National Reconnaissance Office (NRO)

Systems Engineering Directorate - Technical Career Field - Full Performance

Continuous Announcement - Chantilly, VA - Full Time

WE ARE THE NRO

For sixty years, the NRO has developed, acquired, launched and operated the satellites that are the foundation for America’s advantage and strength in space. Using a diversified architecture of spacecraft, NRO collects and delivers the best space-based intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance content on the planet.

Learn more at NRO.gov.

Basic Eligibility For A Position With The NRO

  • You must be a U.S. Citizen
  • You must be 18 years of age or older
  • You must be able to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI security clearance
  • You will be subject to pre-employment and periodic drug testing
  • You will be subject to pre-employment and periodic polygraph examinations

Federal Employee Vaccination Requirement 

To ensure compliance with nationwide COVID-19 vaccine protocols, please visit NRO Apply Now to review the latest guidance.

Where You Will Work 

The NRO is collecting resumes for consideration against current opportunities for Technical Professionals (occupational series 0801, 1301, and 1501 in the Systems Engineering Directorate (SED).  SED is the single National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) entity that leads the end-to-end integration of space, ground, operations, launch, and technology insertion activities for the NRO to ensure mission success of the Nation’s reconnaissance satellite systems on behalf of the Director of the NRO. SED defines, assesses, and delivers the Integrate NRO Enterprise to achieve end-to-end Mission Success. Enterprise System Engineering is leading the NRO transformation from individual systems to an integrated enterprise. Key to the transformation is an increasingly complex integrated NRO enterprise in parallel with the transformation of Systems Engineering to Digital Engineering. We will continue to achieve mission success by building and integrating the next generation NRO Enterprise. We originate new and improved applications and strategies for engineering or architecture concepts, theories, and principles that affect the planning, completion, and direction of major engineering or architecture projects.

As part of the SED team, you will…

… be empowered to provide direct mission impact to end users

… have global reach

… have the ability to work directly with all NRO Mission Partners

… work in a truly dynamic and rewarding environment

… join a team of innovators, enablers, processors, and collaborators

… gain invaluable experience for future assignments

The NRO Cadre is collecting resumes for consideration against current and future opportunities for full performance level (GGS-11/GGS-12/GGS-13), General Engineer, occupational series 0801, General Mathematics and Statistics, occupational series 1501, and General Physical Science, occupational series 1301. For more information on the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) occupational series, click here.

Your resume may be considered for other positions which your skills and experience may be a good match.

This is a full-time position that is a continuous announcement.

Who May Apply

  • This position is open to the public and requires U.S. Citizenship plus the ability to hold a Top Secret Security Clearance.
  • Federal government employees MUST currently be at the grade level or higher as indicated in this announcement.  This is NOT a promotion opportunity for current Federal government employees. If selected for the position, Federal government employees will transition laterally at their current grade level and step.
  • Federal applicants who exceed the advertised grade may voluntarily request acceptance at the lower grade IAW DoD 1400.25 Volume 2006.
  • The NRO is only accepting external applicants for this job announcement.  Current NRO Cadre or IC employees should apply internally or via the Joint Duty Assignment process.
  • This position does not qualify for the appointment of a Reemployed Federal Annuitant IAW DoDI 1400.25 Volume 300

What You Will Be Doing 

SED Office Roles/Functions:

Office of the Chief Architect (OCA): OCA seeks engineers/analysts to be responsible for serving as an architecture portfolio analyst on one or several enterprise architecture portfolios (i.e. Enterprise Resiliency and Mission Assurance, Data Transport, ISR Preeminence, Mission Integration, Warfighter Support, or Strategic Technology Advancement), providing technical and professional advice on engineering, physical science and/or mathematical/statistical issues affecting the NRO.  Portfolio engineers/analysts help advance the NRO enterprise in delivering capability by conducting and overseeing technical analyses and assessments to support senior-level decision making, maturing concepts and strategies as necessary, and developing planning guidance to drive investment and assess budget execution. They evaluate the utility of new and/or improved concepts, technology, and strategies and work to determine feasibility, enterprise utility, and risk. Portfolio engineers/analysts will execute often ambiguous tasks requiring new analytic approaches, sophisticated analytical techniques, creative data collection, and utilize the enterprise digital engineering model.

Office of the Chief Engineer (OCE): OCE provides end-to-end Enterprise Systems Engineering in partnership with the NRO Directorates and Offices ensuring mission system closure and NRO operational success supporting national defense. OCE seeks engineers to be responsible for the following: Perform Enterprise Systems Engineering functions for the full lifecycle of NRO programs; Serve as the SED focal point for all capability area efforts; Lead all Enterprise Process Activities (e.g. Lifecycle engineering support, risk management, and configuration management) for the NRO; Lead all Enterprise Verification, Validation, and Test (VV&T) activities for the NRO.

 

Office of Enterprise Analysis (OEA): OEA creates insights through analysis as the trusted provider of independent analytic rigor in the NRO decision-making process. Our enterprise modeling, simulation, and analysis studies support the NRO leadership and stakeholders to ensure fully informed decisions that consider NRO corporate knowledge, history, and on-orbit experience. OEA seeks analysts/engineers to be responsible for the following:  Lead a modeling, simulation, and analysis portfolio to evaluate the technical performance of the NRO enterprise against mission needs; and Collaborate across SED, the NRO, and IC/DoD mission partners to define analysis needs, conduct integrated analysis projects, and deliver analysis insights.

