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Serves as a Computer Scientist within the Operations Support Directorate, AJW, Communications, Flight Service & Weather Engineering Group, AJW-17, Interfacility Communications Engineering Team, AJW-178, Data Communication Sub Team, AJW-1782.
Learn more about this agency01/08/2020 to 05/27/2020
$75,463 - $116,956 per year
Salary Includes a locality payment of 15.67%
FV I
2 vacancies in the following location:
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
25% or less - The job may require up to 25% travel.
No
Permanent
Full-Time
Excepted
NA
No
No
ACT-AJW-20-AJW1782-65219
556003700
Current or former competitive service federal employees.
Current excepted service federal employees.
Also open to former permanent excepted service federal employees eligible under an interchange agreement. Current or former permanent federal employees must have met a one year probationary period or trial period in the competitive or excepted service. Applications will also be accepted from preference eligibles and veterans who are honorably discharged from the Armed Forces after completing at least 3 years of continuous active duty service.
AJW-178 provides operational development, test, and support engineering for airline departure clearance messages between air traffic control and airline pilots, terminal system data distribution and national radio communications equipment used in the National Airspace System (NAS). AJW-178 is the highest level of engineering expertise in the FAA for these systems.
Performs multiple, varying, and complex assignments under the limited direction of a manager, or more experienced technical specialist. He/she provides technical assistance to field facilities that are maintaining NAS equipment and restoring NAS services. As the computer scientist, he/she performs software modification to resolve problems with NAS equipment. Develops and maintains technical documentation used in the maintenance of NAS systems and services.
Applies experience and advanced knowledge of computer science for the development of problem-oriented solutions to increase scope and effectiveness of computer applications. Uses computer software concepts (such as, software methodologies, network protocol, mathematical analysis, statistics and probability) to develop software source code to fix or enhance functionality for safety critical data communications includingtower data link services for the purpose of generating and delivering departure clearances and terminal information service information to commercial aircraft. Has knowledge of programming languages such as, C, C++, Java in the Linux environment. The employee understands how his/her technical area interacts with or affected by other disciplines and considers the objectives of varying NAS organizations when developing, integrating, and implementing solutions to diverse, complex systems problems. Providing technical support to Washington program offices for fielding system enhancements and to field facilities experiencing NAS outages, which requires knowledge and understanding of the software architecture and operation of systems.
The employee plans, and organizes assigned resources to accomplish organizational objectives within established schedules. He/she performs operational support through software development, software modification and technical assistance for restoration, as it relates to one of the following National Airspace System (NAS) data communications systems/equipment: tower departure clearance system, and tower departure clearance distribution services. Tower departure clearance system software development processes are used to ensure software integrity, conformity to safety standards, and information security for NAS operational ground-based systems. He/she is responsible for manipulating, configuring, transforming and operating complex departure clearance server applications for controller and pilot messaging, terminal information services messaging, fault isolation and remote monitoring and control.
He/she contributes to the preparation of technical reports and may communicate the overall results of a project or work activity to FAA management, the aviation and aerospace industries, and other external parties.
Assignments typically require solutions that are derived by interpreting and extrapolating from situations previously faced in the past. He/she modifies software data to obtain solutions to solve problems/issues in the NAS systems/equipment. Resolves most technical problems without the intervention of management or a more experienced technical specialist. Identifies and informs management of problems that require their attention. Often develops and recommends techniques to address problem situations.
Work is, reviewed periodically, typically at major milestones and at completion, for technical compliance and alignment with the requirements of the project or other work activity.
Work activities typically support and may be vital to the success of projects or activities of one or more NAS organizational units. The work may affect the safety and security of customers.
To view the complete qualifications standard, applicants should reference-U.S. Office of Personnel Management Group Coverage Qualification Standard for the Computer Scientist:
https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/1500/computer-science-series-1550/
Basic Requirements:
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. All academic degrees and course work must be from accredited or pre-accredited institutions.
In addition to the basic requirements, to qualify for this position at the FV-I level you must demonstrate in your application that you possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the FV-H, FG/GS-12. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position.
Specialized experience may include but not limited to: Experience in developing software source code to fix or enhance functionality for safety critical data communications for the purpose of generating and delivering departure clearances and terminal information service information to commercial and/or general aviation aircraft.
Qualifications must be met by the closing date of this vacancy announcement.
Applicants should include examples of specialized experience in their Work History
This position has a positive education requirement: Applicants must submit a copy of their college or university transcripts(s) and certificates by the closing date of announcement to verify qualifications. If selected, an official transcript will be required prior to appointment. You may upload these documents with your application in USAJOBS or fax it to fax number provided in the announcement (please include announcement number on each page).
Failure to do so will result in loss of consideration.
Schools must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Accreditation may be verified at the following website: www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html.
Foreign education must be evaluated by a private professional organization specializing in interpretation of foreign education credentials or an accredited U.S. educational institution in terms of equivalence to a degree acquired at an American college or university. A copy of the evaluation results must be included, otherwise your foreign education will not be considered.
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. All academic degrees and course work must be from accredited or pre-accredited institutions.
Make sure your resume includes detailed information to support your qualifications and answers to the job questionnaire.
We may use this vacancy to fill other similar vacant positions.
Position may be subject to a background investigation.
A one-year probationary period may be required.
