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CHEMICAL ENGINEER - DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY

Department of the Air Force
Air Force Elements, U.S. Strategic Command
Joint Warfare Analysis Center (JWAC)

Summary

Click on "Learn more about this agency" button below to view Eligibilities being considered and other IMPORTANT information.

The primary purpose of this position is to perform professional engineering/scientific work involving chemical processes to produce useful analytical products / systems.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
01/13/2026 to 02/13/2026
Salary
$62,668 to - $158,756 per year
Pay scale & grade
DR 1 - 2
Location
FEW vacancies in the following location:
Dahlgren, VA
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
None
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Sensitive Compartmented Information
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Special-Sensitive (SS)/High Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
AFMC-08930102-12861324-KAS
Control number
854273600

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

This job announcement will be used to gather applications that may or may not result in a referral or selection.

Duties

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DR-0893-01:

  • Performs professional engineering/scientific work involving chemical processes to produce useful analytical products/ systems; and the use of mass, momentum, and energy transfers with thermodynamics and chemical kinetics for chemical/biochemical conversion processes in a developmental capacity.
  • With minimal guidance, either individually or as part of a multi-disciplinary team, develops representations, constructs mathematical models, and performs targeting and effects assessment analysis of components, nodes, networks and systems of interest using engineering principles and established methodologies and models. This will be in support of routine to moderately complex operational problems within the assigned area, and the analysis is oftentimes based on structured and unstructured data sources that can be conflicting or incomplete.
  • Prepares and/or presents supporting documentation to include responses to routine inquiries, reports, presentations, and/or other related documents to communicate and defend analytical approaches and findings.
  • Maintains awareness of emerging technologies and professional developments to stay current in the field and for application to work assignments.
  • With limited oversight from senior personnel, supports the improvement of existing or development of new analytic methods, models, techniques, and tools to improve analytical products through needs identification, requirement documentation, capability evaluation, and feedback generation.

DR-0893-02:
  • Performs professional engineering/scientific work involving chemical processes to produce useful analytical products/ systems; and the use of mass, momentum, and energy transfers with thermodynamics and chemical kinetics for chemical/ biochemical conversion processes.
  • Performs complex, accurate, and technically rigorous model-based analysis of adversary components, nodes, networks and/or systems based on multiple structured and unstructured intelligence datasets to produce targeting solutions in support of joint planning and operational requirements.
  • Develops representative network/system characterizations and mathematical models using appropriate methods to fill information shortfalls/ensure optimal depiction of real world.
  • Identifies critical elements/vulnerabilities, prioritizes targets for engagement to meet specific objectives, and provides qualitative and/or quantitative estimations of effectiveness of recommended engagement options.
  • Uses critical thinking and creative problem solving to adapt existing methods and tools and/or develop innovative approaches to improve ability to meet requirements/enhance operational utility.
  • Leads, mentors, and performs complex assignments within a team environment to improve capability of a technology area or address command initiatives.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • U.S. Citizenship Required
  • Males must be registered for Selective Service, see www.sss.gov
  • A security clearance may be required
  • If authorized, PCS will be paid IAW JTR and AF Regulations. If receiving an authorized PCS, you may be subject to completing/signing a CONUS agreement. More information on PCS requirements, may be found at: https://afciviliancareers.com/regulatory/
  • Recruitment incentives may/may not be authorized
  • This posn is subject to provisions of the DoD Priority Placement Program
  • Position may be subject to random drug testing
  • Employee may be required to work other than normal duty hours, to include evenings, weekends and/or holidays
  • Shift work and emergency overtime may be required
  • Employee must maintain current certifications
  • Disclosure of Political Appointments
  • Direct Deposit: All federal employees are required to have direct deposit.
  • Position may be subject to polygraph testing.

Qualifications

Experience requirements are described in the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards for General Schedule Positions, Individual Occupational Requirements for all Professional Engineering Positions, 0800 and the Group Coverage Qualification Standard for Professional and Scientific Positions. Due to the use of 120-day rosters, this period of experience may be completed within 120 days of the closing date of this announcement.

BASIC REQUIREMENT OR INDIVIDUAL OCCUPATIONAL REQUIREMENT:
To view the OPM Professional Engineering Positions, 0800 qualification standard, click on the following link:
https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0800/files/all-professional-engineering-positions-0800.pdf


To view general information on qualifying educational requirements and/or combination of education and specialized experience click on the following link: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification- standards/#url=GS-PROF

NOTE: YOU MUST SUBMIT COPIES OF YOUR OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPTS.

