Nuclear Systems Engineer/Scientist (HOO/HERO)

Summary

These positions are located in the Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response, Division of Preparedness and Response, Operations Branch. The supervisor for these positions is Jeff Whited. These positions may be subject to security ownership restrictions and financial disclosure reporting requirements at the GG-14 level.

Shift work is required.

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Overview

• Accepting applications
• Open & closing dates

07/15/2025 to 08/05/2025

This job will close when we have received 50 applications which may be sooner than the closing date. Learn more

• Salary

$120,579 - $185,234 per year

• Pay scale & grade

GG 13 - 14

• Help

Location

• Rockville, MD FEW vacancies

• Remote job

No

• Telework eligible

No

• Travel Required

Occasional travel - These positions may require occasional travel, approximately 10% or less of duty time.

• Relocation expenses reimbursed

Yes-Travel expenses associated with interview and/or relocation expenses associated with job offer may be paid to the extent allowed by Federal Travel Regulations.

• Appointment type

Permanent

• Work schedule

Full-time - Full Time

• Service

Excepted

• Promotion potential

14

• Job family (Series)

• 0801 General Engineering

• 1301 General Physical Science

• Supervisory status

No

• Security clearance

Q Access Authorization

• Drug test

Yes

• Position sensitivity and risk

Critical-Sensitive (CS)/High Risk

• Trust determination process

• Credentialing

• Financial disclosure

No

• Bargaining unit status

Yes

• Announcement number

NSIR/DPR-2025-0002

• Control number

840748200

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This job is open to

• The public

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

• Federal employees - Competitive service

Current federal employees whose agencies follow the U.S. Office of Personnel Management's hiring rules and pay scales.

• Federal employees - Excepted service

Current federal employees whose agencies have their own hiring rules, pay scales and evaluation criteria.

• Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL)

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

• Land and base management

Current or former employees of a base management agency.

• Veterans

Veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces or a spouse, widow, widower or parent of a veteran, who may be eligible for derived preference

• Military spouses

Military spouses relocating under PCS orders or whose spouse is 100% disabled or died while on active duty.

• Native Americans

Native Americans or Alaskan Natives with a tribal affiliation.

• Peace Corps & AmeriCorps Vista

Individuals who have served at least 2 years with the Peace Corps or 1 year with AmeriCorps VISTA.

• Special authorities

Individuals eligible under a special authority not listed in another hiring path.

Clarification from the agency

All NRC Employees are encouraged to apply. NOTE: Vacancy will automatically close once 50 applications are received.

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Duties

Shift work is required.

The successful candidates will serve as a Nuclear Systems Engineer or Nuclear Systems Scientist in the Division of Preparedness and Response, Operations Branch. They will provide expert advice and technical evaluation to Incident Response Operations and regional office staffs involving issues associated with the activities of NRC licensees and their facilities.

Is assigned, as determined by management and Operations Branch staffing levels, as the cognizant NRC technical representative in the continuously staffed NRC Operations Center. In this capacity, directly receives, assesses, and responds to notifications of emergencies or reportable events occurring at NRC licensed facilities, radiological transportation accidents and other radiological events.

The response includes notifications to appropriate NRC personnel and other government offices in accordance with established procedures; and timely safety assessment of the event after immediate response actions are completed.

Other tasks include receiving and processing allegations and as assigned by management.

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Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• This is a Drug Testing position.
• Background investigation for a "Q" clearance is required for new hires
• SHIFT WORK IS REQUIRED WHEN FULFILLING OPERATIONS CENTER DUTIES.
• U.S. Citizenship Required

''IMPORTANT NOTE" Selected candidates will be required to successfully complete training duties under instruction, formal classroom training, required NRC training and obtain certification as a Headquarters Operations Officer (HOO) and as a Headquarters Emergency Response Officer (HERO).

All HOOs and HEROs must:

The successful candidates will serve as a Nuclear Systems Engineer or Nuclear Systems Scientist in the Division of Preparedness and Response, Operations Branch. They will provide expert advice and technical evaluation to Incident Response Operations and regional office staffs involving issues associated with the activities of NRC licensees and their facilities.

