a list of eligible applicants at each cut-off date to hiring officials within the period of eligibility. Applicants will not need to reapply to be considered.

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', or 'not qualified'. If this occurs, you are eligible to reapply to a future cut-off date.

As a Physical Science Technician, you will perform the following duties:

  • Support spacecraft missions which provide critical global environmental data that supports National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS) strategic mission goals (Climate adaptation and mitigation; weather ready nation; healthy oceans; and resilient coastal communities and economies).
  • Review, analyze and initiate command and control for a mission ground computer system for a satellite constellation.
  • Support newly launched satellites, satellites maneuvers, and other required special operations through the use of computers, computer programs and databases.
  • Implement satellite ground system programs for more efficient resource use and for efficiency of operations.
Note: The duties above are described at the full performance level of ZT-4; the ZT-3 is developmental leading to such performance.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

This position will be filled under the DOC Alternative Personnel System (CAPS). This system replaced the Federal GS pay plan and structure. Under CAPS, positions are classified by career, pay plan, and pay band.

The ZT-3 is equivalent to the GS-9/10.
The ZT-4 is equivalent to the GS-11/12.

*A one year probationary period may be required.
*Payment of relocation expenses is not authorized.
*Payment of relocation incentives may be authorized.
*Payment of recruitment incentives may be authorized.
*This position is in the bargaining unit. This position is covered by NWSEO (2181).

Key Requirements:

  1. Applicants must be U.S. Citizens.
  2. Suitable for Federal employment, as determined by background investigation.
  3. Selectee may be subject to serving a one-year probationary period.
  4. More requirements are listed under Qualifications and Other Information.
  5. Must be registered for Selective Service, if applicable (www.sss.gov)
Are There Any Special Requirements For This Position?
  • A background investigation will be required for this position. Continued employment will be subject to the applicant's successful completion of a background security investigation and favorable adjudication. Failure to successfully meet these requirements will be grounds for termination.
  • Throughout the recruitment and hiring process we will be communicating with you via email; therefore, it is imperative that the email address you provide when applying for this vacancy remains active. Should your email address change, please notify the point of contact identified in the vacancy announcement as soon as possible so that we can update our system.

Qualifications

Qualification requirements in the vacancy announcements are based on the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards Handbook, which contains federal qualification standards. This handbook is available on the Office of Personnel Management's website located at: https://www.opm.gov/policy

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

  1. Must be able to work a 24/7/365 rotating crew shift schedule; rotating crew 12-hour day and night shifts, including weekends and holidays.
  2. Individual fills a Mission Essential Position and is designated an Emergency and COOP employee.
  3. This position requires a Non-Critical Sensitive clearance as the incumbent requires access to secure spaces where a SECRET clearance is required.
  4. Must acquire and maintain satellite controller and product operator certification.


EDUCATION: There is no positive education requirement for this position.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to the next lower grade level in the Federal Service. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular competencies/knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. This experience need not have been in the federal government.

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.

To qualify at the ZT-3 or (GS-9):
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE:
Applicants must possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the ZT-2 or (GS-08) in the Federal service. Specialized experience MUST include all of the following:

  • Contributing and assisting with technical writing for standard operating procedures and daily reports; and
  • Assisting with monitoring or evaluating data systems for product ingest, processing or dissemination using support tools and applications.
OR

SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION: Two full years of graduate education or a master's degree in an appropriate field of physical science.

OR

COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: A combination of education and experience as described above.

To qualify at the ZT-4 or (GS-11):
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE:
Applicants must possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the ZT-3 or (GS-10) in the Federal service. Specialized experience MUST include all of the following:

  • Controlling and monitoring real-time satellite operations including both spacecraft and ground segments telemetry and data flow; and
  • Monitoring and evaluating data systems for product ingest, processing and dissemination using support tools and applications.

Education

College Transcript: If you are qualifying based on education, submit a copy of your college transcript that lists college courses detailing each course by the number and department (i.e., Bio 101, Math 210, etc.), course title, number of credit hours and grade earned. You must submit evidence that any education completed in a foreign institution is equivalent to U.S. education standards with your resume. You may submit an unofficial copy of the transcript at the initial phase of the application process. If course content cannot be easily identified from the title of the course as listed on your transcript, you must submit an official course description from the college/university that reflects the content at the time the course was taken.

