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Thermal Infrared Imagery Scientist

Employer
National Geospatial Intelligence Agency
Location
Riverside, MD
Closing date
Oct 4, 2021

View more

Sector
Science
Organization Type
Corporate
Job Summary

ASSIGNMENT DESCRIPTION: Thermal Infrared Imagery Scientists process and analyze thermal infrared imagery to extract intelligence and geospatial information. They conduct phenomenological studies on objects or events of interest to inform intelligence conclusions. They collaborate with analysts to understand intelligence issues and provide scientific results to conduct intelligence production. They develop, test, and evaluate prototypes; and provide technical guidance to enhance infrared imaging capability, applicability, and collection. They represent NGA's interests to support the development and improvement of sensors and system architecture.

Additional Job Information

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) serves as the world leader in providing timely, relevant, accurate and actionable

geospatial intelligence (GEOINT). NGA's civilian, military and contract personnel evaluate imagery, maps, charts, multiple layers of

foundation data - such as terrain, elevation and gravity - and the full spectrum of visible and invisible light in order to help users visualize

what is happening at a particular place and time. Our intelligence officers go beyond describing 'what, where and when' to revealing 'how

and why.' our work enables decision advantage for our policymakers, warfighters, intelligence professionals and first responders.

NGA's Office of Counterproliferation (AOC) is seeking an imagery scientist to develop and assist in the gathering, analyzing refining analysis

of moderately complex imagery data for its high current interest WMD mission. Pay band 3 Thermal Imagery Scientists collaborate with

analysts and support intelligence production with scientific input. They develop, test, and evaluate prototypes, and provide technical

guidance to enhance capability, applicability, and collection. The ideal candidate will be driven by a passion to work in a dynamic, inclusive

atmosphere with teammates who strive to answer some of our hardest WMD-related problems. The candidate will be engaged with multiple

projects and should function well in a team atmosphere.

AOC analysts execute a critical mission for the agency and national defense. A term hire will supplement permanent NGA employees' and

contractors' monitoring of adversarial weaponization efforts in accordance with ODNI priorities. A focused effort to establish a baseline of

knowledge will provide a foundation for other analytic efforts. Qualified term hires eligible for conversion to permanent appointment also

contribute to ACS's pipeline for meeting overall agency hiring goals.

Additional Application Requirement: You may be asked to complete one or more assessments in addition to the application you submit on

this website as part of your application to NGA. These assessments may include but are not limited to:

1) Online questionnaires or assessments that require you to describe your job-related knowledge, skills, abilities, or other characteristics that

are aligned with the mandatory and desirable qualifications of this job posting. The information you provide in this application you submit

must support the response you provide to this questionnaire. You will receive an email to describe any additional assessments required.

Please monitor your emails and complete any required assessments as soon as possible.

This is a two (2) year TERM appointment within NGA that may be extended not to exceed 5 years, and is not guaranteed. Applicants will be

rated and ranked by an agency Qualifications Review Board using only the information submitted for consideration. A Defense Civilian

Intelligence Personnel System (DCIPS) term employee may be eligible for non-competitive conversion to a permanent DCIPS permanent

appointment at the same pay band and similar or same work role for which initially hired. The term employee must have a "successful or

better" overall rating on the most recent performance evaluation to be eligible for conversion.

Mandatory Qualifications

MANDATORY QUALIFICATION CRITERIA: For this particular job, applicants must meet all competencies reflected under the Mandatory Qualification Criteria to include education (if required). Online applications must demonstrate qualification by providing specific examples and associated results, in response to the announcement's mandatory criteria specified in this vacancy announcement:

1. Demonstrated experience in technical skills, such as data mining and analytics, data visualization, or statistical analysis.

2. Demonstrated experience in thermal imagery science exploitation.

3. Demonstrated experience working collaboratively with others.

4. Demonstrated experience in analyzing data to investigate trends or anomalies, establish relationships, or predict future patterns among events.

5. Demonstrated ability to develop and present briefings to meet the needs of various audiences.

EDUCATION REQUIREMENT: A. Education: Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in Engineering, Imagery Science, Mathematics, Physical Science, Remote Sensing, Computer Science, Data Analytics, Earth Science, or a related discipline that included 24 semester hours in Physical Science and/or related Engineering Science such as Dynamics, Electronics, Mechanics, and Properties of Materials. -OR- B. Combination of Education and Experience: A minimum of 24 semester (36 quarter) hours of coursework in any area listed in option A that included at least 24 semester hours in Physical Science and/or related Engineering Science, plus experience that involves processing and analyzing wavelengths to extract intelligence and geospatial information, or a related field that demonstrates the ability to successfully perform the duties associated with this work. As a rule, every 30 semester (45 quarter) hours of coursework is equivalent to one year of experience. Candidates should show that their combination of education and experience totals 4 years.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENT: Distinguish principal colors; Near visual acuity of 20/60 or better with or without corrective lenses

Highly Desired Qualifications

QUALIFICATION CRITERIA: In addition to the mandatory qualifications, experience in the following is desired:

1. Demonstrated experience in time management to meet priorities and achieve desired results.

2. Demonstrated experience in technical skills such as geospatial information systems, scripting and coding, programming, or algorithm development.

