Job summary

You will serve as the Distinguished Scientist for Energetic Materials at the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Indian Head Division, Naval Sea Systems Command. This position is a direct report to the Technical Director who serves as an SES. This position supports the Division's efforts by providing the technical consultation and leadership necessary to coordinate the research, development, and test and evaluation of energetic material for the Navy.

Major duties

You will serve as the Navy expert in area of energetic material ingredients to include structure, morphology, bulk qualification, and mechanical properties for new and existing materials. You will serve as the Navy expert in energetic formulations to include characteristics, processing, performance, and test and evaluation. You will act as an expert in advanced modeling techniques for predicting energetic material behavior and initiation/energy release mechanisms. You will serve as the Navy energetic material Science and Technology (ST) and research, development, test and evaluation expert with respect to chemistry (energetics and related inserts), hazards, safety, characterization, and performance. You will research, design, synthesize, and characterize new energetic molecules and novel formulations to improve performance and/or explosive and propellant safety and vulnerability. You will serve as the Navy senior technical energetic materials expert for Navy and DoD- related programs and issues for other Navy, DoD, and DOE laboratories; academic institutions; and private corporations. You will be required to conceive new energetic materials based on sponsor/warfighter requirements and develop routes/approaches toward their preparation, and to document scientific accomplishments in patents, reports, and the open literature.

Qualification

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIREMENTS: Applicants will be assessed against Mandatory Technical Qualifications (MTQs). Failure to provide a separate narrative statement which describes fully and concisely how your experience meets the Mandatory Technical Qualifications will eliminate you from consideration. MANDATORY TECHNICAL QUALIFICATIONS: (Each must be addressed separately in your Supplemental Narrative Statement. Each MTQ must not exceed 2 pages.) 1. The incumbent plans, manages, and executes programs providing innovative solutions in S&T and R&D areas related to energetic materials and formulations. The incumbent serves as a technical expert in support of Navy RDT&E Programs. 2. The incumbent is a recognized technical expert in chemical phenomenology, advanced modeling, compatibility, scale-up testing, and synthetic techniques to assess vulnerability to stimuli, design new energetic materials, and enhance performance and reduce vulnerability. Provides senior technical consultation to NSWC leadership as well as to leadership of the PEOs, the SYSCOMS, and the Navy. 3. The incumbent formulates plans, organizes, controls, reviews, and approves the Navy's efforts in energetic materials and formulations. The incumbent is responsible for ensuring that these programs and systems are responsive to changing Fleet requirements and advanced technologies. The incumbent is assigned full management and technical responsibility for the direction and operation of related programs within established policies and resources assigned by higher management, and is responsible to draft and present technical information materials that convincingly gain support and acceptance of their recommendations. 4. Knowledge of government, academic, and industrial RDT&E policies and procedures. Ability to focus unclassified scientific research based on assessment of warfighter needs developed and protected within classified domains. Ability to communicate effectively with SES-level research sponsors at ONR, OPNAV, and OSD. 5. Mentoring and competency development of technical areas in support of duties will include coordinating programs that address varied energetic materials/formulations. 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/#GS-PROF 1301 General Physical Science Series 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.

Education

A. Degree: physical science, engineering, or mathematics that included 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science such as mechanics, dynamics, properties of materials, and electronics. -or- B. Combination of education and experience -- education equivalent to one of the majors shown in A above that included at least 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

Evaluations

All candidates will be screened against the above listed minimum qualifications required. Candidates considered basically qualified will be further reviewed by a panel of subject matter experts for preliminary evaluation and recommendation for review by the Navy Science and Technology Personnel Review Board who will recommend via the Chief of Naval Research the best qualified candidate(s) to the official authorized to make the selection. If selected, you may be required to provide supporting documentation. All qualifications requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.