Computer Scientist

To view the complete OPM qualification standard for the Group Coverage Qualification Standard for Computer Scientist Series 1550, please refer to: Computer Science Series 1550 Basic Requirements: Bachelor's degree in computer science or bachelor's degree with 30 semester hours in a combination of mathematics, statistics, and computer science. At least 15 of the 30 semester hours must have included any combination of statistics and mathematics that included differential and integral calculus.

All academic degrees and course work must be from accredited or pre-accredited institutions. In addition to meeting the education requirement, To qualify for this position you must demonstrate in your application that you possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to FV-H, FG 10-12. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position.

Specialized Experience is: Experience supporting test and evaluation activities of a NAS system. Qualifications must be met by the closing date of this vacancy announcement.

This position will serve the Section¿s test and evaluation work centered on programs including the Aeronautical Information Management Modernization and NOTAMS programs, weather programs, automation systems and test laboratories. Specific test programs within this Section include NOTAM Management Service (NMS), National Weather Program (NWP), Terminal Precipitation on the Glass (TPoG), Flow Management Data Service (FMDS) and Alaska Automation Capability (AAC).

Performs multiple, varied, and complex assignments under the limited direction of a manager, project/ program manager, team leader, or more experienced technical specialist. May act as a contributing specialist on large work activities or as a team leader for single or small work activities. Applies experience and advanced technical knowledge applicable to his/her discipline to accomplish assignments and develop plans and techniques to improve programs and policies.

Understands how his/her technical area interacts with or is affected by other disciplines and considers the objectives of the major subdivision and LOB/SO when developing, integrating, and implementing solutions to diverse, complex problems. Serves as a Computer Scientist within a multidisciplinary team that provides centralized verification and validation (V&V) and Test & Evaluation (T&E) support.

Responsible for delivering consistent quality services and computer science expertise that facilitates V&V and T&E practices and ensures the application and improvement of quality V&V standards in the FAA. Provides V&V and T&E conduct support on critical National Airspace System (NAS) and FAA acquisition work products to ensure efficient and effective implementation of capabilities and services.

This position involves working with complex system integration issues, software intensive system engineering challenges, and FAA system-of-systems. Serves as a V&V T&E Computer Scientist focused on life-cycle V&V and T&E support for NAS capabilities, services, and systems. Incumbent will be expected to adapt to vendor¿s agile test approaches while utilizing rapidly evolving tools and technologies to meet accelerated timelines.

Established policies/procedures provide guidance for most assignments but allow considerable discretion to select the most appropriate approach or to recommend new approaches. Provides recommendations to improve work processes. Provide guidance to lower-level staff to solve difficult technical issues. Resolve all but unique technical problems without the intervention of management or a more experienced engineer. Identify and inform management of problems that require their attention.

Develop and recommend techniques to address problem situations. Work is reviewed periodically, typically at major milestones and at completion, for technical compliance and alignment with the requirements of the project or other work activity. Defines, plans, and organizes assigned resources to accomplish organizational objectives. Allocates resources to accomplish small work activities within established schedules. Contacts are internal and external.

May act as a key technical point of contact for assigned activities. Contributes to the preparation of management/technical reports or contractual documents and may communicate the overall results of a project or work activity to FAA management, the aviation and aerospace industries, and other external parties.