Interdisciplinary General Engineer/Physical Scientist

Department of Energy - Agency Wide

  • Germantown, Maryland
  • $121,785 – $158,322
  • Today
  • General Engineering
  • Federal

Listed Jul 24, 2026

About the job

Summary

This position is part of the Office of Environment, Health, Safety, and Security, Department of Energy. As an Interdisciplinary General Engineer/Physical Scientist, you will serve as the subject matter expert in the policies and procedures governing DOE information classification and control. You will manage DOE on-site evaluations of the classification and Unclassified Controlled Nuclear Information programs to ensure compliance with applicable national directives and DOE policies and orders.

Duties

The mission of the Office of Environment, Health, Safety and Security (EHSS) as the Department's central organization, is to be responsible for health, safety, environment, and security; providing corporate-level leadership and strategic vision to coordinate and integrate these vital programs. EHSS is responsible for policy development and technical assistance; safety analysis; and corporate safety and security programs. EHSS advises DOE Senior Leadership on all matters related to environment, health, safety and security across the complex. We are truly honored that DOE has been named America's #1 Best Employer for Veterans in 2023 by Forbes-not only among Government agencies, but among employers across the U.S. We are so proud of this ranking which reflects our commitment to the employment of veterans. As so many veterans at DOE renew their service to our Nation, we are deeply committed to their success and advancement. Veterans shape the future of energy As an Interdisciplinary General Engineer/Physical Scientist. you will: Manage multi-site evaluations of information classification and control programs to ensure federal headquarters, field elements, and contractor organizations comply with national nuclear security policies and directives by planning and coordinating on-site reviews. Perform quality control reviews and processes appeals of classified, declassified, and unclassified controlled nuclear information to determine appropriate public disclosure, by systematically analyzing documents under the Freedom of Information Act and Mandatory Declassification Review requirements. Prepare and coordinate comprehensive inspection reports with observations and finding supported by national classification and controlled information policies and requirements. Evaluate classification decisions on documents containing nuclear weapons and related technologies and security related information to determine if classification guidance provided by government agencies was accurately applied and provide detailed analysis of any issues identified and their potential damage to national security.

Qualifications

You must meet both the "Basic Requirement" and the "Specialized Experience" to qualify for this series as described below. Please see "Education" section for the Basic Requirement. SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS: A qualified candidate's online application and resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level GS-12 in the Federal service. Specialized experience for this position is defined as meeting ALL of the following: Applying national policies, statutes, and directives governing the classification, declassification, and control of sensitive information to include classified national security information, Restricted Data, Formerly Restricted Data, and Unclassified Controlled Nuclear Information. Reviewing and analyzing technical or security-related documents to evaluate risks to national security and determine public releasability under Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) or Mandatory Declassification Review (MDR) protocols. Conducting technical compliance audits, evaluations, or appraisals of classification and information control programs within headquarters, field offices, or contractor organizations. Education cannot be substituted for specialized experience at the GS-13 grade level. "Experience" refers to paid and unpaid experience. Examples of qualifying unpaid experience may include: volunteer work done through National Service programs (such as Peace Corps and AmeriCorps); as well as work for other community-based philanthropic and social organizations. 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. CTAP/ICTAP candidates: To be considered "well qualified" you must meet all of the requirements as described in this section. You must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Evaluations

