Summary

This position is part of the Office of Science - Headquarters, Department of Energy. As a Physical Scientist/Computer Scientist, you will identify critical issues and actions necessary to advance research in QIS, especially quantum computing, with an emphasis on the interactions between scientists, next-generation computational facilities, and emerging hardware architectures. You will also identify and implement innovative methods for transitioning advanced research.

Duties

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The ongoing revolutions in artificial intelligence (AI), quantum computing, and high-performance computing are ushering in a new age of scientific research. The Advanced Scientific Computing Research (ASCR) program is accelerating the dawn of this age by advancing applied mathematics and computer science, including AI and quantum information science (QIS); delivering the most sophisticated computational scientific applications in partnership with disciplinary science; creating first-of-a-kind advanced computing and networking capabilities for the Nation; and developing future generations of computing hardware and software tools for science and engineering in partnership with the research community, including U.S. industry.

As a Physical Scientist/Computer Scientist, you will:

• Formulate, oversee, and evaluate major research portfolios that apply advanced computer science, computational modeling, and simulation to solve complex physical science problems.
• Coordinate and direct strategic, multi-institutional scientific partnerships (such as collaborations between national laboratories, universities, and industry) to advance high-performance computing applications in the physical sciences.
• Represent the agency in developing long-term strategic plans and guidelines for scientific computing programs, balancing open-science data-sharing objectives with federal operational policies.
• Lead scientific merit reviews, technical evaluations, and compliance audits of high-value research proposals, university grants, and national laboratory computational programs.
• Serve as a senior technical authority to advise agency leadership, federal partners, and external stakeholders on the integration of physical science modeling, advanced software systems, and high-performance computing hardware.
• Direct budget formulation, operational agreements, and risk assessments to ensure the resilient, secure, and cost-effective delivery of computational resources, pipelines, and scientific computing services.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• This employer participates in the e-Verify program.
• 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 www.sss.gov.
• If selected, your appointment may be subject to a suitability or fitness determination, as determined by a completed background investigation.
• If selected, you may be required to complete a one year probationary period.
• You may be required to submit a Financial Disclosure Statement, OGE-450, Executive Branch Personnel Confidential Financial Disclosure Report upon entering the position and annually (5CFR Part 2634, Subpart I USOGE, 6/08).
• Occasional travel required.
• This position is not included in a Bargaining Agreement.

Qualifications

BASIC REQUIREMENT: You must meet both the Basic Requirement and the Specialized Experience to qualify for this series as described below. See the Education section for the Basic Requirement.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS: A qualified candidate's online application and resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level GS-14 in the Federal service. Specialized experience for this position is defined as meeting 2 of 4 of the following:

1. Managing scientific research programs that utilize computational modeling to solve physical science problems.
2. Establishing collaborative research agreements between multiple independent organizations (such as corporate R&D divisions, universities, or research laboratories).
3. Conducting technical merit reviews of scientific research proposals to determine funding selections.
4. Assessing cybersecurity risks for scientific computing platforms and research databases.

"Experience" refers to paid and unpaid experience. Examples of qualifying unpaid experience may include: volunteer work done through National Service programs (such as Peace Corps and AmeriCorps); as well as work for other community-based philanthropic and social 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.

CTAP/ICTAP candidates: To be considered "well qualified" you must meet all of the requirements as described in this section.

You must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Education

This vacancy has a positive education requirement. In order to be rated as qualified, you must provide copies of your college transcripts. Failure to provide copies of your college transcripts may result in a rating of "Ineligible". Education must be obtained from an accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Foreign education must be reviewed by an organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For special instructions pertaining to foreign education and a list of organizations that can evaluate foreign education, see the Department of Education website.

BASIC REQUIREMENT FOR 1301 SERIES:

A. 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

B. 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.

BASIC REQUIREMENT FOR 1550 SERIES:

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.

Additional information

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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.

Benefits

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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.

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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.