Physical Scientist

Physical Scientist

Department of Commerce

Nional Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrion

Nional Weher Service (NWS)

Summary

This position is part of the Nional Weher Service (NWS), Nional Centers for Environmental Protection (NCEP), Environmental Modeling Center. NCEP delivers science-based environmental predictions. It produces reliable, timely, and accure analyses, guidance, forecasts and warnings for the protection of lives and property and the enhancement of the nional economy. NCEP is comprised of nine distinct centers and is the starting point for nearly all weher forecasts in the United Stes.

Summary

This position is part of the Nional Weher Service (NWS), Nional Centers for Environmental Protection (NCEP), Environmental Modeling Center. NCEP delivers science-based environmental predictions. It produces reliable, timely, and accure analyses, guidance, forecasts and warnings for the protection of lives and property and the enhancement of the nional economy. NCEP is comprised of nine distinct centers and is the starting point for nearly all weher forecasts in the United Stes.

Overview

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Accepting applicions

Open & closing des

08/08/2025 to 08/22/2025

Salary

$142,488 to - $185,234 per year

Pay scale & grade

GS 14

Locion

2 vacancies in the following locion:

College Park, MD

Remote job

No

Telework eligible

Yesas determined by the agency policy.

Travel Required

Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.

Relocion expenses reimbursed

No

Appointment type

Permanent

Work schedule

Full-time

Service

Competitive

Promotion potential

None

Job family (Series)

1301 General Physical Science

Supervisory stus

No

Security clearance

Not Required

Drug test

No

Position sensitivity and risk

Modere Risk (MR)

Trust determinion process

Suitability/Fitness

Financial disclosure

No

Bargaining unit stus

Yes

Announcement number

NWS-25-12774111-DHA

Control number

842911100

This job is open to

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The public

U.S. Citizens, Nionals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL)

Federal employees whose job, agency or department was elimined and are eligible for priority over other applicants.

Clarificion from the agency

Open to the Public and Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL).

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Duties

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As a Physical Scientist, you will perform the following duties:

Develop and maintain da assimilion, or physics parameterizion, or dynamics and associed computer-based technologies to improveNional Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) Environmental Modeling Center (EMC) environmental forecasts and services.

Coordine and review multi-faceted work being undertaken in diverse locions, setting standards for the work, reviewing work for consistency withagency policy and goals, and furnishing technical advice. Present scientific research reled to da assimilion modeling physics or dynamics activitiesand represent the organizion on technical committees.

Oversee the consistency and transition of techniques and research to operions (R2O), for da assimilion, or modeling physical parameterizions, ordynamics for numerical forecast guidance products. Develop short- and long-range plans, including new approaches to problems and required resources,given existing capabilities.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

Key Requirements:

Applicants must be U.S. Citizens.

Suitable for Federal employment, as determined by background investigion.

Must be registered for Selective Service, if applicable (www.sss.gov).

More requirements are listed under Qualificions and Additional Informion.

Qualificion requirements must be met by closing de of the announcement..

Additional Considerions:

One year probionary period may be required.

Payment of relocion expenses (PCS) is not authorized.

This position is in the bargaining unit. This position is covered by NWSEO.

This position requires a Modere Risk investigion.

Background investigion required. Continued employment is subject to applicant's successful completion of security investigion and favorable adjudicion. Failure to successfully meet these requirements grounds for terminion.

Throughout the recruitment and hiring process we communicing with you via email; therefore, it is imperive th the email address you provide when applying for this vacancy remains active. Should your email address change, please notify the point of contact identified in the vacancy announcement as soon as possible so th we can upde our system.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, individuals are required to serve a 1-year probionary period during which we will evalue your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

Your performance and conduct;

Needs and interests of the agency;

Whether your continued employment would advance organizional goals of the agency or the Government; and

Whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of then Federal service.

Upon completion of your probionary period your employment termined unless you receive certificion, in writing, th your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualificions

Qualificion requirements in the vacancy announcements are based on the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualificion Standards Handbook, which contains federal qualificion standards. This handbook is available on the Office of Personnel Management's website loced : .

To qualify for the 1301 series:

BASIC REQUIREMENTS: This position has a positive Educion Requirement in addition to least one year of Specialized Experience OR substitution of educion for experience OR combinion (if applicable) in order to be found minimally qualified. Transcripts must be submitted with your applicion package. You MUST meet the following requirements:

A. Degree: physical science, engineering, or mhemics th included 24 semester hours in physical science and/or reled engineering science such as mechanics, dynamics, properties of merials, and electronics.

