Summary This position is located in the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Coast Guard Research and Development Center, New London, CT. Research and Development Center (uscg.mil) https://www.dvidshub.net/video/912270/coast-guard-research-and-development-overview) Responsibilities You will serve in the Environment and Waterways Branch as a key member of a research team that has the ultimate goal of helping the Coast Guard improve mission performance in operations related to marine and navigation safety, environmental protection and response, and the marine transportation system, especially focusing on maritime aids to navigation, the drift of an object in the marine environment, prevention of and response to petroleum, hazardous materials discharges in the marine environment, safety and survival at sea, and other challenging issues such as the effects of climate change on the coastal environment or the Arctic. Being a Coast Guard civilian makes you a valuable member of the Coast Guard team. Typical work assignments include: * Conducting and supporting cutting edge research to advance Coast Guard capabilities, especially dealing with modernization of the marine aids to navigation system, improvements to maritime search and rescue such as determining drift of objects at sea and enhanced lifesaving capabilities, improvements to marine safety, and solving issues related to marine pollution prevention and response. * Conducting expert scientific analysis and applying findings. * Engaging with Coast Guard staff and field personnel to solve pressing issues related to maritime aids to navigation, search and rescue, and pollution prevention and response. * Engaging with Government research partners on collaborative experiments and related efforts. * Maintaining current knowledge of maritime related scientific subjects and applying specialized technical and professional knowledge to recommend far reaching analytical evaluations, investigations, or review processes. * Maintaining liaison with Government, Industry, and Academic engineers, scientists, and educators who are experts in related maritime fields to maintain awareness of the latest trends and innovations. * Providing advisory and hands-on assistance to project leaders involved in developing/revising both research plans and technical requirements for contracts. * Analyzing the technical objectives and research methodologies. * Coordinating and chair technical evaluation teams. Requirements Conditions of Employment U.S. Citizenship is required. This position requires travel. This position requires a Secret clearance. Copy of your transcript. All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement. This includes Time-In-Grade requirements for current status employees applying through merit promotion procedures. Status applicants applying for a promotion must have 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade. Qualifications Basic Requirements: 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 Additional Requirements: Qualifications for GS-13: Applicants must possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent the GS-12 level in Federal Service. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the particular ability, skill, and knowledge to successfully perform the duties of this position and is typically in or related to this line of work. Examples of specialized experience include: Conducting scientific analysis and applying findings from comprehensive technical reviews; applying specialized technical knowledge to recommend far reaching improvements to scientific evaluation, investigation, or review processes; Developing and executing experimental test and evaluation plans following scientific principles, guiding others in disparate yet related activities, organizing scientific, analytical, or operational teams, providing professional input and advice to other scientists and managers, presenting scientific or analytical results to professional and senior-leadership audiences. National Service Experience (i.e., volunteer experience): Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (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 that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. The Office of Personnel management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule, C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office. Education This position does have a positive education requirement. If you are including education on your resume, report only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. See Required Documents section for detail. You must provide a copy of your unofficial transcript when applying to this posting. FOREIGN EDUCATION: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet Federal qualification requirements if you can show that your foreign education is comparable to education received in accredited educational institutions in the United States. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence with your application. See Recognition of Foreign Qualifications click here Additional Information Applicants will be required to complete questions contained on the Declaration for Federal Employment (OF-306) at the time a tentative job offer is made. Certain responses on the form could pose a problem with suitability for employment determinations. If you receive a conditional offer of employment for this position, you will be required to complete/make updates to the OF-306 and to sign and certify the accuracy of all information in your application, prior to entry on duty. False statements on any part of the application may result in withdrawal of offer of employment, dismissal after beginning work, or imprisonment. DHS uses e-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more about e-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities at click here Recruitment incentives may be authorized. All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit. The Department of Homeland Security encourages persons with disabilities to apply, to include persons with intellectual, severe physical or psychiatric disabilities, as defined by 5 CFR § 213.3102(u), and/or Disabled Veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30 percent or more as defined by 5 CFR § 315.707. Veterans, Peace Corps/VISTA volunteers, and persons with disabilities possess a wealth of unique talents, experiences, and competencies that can be invaluable to the DHS mission. If you are a member of one of these groups, you may not have to compete with the public for federal jobs. To determine your eligibility for non-competitive appointment and to understand the required documentation, click on the links above or contact the Servicing Human Resources Office listed at the bottom of this announcement. More than 1 selection may be made from this announcement if additional identical vacancies in the same title, series, grade, and unit occur within 45 days from the date the certificate was issued. If you need a reasonable accommodation for the application and hiring process, please contact 206-820-2648. Decisions on granting reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. Visit Reasonable Accommodation