ENGINEER/SCIENTIST
What you'd do
You will serve as the High Energy Laser (HEL) Weapon Systems Architect in the Laser Weapon System Technology and Lethality Branch (E11) in the Integrated Engagement Systems Department (E) of NAVSURFWARCENDLD. This position is part of the Warfare Centers Personnel Demonstration Project. ND-05 is equivalent to GS-14/15.
Major duties
You will define and oversee the overall system architecture for HEL weapon systems. You will establish common designs, scale technologies, and integrate advanced capabilities into cohesive, fieldable platforms. You will drive the optimization of laser weapon systems for Size, Weight, Power, and Cooling to enable successful integration onto challenging host platforms, including ships, USVs, and aerial/ground vehicles. You will perform trade-off analyses among key technology areas, such as laser sources, beam control, trackers, optics, atmospheric compensation, and power/thermal management to meet system lethality requirements. You will coordinate the efforts of Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) across hardware, software, and lethality disciplines to bridge the gap between specialized subsystem research and development and total system architecture. You will partner with modeling and simulation SMEs to develop key system performance parameters that are essential to engagement analysis, mission analysis, and campaign analysis. You will collaborate with academia, industry, and program offices to foster and transition critical technologies that will enable greater system performance and enhanced lethality for future laser weapon systems. You will provide senior-level technical guidance and mentorship to engineers and scientists by teaching technical short courses, conducting hands-on training, and reviewing technical designs and documents for laser weapon systems. You will communicate complex technical concepts, designs, and technology transition plans to senior stakeholders to promote and retain program advocacy. You will lead the design, development, and fielding of cutting-edge High Energy Laser systems; establish common designs, scaling technologies, and integrating advanced capabilities into fieldable platforms. You will act as the primary technical visionary bridging the gap between specialized subsystem research and total system architecture by coordinating Subject Matter Experts across hardware, software, and lethality disciplines.
What you need to qualify
Your resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the ND-04 (GS-12/13 equivalent) pay band in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private or public sector as a professional Engineer or Scientist leading the architectural design, system-level integration, or hands-on development of High Energy Laser (HEL) weapon systems. Examples of specialized experience may include: designing and integrating HEL subsystems (e.g., laser sources, beam control, trackers, thermal management, or power systems) into a cohesive weapon architecture; leading hands-on testing, fabrication, or troubleshooting of laser-specific optical paths, connections, and subsystems; collaboration with Modeling and Simulation (M&S) teams to analyze and validate HEL total system performance and effectiveness; developing and defining system-level architectures, interface controls, and specifications for HEL military weapon platforms. Additional qualification information can be found from the following Office of Personnel Management website: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/#url=List-by-Occupational-Series AND https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0800/files/all-professional-engineering-positions-0800.pdf General Physical Science Series, 1301 (opm.gov) Operations Research Series 1515 (opm.gov) Computer Science Series 1550 (opm.gov) Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., professional, philanthropic, religious, spiritual, community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment.
Before you apply
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