COMPUTER SCIENTIST

About the role

Force Renewal Programs are designed to attract students & recent graduates with management/leadership potential to careers as Federal employees with the Air Force Civilian Service.

This is accomplished by recruiting & selecting high-caliber candidates & training them to become competent, effective, & productive employees in a variety of career fields, providing training & developmental opportunities, & preparing them to successfully complete required training & developmental assignments.

What you will do

• GS-07 Performs routine tasking, or assists others with more complex assignments.
• Performs a variety of specific duties designed to develop knowledge and skill in applying computer scientist principles, methods and techniques.
• Performs a variety of specific duties designed to develop knowledge and skill in applying system evaluation methods and techniques in support of systems acquisition.
• Participates in conducting studies to identify computer system deficiencies.
• Carries out special projects and assignments in the development of software and solutions to be used by higher-level computer scientists, scientists, contractors and/or customers.
• GS-09 Assists in applying methods and functions of program modeling/simulating and algorithm techniques to segments of a study or project.
• Applies system evaluation methods and techniques to portions of a larger project/study.
• Considers real world operational factors, technical state of the art and applicable scientific methods and techniques in the evaluation process.
• Assists senior specialists in developing research/development, testing/evaluation or implementation, and acquisition strategies.
• Carries out special projects and assignments in the development of software and solutions to be used by higher-level computer scientists, scientists, contractors and/or customers. *This is a formal AF intern position in the Recent Palace Acquire Program (PAQ) and, as such, it is centrally funded by HQ AFPC/DPZS.
• These are the CONUS locations listed for this Computer Scientist Public Notice: BARKSDALE AFB, LA BUCKLEY SFB, CO CANNON AFB, NM CAPE CANAVERAL, FL DAHLGREN, VA (JWAC) EDWARDS AFB, CA EGLIN AFB, FL EIELSON AFB, AK ELLSWORTH AFB, SD ELMENDORF AFB, AK HANSCOM AFB, MA HILL AFB, UT HURLBURT FIELD AFB, FL JOINT BASE ANDREWS, MD JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, VA JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, HI JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO (LACKLAND), TX JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO (RANDOLPH), TX KEESLER AFB, MS KIRTLAND AFB, NM LAUGHLIN AFB, OK LITTLE ROCK AFB, AR LOS ANGLES AFB, CA LUKE AFB, AZ MAXWELL AFB, AL MCCONNELL AFB, KS MCDILL AFB, FL OFFUTT AFB, NE PATRICK SFB, FL PENTAGON, VA PETERSON SFB, CO ROBINS AFB, GA SCHRIEVER SFB, CO SCOTT AFB, IL TINKER AFB, OK TYNDALL AFB, FL USAF ACCADEMY, CO VANDENBERG AFB, CA WHITEMAN AFB, MO WRIGHT-PATTERSON AFB, OH

Education

IF USING EDUCATION TO QUALIFY: If position has a positive degree requirement or education forms the basis for qualifications, you MUST submit transcripts with the application.

Official transcripts are not required at the time of application; however, if position has a positive degree requirement, qualifying based on education alone or in combination with experience; transcripts must be verified prior to appointment. Please submit copies of all transcripts to include transferred hours.

Official copies are not required at the time of application, but if selected you will be required to provide official copies of all transcripts. ***NOTE*** Degree Audits are not accepted.

If you qualify based on undergraduate education, but you have not graduated prior to applying for this position, you may be offered a position contingent upon your final grade point average or class ranking. An accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education must accredit education. Click here to check accreditation.

FOREIGN EDUCATION: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the requirements.

You must show proof the education credentials have been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education program.

It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: For Direct Hire Positions: This is a Direct Hire Public Notice, under this recruitment procedure applications will be accepted for each location/ installation identified in this Public Notice and selections are made for vacancies as they occur.

There may or may not be actual/projected vacancies at the time you submit your application. This Public Notice is to gather applications which may or may not result in a referral or selection and may be used to fill positions in other equivalent pay systems (i.e., NH, NJ, NK).

How you will be evaluated

For DHA Positions: These positions are being filled under Direct-Hire Authority for the DoD for Post-Secondary Students and Recent Graduates.

The Secretary of the Air Force has delegated authority by the Office of the Secretary of Defense to directly appoint qualified students and recent graduates directly into competitive service positions; positions may be professional or administrative occupations and located Air Force-Wide. Positions may be filled as permanent/term with a full-time/part-time work schedule.

Pay will vary by geographic location. *** The term "Current post-secondary student" means a person who is currently enrolled and in good academic standing at a full-time program at an institution of higher education; and is progressing toward a baccalaureate or graduate degree; and has completed at least 1 year of the program. *** The term "recent graduate" means a person awarded a degree by an institution of higher education not more than 2 years before the date of the appointment of such person, except in the case of a person who has completed a period of obligated service in a uniform service of more than 4 years.

Your latest resume will be used to determine your qualifications. Your application package (resume, supporting documents, and responses to the questionnaire) will be used to determine your eligibility, qualifications, and quality ranking for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully.

Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment. Your responses to the questionnaire may be compared to the documents you submit. The documents you submit must support your responses to the online questionnaire.

If your application contradicts or does not support your questionnaire responses, you will receive a rating of "not qualified" or "insufficient information" and you will not receive further consideration for this job. Applicants who disqualify themselves will not be evaluated further.

Documents you must provide

• The following documents are required and must be provided with your application for this Public Notice.
• Applicants who do not submit required documentation to determine eligibility and qualifications will be eliminated from consideration.
• Other documents may be required based on the eligibility/eligibilities you are claiming.
• Click here to view the AF Civilian Employment Eligibility Guide and the required documents you must submit to substantiate the eligibilities you are claiming.
• Online Application - Questionnaire Resume - Your resume may NOT exceed two pages, and the font size should not be smaller than 10 pts.
• For qualification determinations your resume must contain hours worked per week (if part-time) and dates of employment (i.e., month/year to month/year or month/year to present).
• If your resume does not contain this information, your application may be marked as insufficient and you will not receive consideration for this position.
• If you are a current Federal employee or previous Federal employee, provide your pay plan, series and grade, i.e. GS-0301-09.
• Current Federal Civilian Employees should list any relevant performance related rating (given within the last three years) and/or incentive awards in your resume.
• Do NOT include photographs (or links to social media such as LinkedIn), inappropriate material, inappropriate content, nor personal information such as age, gender, religion, social security number, etc., on your resume.
• Transcripts/Registration/License: If qualifying on education/position requires education, you must submit copies of your transcripts and if required for the position, submit an active, current registration/license.
• Veterans: If claiming VEOA, VRA or 30% Disabled Veteran - Submit VOW certification memo or copy of the official DD Form 214, which must include the character of service (i.e., with an honorable or general discharge).
• This will be annotated in block 24 on member copy 2, 4, or 7 of the DD Form 214.
• If claiming 30% Disabled Veteran, you must also submit a VA Letter or a disability determination from a branch of the Armed Forces.
• NOTE: All veterans claiming 10-point preference must also submit a SF-15 form.
• ACTIVE DUTY SERVICE MEMBERS: The VOW Act requires federal agencies to treat an eligible active duty service member as a veteran, disabled veteran, and preference eligible (as applicable) when applying for civil service positions before the effective release or discharge date.
• Appointment of military members before the release or discharge date is permissible if the member is on terminal leave.
• At the time the active duty member applies for a civil position, he or she must submit a "certification" memo in lieu of a DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty.
• Active duty members applying for a civil service position without submitting a valid certification memo or DD Form 214 with their application will render the member ineligible for the position.
• The certification memo must originate from the member's military service branch on official letterhead and contain the following: Name/Rank/Grade of Service Member Branch of Armed Forces Dates of Active Service (Start and End Date(s) Expected Date of Discharge/Release from Active Duty Terminal leave start date (if applicable) Expected character of service/discharge and type of separation (i.e. separation or retirement) Must be certified within 120 days of anticipated discharge Signature by, or by direction of the adjutant, personnel office, unit commander, or higher headquarters commander.
• Note: The VOW Act provides tentative preference.
• If appointed, a DD Form 214 must be submitted upon receipt.

What to expect next

After you submit your application, you will be contacted if further evaluation or interviews are required. Your application will remain active through the open period of this Public Notice. Once this Public Notice closes, you must reapply.

Additional information

Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP): For information on how to apply as an ICTAP eligible click here. To be well-qualified and exercise selection priority for this vacancy, displaced Federal employees must be rated in the "Highly Qualified" or "Best Qualified" Category on the rating criteria for this vacancy.

You must submit a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting position, grade level, and duty location.

Employed Annuitants (Reemployed Annuitants): Applicants in receipt of an annuity based on civilian employment in the Federal Service are subject to the DoD Policy on The Employment of Annuitants. Click here for more information.

Temporary and Term Appointments: If you are selected for a temporary or term position in the competitive service, your appointment may be extended to the maximum period allowed by law without further competition.

Additionally, if you are serving on a term appointment in the competitive service, you may be converted to a career or career-conditional appointment without further competition. NOTE: Current federal civilian employees may apply for this position and if selected, a break in service of at least 3 days may be required prior to appointment to this position.

Disabled veteran leave is available to a Federal employee hired on/after 5 Nov 2016, who is a veteran with a service-connected disability rating of 30% or more. For more information, click here. If you have questions regarding this announcement and have hearing or speech difficulties click here.

Tax Law Impact for PCS: On 22-Dec-2017, Public Law 115-97 - the "Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017" suspended qualified moving expense deductions along with the exclusion for employer reimbursements and payments of moving expenses effective 01-Jan-2018 for tax years 2018 through 2025.

When you perform a Civilian Permanent Change of Station (PCS) with the government, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) considers the majority of your entitlements to be taxable. Visit GSA Bulletin FTR 20-04 here for additional information.