Federal

Physical Scientist

Defense Threat Reduction Agency ยท Department of Defense
๐Ÿ“ Fort Belvoir, Virginia GS-14 $143,913 - $187,093/yr
Posted: Mar 30, 2026 Deadline: Apr 6, 2026 (Closes tomorrow days left)

About This Position

This position may be filled using Direct Hire Authority: Z5CAV/Direct-Hire Authority (Certain DoD Personnel) PL 118-31, Sec 125OB (i)(2), 12/22/2023.This position is being filled under the memorandum from the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness (USD(P&R)) "Expansion of Direct Hire Authority for Certain Personnel of the Department of Defense," dated August 12,2024. This is an acquisition position. For more information please see: AcqDemo.

Qualifications

You may qualify at the GS 14 , if you fulfill the following qualifications: A. One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 grade level in the Federal service, military or private sector: Serving as a subject matter expert in physical sciences such as applied physics, analytical chemistry, or organic chemistry driving the development of advanced technology prototypes in detection, protection, modeling and simulation, and hazard mitigation Directing Program management, executed investments to facilitate project and programmatic reviews, utilized portfolio management tools to effectively track and report on progress Translating complex end-user requirements into technical objectives, prepared comprehensive technical and fiscal program plans to develop and demonstrate advanced capabilities Advising senior leadership and represented the organization on high-level committees and advisory panels with, federal, and international partners on critical matters of chemical and biological defense Evaluating Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Defense (CBRND) mission requirements, and applied acquisition regulations to ensure full program compliance and strategic alignment

In addition to meeting qualifications, your application package must reflect the applicable experience to meet the Individual Occupational Requirements for the 1301, series as listed below: 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. 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

Major Duties

As a Physical Scientist at the GS-1301-14 some of your typical work assignments may include: The position requires the individual to act as a subject matter expert in physical sciences, such as applied physics and chemistry, to guide the development of advanced technology prototypes for detection, protection, modeling, and hazard mitigation of chemical and biological threats. Key duties include: Technical Expertise: Serving as a technical expert on Science and Technology projects, translating end-user requirements into technical objectives, and preparing program plans to develop new capabilities. Program Management: Assisting in the management and execution of investments, facilitating project and programmatic reviews, and using portfolio management tools to track and report on progress.

Advisory and Liaison: Representing the agency on high-level committees, advisory panels, and expert teams. The role involves collaborating with partners across the DoD, other federal agencies, and international bodies on matters of chemical and biological defense.

Education

Substitution of education may not be used in lieu of specialized experience for this grade level.

How You Will Be Evaluated

We will review your resume and supporting documents, to ensure you meet the basic qualification requirements. We will evaluate each applicant who meets the basic qualifications on the information provided and evaluate your relevant work experiences as it relates to fundamental competencies, identified below, required for this position. Traditional rating and ranking of applications does not apply to this vacancy.

Your application (resume and supporting documentation) will be evaluated to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications required as listed on the announcement under qualification requirements. For information on entitlement see http://www.fedshirevets.gov/job/vetpref/index.aspx Appointment of Military Spouses (5 CFR 315.612) (NonComp Mil Sp): To receive this preference, you must choose to apply using the " Appointment of Military Spouses (5 CFR 315.612) (NonComp Mil Sp)" eligibility. If you are claiming Military Spouse eligibility and are determined to be Well Qualified (score of 85 or above) for the position, you will be referred to the hiring manager.

Information and required documentation for claiming Military Spouse eligibility may be found at the General Applicant Information and Definitions link below. Priority Placement Program, DoD Military Reserve (MR) and National Guard (NG) Technician Eligible:- Submit a copy of the Military Reserve and National Guard Technician Disability PPP Self-Certification Checklist and copies of the appropriate documentation, such as the notification letter you received showing you are no longer eligible for military or NG membership (through no fault of your own) and that you have completed at least 15 years of technician service and a minimum of 20 years of service creditable for non-regular retirement. Priority Placement Program (PPP) DoD Retained Grade Preference Eligible:- You must provide a signed Retained Grade PPP Self-Certification Checklist, DD3145-1 (whs.mil), a copy of your Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form (SF) 50 effecting the placement in retained grade status; or a copy of the notification letter you received regarding the RIF or classification downgrade.

Additional Information

Other Notes: ACQUISITION POSITION: This is an Acquisition Workforce position in the Program Management functional area. The incumbent will be required to become certified in the Practitioner tier within 5 years. The incumbent is required to acquire a minimum of 40 continuous learning points (CLPs) every fiscal year as a goal and 80 CLPs being mandatory within 2 years.

Noncompetitive Appointment Authorities: For more information on noncompetitive appointment authority eligibility requirements: Special Hiring Authority for Certain Military Spouses RE-EMPLOYED ANNUITANT: This position DOES NOT meet criteria for re-employed annuitant. The DoD criteria for hiring Re-employed Annuitants can be found at: https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/issuances/140025/1400.25-V300.pdf Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see Who Needs to Register | Selective Service System : Selective Service System (sss.gov))

How to Apply

To apply for this position, you must complete the online application and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below.