Is assigned, as determined by management and Operations Branch staffing levels, as the cognizant NRC technical representative in the continuously staffed NRC Operations Center. In this capacity, directly receives, assesses, and responds to notifications of emergencies or reportable events occurring at NRC licensed facilities, radiological transportation accidents and other radiological events.

The response includes notifications to appropriate NRC personnel and other government offices in accordance with established procedures; and timely safety assessment of the event after immediate response actions are completed.

Other tasks include receiving and processing allegations and as assigned by management.

Candidates hired at Grade 13 will be eligible for a non-competitive promotion to Grade 14 upon successful completion of the HOO/HERO certification program and meeting other qualifications /eligibility requirements.

You must meet the qualifications for this position by no later than 30 calendar days after the closing date of this announcement and before placement in the position.

Selectees may be required to serve a trial period to assess their overall fitness and qualifications for continued employment. The trial period for new employees is two years. New employees who are preference eligible veterans serve a one-year trial period.

All information in your resume must be true and accurate.

Qualifications

In order to qualify for this position, you must have at least one year of specialized experience at the next lower grade level in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private or public sector.

The ideal candidate will be able to demonstrate the following:

• Knowledge of the theory, principles, and practices in the general field of engineering or physical science with specific knowledge of nuclear reactor, fuel cycle or materials facilities.

(Example: Describe specific training, education, and experience that demonstrates your ability to apply such knowledge to practical engineering or scientific problems and projects pertaining to licensed nuclear reactor, fuel cycle, or materials facilities. Discuss your ability to keep abreast of scientific and engineering technology issues and to use this information in the solution of theoretical or practical engineering or scientific problems for projects associated with nuclear facilities.)

• Knowledge of the theory, principles, and practices of health physics and/or systems engineering and their application to emergency preparedness and response.

(Example: Describe specific training, education, and experience that demonstrates your ability to apply such knowledge to the practices of emergency preparedness and response for mitigating the consequences of radiological emergencies. Discuss your ability to understand the relationship of systems safety parameters and/or health physics principles to possible offsite consequences.)

• Knowledge of NRC policies, plans, and practices in response to accidents at nuclear power plants, fuel cycle, or materials facilities.

(EXAMPLE: Describe specific training, education, and experience that demonstrates your knowledge of NRC policies, plans, and practices in response to accidents at nuclear power plants, fuel cycle facilities, or materials facilities. Discuss your experience in coordinating technical input from various sources and to evaluate the results of special studies, testing programs, and exercises. Describe your experience in participating in agency exercises for nuclear facilities.)

• Demonstrated ability to work under stressful situations.

(Example: Describe specific experience that demonstrates your ability to work under stressful situations during which you were required to make timely, accurate assessments while the available information continued to emerge or unfold. Describe the scope and complexity of the issues or events involved.)

• Demonstrated ability to present technical information both orally and in writing.

(Example: Describe experience in making oral presentations and preparing written documents and the various levels of individuals for which presentations were made. Discuss examples where you have utilized skills in communicating complex technical and/or administrative issues to professional societies, peers, management, general public, governmental agencies, or others. Discuss how your oral or written communications have played a role in the understanding or resolution of issues.)

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE is defined as: experience which demonstrates detailed knowledge of the operation and equipment related to nuclear power reactors including safety features, accident mitigation, and emergency response. Experience with direct responsibility for emergency communications involving complex technical issues and multiple organizations.

A description of how you possess the specialized experience as well as how you meet the qualifications desired in an ideal candidate should be addressed in your resume.

Education

Basic requirement for General Engineer, GG-801: A professional engineering degree is required. To be acceptable, the curriculum must: (1) be in a school of engineering with at least one curriculum accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) as a professional engineering curriculum; or (2) include differential and integral calculus and courses (more advanced than first-year physics and chemistry) in five of the following seven areas of engineering science or physics: (a) statics, dynamics; (b) strength of materials (stress-strain relationships); (c) fluid mechanics, hydraulics; (d) thermodynamics; (e) electrical fields and circuits; (f) nature and properties of materials (relating particle and aggregate structure to properties); and (g) any other comparable area of fundamental engineering science or physics, such as optics, heat transfer, soil mechanics, or electronics. OR a combination of education and experience -- college-level education, training, and/or technical experience that furnished (1) a thorough knowledge of the physical and mathematical sciences underlying professional engineering, and (2) a good understanding, both theoretical and practical, of the engineering sciences and techniques and their applications to one of the branches of engineering.