OR

B. Combinion of educion and experience -- educion equivalent to one of the majors shown in A above th included least 24 semester hours in physical science and/or reled engineering science, plus approprie experience or additional educion.

-AND-

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to the next lower grade level in the Federal Service. Specialized experience is experience th has equipped the applicant with the particular competencies/knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. This experience need not have been in the federal government.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through Nional Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizions e.g., professional; philanthropic, religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies; knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience th transles directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

To qualify the GS-14 level:

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: In addition to meeting the Basic Requirements above, applicants must also possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 in the Federal service. Specialized experience MUST include all of the following:

Improving techniques for use of observions, physical parameterizions, or dynamics in numerical environmental or numerical weher modeling applicions;

Genering written reports and briefings on numerical environmental or numerical weher modeling; and

Coordining the research to operional transition of numerical environmental or numerical weher modeling technologies.

Educion

This position has a positive Educion Requirement. You are required to provide all unofficial transcripts (undergradue, gradue, etc.) by the closing de of this announcement or you disqualified from further considerion. If course content cannot be easily identified from the title of the course as listed on your transcript, you must submit an official course description from the college/university th reflects the content the time the course was taken. Please see degree and experience requirements in the Qualificions section.

Notes: An official college transcript required before you can report to duty

Educion completed in colleges or universities outside the United Stes may be used to meet the above requirements. You must provide acceptable documention th the foreign educion is comparable to th received in an accredited educional institution in the United Stes. For more informion on how foreign educion is evalued, : OPM Foreign Educion Evaluion .

Additional informion

Candides should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passione about the ideals of the American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United Stes Constitution.

ICTAP and CTAP Candides: Eligible for selection priority if it is determined th the applicant is well qualified. Informion about ICTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website : Employee Guide to Career Transition .

ICTAP applicants MUST submit the following documents:

Copy of your RIF separion notice; notice of proposed removal for failure to reloce; notice of disability annuity terminion; certificion from your former agency th it cannot place you after your recovery from a compensable injury; or certificion from the Nional Guard Bureau or Military Department th you are eligible for disability retirement;

Copy of your SF-50 "Notificion of Personnel Action" documenting your RIF separion, noting your positions, grade level, and duty locion, and/or Agency certificion of inability to place you through RPL, etc;

Copy of your lest performance appraisal including your ring; and

Any documention from your agency th shows your current promotion potential.

CTAP applicants MUST submit the following documents:

Copy of your specific RIF notice; notice of proposed removal for failure to reloce; a Certifice of Expected Separion (CES); or certificion th you are in a surplus organizion or occupion (this could be a position abolishment letter, a notice eligibility for discontinued service retirement, or similar notice).

Copy of your SF-50 "Notificion of Personnel Action", noting current position, grade level, and duty locion;

Copy of your lest performance appraisal including your ring; and

Any documention from your agency th shows your current promotion potential.

NOAA participes in e-Verify, an Internet-based system opered by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in partnership with the Social Security Administrion (SSA) th enables participing employers to electronically verify the employment eligibility of their newly hired employees.

The Federal Government is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Candides will not be hired based on their race, sex, color, religion, or nional origin.

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Candides should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passione about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United Stes 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 th are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new window Learn 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 informion on the specific benefits offered.

How you evalued

You evalued for this job based on how well you meet the qualificions above.

We will review your resume and supporting documention to determine if you meet the minimum qualificions for the position.

Veteran's Preference does not apply to direct hire recruitment procedures.

Any selections made under this notice processed as new appointments to the civil service. Therefore, Current Federal employees would be given new appointments to the civil service and may have to serve a new probionary period under CFR 315.802 (b).

NOTE: A one year probionary period required under the Direct Hire Authority unless you are a current Department of Commerce (including NOAA) employee and are in the same line of work and with no more than a 30 day break in service.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, individuals are required to serve a 1-year probionary period during which we will evalue your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

Your performance and conduct;

Needs and interests of the agency;

Whether your continued employment would advance organizional goals of the agency or the Government; and

Whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of then Federal service.

Upon completion of your probionary period your employment termined unless you receive certificion, in writing, th your continued employment advances the public interest.

To preview the announcement questionnaire, click here:

Benefits

Help

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 th are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new window Learn 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 informion on the specific benefits offered.

Required documents

Required Documents

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REQUIRED DOCUMENTS (may be: (1) uploaded directly from your desktop; or (2) uploaded directly from your USAJOBS stored tachments):

1. Resume:

Your resume must be no more than 2 pages . If more than 2 pages are submitted, only the first 2 pages reviewed to determine your eligibility/qualificions.