This position is announced under a government-wide Direct-Hire Authority (DHA) for Interdisciplinary General Engineer/Physical Scientist positions in the 0801/1301 series. Under the DHA, applicants who meet the Education and Qualification requirements listed in this announcement will be referred for consideration. Veteran's Preference, category rating, and traditional rating and ranking of applicants do not apply under the DHA process. Appointments made under the DHA are processed as "new" appointments. Current Federal employees may be required to serve a new probationary period (5 CFR 315.802(b). Successful candidates will possess the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics): Flexibility Legal, Government and Jurisprudence Nuclear Physics Quality Assurance Security Technical Competence CTAP/ICTAP Eligible Applicants: To receive selection priority, you must submit the following documentation with your application: Proof of Eligibility: A copy of your agency-issued Reduction in Force (RIF) separation notice, a copy of your separation SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action) noting transition/displaced status, or other official agency documentation confirming your eligible status. Proof of Performance Rating: A copy of your most recent performance appraisal/rating of record, which must include: Your final rating (must be at least "Fully Successful" or equivalent); and The rating scale/guide (explaining what each level/numeric score means), unless the rating scale is clearly defined on the appraisal document itself. Note: While a formal performance appraisal is highly recommended and requested to expedite your evaluation, if your agency-issued RIF separation notice or other official separation documentation explicitly states that your performance was at least "Fully Successful" (or equivalent) and notes your rating of record, it may be accepted in lieu of a formal performance appraisal. Failure to provide any documentation proving a rating of at least "Fully Successful" or equivalent will result in the loss of your priority consideration. Shared Certificates: The Department of Energy shares lists of applicants among its internal Departmental Elements and organizations. You may be referred for consideration to other DOE Hiring Managers throughout the Department for more than one position based on this application. By applying to this announcement, you understand your application materials may be shared with multiple Hiring Mangers throughout DOE. If additional positions are filled from this announcement conditions of employment may differ. You will be notified if you are referred for additional positions. You must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date (07/31/2026) of this announcement. To preview the Assessment Questionnaire, click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13016014

How to apply Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply for this position, you must complete the initial online application, to include submission of the required documentation specified in the Required Documents section. A complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on the announcement closing date to receive consideration. The application process is as follows: Read all instructions before you begin. Click "Apply Online." Complete the application and attach all required documents. Submit by 11:59 PM ET on the 07/31/2026. Resume Tips: Max 2 pages and 5MB file size. PDF is recommended to preserve formatting; we also accept GIF, JPG, JPEG, PNG, RTF, TXT, ODT, or Word (DOC/DOCX). No PDF portfolios. Use clear fonts like Lato, Calibri, Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, Open Sans, Source Sans Pro, Roboto, or Noto Sans. Set 0.5-inch margins. Use 14-point font for titles, 10-point for main text. Managing Your Application: Update: Edit your application in USAJOBS before the closing date. Status: Log into USAJOBS to view your application status. Learn more here: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/. Support: USAJOBS Help: Visit https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/ for login.gov or USAJOBS assistance. Application Issues: If you have difficulty applying online, contact the Agency Contact listed in this announcement during business hours. Take screenshots of any system errors. To update your application, including supporting documentation: During the announcement open period, return to your USAJOBS account, find your application record, and click Edit my application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed. To verify the status of your application, during and after the announcement open period, log into your USAJOBS account; applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each application status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/.

Other information The U.S. Department of Energy fosters a diverse and inclusive workplace and is an Equal Opportunity Employer. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional similar vacancies across DOE. For general information on government wide Telework polices visit: www.telework.gov Hiring incentives may be authorized in accordance with agency policy and if funding is available. EEO Policy: https://www.energy.gov/justice/eeo-complaint-process Employees or applicants may request Reasonable Accommodation (RA) for assistance, when applying or competing for a job or performing a job due to their medical condition or to exercise their religious beliefs. If you need reasonable accommodation in the application or selection process, please contact the Staffing Specialist listed on this vacancy announcement. Reasonable Accommodation Policy: https://www.energy.gov/hc/articles/reasonable-accommodation-and-personal-assistance-service-procedures Veterans Information: https://www.energy.gov/careers/veterans-military-spouses Selective Service Registration: http://www.sss.gov/ The Fair Chance Act prohibits specific inquiries concerning an applicant's criminal or credit background unless the hiring agency has made a conditional offer of employment to the applicant. An applicant may submit a complaint to the agency within 30 calendar days of the date of alleged noncompliance by completing the Fair Chance Act Intake Form and submitting it to the Administrative Investigations Program at AdministrativeInvestigations@hq.doe.gov.

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