Fresh Listing

Posted: March 16, 2026 (0 days ago)

This job was posted recently. Fresh listings typically have less competition.

Physical Scientist

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Department of Commerce

Fresh

Location

Salary

$74,678 - $133,142

per year

Closes

GS-11 Pay Grade

Base salary range: $62,107 - $80,737

Typical requirements: 1 year specialized experience at GS-10. Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, or 3 years graduate study.

Note: Actual salary includes locality pay (15-40%+ depending on location).

Job Description

Summary

This job involves working as a physical scientist for NOAA, focusing on collecting and managing environmental data from sources like aircraft, ships, or drones, analyzing it to create useful scientific products, and building tools like databases or websites to share the data with others.

It's ideal for someone with a background in physical sciences or engineering who enjoys hands-on data work and collaborating with teams to solve environmental challenges.

The role supports weather, climate, and ocean research, primarily based in Mississippi but with potential openings in other U.S. locations.

Key Requirements

  • Bachelor's degree in physical science, engineering, or mathematics with at least 24 semester hours in physical science or related engineering fields
  • One year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-09 level, including collecting environmental data via airborne, shipboard, or uncrewed platforms
  • Experience managing environmental datasets for scientific quality, metadata standards, or long-term archival
  • Skills in analyzing environmental datasets using programming languages like Python or R, and data formats like NetCDF or HDF5
  • Ability to collaborate with stakeholders to develop databases, websites, or web services for data accessibility
  • Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, or 3 years of graduate education, as substitution or combination with experience

Full Job Description

This announcement is recruiting for the Stennis Space Center, MS duty location.

For the purpose of filling positions in multiple locations in the future, the certificate(s) from this announcement may also be used to fill positions in Asheville, NC, Boulder, CO, College Park, MD, Suitland, MD, Silver Spring, MD, Fort Collins, CO, and Madison, WI.

Candidates who would like immediate consideration for this position should select the Stennis Space Center, MS duty location when applying.

Qualification requirements in the vacancy announcements are based on the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards Handbook, which contains federal qualification standards.

This handbook is available on the Office of Personnel Management's website located at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/ BASIC REQUIREMENTS: This position has a positive Education Requirement in addition to at least one year of Specialized Experience OR substitution of education for experience OR combination (if applicable) in order to be found minimally qualified.

Transcripts must be submitted with your application package. You MUST meet the following requirements: To qualify for the 1301 series: 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.

-AND - SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to the next lower grade level in the Federal Service.

Specialized experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular competencies/knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position.

This experience need not have been in the federal government.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations 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.

You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

To qualify at the ZP-3 or GS-11 level: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: In addition to meeting the Basic Requirements above, applicants must also possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the ZP-2 or GS-09 in the Federal service.

Specialized experience MUST include all of the following: Collecting environmental data via airborne, shipboard or uncrewed platforms (e.g., UxS/radar) or managing environmental datasets for one or more of the following: scientific quality, metadata standards, or long term archival; Analyzing environmental datasets to develop scientific products and services, utilizing modern programming languages (e.g., Python, R, or similar) or industry-standard data formats (NetCDF, HDF5, or equivalent); and Collaborating with technical or non-technical stakeholders to identify requirements and implementing databases, websites, or web services to make data easy for others to find and use.

OR SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION: Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree.

OR COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: A combination of successfully completed graduate-level education and specialized experience may be used to meet the total experience requirements.

Note: Only graduate-level education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level may be combined with experience. Major Duties:

This position is located in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS), National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), with 1 vacancy in Stennis Space Center, MS.

As a Physical Scientist, you will perform the following duties: Manage diverse and heterogeneous environmental data systems and use applications to analyze and disseminate environmental data.

Develop data acquisition, processing, and storage strategies, and establish permanent data archiving procedures.

Provide strategic leadership for environmental data management and develop products and services for internal and external customers using data management software and applications.

Analyze, evaluate, and interpret complex data needed to determine and predict a variety of factors. Develop, produce, and deliver interpretive products as required to communicate analyzed data.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT: Must be able to obtain and maintain a Non-Critical Sensitive security clearance to carry out duties requiring access to Confidential and/or Secret documents, systems, or attend meetings.

This is due to the sensitivity of oceanographic and/or atmospheric data collected by the U.S. Military which may compromise National Security projects, issues, or engagements.

This position is subject to both pre-employment and random drug testing as a condition of employment. Applicants will not be appointed to the position if a verified positive drug test is received.

Throughout the recruitment and hiring process we will be communicating with you via email; therefore, it is imperative that the email address you provide when applying for this vacancy remains active.

Should your email address change, please notify the point of contact identified in the vacancy announcement as soon as possible so that we can update our system.

Check your resume before applying to catch common mistakes

Browse Similar Jobs

Posted on USAJOBS: 3/16/2026 | Added to FreshGovJobs: 3/16/2026

Source: USAJOBS | ID: NESDIS-26-12906181-DHA