Systems Engineer

Job SummaryASSIGNMENT DESCRIPTION: Systems Engineers apply a structured approach to design and implementation of systems and processes. They capture and translate mission and customer requirements in order to transform them into capabilities, testing, and validation of services. Systems Engineers analyze and allocate requirements to systems architecture components and oversee the development, testing, and validation of systems and services. They also coordinate the integration of systems and services into enterprise architecture and oversee deployment.Additional Job InformationADDITIONAL INFORMATION: This announcement will be used to hire Systems Engineers for two offices.Image Quality Project Lead: Job duties include 1) ensuring the quality of GEOINT image and products through system engineering, test, and evaluation services and 2) assessing the utility of GEOINT products, imagery, systems and exploitation applications. Utilizes engineering skills and working knowledge in the areas of image science, imagery analysis, systems validation and verification, systems integration, configuration management, risk management, and technical document review to ensure the integrity of the image data being processed through the NSG. Position will require communication daily with all levels of the IC on technical and business process issues. Position will require expert understanding of image processing techniques and data formats, imagery storage and exploitation systems to ensure image quality. Position will be required to extensive knowledge of the products and services provided by NGA and mission partners. Position requires understanding of the reviews of Requests for Change (RFC) and Engineering Change Proposals (ECPs) as related to new and modified system requirements, costs, and schedules, testability of requirements. Experience conducting a wide range of SE activities in support of test and evaluation. Experience of working with Electro Optical (EO), Synthetic Aperture RADAR (SAR), Hyperspectral, or motion video GEOINT.Deputy Systems Engineer for CAP/SAP: Will perform duties as lead Deputy SE. Will also work day to day with the Program PM. Individual will engage in highly technical, ambiguous, or emerging challenges facing the organization and identify applicable solutions. Will implement compartmented R&D programs to discover new capabilities; validate identified technology, methods, and tools. Inform new initiatives and redirect R&D resources as programs and priorities shift. Represent the Agency as a subject matter expert on high-level boards, committees, and working groups; represent NGA in advocating for and justifying program initiatives. Experience conducting a wide range of SE activities in support of acquisition lifecycle activities including acquisition planning, contract award and closeout activities, source selection, and COR/ACOR responsibilities. Experience with space / counterspace activities. Candidate will have to acquire NGA GEOINT Professional Certification – Fundamental, and NGA COR Level 1 Certification (or ability to achieve within 12 months).* Prior experience managing programs in addition to SE is desired.* Must have worked with CAP and SAP data in the past.This position may be eligible for an INCENTIVE: The selected candidates may be offered an incentive as part of the offer of employment, based on budget availability. To receive the incentive, the selected candidate must sign a service agreement depending on the approved amount or duration of the incentive. If the employee leaves before the end of the service agreement, the employee may be required to repay a pro rata share amount of the incentive to the government.Additional Application Requirement: You may be asked to complete one or more assessments in addition to the application you submit on this website as part of your application to NGA. These assessments may include but are not limited to: 1) Online questionnaires or assessments that require you to describe your job-related knowledge, skills, abilities, or other characteristics that are aligned with the mandatory and desirable qualifications of this job posting. The information you provide in the application you submit must support the response you provide to this questionnaire.You will receive an email to describe any additional assessments required. Please monitor your emails and complete any required assessments as soon as possible.Mandatory QualificationsMANDATORY QUALIFICATION CRITERIA: For this particular job, applicants must meet all competencies reflected under the Mandatory Qualification Criteria to include education (if required). Online applications must demonstrate qualification by providing specific examples and associated results, in response to the announcement’s mandatory criteria specified in this vacancy announcement:* Demonstrated experience gathering & evaluating customer requirements.* Demonstrated experience identifying innovative approaches for a broad range of engineering activities.* Demonstrated experience managing/monitoring complex projects, anticipating potential problems/risks and implementing mitigation strategies to ensure project success.* Demonstrated experience leading market research for highly complex requirements, providing advice, and communicating recommendations.* Demonstrated experience developing test plans for highly complex systems and leading coordination efforts with stakeholders to ensure comprehensive planning.* Demonstrated experience overseeing the testing of highly complex systems or systems-of-systems.EDUCATION REQUIREMENT: A. Education: Bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited college or university in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Engineering, Engineering Management, Information Science, Information Systems Management, Information Technology, Mathematics, Operations Research, Statistics, Technology Management, System Engineering, or a degree that provided a minimum of 24 semester hours in one or more of the fields identified above and required the development or adaptation of applications, systems, or networks. -OR- B. Combination of Education and Experience: A minimum of 24 semester (36 quarter) hours of coursework in any area listed in option A, plus experience in Information Technology, systems planning, research, development, engineering, or a related area that demonstrates the ability to successfully perform the duties associated with this work. As a rule, every 30 semester (45 quarter) hours of coursework is equivalent to one year of experience. Candidates should show that their combination of education and experience totals 4 years. -OR- C. Experience: A minimum of 4 years of experience in Information Technology, systems planning, research, development, engineering, or a related area that demonstrates the ability to successfully perform the duties associated with this work. -AND- LICENSES/CERTIFICATIONS: DAWIA certification may be required for this position; see Position License and Certification Requirements below for additional details. New Acquisition Workforce members or current members transitioning to a new acquisition career field or higher skill level have 24 months to achieve certification. -AND- Relevant Competencies: IT-related experience demonstrating each of the four competencies: Attention to Detail, Customer Service, Oral Communication, and Problem Solving.Highly Desired QualificationsQUALIFICATION CRITERIA: In addition to the mandatory qualifications, experience in the following is desired:* Experience anticipating & assessing highly complex or subtle risks, skillfully balancing potential impact and probability of occurrence to identify the most critical risks.