In addition to meeting the basic requirement above, to qualify for this position you must also meet the qualification requirements listed below:

DR-0893-01 SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must have at least one year (52 weeks) of specialized experience at the next lower grade GS-05, or equivalent in other pay systems. Specialized experience is professional engineering experience assisting with engineering and scientific work involving chemical processes utilized by industries and/or scientific technologies to produce products and/or systems.

OR
EDUCATION: Successfully completed 1 full year of graduate level education in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position.-OR -Successfully completed a Bachelor's degree with Superior Academic Achievement. Note: You must submit a copy of official transcripts.

OR
COMBINATION OF EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION: Less than the full amount of specialized experience required AND have some graduate level education with a major or subject area related to the position to be filled. Note: You must submit a copy of official transcripts.

DR-0893-02 SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must have at least one year (52 weeks) of specialized experience at the next lower grade DR-01 (GS-11), or equivalent in other pay systems. Specialized experience is professional engineering experience performing engineering and scientific work involving chemical processes utilized by industries and/or scientific technologies to produce products and/or systems.

NOTE: Due to the use of 120-day rosters, this period of experience may be completed within 120 days of the closing date of this announcement.

COMPETENCIES:
Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following areas: Problem Solving, Communication, Technology Management, Teamwork and Leadership

IDEAL CANDIDATE: In addition to the specialized experience statements listed above, the ideal candidate would have the following skills and experience:
-Highly skilled and experienced professional with a strong background in chemical engineering/science.
-Proven ability to perform complex engineering/scientific work involving chemical processes, including the development of analytical products/systems.
-Expertise in applying mass, momentum, and energy transfer principles alongside thermodynamics and chemical kinetics to optimize and innovate chemical/biochemical conversion processes.
-Proven ability to apply knowledge of petroleum, oil, and gas networks and/or systems and perform modeling to predict system behavior.
-Demonstrated ability to prepare, produce, and deliver timely, relevant, and technically accurate analytical products and recommendations to military customers.
-Experience in exploring, developing, evaluating, and/or operationalizing new methodologies, technologies, or tools to enhance organizational capabilities in petroleum processing and transshipment.
-Solid understanding of the functions and operations of oil and gas system processes and components.
-Ability to analyze information, extrapolate where data is missing, make correct inferences and conclusions, and use sound judgment to generate and evaluate alternatives.
-Ability to operate and understand a process or fluid dynamics model.
-Knowledge of Department of War military command structure, missions, and programs, national security issues, trends, and topics of interest.

PART-TIME OR UNPAID EXPERIENCE: Credit will be given for appropriate unpaid and or part-time work. You must clearly identify the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the total number of hours per week.

VOLUNTEER WORK EXPERIENCE: Refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service Programs (i.e., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student and social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge and skills that can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Education

IF USING EDUCATION TO QUALIFY: If position has a positive degree requirement or education forms the basis for qualifications, you MUST submit transcriptswith the application. Official transcripts are not required at the time of application; however, if position has a positive degree requirement, qualifying based on education alone or in combination with experience, transcripts must be verified prior to appointment. An accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education must accredit education. Click here to check accreditation.

FOREIGN EDUCATION: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the requirements. You must show proof the education credentials have been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education program. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying.

Additional information

Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP): For information on how to apply as an ICTAP eligible click here. To be well-qualified and exercise selection priority for this vacancy, displaced Federal employees must be rated well qualified or above for this position. You must submit a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting position, grade level, and duty location.

Employed Annuitants (Reemployed Annuitants): Applicants in receipt of an annuity based on civilian employment in the Federal Service are subject to the DoD Policy on The Employment of Annuitants. Click here for more information.

Disabled veteran leave is available to a Federal employee hired on/after 5 Nov 2016, who is a veteran with a service-connected disability rating of 30% or more. For more information, click here.

If you have questions regarding this announcement and have hearing or speech difficulties click here.

This job announcement will be used to gather applications that may or may not result in a referral or selection.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Your application package (resume, supporting documents, and responses to the questionnaire) will be used to determine your eligibility, qualifications, and quality ranking for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment.

The resume/documents you submit must support your responses to the online questionnaire. If your application contradicts or does not support your questionnaire responses, you will receive a rating of "not qualified" or "insufficient information" and you will not receive further consideration for this job.

For additional information on what to include in your resume, click here.

APPRAISALS/AWARDS: Hiring Managers use objective methods and consider previous performance appraisals and awards in the selection process. Current Federal Civilian employees should list any relevant performance related rating and/or awards in your resume.

Applicants who disqualify themselves will not be evaluated further.

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