Note: Your college transcript is used to verify successful completion of degree, or college course work. An official college transcript will be required before you can report to duty.

Special Instructions for Foreign Education: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities must be evaluated in terms of equivalency to that acquired in U.S. colleges and universities. Applicants educated in whole or in part in foreign countries must submit sufficient evidence, including transcripts, to an accredited private organization for an equivalency evaluation of course work and degree. A listing of these accredited organizations can be found on the Department of Education's website. You MUST provide a copy of the letter containing the results of the equivalency evaluation with a course by course listing along with your application. Failure to provide such documentation by the closing date of the announcement will result in lost consideration. For more information on how foreign education is evaluated visit: OPM Foreign Education Evaluation.

Additional information

CTAP and ICTAP candidates will be eligible for selection priority if it is determined that they have exceeded the minimum qualifications for the position by attaining at least a rating of 85 out of 100. Information about ICTAP eligibility is on the Office of Personnel Management's Career Transition Resources website at: Employee Guide to Career Transition

CTAP applicants MUST submit the following documents:

  1. A copy of your specific RIF notice; notice of proposed removal for failure to relocate; a Certificate of Expected Separation (CES); or certification that you are in a surplus organization or occupation (this could be a position abolishment letter, a notice eligibility for discontinued service retirement, or similar notice).
  2. A copy of your SF-50 "Notification of Personnel Action", noting current position, grade level, and duty location;
  3. A copy of your latest performance appraisal including your rating; and
  4. Any documentation from your agency that shows your current promotion potential.

ICTAP applicants MUST submit the following documents:

  1. A copy of your RIF separation notice; notice of proposed removal for failure to relocate; notice of disability annuity termination; certification from your former agency that it cannot place you after your recovery from a compensable injury; or certification from the National Guard Bureau or Military Department that you are eligible for disability retirement;
  2. A copy of your SF-50 "Notification of Personnel Action" documenting your RIF separation, noting your positions, grade level, and duty location, and/or Agency certification of inability to place you through RPL, etc;
  3. A copy of your latest performance appraisal including your rating; and
  4. Any documentation from your agency that shows your current promotion potential.

NOAA participates in e-Verify. E-Verify is an Internet based system operated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in partnership with the Social Security Administration (SSA) that enables participating employers to electronically verify the employment eligibility of their newly hired employees.

The Department of the Commerce (DOC) places a high value on diversity of experience and cultural perspectives and encourages applications from all interested eligible candidates. Diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) are fundamental principles that guide the Department and allow us to successfully achieve our mission.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER.

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, optional cover letter and supporting documentation to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications for the position. If you meet the minimum qualifications stated in the vacancy announcement, we will compare your resume, optional cover letter and supporting documentation to your responses on the scored occupational questionnaire (True/False, Yes/No, Multiple Choice questions) and place you in one of the three pre-defined categories. The categories are "gold", "silver" and "bronze". However, your resume or optional cover letter must support your responses to the scored occupational questionnaire, or your score may be lowered. Candidates placed in the "gold" category will be identified for referral to the hiring manager and may be invited for an interview. The scored occupational questionnaire will evaluate you on the following competencies; please do not provide a separate written response:

  • Data Systems
  • Measurement and Instrumentation
  • Remote Sensing
  • Technical Competence


How you will be evaluated for preference eligibility: Within each category, those entitled to veterans' preference will be listed at the top of the pre-defined category for which they are placed. Preference eligible with a service-connected disability of 10% or more will be listed at the top of the highest quality category (gold) depending on the position and grade level of the job. For more information on Category Rating, please go to Category Rating.

Basis of Rating:

Category rating will be used in the ranking and selection process for this position. The quality categories are Gold, Silver, and Bronze. You will be rated on the extent and quality of your experience, education, and training relevant to the duties of the position. If you are eligible, your on-line responses to the application questions will determine your placement in the appropriate quality category described above. Your responses must be substantiated by your resume. If you do not respond to the application questions you may be rated ineligible. Veterans' preference rules for category rating will be applied.

NOTE: If it is determined that you have rated yourself higher than is supported in your description of experience and/or education as described in your resume/application, or that your resume or application is incomplete, you may be rated ineligible and/or not qualified.

To preview the announcement questionnaire, click here: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12641642

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