 

Office of Digital Engineering (ODE): ODE optimizes systems engineering execution by combining technology, training, and digital engineering (DE) techniques to better define, assess, integrate, and deliver the NRO Enterprise. ODE seeks engineers to be responsible for the following: Combining cutting-edge digital engineering technology and processes to define DE standards, practices, and methods.  Delivering the NRO’s premier DE environment and developing new data management approaches to leverage authoritative engineering and technical data in accessible and discoverable data stores.

 

What You Need

Baccalaureate or Graduate Degree: technical or scientific field (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics {STEM}) for example, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, physics, physical science, chemistry, mathematics, statistics, operations research, engineering management, or computer science. Individual occupations have specific educational requirements but a STEM degree is prerequisite for all. Actual degree and courses required will be determined based on qualification of individual for the position.

Other Information

  • Overtime Statement:  MAY be required to work other than normal duty hours, which may include evenings, weekends, and/or holidays.
  • Travel Statement:  MAY be required to travel in military or commercial aircraft to perform temporary duty assignments.
  • Financial Disclosure:  MAY be required to file an OGE Form 450, Confidential Financial Disclosure Report, upon appointment and will be required to file annually.
  • Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) coded positions: If selected for a DAWIA coded position, the incumbent must meet appropriate certification requirements IAW the Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) no later than 24 months after accepting this position. Individual shall maintain, at a minimum 80 continuous Learning Points every 24 months via the services acquisition management system. DAWIA requirements may be located at the Defense Acquisition University website.
  • Geographic Mobility Agreement: MAY be subject to directed reassignment as required to address mission effectiveness, and/or career development.
  • Information Assurance (IA): Must achieve the appropriate IA certification within six months of assignment.
  • Emergency Essential: Certain positions MAY be deemed emergency essential and incumbents must be willing to meet all position requirements.

Location

Chantilly, VA

Telework is not available and you must be able to work at the specified location(s).

Salary

This position meets the qualifications for Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System (DCIPS) Targeted Local Market Supplement (TLMS) STEM pay for NRO Cadre employees and candidates as authorized by the office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security's (OUSD(I&S)).  Cadre employees and candidates are eligible to receive STEM pay if they are currently serving in a STEM designated position. Should a Cadre employee or candidate earning STEM pay change positions within the organization, they must be assigned to another STEM qualifying position in order to continue to remain eligible for STEM pay.  Otherwise, Cadre employees and Candidates Generally would be transitioned to the DCIPS GG Pay Scale. For more information on STEM pay, visit https://dcips.defense.gov/Human-Resources/Compensation/

2023 STEM Pay Scale for the Washington, DC area:

   GGS-11 $97,876 - $133,759 – To qualify, candidate must have a minimum of three years relevant experience.

   GG-12 $109,492 - $149,640 - To qualify, candidate must have a minimum of four years relevant     experience.

   GG-13 $123,437 - $168,694 - To qualify, candidate must have a minimum of six years relevant experience.

**This position is a full performance level DCIPS position. The NRO is accepting applications from U.S. Citizens and current federal government employees for this position.  To qualify for the position, federal government employees MUST currently be at the GG-11, GG-12 or GG-13 grade level and may ONLY apply for a lateral reassignment at their current grade level and step. Federal applicants who exceed the advertised grade may voluntarily request acceptance at the lower grade per IAW DoD 1400.25 Volume 2006.

Hiring Incentives

The NRO may offer hiring incentives and other entitlements at management’s discretion.

Trial Period

All new DCIPS employees will be required to serve a 2-year trial period.

Veterans’ Preference

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, Vol 2005, DCIPS Employment and Placement.  If you are a veteran claiming veterans’ preference, as defined by section 2108 of Title 5 USC, you must submit documents verifying your eligibility upon request.

Equal Employment Opportunity Policy

The United States Government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factor.

Reasonable Accommodation Policy

Federal agencies must provide reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process should follow the instructions in the job opportunity announcement. For any part of the remaining hiring process, applicants should contact the hiring agency directly. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.

A reasonable accommodation is any change to a job, the work environment, or the way things are usually done that enables an individual with a disability to apply for a job, perform job duties or receive equal access to job benefits.

Under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, federal agencies must provide reasonable accommodations when:

  • An applicant with a disability needs an accommodation to have an equal opportunity to apply for a job.
  • An employee with a disability needs an accommodation to perform the essential job duties or to gain access to the workplace.
  • An employee with a disability needs an accommodation to receive equal access to benefits, such as details, training, and office-sponsored events.

You can request a reasonable accommodation at any time during the application or hiring process or while on the job. Requests are considered on a case-by-case basis. Please send your request to [email protected].

Privacy Act Notice

Privacy Act Notice (PL 93-579): We use this information to determine qualifications for employment. This is authorized under Title 5 U.S.C. 3302 and 3361.

Read more about the Privacy Act of 1974 

 

 

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