3. Demonstrated experience in accessing, converting, formatting, cleaning, merging, and/or normalizing data in advance of scientific and/or quantitative analysis.

4. Demonstrated experience in characterizing activities by associating equipment type, placement, location, or date and time.

Additional Job Requirements

You must be able to obtain and retain a Top Secret security clearance with access to Sensitive Compartmented Information. In addition, you are subject to a Counterintelligence Polygraph examination in order to maintain access to Top Secret information. All employees are subject to a periodic examination on a random basis in order to determine continued eligibility. Refusal to take the examination may result in denial of access to Top Secret information, SAP, and/or unescorted access to SCIFs.

Employees with SCI access and who are under NGA cognizance are required to submit a Security Financial Disclosure Report, SF-714, on an annual basis in order to determine continued eligibility. Failure to comply may negatively impact continued access to Top Secret information, Information Systems, SAP, and/or unescorted access to SCIFs.

Pay, Benefits, & Work Schedule

PROMOTION OPPORTUNITY: Promotion opportunities allow applicants at all band levels to be considered. Qualifications for NGA positions do not include specific time-in-band requirements. NGA will emphasize quality of experience, rather than duration, and assess how the quality of the experience demonstrates possession of the knowledge, skills, abilities, and competencies necessary for successful job performance in the NGA occupational structure.

Band 03 $72,750 - $134,798

PERMANENT CHANGE IN STATION: PCS expenses are not authorized.

Pay is only part of the compensation you will earn working for the Federal Government. We offer a broad array of benefits programs and family friendly flexibilities to meet the needs of you and your family.

For more information on the array of benefits programs, please visit https://www.intelligencecareers.gov/nga/ngabenefits.html

Cover Letter

Applicants are not required to submit a cover letter. The entire cover letter cannot exceed the specified limits provided in the Cover Letter field (3,000 characters). Pages exceeding this limit will not be considered. The cover letter is recommended but is not required for employment consideration with the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. Applicants should place their narrative information in the Cover Letter / Other Professional Details field.

Who may apply

External Applicants Only

How to apply

Application submission involves applying using the Intelligence Community's Applicant Gateway on-line application process.

ONLY ELECTRONIC SUBMISSIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED.

How will I be evaluated?

APPLICANT EVALUATION PROCESS: Applicants will be evaluated for this job opportunity in three stages:

1) All applicants will be evaluated using the Mandatory Qualification Criteria,

2) Qualified applicants will then be evaluated by an expert or panel of experts using a combination of qualification criteria to determine the best-qualified candidates,

3) Best-qualified applicants may then be further evaluated through an interview process.

Military retiree applicants, if selected, may be impacted by the 180-day appointment restrictions of DODI 1402.01. HD personnel will provide additional information if applicable.

Applicants are encouraged to carefully review the Assignment Description, Additional Information Provided By the Selecting Official, and the Qualification Requirements; and then construct their resumes to highlight their most relevant and significant experience and education for this job opportunity. This description should include examples that detail the level and complexity of the performed work. Applicants are encouraged to provide any education information referenced in the announcement. If education is listed as a mandatory requirement, only degrees obtained from an institution accredited by an accrediting organization recognized by the Secretary, US Department of Education will be accepted.

In accordance with section 9902(h) of title 5, United States Code, annuitants reemployed in the Department of Defense shall receive full annuity and salary upon appointment. They shall not be eligible for retirement contributions, participation in the Thrift Savings Plan, or a supplemental or redetermined annuity for the reemployment period. Discontinued service retirement annuitants (i.e., retired under section 8336(d)(1) or 8414(b)(1)(A) of title 5, United States Code) appointed to the Department of Defense may elect to be subject to retirement provisions of the new appointment as appropriate. (See DoD Instruction 1400.25, Volume 300, at http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives.)

All candidates will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, disability, or sexual orientation.

NGA provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. Applications will only be accepted online. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify us at recruitment@nga.mil. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be on a case-by-case basis.

Conditions of Employment

As a condition of employment at NGA, persons being considered for employment must meet NGA fitness for employment standards.

* U.S. Citizenship Required
* Security Clearance (Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information)
* Polygraph Test Required
* Position Subject to Drug Testing
* Two Year Probationary Period
* Direct Deposit Required

DCIPS Disclaimer

NGA utilizes all processes and procedures of the Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System (DCIPS). Non-executive NGA employees are assigned to five distinct pay bands based on the type and scope of work performed. The employee's base salary is established within their assigned pay band based on their unique qualifications. A performance pay process is conducted each year to determine a potential base pay salary increase and/or bonus. An employee's annual performance evaluation is a key factor in the performance pay process. Employees on term or temporary appointments are not eligible to apply for internal assignment opportunity notices.

This position is a DCIPS position in the Excepted Service under 10 U.S.C. 1601. DoD Components with DCIPS positions apply Veterans' Preference to preference eligible candidates as defined by Section 2108 of Title 5 USC, in accordance with the procedures provided in DoD Instruction 1400.25, Volume 2005, DCIPS Employment and Placement. If you are an external applicant claiming veterans' preference, as defined by Section 2108 of Title 5 U.S.C., you must self-identify your eligibility in your application.

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