Basic requirement for General Physical Science Series, GG-1301: A degree in 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 a combination of education and experience. Education equivalent to one of the majors shown above that included at least 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

Additional information

The duty location of this position is Rockville, Maryland. This position may be eligible for situational telework in accordance with the agency policy. Shift work is required.

Individuals who are eligible for non-competitive appointment under an OPM special appointing authority may apply for consideration under a comparable NRC non-competitive appointing authority. Veterans, please visit: FedsHireVets

The NRC provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the coordinator at ... or TDD .... Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.

Selectee's will be required to complete a "Declaration of Federal Employment", (OF-306), prior to being appointed to determine their suitability for Federal employment and to authorize a background investigation. False statements or responses on your resume or questionnaire can jeopardize your employment opportunity and subject you to disciplinary action, including removal from Federal service.

The NRC is a zero-tolerance agency with respect to illegal drug use. Individuals selected for these positions will be subject to pre-appointment drug testing.

A transferable security clearance from another agency or a background investigation leading to a clearance is required for all new hires. To begin work at the NRC without a security clearance, you must be granted a temporary waiver of the required clearance, referred to as a 145(b) waiver. To be eligible for a 145(b) waiver you will need a favorable education verification, reference, credit, and criminal history checks. If a wavier is granted, the successful completion of a background investigation and favorable adjudication is required for continued employment.

If you have resided outside the U.S. for an extended period of time, the agency may not be able to (1) grant the 145(b) waiver where the required investigation cannot be completed in a timely manner, or (2) achieve timely completion of the background investigation required for a security clearance.

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• 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.

As an NRC employee you will enjoy excellent Federal Benefits, including: comprehensive health and life insurance plans; Flexible Spending Account Program for health and dependent care; Dental and Vision Insurance; retirement savings and investment plan similar to 401(k) (Thrift Savings Plan); annual (vacation) and paid sick leave; family friendly leave policies; 11 paid holidays per year; transit benefits. This link provides an overview of the benefits currently offered to Federal employees.

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.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

When the application process is complete, you will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above. Applications will be evaluated based upon the information provided in your resume and your responses to the vacancy questions to determine your qualification for these positions. Breadth, recency, and length of experience in the field; training, awards, and commendations; past and current performance; and community or outside professional activities will be considered to determine your level of knowledge, skill or ability for this position. You must respond to all required application questions.

Qualified applicants will be referred to the hiring manager(s) for possible interview and selection based upon the number of available vacancies to be filled in each office. If you are among the top candidates for this position, your application will be referred to the hiring manager.

You may preview questions for this vacancy.

• 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 that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

As an NRC employee you will enjoy excellent Federal Benefits, including: comprehensive health and life insurance plans; Flexible Spending Account Program for health and dependent care; Dental and Vision Insurance; retirement savings and investment plan similar to 401(k) (Thrift Savings Plan); annual (vacation) and paid sick leave; family friendly leave policies; 11 paid holidays per year; transit benefits. This link provides an overview of the benefits currently offered to Federal employees.

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.

• Required Documents

As a new or existing federal employee, you and your family may have access to a range of benefits. Your benefits depend on the type of position you have - whether you're a permanent, part-time, temporary or an intermittent employee. You may be eligible for the following benefits, however, check with your agency to make sure you're eligible under their policies.

The following documents are required for your application package to be complete. If you fail to provide any required documents, you will be marked as having an incomplete application package and you will not be considered any further.

• Resume that includes: 1) personal information such as name, address, contact information; 2) education; 3) detailed work experience including work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment; title, series, grade (if applicable); and 4) other qualifications. Please limit your resume to 2 pages. See below for Additional Resume Information.
• Transcripts: You must submit an official or unofficial copy of your college and/or university transcripts with your application, if the position has a positive education requirement. Failure to submit transcripts will result in loss of consideration. Diplomas do not provide the information needed for determining qualifications and will not be accepted in lieu of transcripts.

