Ged - Chief Engineer, Integrated Intelligence Systems - Senior Level

WE ARE THE NRO
For sixty years, the NRO has developed, acquired, launched and operated the satellites that are the foundation for America's advantage and strength in space. Using a diversified architecture of spacecraft, NRO collects and delivers the best space-based intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance content on the planet.
Learn more at NRO.gov.
Basic Eligibility For A Position With The NRO

• You must be a U.S. Citizen
• You must be 18 years of age or older
• You must be able to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI security clearance
• You will be subject to pre-employment and periodic drug testing
• You will be subject to pre-employment and periodic polygraph examinations

Where You Will Work
The Ground Enterprise Directorate (GED) determines how to leverage the largest collection of satellite reconnaissance data on the globe to solve global security challenges of military and strategic importance. GED is looking for curious, innovative, self-starters who are not daunted by ambiguity, constantly evolving challenges, and petabytes of data. A candidate should be comfortable leading teams that perform problem framing, data analysis, exploration, detailed analysis, and developing or designing solutions. The candidate will be able to plan, carry out special projects and programs without supervision. This candidate should have mastery over their field and be comfortable with both written and oral communications at the executive level (general officers, agency leadership, and national intelligence managers).
Candidate will serve as the Chief Data Scientist in the NRO's Ground Enterprise Directorate (GED)/Integrated Intelligence Systems Program Office (I2SPO). The candidate is responsible for translating user needs into data products, models, and solutions. This role will work across programs to address strategic and tactical intelligence problems relating to engineering, data fusion, correlation, Multi-Intelligence (Multi-INT) detections and object tracking. This position requires an understanding of enterprise data fabric/mesh architecture, data analytic environment architecture, distributed cloud (commercial + on-premises + edge) architecture, software development environment architecture, and applied data engineering expertise. Additionally, the position requires an ability to lead systems engineering, analysis, development, integration, and test activities required to deliver complex next-generation software-based multi-INT, Activity Based Intelligence (ABI), automated collection orchestration, advanced sensemaking capabilities, object based orchestration, production, and custody. This includes the development of architecture products, concept of operation, and solution epics via the implementation of Agile engineering and modern software development processes across a portfolio of I2SPO programs to ensure systems are integrated and tested to deliver required capabilities.
The Communications Systems Directorate (COMM) is the largest directorate in the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) employing more than 4,000 + personnel worldwide. Our teams are responsible for the installation, maintenance, performance, and security of the NRO's network architecture and information technology (IT) infrastructure. COMM creates and supports products, service, and capabilities that are essential to every NRO mission, business, and enterprise function. Warfighters, Intelligence Community (IC) partners, and key senior decision-makers need overhead intelligence to accomplish their missions. COMM directly enables the collection, transmission, and process of this valuable intelligence.
The NRO Cadre is collecting resumes for consideration against current and future opportunities for Senior Level (GG-14). Data Scientist, occupational series 1501. For more information on the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) occupational series, click here.
Your resume may be considered for other positions which your skills and experience may be a good match.
This is a full-time position that is open from November 27th, 2023 to December 13th, 2023. Resumes must be submitted by 11:59 PM EST on November 1st, 2023.
Who May Apply

• This position is open to the public and requires U.S. Citizenship plus the ability to hold a Top Secret Security Clearance.
• Federal government employees MUST currently be at the grade level or higher as indicated in this announcement. This is NOT a promotion opportunity for current Federal government employees. If selected for the position, Federal government employees will transition laterally at their current grade level and step.
• Federal applicants who exceed the advertised grade may voluntarily request acceptance at the lower grade IAW DoD 1400.25 Volume 2006.
• The NRO is only accepting external applicants for this job announcement. Current NRO Cadre or IC employees should apply internally or via the Joint Duty Assignment process.

What You Will Be Doing

• Exercises supervisory personnel management responsibilities. Directs, coordinates, and oversees work through subordinate supervisors.
• Solves systemic management problems of major significance through staff coordination and meetings with the NRO leadership. Participates in internal and external meetings and conferences and for complex and critical fiscal and programming negotiations.
• Designs, develops, and tests algorithms using mathematics, data structures, optimization, and search.
• Applies analytical and logical reasoning to the process of evaluating data (e.g., bulk data analysis, summary statistics, pattern discovery, text analytics, visualizations).
• Applies mathematical principles such as probability and statistics to data in order to answer intelligence questions.
• Uses programming languages and software to design and develop code following the software development lifecycle.
• Acquires, manages, and decommissions data in accordance with security classification guides, policies, and statutes.
• Serves as the recognized expert for assigned projects. Provides leadership, technical, and administrative directions to subordinates in a supervisory capacity.
• Briefs senior management through each project development cycle. Maintains interactions with contractor personnel to evaluate and correct development activities or provide technical and managerial consultations to team managers when problem areas arise.
• Uses interpersonal skills, to persuade and gain concurrence from both internal and external organizational personnel in order to implement new innovative courses of action.
• Makes decisions within allocated authority and executes and/or directs actions exploring, reconciling, and resolving major uncertainties, unique situations, obscure problems, or conflicting objectives typically resulting from the abstract nature of the concepts or the existence of serious conflicts among scientific requirements, technological developments, standards, program direction, and administrative requirements.
• Formulates, evaluates, nurtures, and promotes the generation and exchange of new theories, concepts, principles, methods, applications, and practices.
• Determines and/or executes actions for a wide range of assignments involving combinations of complex features.