You are encouraged to make your resume and profile searchable

You are highly encouraged to use USAJOBS Resume Builder to ensure all required informion is included in your Resume.

If you use your own resume or curriculum vitae, for each work experience a minimum, your resume should include; job title(s) (including job series and grade, if Federal); description of duties or work performed; starting and ending des (month and year).

Part-Time work must be clearly identified and include the number of hours per week; if not identified, then work assumed to be Full-Time. ( NOTE: A full-time work schedule requires most employees to work 33-40 hours during the work week. A part-time schedule requires an employee to work less than full-time, typically 16-32 hours per week.)

2. Unofficial Transcripts: This position has a positive educion requirement and therefore, requires proof of higher educion. You must submit an unofficial transcript th includes the following informion: name of accredited institution; courses by title; number and department (BIO 101 Intro to Bio, MATH 210 Calculus I, etc.); grades earned; completion des; quarter or semester hours earned; and degree award de (if applicable).

Special Instructions for Foreign Educion: Educion completed in foreign colleges or universities must be evalued in terms of equivalency to th acquired in U.S. colleges and universities. Applicants educed in whole or in part in foreign countries must submit sufficient evidence, including transcripts, to an accredited prive organizion for an equivalency evaluion of course work and degree. You MUST provide a copy of the letter containing the results of the equivalency evaluion with a course by course listing along with your applicion. Failure to provide such documention by the closing de of the announcement will result in lost considerion.

3. Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) and Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) documention if applicable (see "Additional Informion" section).

If you are relying on your educion to meet qualificion requirements:

Educion must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Educion in order for it to be credited towards qualificions. Therefore, provide only the tendance and/or degrees from

schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Educion .

Failure to provide all of the required informion as sted in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible ring or may affect the overall ring.

How to Apply

Help

Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an applicion. To apply and be considered for this position, you must complete all required questionnaires, assessments and submit all required documention as specified in the How to Apply and Required Documents section. The complete applicion package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on the closing de of the announcement to receive considerion. The applicion process is as follows:

Click the blue "Apply Online" button.

If you are not a registered USAJOBS user, please cree a new account and follow the instructions to complete your applicion process. If you are a registered user, login to access your existing USAJOBS profile.

As a registered user, select a stored resume and select one or more of your stored documents to tach to your applicion.

Check the "Certificion" box and click the "Apply for this position now!" button loced the bottom of the screen.

Address the eligibility questions as well as the applicion questionnaire.

If you experience technical difficulties during the online applicion process, please contact the USAJOBS helpdesk

Agency contact informion

Applicant Inquiries

...

Address

NOAA Office of Human Capital Services (OHCS)

1315 East West Hwy

SSMC4

Silver Spring, MD 20910

US

Next steps

This Job Opportunity Announcement may be used to fill other equivalent positions throughout the Federal government. The position must be alike (e.g.: within the same geographic locions, equivalent grade/band and requires the same qualificions and specialized experience as indiced in this vacancy announcement).

Salary ranges will vary based on the locion. Please : OPM Salary Charts for specific salary informion reled to a specific locion.

You notified of your applicion stus through USAJOBS four points during the hiring process, as applicable. You can check the stus of your applicion by accessing the USAJOBS website and clicking on "Track Your Online Applicion." The four points of notificion are:

Applicion Received

Applicion assessed for qualificion;

Referred or Not Referred; and

Selected or Not Selected.

By submitting your applicion, you are certifying the accuracy of the informion contained in your applicion. If you make a false stement in any part of your applicion, you may not be hired; you may be termined after you begin work; or, you may be fined or jailed. After making a tentive job offer, we will conduct a suitability/security background investigion.

You required to submit official documention prior to appointment. The agency will then verify the informion provided on your applicion (i.e., degree, Veterans' Preference, proof of disability, etc.).

Fair and transparent

The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.

Criminal history inquiries

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy

Financial suitability

New employee probionary period

Privacy Act

Reasonable accommodion policy

Selective Service

Signure and false stements

Social security number request

Required Documents

Help

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS (may be: (1) uploaded directly from your desktop; or (2) uploaded directly from your USAJOBS stored tachments):

1. Resume:

Your resume must be no more than 2 pages . If more than 2 pages are submitted, only the first 2 pages reviewed to determine your eligibility/qualificions.

You are encouraged to make your resume and profile searchable

You are highly encouraged to use USAJOBS Resume Builder to ensure all required informion is included in your Resume.

