Physical Scientist, AST, Physical Science Technical Management (Direct Hire)

You will serve as a Physical Scientist within the Science and Technology Office designing and conducting scientific investigations, analyzing complex physical data, and contributing research supporting mission objectives. You will develop proposals, document findings, and collaborate across disciplines to advance scientific understanding and provide technical insight for NASA programs., * Duties described below are at the highest grade advertised. Duties assigned at lower grade levels will be of more limited scope, performed with less independence and limited complexity; duties will be commensurate with the grade of selected employee.

• Conduct scientific research on matter, energy, physical measurement, and environmental phenomena, applying analytical and experimental methods.

• Design, plan, and execute scientific investigations, modeling, analyses, and evaluations to support mission and program objectives.

• Develop technical proposals, study plans, and project concepts to advance scientific understanding and inform NASA decision making.

• Prepare scientific findings, technical documentation, and briefing materials for internal and external stakeholders.

• Perform data analysis, interpret complex physical science results, and synthesize insights that support mission planning and technical strategy.

• Support development or refinement of theories, analytical methods, and emerging techniques relevant to physical science applications.

• Participate in multi-disciplinary studies and collaborative research activities that contribute to scientific and technical advancements.

• Provide scientific input to project teams, ensuring technical accuracy and alignment with physical science requirements., To qualify for GS-13, you must have one year of directly related specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 level:

• Conducting scientific investigations that involved planning, designing, or evaluating physical science studies to address novel or atypical research questions, such as adapting analytical or experimental approaches to generate meaningful results;

• Developing technical proposals, study plans, or scientific documentation used to inform program or project decision making, such as preparing analyses, reports, or recommendations that contribute to mission, research, or technical objectives; and

• Leading or serving as a principal contributor on multidisciplinary scientific or technical efforts by synthesizing data, resolving conflicting information, or producing findings that shaped project direction or supported the refinement of theories, criteria, or methods., Additional selections may be made for similar positions across NASA within the local commuting area(s) of the location(s) identified in this announcement. By applying, you agree to have your application shared with interested selecting official(s) within NASA. CTAP/ICTAP will be cleared for any additional selection from this announcement. If you have special priority selection rights under the Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP), you must:

• Indicate your eligibility when applying for a position. The questionnaire asks you to identify your ICTAP/CTAP eligibility.

• Meet the minimum qualifications requirements for the position

• Submit proof that you meet the requirements for CTAP/ICTAP as indicated in 'Required Documents'

For additional information about CTAP/ICTAP eligibility, click here - https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/#ictap

Any applicant that received a Voluntary Separation Incentive Payment (VSIP) from the federal governmentwithin the last five years based of the closing date of this announcement, if selected, may be required to repay the full amount prior to establishing a start date. For additional information on the VSIP repayment requirement, click here - https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/voluntary-separation-incentive-payments/.

Per Executive Order 14343, this position is not part of a bargaining unit.

Probationary Period

You may be required to serve a one-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. If selected, the requirement to serve such period will be determined by Title 5 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 11.

In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;

• the needs and interests of the agency;

• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and

• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

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., A complete application package includes a resume, required documents and completion of the vacancy announcement questionnaire. Please see this guidance: What to include in your resume. Your resume should describe your specialized experience and support your answers to the vacancy announcement questionnaire. If you are using a Curriculum Vitae (CV) as a resume, it must meet all requirements listed above for a complete resume package.

Please note: if any of the following types of information are included on your resume, your application package will be disqualified:

• Classified or government sensitive information.
• Social Security Number (SSN)
• Photos of yourself
• Personal information, such as age, gender, religious affiliation, etc.
• Encrypted and digitally signed documents.

If your resume contains any of the above information, you must redact that information prior to the submission of your application.

The following documents are required:

• Resume
• Transcript

As listed in the Education section above, this position has a basic education requirement.

To be found qualified, you must provide a copy of your college transcript that fully demonstrates you meet the requirements listed in the Education section. You may provide either an unofficial transcript or a copy of an official transcript. Failure to provide a complete copy of your college transcript that shows you have completed a required degree program or coursework may result in you being found not qualified.

