National Reconnaissance Office (NRO)

Director, COMM Architecture & systems Engineering (CASE)

Open until: December 5, 2024 - 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

Where You Will Work 


Director, COMM Architecture & Systems Engineering (CASE). The Director, CASE is accountable to the D/COMM-CIO and provides Strategic Planning, Architecture, Standards, and Systems Engineering support to the COMM Top 4, COMM Program, Project and Service Domain Managers, and supporting staffs to ensure the successful execution of transport and infrastructure acquisitions and services that meet the expectations of COMM’s customers supporting the NRO mission.

The NRO Cadre is collecting resumes for consideration against current and future opportunities for Senior level (GG-15), General Engineers/Technical Analysts, occupational series 0801/1301/1501. 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 open from November 21, 2024 to December 5, 2024.  Resumes must be submitted
by 11:59 PM EST on December 5, 2024.

Who May Apply
  • This position is open to the public.
  • 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 per IAW DoD 1400.25 Volume 2006.
  • The NRO is only accepting external applicants for this job announcement. Current NRO Cadre employees should apply internally.
  • This position may not qualify for the appointment of a reemployed federal annuitant IAW DoDI 1400.25 Volume 300.

What You Will Be Doing 
 
  • Exercises supervisory personnel management responsibilities.
  • Directs, coordinates, and oversees work through subordinate supervisors. Advises staff regarding policies, procedures, and directives of higher-level management or headquarters.
  • Selects candidates for subordinate non-supervisory positions and recommends selections for subordinate supervisory positions taking into consideration skills and qualifications, mission requirements, and EEO and Diversity objectives
  • Solves systemic management problems of major significance through staff coordination and meetings with NRO, IC, and contractor leadership. Participates in internal and external meetings and conferences, and for complex and critical fiscal and programming negotiations.
  • Serves as senior program representative at high-level conferences and meetings with representatives from the Department of Defense (DoD), other Intelligence Community (IC) partners, military services and agencies, and private industry. Has the authority to commit resources utilizing laws, principles, policies, and practices of systems acquisition and program management. 

What You Need
 
  • Baccalaureate or Graduate Degree: technical or scientific field (STEM) such as 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.
 
  • Expert knowledge of the principles, concepts, and methodologies of electronics, aerospace, structural, and materials engineering disciplines in addition to extensive knowledge of mathematics, physics, operations research, and computer sciences to perform assigned duties and responsibilities.

  • Mastery of management and executive knowledge and ability to the extent that the experience demonstrates specialization in areas such as program management, manpower management, resource management and/or financial management, civilian and/or military human resources management, and intelligence operations.
 
  • Expert and detailed knowledge of management and leadership theory and practice, with the demonstrated ability to apply management theory (including experimental theory) to resolve issues, recommend policy and solve problems not susceptible to treatment by accepted methods; and to make decisions or recommendations significantly changing, interpreting, or developing important policies and programs.

  • Federal and Departmental Policies and Procedures Knowledge - Understands and applies knowledge of Federal and Departmental statutes, regulations, policies, and procedures. - Identifies and addresses process problems promptly and follows through to ensure that corrective or recommended process updates are effectively implemented.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
 
  • Experience with NRO missions, programs, management processes and operations.
  • Sound understanding of intelligence satellite systems.
  • Program Management or technical management expertise (i.e., cost, performance, schedule, and technical reporting) to accomplish the duties and responsibilities of the position.

Qualifying experience may have been acquired in any public or private sector job, but will clearly demonstrate past experience in the application of the particular competencies/knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to successfully perform and is typically in or directly related to the duties of the position as described above. Experience must be reflected in your resume. 


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.
  • DAWIA: This is a Defense Acquisition Work Improvement Act (DAWIA) position:Employees Grade 15 designated in Critical Acquisition Positions, must meet appropriate certification requirements IAW the DAWIA within the designated grace period (Practitioner- 5 years) after accepting the position. As a Critical Acquisition Position (CAP), unless specifically waived by the appropriate Component Official (i.e., the Director of Acquisition Career Management for the Component, the Service Acquisition Executive, or the Service Secretary) or if the employee is "grandfathered" under 10 U.S.C. 1736 (c) (1), the following are statutorily mandatory requirements (Reference 10 U.S.C. 1733 and 1737). Employee must execute, as a condition of employment, a written tenure agreement to maintain in Federal Service in this position for at least three years. In signing such an agreement, the employee does not forfeit any employment rights, nor does such an agreement alter any other terms or conditions of employment.
  • Mobility Statement: Mobility is a condition of employment.
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/

2024 Stem pay salary range:

GG-15 $163,017 – $191,900. 

**This position is a full performance level/senior 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 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

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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.
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