The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on the closing date to receive consideration. To begin, click Apply Online to access an online application.

Follow the prompts to select your USAJOBS resume and/or other supporting documents.

You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account or you may need to create a new account.

You will be taken to an online application.

Complete the online application, verify the required documentation, and submit the application.

NOTE: Resumes up to a total of two pages will be accepted. Resumes exceeding two pages will be removed from consideration.

You will receive an email notification when your application has been received for the announcement. To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account, https://www.usajobs.gov, select the Application Status link and then select the More Information link for this position. The Application Status page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and your responses submitted to the online application.

Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process. To preview the questionnaire, please go to https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12922927 Please review the General Application Information and Definitions at: https://www.dla.mil/Portals/104/Documents/Careers/downloads/DoDGenAppInfo%2012-1-2020.pdf?ver=ECNbdsHtGilTd3OENN4A0Q%3d%3d

Required Documents

The documents you are required to submit vary based on the authority you are using to apply (i.e., applying as a veteran, applying as a current permanent Federal employee, applying as a reinstatement, etc.).

Your complete application includes your COMPLETE resume, your responses to the online questionnaire, and documents which prove your eligibility to apply. If you fail to provide these documents, you will be marked as having an incomplete application package and you will not be considered any further. The following documents are REQUIRED.1.

Your resume: IMPORTANT UPDATE: Your resume must not exceed two (2) pages. If your resume exceeds the two-page limit, you will be removed from consideration for this announcement. The resume and required supporting documentation should provide the minimum qualifications and relevant experience for the announced position.

Must include the work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment, and duties performed. If multiple resumes are submitted by an applicant, only the last resume submitted will be reviewed for qualifications and referred for selection consideration, if eligible. The resume must not be more than 5MB and should be saved and uploaded as a PDF to maintain formatting and number of pages.

We also accept GIF, JPG, JPEG, PNG, RTF, TXT, PDF, ODT or Word (DOC or DOCX). We do not accept PDF portfolio files. Page margins should be 0.5 inches, and font styles must be legible. Consider using 14-point size font for titles and 10-point for the main text.

We recommend using a font like Lato, if available. Other widely available options are Calibri, Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, Open San Source Sans Pro, Roboto or Noro Sans. Additional guidance on writing a federal resume can be found at: USAJOBS Help Center - How do I write a resume for a federal job?

The resume builder can help you create a resume using these recommendations and uses the information in your USAJOBS profile to help you get started.

  1. Transcripts: This position has a degree or education requirement so you are required to submit a copy of your transcript College transcript (s), required if qualifying based on education. We accept unofficial transcripts, as long as they contain your name, the name of the school, the date and degree that was awarded, and the list of classes and credits earned.
  2. SF50 All current and former civilian Federal employees should submit a copy of your MOST RECENT SF50 (Notification of Personnel Action) showing your tenure, grade and step, salary, and type of position occupied (i.e., Excepted or Competitive); or similar Notification of Personnel Action documentation, i.e., Transcript of Service, Form 1150, etc.
  3. Veteran's Documents: If applying using veteran's preference or under a Veteran's hiring authority you must submit the following documents: DD214 showing character of service, SF-15 Form and VA letter showing final percentage, or certification of expected discharge or release from active duty. PLEASE REVIEW THE BELOW LINK FOR OTHER SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS needed for proof of eligibility: https://www.dla.mil/Portals/104/Documents/Careers/downloads/DODCustomersRequiredSupportingDocumentation.pdf?

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the salary for the Physical Scientist position at Defense Threat Reduction Agency?
The salary range for this position is $143,913 - $187,093/yr. This is a GS-14 position on the General Schedule pay scale. Actual pay may vary based on locality adjustments.
Where is the Physical Scientist job located?
This position is located in Fort Belvoir, Virginia. This is an on-site position.
What qualifications do I need?
You may qualify at the GS 14 , if you fulfill the following qualifications: A. One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 grade level in the Federal service, military or private sector: Serving as a subject matter expert in physical sciences such as applied physics, analytical chemistry, or organic chemistry driving the developme...
How do I apply for this position?
Apply through USAJobs.gov by clicking the 'Apply on USAJobs' button. You'll need a USAJobs account, a federal-style resume, and supporting documents. The deadline is Apr 6, 2026.
Is a security clearance required?
Yes, a Top Secret clearance is required.
What does GS-14 mean?
GS-14 refers to the General Schedule grade level. Higher grades require more experience and offer higher pay. Visit our GS Pay Scale page for full salary tables by grade and locality.
What benefits do federal employees receive?
Federal employees receive comprehensive benefits including health insurance (FEHB), retirement through FERS, Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) with government matching, paid annual and sick leave, paid parental leave, life insurance, and student loan repayment programs.