Interdisciplinary Physical Scientist - General Engineer

Defense Threat Reduction Agency•Fort Belvoir, VA

8h•Onsite

About The Position

This position is with the Defense Threat Reduction Agency and is being filled under the Department of Defense Direct Hire Authority expansion memorandum dated August 12, 2024. The incumbent leads complex offensive research and development programs focused on Hard and Deeply Buried Targets (HDBT) defeat and Hard Target Development (HTD). The role manages coordinated program portfolios with the military Services, Defense Intelligence Agency, and other DoD and interagency partners, and assesses emerging technologies, operational requirements, and the development and maintenance of new capabilities. The position represents the Agency on national and international committees and board panels and serves as a subject matter expert on Innovations Product Teams, preparing technical briefings, program updates, and strategic recommendations for senior military and civilian leaders. It is an in-person position at facilities in Fort Belvoir, Virginia, with limited situational telework potentially available subject to supervisory approval and Agency guidelines. Temporary-assignment travel may be required, estimated at 20% CONUS/OCONUS. The position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI clearance and pass pre-employment and periodic drug testing. It is in the Acquisition Workforce, Engineering and Technical Management functional area; the employee must obtain Practitioner-tier certification within five years and meet continuous learning requirements. A valid passport and compliance with Combatant Command travel medical requirements, including vaccinations, are required. The position is full-time, has a flexible tour of duty, and has no overtime.

Requirements

U.S. citizenship.
One year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-13 in the Federal service, including experience characterizing industrial processes to identify system vulnerabilities and design HDBT defeat concepts; managing R&D projects; executing R&D test and evaluation plans; and planning multi-project portfolios and managing project finances.
Meet the Individual Occupational Requirements for the 0801 Engineering or 1301 Physical Scientist series. Engineering qualifications may be met through specified engineering education, qualifying combinations of education and experience, professional registration or licensure, passing the FE or other qualifying written examination, specified coursework, or an eligible related curriculum with professional engineering experience. Physical Scientist qualifications require a qualifying degree or equivalent education and experience, including at least 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science.
Provide transcripts where required to establish education qualifications.
Obtain and maintain a TS/SCI security clearance.
Consent to and pass pre-employment drug testing and be subject to periodic testing thereafter.
Become certified in the Acquisition Workforce Practitioner tier within five years.
Acquire at least 40 continuous learning points each fiscal year as a goal and 80 CLPs within two years as a mandatory requirement.
Be willing to meet Combatant Command travel medical requirements, including vaccinations, and hold a valid passport.
Meet federal employment suitability requirements, as determined by a background investigation.
Males born after December 31, 1959, must be registered for Selective Service or be exempt.
May be required to successfully complete a probationary period.
Education cannot substitute for specialized experience at this grade level.

Responsibilities

Lead complex offensive R&D programs advancing scientific theories, experiments, and technology trends for HDBT defeat and HTD.
Manage and coordinate joint-agency program portfolios with the military Services, DIA, and other DoD and interagency partners to align capabilities, eliminate duplication, and ensure deliverables meet military and policy requirements.
Evaluate emerging technologies and strategic opportunities for conventional and functional target-defeat capabilities, including assessing system construction, testing, and operational maintenance.
Assess warfighter requirements for C5ISRT and adversary HDBT facilities to guide offensive program development.
Represent the Agency on national and international committees and board panels developing strategies to hold adversary HDBTs and C4I infrastructure at risk.
Serve as an Agency subject matter expert on Innovations Product Teams and prepare and deliver technical briefings, program updates, and strategic recommendations to military flag officers and senior civilian executives.
Manage R&D projects and testing, evaluation, experimental trials, modeling and simulation, or prototyping to validate and transition defeat technologies.
Formulate execution plans for multi-project offensive R&D portfolios and manage project finances against agency obligation and expenditure benchmarks.