If you use your own resume or curriculum vitae, for each work experience a minimum, your resume should include; job title(s) (including job series and grade, if Federal); description of duties or work performed; starting and ending des (month and year).

Part-Time work must be clearly identified and include the number of hours per week; if not identified, then work assumed to be Full-Time. ( NOTE: A full-time work schedule requires most employees to work 33-40 hours during the work week. A part-time schedule requires an employee to work less than full-time, typically 16-32 hours per week.)

2. Unofficial Transcripts: This position has a positive educion requirement and therefore, requires proof of higher educion. You must submit an unofficial transcript th includes the following informion: name of accredited institution; courses by title; number and department (BIO 101 Intro to Bio, MATH 210 Calculus I, etc.); grades earned; completion des; quarter or semester hours earned; and degree award de (if applicable).

Special Instructions for Foreign Educion: Educion completed in foreign colleges or universities must be evalued in terms of equivalency to th acquired in U.S. colleges and universities. Applicants educed in whole or in part in foreign countries must submit sufficient evidence, including transcripts, to an accredited prive organizion for an equivalency evaluion of course work and degree. You MUST provide a copy of the letter containing the results of the equivalency evaluion with a course by course listing along with your applicion. Failure to provide such documention by the closing de of the announcement will result in lost considerion.

3. Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) and Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) documention if applicable (see "Additional Informion" section).

If you are relying on your educion to meet qualificion requirements:

Educion must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Educion in order for it to be credited towards qualificions. Therefore, provide only the tendance and/or degrees from

schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Educion .

Failure to provide all of the required informion as sted in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible ring or may affect the overall ring.

How to Apply

Help

Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an applicion. To apply and be considered for this position, you must complete all required questionnaires, assessments and submit all required documention as specified in the How to Apply and Required Documents section. The complete applicion package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on the closing de of the announcement to receive considerion. The applicion process is as follows:

Click the blue "Apply Online" button.

If you are not a registered USAJOBS user, please cree a new account and follow the instructions to complete your applicion process. If you are a registered user, login to access your existing USAJOBS profile.

As a registered user, select a stored resume and select one or more of your stored documents to tach to your applicion.

Check the "Certificion" box and click the "Apply for this position now!" button loced the bottom of the screen.

Address the eligibility questions as well as the applicion questionnaire.

If you experience technical difficulties during the online applicion process, please contact the USAJOBS helpdesk

Expand Hide how to apply

Agency contact informion

Applicant Inquiries

...

Address

NOAA Office of Human Capital Services (OHCS)

1315 East West Hwy

SSMC4

Silver Spring, MD 20910

US

Next steps

This Job Opportunity Announcement may be used to fill other equivalent positions throughout the Federal government. The position must be alike (e.g.: within the same geographic locions, equivalent grade/band and requires the same qualificions and specialized experience as indiced in this vacancy announcement).

Salary ranges will vary based on the locion. Please : OPM Salary Charts for specific salary informion reled to a specific locion.

You notified of your applicion stus through USAJOBS four points during the hiring process, as applicable. You can check the stus of your applicion by accessing the USAJOBS website and clicking on "Track Your Online Applicion." The four points of notificion are:

Applicion Received

Applicion assessed for qualificion;

Referred or Not Referred; and

Selected or Not Selected.

By submitting your applicion, you are certifying the accuracy of the informion contained in your applicion. If you make a false stement in any part of your applicion, you may not be hired; you may be termined after you begin work; or, you may be fined or jailed. After making a tentive job offer, we will conduct a suitability/security background investigion.

You required to submit official documention prior to appointment. The agency will then verify the informion provided on your applicion (i.e., degree, Veterans' Preference, proof of disability, etc.).

Expand Hide next steps

Fair and transparent

The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.

Criminal history inquiries

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy

Financial suitability

New employee probionary period

Privacy Act

Reasonable accommodion policy

Selective Service

Signure and false stements

Social security number request

Overview Help Accepting applicions Open & closing des 08/08/2025 to 08/22/2025 Salary $142,488 to - $185,234 per year Pay scale & grade GS 14 Locion 2 vacancies in the following locion: College Park, MD Remote job No Telework eligible Yesas determined by the agency policy. Travel Required Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position. Relocion expenses reimbursed No Appointment type Permanent Work schedule Full-time Service Competitive Promotion potential None Job family (Series) Supervisory stus No Security clearance Drug test No Position sensitivity and risk Trust determinion process Financial disclosure Bargaining unit stus Announcement number NWS-25-12774111-DHA Control number 842911100