The person selected for this position may be required to file a financial disclosure statement within 30 days of entry on duty. FAA policy limits certain outside employment and financial investments in aviation-related companies.
As a part of the Federal-Wide Hiring Reform Initiative (streamlining the hiring process), the FAA is committed to eliminating the use of the Knowledge, Skills and Ability (KSA) narratives from the initial application in the hiring process for all announcements. Therefore, as an applicant for this announcement, you are NOT required to provide a narrative response in the text box listed below each KSA.
In lieu of providing a KSA narrative response in the text box listed below each Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA), in your work history, please include information that provides specific examples of how you meet the response level or answer you chose for each KSA. Your work history examples should be specific and clearly reflect the highest level of ability. Your KSA answers will be evaluated further to validate whether the level that you selected is appropriate based on the work history and experience you provided. Your answers may be adjusted by a Human Resource Specialist as appropriate.
Eligible applicants meeting the minimum qualification requirements and selective factor(s), if applicable, may be further evaluated on the Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA) listed in the announcement. Based on this evaluation, applicants will be placed in one of the following categories: score order, category grouping, or alphabetical order and referred to the selecting official for consideration.
All, some or none of the applicants may be interviewed.
Current and former Federal employees must submit their most recent SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action.
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
IMPORTANT: Applicants may be rated on the extent and quality of experience, education, and training relevant to the duties of the position(s). All answers provided in the on-line process must be substantiated. Ensure that your application package/resume supports your responses.
SF-50, NOTIFICATION OF PERSONNEL ACTION. (See Below)
Only supplemental documentation, e.g. transcripts or veteran's documentation will be accepted in combination with your on-line application. These documents must be uploaded or faxed to 609-485-8995 on or before the closing date of this announcement. All submitted documents should reference the announcement number.
Applicants claiming eligibility for the Expanded Veterans Hiring Opportunity (EVHO), MUST submit a DD Form 214 reflecting character of service to verify eligibility by the closing date of the announcement as requested by the Human Resource Office. Eligibility for EVHO will be considered based on applicable documentation submitted by the closing date.
This position has a positive education requirement; college transcripts are required for ALL candidates newly appointed to the FAA in the 1550 series.
College transcripts must be submitted from current FAA employees applying for internal vacancies if they have never held a position in the, 1550 series with the FAA.
College transcripts are not required from current FAA employees who are currently occupying a 1550 series.
If selected, official transcripts are required prior to employment.
If you are a current or former Federal employee (including a current FAA employee), you MUST provide a copy of your SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action) containing information in Blocks 15, 17, 18, 19, 22, and 24 so it can be used to verify your position title, series, grade, tenure, and organization of record by the closing date of the announcement. You may fax your SF-50 or upload it into the on-line application. If faxing the SF-50, please ensure you include the vacancy announcement number on the faxed copy.
If you are a current Federal employee and need a current copy of your SF-50, please contact your personnel office. If you are an FAA employee, you can access and print your SF-50 from the eOPF system https://eopf.opm.gov/dot/. If you are a former Federal employee, you can obtain a copy of your SF-50 by writing the National Personnel Records Center Annex, 1411 Boulder Boulevard, Valmeyer, IL 62295. Additional information is available from this link: http://www.archives.gov/st-louis/civilian-personnel/.
Expanded Veterans Hiring Opportunity (EVHO) are those veterans who are honorably discharged from the Armed Forces after completing at least three (3) years of continuous active service. Applicants claiming eligibility for EVHO, MUST submit a DD Form 214 reflecting character of service to verify eligibility by the closing date of the announcement as requested by the Human Resource Office. Eligibility for EVHO will be considered based on applicable documentation submitted by the closing date.
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.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
You must apply online to receive consideration. Your application must have a status of "Received" by 11:59 PM Eastern Time on the Close Date for it to be accepted. If you are applying for positions associated with FAA registers, your application must have a status of "Received" each time a referral list is created in order to receive consideration for positions associated with register.
IN DESCRIBING YOUR WORK EXPERIENCE AND/OR EDUCATION, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE OR EDUCATION.
We strongly encourage applicants to utilize the USAJOBS resume builder in the creation of resumes.
Please ensure EACH work history includes ALL of the following information:
Candidates for FAA positions are evaluated using our Automated Vacancy Information Access Tool for Online Referral (AVIATOR) system.
AVIATOR compares your skills and experience as described in your application with the requirements of the position.
If you are found to be an eligible, highly-qualified candidate, you will be referred to the selecting official for further consideration.
(In some cases, individuals with priority for special consideration must be considered and selected before other candidates.)
Whether or not you are contacted for an interview depends upon the location of the position and the judgment of the selecting official.
Important - If you make any change to your application, you must resubmit it.
If you change your application and do not resubmit it, your changes will not be considered part of your application package, and your previous application will be considered.
All qualified applicants will be considered regardless of political affiliation, race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, age, disability, or other non-merit factors. DOT provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the agency contact listed in the Agency Contact Information section of this announcement or the hiring manager. An employee with a disability must notify the decision-maker of the accommodation request. Job applicants and employees are required to follow up oral requests in writing. Decisions on granting reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. Additional information on reasonable accommodations procedures or on EEO Programs is available on Office of Civil Rights (ACR) or by contacting the local FAA Civil Rights Office.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
This job originated on www.usajobs.gov. For the full announcement and to apply, visit www.usajobs.gov/job/556003700. Only resumes submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.
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