You may need to submit other supporting documents (licenses, certification, veterans' preference information, etc.), based on your answers to the application questionnaire. When you apply, please verify you submit the appropriate documents. Do not submit an OF-306 with your application.

If you are a surplus or displaced employee (CTAP and ICTAP), submit proof that you meet the requirements for CTAP/ICTAP. This includes copies of your agency notice, most recent Performance Rating and most recent Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50) noting current position, grade level, and duty location.

Official documents are required at the time of appointment for verification of eligibility and qualifications.

Do you have experience in Technical writing within technology?, In addition to the Basic Education Requirement (in the Education section below), to qualify for this position you must meet the requirements below. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the particular ability, skill, and knowledge to successfully perform the duties of this position and is typically in or related to this line of work.

NASA utilizes OPM-approved qualification and rating requirements specific for Aerospace Technology (AST) positions which recognizes NASA's unique aerospace work. The specific qualifications and minimum education requirements are further described below and within the education section of the job announcement.

To qualify for GS-12, you must have one year of directly related specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level:

• Executing scientific investigations that require adapting established analytical or experimental approaches to address unique research questions;
• Developing technical sections of proposals, study plans, or mission support analyses used by project leadership in decision making; and
• Preparing technical reports, scientific summaries, or presentations synthesizing research results for diverse audiences., Basic Education Requirement: You must have successfully completed a bachelor's degree with a major in one of the following: a) Engineering from a college or university that has ABET accredited engineering programs b) Physical Science, Mathematics, Life Science or other field of Science c) Computer Science that included 30 semester hours or 45 quarter hours of course work in any combination of mathematics, statistics and computer science with at least half of those hours in mathematics and statistics courses that included differential and integral calculus; and that provided an in-depth knowledge of theoretical and practical applications of computer science, including digital computer system architecture and system software organization, the representation and transformation of information structures, and the theoretical models for such representations and transformations.

If you did not complete a qualifying bachelor's degree, you may be eligible if you have obtained a graduate degree in an AST qualifying field, as listed above.

Degrees in engineering technology are not considered qualifying for this position., Engineering degrees earned within the United States: Engineering degrees earned within the United States must be from a college or university that has at least one ABET accredited engineering program. To find out if a school has at least one ABET accredited program, please visit http://www.abet.org., Science and other related degrees earned outside the United States: 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. These education credentials must be 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/.

All degrees must have been received in the year of, or any year subsequent to the original date of accreditation., * Communication and Knowledge Management Fundamental

• Fundamental Physics
• Mission Analysis and Planning
• Technical Management
• Project Management
• Research
• Systems Engineering
• Technical Problem Solving, Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

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 windowLearn 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., Salary range reflects the lowest and highest potential salaries of the locations. Actual salary range varies by selectee(s) location. Pay scale & grade GS 12 - 13 Promotion potential 13 Learn more about pay scale and grade Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job. Work schedule Full-time Travel Required Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position. Appointment type Permanent Occupations and job series

• 1301 General Physical Science

Supervisory status No Federal service type This job is in the Competitive Service Represented by a union No Drug test No Security clearance Not Required Position sensitivity and risk Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk Jobs require a background check and some require a security clearance. The type depends on the job. Background check type

• Suitability/Fitness

Financial disclosure required No Some jobs require financial disclosure to identify conflicts of interests. Announcement number MSFC-26-DE-12993246-JN Control number 874348900

Engineering degrees earned outside the United States: Engineering degrees earned outside the United States must be recognized by a Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA), often known as accords. These are non-governmental agreements among organizations that accredit academic degree programs. MRAs recognize the substantial equivalence of mature accreditation systems and programs accredited by signatory organizations within their jurisdictions. For a listing of Signatories, please visit, https://www.abet.org/global-presence/mutual-recognition-agreements/is-your-program-recognized/. Science and other related degrees earned within the United States: Science and other related degrees must have been awarded from colleges or universities that are accredited by recognized accrediting organizations. For a list of schools that meet this criteria, go to http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/.