Computer Scientist, AST - Computer Research and Development

Duties

Duties described below are at the highest grade advertised. Duties assigned at lower grade levels will be of more limited scope, performed with less independence and limited complexity; duties will be commensurate with the grade of selected employee.
Serve as an authority in the design, implementation, and data solutions architecture of the Agency's data analytics initiatives ensuring compliance with federal regulations and standards.
Provide overall leadership in the development and deployment of information and data engineering pipelines for data acquisition, storage, transformation, and analysis.
Serve as senior consultant to a team of information and data engineers, ensuring that in a rapidly evolving field that the best practices and standards are followed in data engineering projects.
Evaluate, advise on, and implement information and data technologies, tools, and platforms to enhance the agency's data capabilities and infrastructure.
Provide overall leadership and direction in the development and maintenance of documentation related to information and data solutions architecture, including system diagrams, data flow diagrams, and technical specifications.
Implement information and data security measures and ensure compliance with data protection regulations and policies.
Guide the formulation of information development and data governance initiatives by defining data quality standards, metadata management practices, and data lineage tracking mechanisms.
Provide expert information and advice in the field of data engineering on best practices, standards and solutions related to data analytics projects, including data modeling, data visualization, and machine learning implementation.
Foster a culture of engagement, diversity, inclusiveness, excellence and innovation. Champion NASA's commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility to create an environment that promotes a commitment to safety, integrity, and teamwork.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

This position is open to U.S. citizens, nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.
You must meet qualifications requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
This position may require a one-year probationary period.
Financial Disclosure, Drug Testing, and/or the Travel Requirements for this position may differ and be required based on the duty location/NASA Center requirements.
Position subject to pre-employment background investigation or higher level clearance. Investigation/Clearance may differ and be required based on the duties/location-NASA Center requirements.
Selected applicant(s) must be assigned to a duty location listed on the announcement.

Qualifications

In addition to the Basic Education Requirement (in the Education section below), to qualify for this position you must meet the requirements below. 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.

NASA utilizes OPM-approved qualification and rating requirements specific for Aerospace Technology (AST) positions which recognizes NASA's unique aerospace work. The specific qualifications and minimum education requirements are further described below and within the education section of the job announcement.

To qualify for GS-14, you must have one year of directly related specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 level:

Providing expertise in designing, implementing, and optimizing complex data architectures, including data pipelines, storage systems, and analytical platforms, to support the collection, processing, and analysis of large-scale and diverse datasets;
Utilizing advanced analytics techniques, such as machine learning, data mining, predictive modeling, and statistical analysis, to derive actionable insights and drive informed decision-making across the organization;
Utilizing cloud computing platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure, Google Cloud) and big data technologies (e.g., Hadoop, Spark, Kafka) to leverage scalable and distributed computing resources for processing and managing large volumes of data efficiently.

To qualify for GS-15, you must have one year of directly related specialized experience equivalent to the GS-14 level:

Providing strategic leadership and direction in the development and implementation of information and data engineering initiatives aligned with organizational goals and objectives;
Providing expertise in designing, implementing, and optimizing complex data architectures, including data pipelines,
storage systems, and analytical platforms, to support the collection, processing, and analysis of large-scale and diverse datasets;
Utilizing advanced analytics techniques, such as machine learning, data mining, predictive modeling, and statistical analysis, to derive actionable insights and drive informed decision-making across the organization;
Providing senior level expertise on cloud computing platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure, Google Cloud) and big data technologies (e.g., Hadoop, Spark, Kafka) to leverage scalable and distributed computing resources for processing and managing large volumes of data efficiently.

Familiarity with emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, Internet of Things (IoT), blockchain, and edge computing, and their applications in enhancing data management, analytics, and decision support capabilities is desired.

Your resume must include a clear and detailed narrative description, in your own words, of how you meet the required specialized experience. Experience statements copied from a position description, vacancy announcement or other reference material constitutes plagiarism and may result in disqualification and losing consideration for the job.

NASA prohibits the use of artificial intelligence (AI) or AI-assisted tool in drafting application and assessment responses. Please visit https://www.nasa.gov/careers/how-to-apply/#Artificial-Intelligence to review NASA's guidance on the use of AI tools during the application process.

Education

Basic Education Requirement: You must have successfully completed a bachelor's degree with a major in one of the following:
a) Engineering from a college or university that has ABET accredited engineering programs
b) Physical Science, Mathematics, Life Science or other field of Science
c) Computer Science that included 30 semester hours or 45 quarter hours of course work in any combination of mathematics, statistics and computer science with at least half of those hours in mathematics and statistics courses that included differential and integral calculus; and that provided an in-depth knowledge of theoretical and practical applications of computer science, including digital computer system architecture and system software organization, the representation and transformation of information structures, and the theoretical models for such representations and transformations.

If you did not complete a qualifying bachelor's degree, you may be eligible if you have obtained a graduate degree in an AST qualifying field, as listed above.

Degrees in engineering technology are not considered qualifying for this position.

Engineering degrees earned within the United States: Engineering degrees earned within the United States must be from a college or university that has at least one ABET accredited engineering program. To find out if a school has at least one ABET accredited program, please visit http://www.abet.org.

Engineering degrees earned outside the United States: Engineering degrees earned outside the United States must be recognized by a Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA), often known as accords. These are non-governmental agreements among organizations that accredit academic degree programs. MRAs recognize the substantial equivalence of mature accreditation systems and programs accredited by signatory organizations within their jurisdictions. For a listing of Signatories, please visit, https://www.abet.org/global-presence/mutual-recognition-agreements/is-your-program-recognized/.

Science and other related degrees earned within the United States: Science and other related degrees must have been awarded from colleges or universities that are accredited by recognized accrediting organizations. For a list of schools that meet this criteria, go to http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/.

Science and other related degrees earned outside the United States: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs. These education credentials must be deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

All degrees must have been received in the year of, or any year subsequent to the original date of accreditation.

Additional information

Additional selections may be made for similar positions across NASA within the local commuting area(s) of the location(s) identified in this announcement. By applying, you agree to have your application shared with interested selecting official(s) within NASA. CTAP/ICTAP will be cleared for any additional selection from this announcement.

If you have special priority selection rights under the Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP), you must:

- Indicate your eligibility when applying for a position. The questionnaire asks you to identify your ICTAP/CTAP eligibility.
- Meet the minimum qualifications requirements for the position
- Submit proof that you meet the requirements for CTAP/ICTAP as indicated in 'Required Documents'

For additional information about CTAP/ICTAP eligibility, click here - https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/#ictap.

Depending on position assignment, position may or may not be in a bargaining unit. To learn more about bargaining units at NASA please click here NASA Unions (Bargaining Units) | NASA.

Benefits
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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.

Direct Hire Authority: These positions will be filled through the Office of Personnel Management's Direct Hire Authority. Category rating and veterans' preference will not be considered in evaluating applicants. For more information on Direct Hire Authority, please see: OPM Direct Hire Fact Sheet.

Veterans: Under the provisions of Direct Hire Authority, veterans' preference does not apply. However, applicants who are eligible for veterans' preference are encouraged to include that information in their application and submit supporting documentation (i.e. DD-214, or other substantiating documents). For more information please see: Veterans' Preference information on the FedsHireVets website.

You will be evaluated for this position based on how well you meet the qualifications and eligibility requirements listed in this vacancy announcement. To determine your qualifications and referral status, we may review your resume and supporting documentation and compare it against your responses to the vacancy questionnaire. Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration.

You will be assessed on the following competencies:

Data Management
Data Systems
Information Technology Architecture
Software Development
Technical Competence

NASA considers 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.