Physical Science Technician

Summary Please limit your resume to 5 pages. If more than 5 pages are submitted, only the first 5 pages will be reviewed to determine your eligibility/qualifications. This is a Direct Hire Authority (DHA) solicitation utilizing the DHA for Domestic Defense Industrial Base Facilities and the Major Range and Test Facilities Base Positions to recruit and appoint qualified candidates to positions in the competitive service. About the Position: Is located in the Qualifications Section. Learn more about this agency Requirements Conditions of Employment Appointment may be subject to a suitability or fitness determination, as determined by a completed background investigation. This position requires the completion of a pre-employment Physical Examination and an annual examination thereafter to ensure the continued, required level of physical health and ability or fitness to perform the duties of the position. This position is a Domestic Violence Offender Gun Ban commonly referred to as Lautenberg Amendment. This act bans individuals convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence and certain others from possession or access to firearms or ammunition. This position meets the criteria for compliance with Federal and Department of the Army Drug Free Workplace Programs. Detection of the presence of drugs is warranted. This position is subject to a pre-employment screening and random testing. This position requires you to possess and maintain a valid stateside driver's license. This position requires you to wear personal protective equipment and/or clothing. This position requires you to obtain certification requirements outlined in AMC-R 350-4 - Training and Certification Program for Personnel Working in Ammunition Operations, and CAAA regulation 350-1 - Explosive Safety Certification Program. Qualifications About the Position: Serve as the Physical Science Technician responsible for conducting field investigations using established criteria to collect, analyze, compile, and interpret data to resolve conventional problems, questions, or situations. Who May Apply: US Citizens This position will be filled at the GS-05, GS-06, GS-07, GS-08, or GS-09 level. If selected at the GS-05, GS-06, GS-07 or GS-08 level, noncompetitive promotion to the full performance level is authorized. In order to qualify, you must meet the education and/or experience requirements described 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). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application. Additional information about transcripts is in this document. Specialized Experience: GS-05 Level: One year of specialized experience which includes: Experience interpreting and applying procedures to collect samples or routine information; Experience using manual or automated systems to record analysis results; and Experience making operational adjustments to a variety of instruments and equipment. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-04). OR The OPM Qualification Standard provides the following: Examples of qualifying specialized experience include work in the fields of astronomy, physics, geophysics, chemistry, hydrology, health physics, engineering, electronics, geology, oceanography, and metallurgy. Experience as a laboratory mechanic or in a trade or craft may be credited as general or specialized experience when the work was performed in close association with physical scientists or other technical personnel and provided intensive knowledge of appropriate scientific principles, methods, techniques, and precedents. NOTE: Completion of appropriate training such as in service training programs, training acquired while serving in the Armed Forces, and government-sponsored developmental training programs will be allowed credit on a month-for-month basis depending upon its applicability. (Note: You must attach a copy of your transcripts.) OR Education: A full 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree (a) with major study in an appropriate field of physical science, or (b) that included at least 24 semester hours in any combination of courses such as physical science, engineering, or any branch of mathematics, except financial and commercial mathematics. (Note: You must attach a copy of your transcripts.) OR Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide your semester hours of education by 120. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. (Note: You must attach a copy of your transcripts.) GS-06 Level: One year of specialized experience which includes: Experience maintaining records of scientific data; Experience utilizing computer software to collect and compile testing or sampling data; Experience assisting with instrument setup and calibration; and Experience selecting procedures to produce desired results. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-05). OR The OPM Qualification Standard provides the following: Examples of qualifying specialized experience include work in the fields of astronomy, physics, geophysics, chemistry, hydrology, health physics, engineering, electronics, geology, oceanography, and metallurgy. Experience as a laboratory mechanic or in a trade or craft may be credited as general or specialized experience when the work was performed in close association with physical scientists or other technical personnel and provided intensive knowledge of appropriate scientific principles, methods, techniques, and precedents. OR Education: 6 months of graduate education that is directly related to the work of the position, such as Physical Sciences, Physics, Engineering, Computer Science background, Material Testing, Material Science, or Mathematics. (Note: You must attach a copy of your transcripts.) OR Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education (directly related to the occupation) and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide your semester hours of graduate education beyond the first year (total graduate semester hours minus 18) by 9. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. (Note: You must attach a copy of your transcripts.) GS-07 Level: One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-06 grade level in the federal service which includes: Experience interpreting and applying sample testing, principles, guidelines and procedures; Experience maintaining records of scientific data; Experience assisting with instrument setup and calibration; and Experience preparing, processing, or verifying samples. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-06). OR Education: One full academic year of graduate level education in a field directly related to the work of the position, such as Physical Sciences, Physics, Engineering, Computer Science background, Material Testing, Material Science, or Mathematics. (Note: You must attach a copy of your transcripts.) OR Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education (directly related to the occupation) and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide your semester hours of graduate education by 18. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. (Note: You must attach a copy of your transcripts.) GS-08 and GS-09 Specialized Experience and/or Education description listed below: Education GS-08 Level: One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 grade level in the federal service which includes: Experience recording or analyzing scientific data; Experience evaluating required quality control samples to ensure compliance; Experience assembling, operating or maintaining specialized scientific equipment; and Experience recognizing deviations in data from sample collections and testing. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-07). OR Education: One and a half years (i.e., 27 semester hours) of graduate level education in a field directly related to the work of the position, such as Physical Sciences, Physics, Engineering, Computer Science background, Material Testing, Material Science, or Mathematics. (Note: You must attach a copy of your transcripts.) OR Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education (directly related to the occupation) and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide your semester hours of graduate education beyond the first year (total graduate semester hours minus 18) by 9. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. (Note: You must attach a copy of your transcripts.) GS-09 Level: One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-08 grade level in the federal service which includes: Experience preparing, evaluating, or testing samples; Experience performing statistical analysis; Experience analyzing, evaluating, or consolidating sample results to produce technical reports; and Experience resolving deviations in data from sample collections and testing. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-08). OR Education: Two full academic years (i.e., 36 semester hours) of graduate level education in a field directly related to the work of the position, such as Physical Sciences, Physics, Engineering, Computer Science background, Material Testing, Material Science, or Mathematics. (Note: You must attach a copy of your transcripts.) OR Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education (directly related to the occupation) and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide your semester hours of graduate education beyond the first year (total graduate semester hours minus 18) by 9. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. (Note: You must attach a copy of your transcripts.) FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show 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 Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must complete a Pre-Employment Certification Statement for Selective Service Registration. You will be required to provide proof of U.S. Citizenship. One year trial/probationary period may be required. Direct Deposit of Pay is required. Selection is subject to restrictions resulting from Department of Defense referral system for displaced employees. If you have retired from federal service and you are interested in employment as a reemployed annuitant, see the information in the Reemployed Annuitant information sheet. This is a(n) Engineers and Scientists (Non-Construction) Career Field position. Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement. Salary includes applicable locality pay or Local Market Supplement. Payment of Permanent Change of Station (PCS) costs is not authorized, based on a determination that a PCS move is not in the Government interest. Relocation (Government Home Sale) expenses are not authorized. Recruitment, Relocation, and Retention Incentives are not authorized. This position may require overtime work. This position may require you to wear personal protective equipment and/or clothing. This position may require shift work to provide coverage on evenings, weekends, holidays, or special situations. This is an AR3135 Bargaining Unit Position. Position may be filled as a term appointment NTE 6 years. Term appointments may be extended beyond six (6) years, up to eight (8) years. With DoD approval, term appointments may be extended beyond eight (8) years. Current permanent Federal employees (to include permanent Army employees) applying for a term appointment will be appointed/converted into a term appointment with no statutory return rights back to a permanent position. Read more Benefits 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 window Learn more about federal benefits. Review our 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.