* Sophisticated understanding CAP/SAP Programs and Space/Counter Space activities.* Experience ensuring that architecture, components, module, data and interface considerations for highly complex systems/applications are adaptable and expandable to future ecosystems and architectures.* Experience defining requirements for major system integrations with respect to the community and the enterprise; reviews and validates Concept of Operations (CONOPs) for completeness; and provides guidance to others.* Evaluates test data to develop recommendations for highly complex systems or systems-of-systems; considers developments and trends to ensure that recommendations are future-oriented.* Possess a current TS/SCI security clearance.Additional Job RequirementsYou must be able to obtain and retain a Top Secret security clearance with access to Sensitive Compartmented Information. In addition, you are subject to a Counterintelligence Polygraph examination in order to maintain access to Top Secret information. All employees are subject to a periodic examination on a random basis in order to determine continued eligibility. Refusal to take the examination may result in denial of access to Top Secret information, SAP, and/or unescorted access to SCIFs.Employees with SCI access and who are under NGA cognizance are required to submit a Security Financial Disclosure Report, SF-714, on an annual basis in order to determine continued eligibility. Failure to comply may negatively impact continued access to Top Secret information, Information Systems, SAP, and/or unescorted access to SCIFs.Pay, Benefits, & Work SchedulePROMOTION OPPORTUNITY: Promotion opportunities allow applicants at all band levels to be considered. Qualifications for NGA positions do not include specific time-in-band requirements. NGA will emphasize quality of experience, rather than duration, and assess how the quality of the experience demonstrates possession of the knowledge, skills, abilities, and competencies necessary for successful job performance in the NGA occupational structure.Band 04 $102,663 – $157,709PERMANENT CHANGE IN STATION: PCS expenses are not authorized.Pay is only part of the compensation you will earn working for the Federal Government. We offer a broad array of benefits programs and family friendly flexibilities to meet the needs of you and your family.For more information on the array of benefits programs, please visit https://www.intelligencecareers.gov/nga/ngabenefits.htmlCover LetterApplicants are not required to submit a cover letter. The entire cover letter cannot exceed the specified limits provided in the Cover Letter field (3,000 characters). Pages exceeding this limit will not be considered. The cover letter is recommended but is not required for employment consideration with the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. Applicants should place their narrative information in the Cover Letter / Other Professional Details field.Who may applyExternal Applicants OnlyHow to applyApplication submission involves applying using the Intelligence Community’s Applicant Gateway on-line application process. ONLY ELECTRONIC SUBMISSIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED.How will I be evaluated?APPLICANT EVALUATION PROCESS: Applicants will be evaluated for this job opportunity in three stages:* All applicants will be evaluated using the Mandatory Qualification Criteria,* Qualified applicants will then be evaluated by an expert or panel of experts using a combination of qualification criteria to determine the best-qualified candidates,* Best-qualified applicants may then be further evaluated through an interview process.Military retiree applicants, if selected, may be impacted by the 180-day appointment restrictions of DODI 1402.01. HD personnel will provide additional information if applicable.Applicants are encouraged to carefully review the Assignment Description, Additional Information Provided By the Selecting Official, and the Qualification Requirements; and then construct their resumes to highlight their most relevant and significant experience and education for this job opportunity. This description should include examples that detail the level and complexity of the performed work. Applicants are encouraged to provide any education information referenced in the announcement. If education is listed as a mandatory requirement, only degrees obtained from an institution accredited by an accrediting organization recognized by the Secretary, US Department of Education will be accepted.In accordance with section 9902(h) of title 5, United States Code, annuitants reemployed in the Department of Defense shall receive full annuity and salary upon appointment. They shall not be eligible for retirement contributions, participation in the Thrift Savings Plan, or a supplemental or redetermined annuity for the reemployment period. Discontinued service retirement annuitants (i.e., retired under section 8336(d)(1) or 8414(b)(1)(A) of title 5, United States Code) appointed to the Department of Defense may elect to be subject to retirement provisions of the new appointment as appropriate. (See DoD Instruction 1400.25, Volume 300, at http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives.)All candidates will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, disability, or sexual orientation.NGA provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. Applications will only be accepted online. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify us at recruitment@nga.mil. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be on a case-by-case basis.Conditions of EmploymentAs a condition of employment at NGA, persons being considered for employment must meet NGA fitness for employment standards.* U.S. Citizenship Required* Security Clearance (Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information)* Polygraph Test Required* Position Subject to Drug Testing* Two Year Probationary Period* Direct Deposit RequiredDCIPS DisclaimerNGA utilizes all processes and procedures of the Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System (DCIPS). Non-executive NGA employees are assigned to five distinct pay bands based on the type and scope of work performed. The employee’s base salary is established within their assigned pay band based on their unique qualifications. A performance pay process is conducted each year to determine a potential base pay salary increase and/or bonus. An employee’s annual performance evaluation is a key factor in the performance pay process. Employees on term or temporary appointments are not eligible to apply for internal assignment opportunity notices.This position is a DCIPS position in the Excepted Service under 10 U.S.C. 1601. 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, Volume 2005, DCIPS Employment and Placement. If you are an external applicant claiming veterans’ preference, as defined by Section 2108 of Title 5 U.S.C., you must self-identify your eligibility in your application.