In addition to the above, you must submit the documents below if you claim the following eligibilities:

• NRC Employees: You must submit your most recent Rating of Record (Performance Appraisal) or a statement saying that one is not available.
• Current Federal Employees/Reinstatement Eligibles: You must submit a copy of your most recent SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action) to verify competitive status or reinstatement eligibility. This SF-50 should not be an award SF-50.
• Veteran Preference Eligibles: You must submit DD-214 showing type of discharge/character of service (e.g. DD-214 Member 4 Copy); SF-15 Form; and related documentation such as a VA letter showing disability percentage. If currently on active duty, you must submit a certification of expected discharge or release from active-duty service under honorable conditions not later than 120 days after the date the certification is submitted. Veteran's preference must be verified prior to appointment.
• Individuals with Disabilities: If you are applying under the Schedule A Hiring Authority, you must submit supporting documentation (i.e., Schedule A Letter). You may refer to the following link for additional information. USAJOBS Help Center - Individuals with disabilities

Additional Resume Information:

Your resume is crucial in our evaluation of your qualifications. Resumes should clearly demonstrate your skills, knowledge, and abilities. Please limit your resume to 2 pages. If more than 2 pages are submitted, your resume will still be accepted, however only the first 2 pages will be reviewed and considered for qualifications and eligibility determination in whether or not the minimum qualifications for the position have been met. To ensure your resume contains all required information, we encourage you to use the USAJOBS Resume Builder. If you choose to use your own resume, please ensure it contains all the required information, and you organize it so we can associate the following information with each experience/position:

• Job title
• Name of employer
• Beginning and ending dates of employment (month/year) format
• Hours worked per week. We will assume full-time unless otherwise stated. We will prorate part-time employment in crediting experience.
• Detailed description of job duties, accomplishments, related skills, and responsibilities to include any supervisory/managerial responsibilities and number of staff supervised (if applicable).
• Series and grade or equivalent (if a federal position).

Do not include a photograph or video of yourself, or any sensitive information(age, date of birth, marital status, protected health information, religious affiliation, social security number, etc.) or other inappropriate material on your resume or cover letter. If your resume contains prohibited information as listed above, your application may be determined ineligible, and you will not receive consideration for this position. We will not access web pages linked on your resume or cover letter, links to social media such as LinkedIn, to determine your qualifications. Cover letters are optional.

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

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.

• How to Apply

Carefully review this entire announcement and all instructions before starting your application. To be considered for this position, you must complete the online application process and submit all required documents electronically by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on the closing date of this announcement. Incomplete or late applications will not be considered.

Your complete application must include your resume, responses to all vacancy questions (if applicable), and any required documents that prove your eligibility to apply.

You have two options for submitting these required documents:

• Upload from USAJOBS: Utilize the "USAJOBS" feature to download documents directly from your existing USAJOBS portfolio.
• Direct Upload: Use the "Upload" feature to upload files directly from your computer. Acceptable file types include: .gif, .jpeg, .png, .rtf, .pdf, and .docx.

To begin your application, select the "Apply" button located on the right side of this screen. Follow the subsequent prompts to log in or register, submit all required documents, answer the questions, and complete the application process.

Important Considerations:

• Paper Applications: Paper applications will not be accepted unless you can demonstrate hardship circumstances through the agency contact listed below.
• Application Extensions: Requests for application extensions will not be granted.
• Hardship Assistance: If you experience hardship applying online, please contact the agency contact listed below for assistance. You must reach out during business hours before the announcement closing date and speak with someone who can provide support for your online submission.

Agency contact information

Darrel Stroman

Phone ... Fax ... Email ...

Address NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

US Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Office of Human Resources

Attn: Please Complete

Washington, District of Columbia 20555

United States

Next steps

If you are curious, inspired, or interested in bringing your energy to a committed team in a dynamic science, engineering, technical, or administrative career, consider the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). We are professionals dedicated to protecting people and the environment by safeguarding the use of nuclear materials in medicine, industry, and research.