What You Need

• Expert knowledge of the principles, concepts, and methodologies of engineering disciplines in addition to extensive knowledge of mathematics, physics, operations research, and computer sciences to perform assigned duties and responsibilities.
• Knowledge of missions, roles, functions, organizational structures, and operations, which govern, interface with and/or influence the systems acquisition process and integrated life cycle management in support of the mission.
• Demonstrate familiarization with data science, data engineering, and artificial intelligence concepts and algorithms.
• Demonstrate familiarization with distributed cloud architectures, data fabric/mesh architectures, and data analytic environment architectures.
• Demonstration of using programming languages and software to develop data pipelines and data products.
• Demonstration of writing clear and maintainable code to clean, connect, query, and investigate large structured, unstructured, and semi-structured data sets.
• Demonstration of designing rich interactive data visualizations and reports to communicate actionable insights and data/model limitations to the intended audience.
• Demonstrate familiarization with data acquisition, management, governance, disposal, quality, provenance, pedigree, lineage, and integrity.
• Skill in critical thinking and reasoning demonstrated by experience in preparing analytical assessments and other written products with emphasis on clear organization.
• Skill in excellent interpersonal, organizational, and management to conceptualize, lead, and effectively manage complex projects with limited supervision.
• Knowledge of DoD and Intelligence Community (IC) organizations, missions, relevant policies, and processes.
• Minimum four years of NRO government engineering experience or equivalent.

Desired Qualifications

• Experience with NRO missions, programs, and management processes.
• Knowledge of DoD and Intelligence Community (IC) organizations, missions, relevant policies, and processes.

Qualifying experience may have been acquired in any public or private sector job, but will clearly demonstrate past experience in the application of the particular competencies/knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to successfully perform and is typically in or directly related to the duties of the position as described above. Experience must be reflected in your resume.
Other Information

• Travel Statement: MAY be required to travel in military or commercial aircraft to perform temporary duty assignments.
• Overtime Statement: MAY be required to work other than normal duty hours, which may include evenings, weekends, and/or holidays.
• Financial Disclosure: MAY be required to file an OGE Form 450, Confidential Financial Disclosure Report, upon appointment and will be required to file annually.
• Geographic Mobility Agreement: MAY be subject to directed reassignment as required to address mission effectiveness, and/or career development.
• Information Assurance (IA): Must achieve the appropriate IA certification within six months of assignment.
• Emergency Essential: Certain positions MAY be deemed emergency essential and incumbents must be willing to meet all position requirements.
• Occupational Requirements: A. Degree: Mathematics, computer science, data science or field directly related to the position. The degree must be in a major field of study (at least at the baccalaureate level) that is appropriate for the position.

-or-
B. Combination of education and experience. Courses equivalent to a major field of study (30 semester hours) as shown in paragraph A. above, plus additional education or appropriate experience.
Location
Chantilly, VA
Salary
This position meets the qualifications for Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System (DCIPS) Targeted Local Market Supplement (TLMS) STEM pay for NRO Cadre employees and candidates as authorized by the office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security's (OUSD(I&S)). Cadre employees and candidates are eligible to receive STEM pay if they are currently serving in a STEM designated position. Should a Cadre employee or candidate earning STEM pay change positions within the organization, they must be assigned to another STEM qualifying position in order to continue to remain eligible for STEM pay. Otherwise, Cadre employees and Candidates Generally would be transitioned to the DCIPS GG Pay Scale. For more information on STEM pay, visit https://dcips.defense.gov/Human-Resources/Compensation/
2023 STEM Salary ranges:
GG-14: $137,873 - $183,500
**This position is a Senior Level DCIPS position. The NRO is accepting applications from U.S. Citizens and current federal government employees for this position. To qualify for the position,federal government employees MUST currently be at the GG-14 grade level and may ONLY apply for a lateral reassignment at their current grade level and step. Federal applicants who exceed the advertised grade may voluntarily request acceptance at the lower grade per IAW DoD 1400.25 Volume 2006.
Hiring Incentives
The NRO may offer hiring incentives and other entitlements at management's discretion.
Trial Period
All new DCIPS employees will be required to serve a 2-year trial period.
Veterans' Preference
DoD Components with DCIPS positions apply Veterans' Preference to preference eligible candidates as defined by Section 2108 of Title 5 USC, in accordance with the procedures provided in DoD Instruction 1400.25, Vol 2005, DCIPS Employment and Placement. If you are a veteran claiming veterans' preference, as defined by section 2108 of Title 5 USC, you must submit documents verifying your eligibility upon request.
Equal Employment Opportunity Policy
The United States Government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factor.

• Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) for federal employees & job applicants

Reasonable Accommodation Policy
Federal agencies must provide reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process should follow the instructions in the job opportunity announcement. For any part of the remaining hiring process, applicants should contact the hiring agency directly. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.
A reasonable accommodation is any change to a job, the work environment, or the way things are usually done that enables an individual with a disability to apply for a job, perform job duties or receive equal access to job benefits.
Under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, federal agenci...