Computer Scientist

Summary The Surface Transportation Board is an independent federal agency responsible for the economic oversight of the nation's freight rail system. This position is located in the Surface Transportation Board's Office of Economics. As a Computer Scientist, the position will be responsible for applying expert knowledge of computer science to develop methods, requirements, and code to develop, test, and maintain business workflows that support the Uniform Railroad Costing System. Learn more about this agency Requirements Conditions of Employment US. Citizenship is required. All qualification requirements must be met by 01/07/2025. Please Note: Your application package will not receive consideration if it lacks any of the required documents under the "Required Documents" tab. Probationary Period: A One-year probationary period may be required. Required to participate in the Direct Deposit program. Selective Service: If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. See http://www.sss.gov/ E-Verify: If you are selected for this position, the documentation that you present for purposes of completing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Form 1-9 will be verified through the DHS "E-Verify" System. The STB is an E-Verify Participant. Employment is contingent upon the satisfactory completion of a background investigation and the granting of a Federal suitability clearance. If selected, you may be offered a tentative offer until the background investigation has been adjudicated. Transcripts are required to be submitted for this position. Relocation expenses are not authorized. Only experience and education obtained by the closing date of this announcement will be considered. Qualifications To qualify at the GS-14 level, you must meet the following qualification requirements: Basic Requirements: You must have a bachelor's degree in computer science; OR A 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 coursework must be from accredited or pre-accredited institutions. AND GS-14 You must demonstrate in your resume at least one year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-13 level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector, performing the following: 1) Experience managing software/application development projects resulting in measurable improvements in processes and outcomes. 2) Experience with application design and development, automating manual processes and maintaining systems. 3)Proficient in testing and documenting new and existing applications. 4)Experience with soliciting requirements, developing guidance, and working on cross-functional teams. 5) Responsibility for independently analyzing and resolving a wide variety of user problems and technical challenges. Specialized Experience: To further determine eligibility, review the following grade-specific details. You will be asked a few questions as part of your application but make sure to verify how you meet these grade levels in your resume. You must meet the Mandatory Education Requirements listed in the "Education Requirements" section and the "Specialized Experience" to qualify for this series as described below. All applicants are required to submit a resume with your application. To receive full consideration for relevant and specialized experience, please utilize the following date format MM/YY to MM/YY - or - MM/YY to present and the number of hours worked per week for each period of employment/experience listed in your resume. Your responses to the questionnaire must be supported/demonstrated in your resume. In describing your experience, please be clear and specific. We will not make assumptions regarding your experience or education. Read more about what should I include in my federal resume below: https://www.usajobs.gov//faq/application/documents/resume/what-to-include/ Specialized experience must meet 52 weeks equivalent to the next lower grade level. A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must clearly indicate the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. Specialized Experience is defined as the experience that has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position of the Computer Scientist, 1550 series. Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies Computer Science Planning Project Management Software Testing and Evaluation Strategic Thinking Technical Competence *Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (i.e, Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations. 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. Education This position has a basic education requirement. You MUST provide transcripts to support your educational claims (unofficial transcripts are acceptable). All materials must be submitted by the closing date of the announcement. You must provide your transcripts to support your educational claims. Transcripts may be unofficial copies, but they must come from an accredited college or university, and they also must include the courses' names and number of credit hours. To search the database of accredited institutions visit: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/Search.aspx 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 the 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 U.S. accredited college or university. For further information visit: http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html Additional information Once the application process is complete, a review of the resume and supporting documentation will be made and compared against your responses to the assessment questionnaire to determine if you are qualified for this job. If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your rating may be lowered to more accurately reflect the submitted documentation. 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. In addition, the Surface Transportation Board (STB) has work/life-balance flexibilities that may be right for you, such as . A Flexible Work Schedule options. This position is Telework eligible based upon the STB Telework policy. Fitness Center: STB employees, at no cost, have access to the fitness center conveniently located in the building; and A monthly transit subsidy for a portion of your commuting costs to help defray the commuting costs of employees who use mass transportation, including commuter bus, Metrorail or Metrobus, or commuter rail systems. More than one position may be filled from this announcement. The lnteragency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be rated well-qualified by scoring 85 or better on the assessment. Please use this link to find out additional information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources. 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. 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.