NRC is an independent agency established to protect public health and safety as nuclear energy fuels electrical power and a variety of industrial, medical, and research applications. We come from varied educational and experiential backgrounds-the military, industry, and academia.

The NRC prides itself on creating a work environment rich in opportunity, leadership, training, teamwork and work life balance. Help guide our nation into the next generation of nuclear safety by completing your USAJOBs profile and reviewing our job announcements! Begin a challenging career with the NRC where you can be a part of a select group of professionals who protect people and the environment with the peaceful use of nuclear materials in medicine, industry and research. To find out more about the NRC, we invite you to visit us on the web at www.nrc.gov.

• 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 probationary period
• Privacy Act
• Reasonable accommodation policy
• Selective Service
• Signature and false statements
• Social security number request

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Required Documents

The following documents are required for your application package to be complete. If you fail to provide any required documents, you will be marked as having an incomplete application package and you will not be considered any further.

• Resume that includes: 1) personal information such as name, address, contact information; 2) education; 3) detailed work experience including work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment; title, series, grade (if applicable); and 4) other qualifications. Please limit your resume to 2 pages. See below for Additional Resume Information.
• Transcripts: You must submit an official or unofficial copy of your college and/or university transcripts with your application, if the position has a positive education requirement. Failure to submit transcripts will result in loss of consideration. Diplomas do not provide the information needed for determining qualifications and will not be accepted in lieu of transcripts.

In addition to the above, you must submit the documents below if you claim the following eligibilities:

• NRC Employees: You must submit your most recent Rating of Record (Performance Appraisal) or a statement saying that one is not available.
• Current Federal Employees/Reinstatement Eligibles: You must submit a copy of your most recent SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action) to verify competitive status or reinstatement eligibility. This SF-50 should not be an award SF-50.
• Veteran Preference Eligibles: You must submit DD-214 showing type of discharge/character of service (e.g. DD-214 Member 4 Copy); SF-15 Form; and related documentation such as a VA letter showing disability percentage. If currently on active duty, you must submit a certification of expected discharge or release from active-duty service under honorable conditions not later than 120 days after the date the certification is submitted. Veteran's preference must be verified prior to appointment.
• Individuals with Disabilities: If you are applying under the Schedule A Hiring Authority, you must submit supporting documentation (i.e., Schedule A Letter). You may refer to the following link for additional information. USAJOBS Help Center - Individuals with disabilities

Additional Resume Information:

Your resume is crucial in our evaluation of your qualifications. Resumes should clearly demonstrate your skills, knowledge, and abilities. Please limit your resume to 2 pages. If more than 2 pages are submitted, your resume will still be accepted, however only the first 2 pages will be reviewed and considered for qualifications and eligibility determination in whether or not the minimum qualifications for the position have been met. To ensure your resume contains all required information, we encourage you to use the USAJOBS Resume Builder. If you choose to use your own resume, please ensure it contains all the required information, and you organize it so we can associate the following information with each experience/position:

• Job title
• Name of employer
• Beginning and ending dates of employment (month/year) format
• Hours worked per week. We will assume full-time unless otherwise stated. We will prorate part-time employment in crediting experience.
• Detailed description of job duties, accomplishments, related skills, and responsibilities to include any supervisory/managerial responsibilities and number of staff supervised (if applicable).
• Series and grade or equivalent (if a federal position).

Do not include a photograph or video of yourself, or any sensitive information(age, date of birth, marital status, protected health information, religious affiliation, social security number, etc.) or other inappropriate material on your resume or cover letter. If your resume contains prohibited information as listed above, your application may be determined ineligible, and you will not receive consideration for this position. We will not access web pages linked on your resume or cover letter, links to social media such as LinkedIn, to determine your qualifications. Cover letters are optional.

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

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.

Help

How to Apply

Carefully review this entire announcement and all instructions before starting your application. To be considered for this position, you must complete the online application process and submit all required documents electronically by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on the closing date of this announcement. Incomplete or late applications will not be considered.

Your complete...