Bathymetrist

Company: National Geospatial Intelligence Agency
Location: La Plata
Posted on: February 25, 2021

Job Description:

Developmental Assignment

CAREER ADVANCEMENT PROGRAM: All Professional Work Category positions advertised at a Pay Band 2 are part of NGA's Career Advancement Program (CAP). Employees in the Career Advancement Program will be evaluated semi-annually to determine if they meet the established program requirements. If requirements are met, employees will be eligible for a salary increase. Upon meeting all program requirements, the employee is eligible to be promoted non-competitively to a Pay Band 3. This promotion completes Career Advancement Program participation meaning the employee will no longer receive salary increases through the Career Advancement Program, and will now be evaluated in accordance to the Agency's standard evaluation processes.

Job Summary

ASSIGNMENT DESCRIPTION: Bathymetrists receive, analyze, and deconflict U.S. and foreign bathymetric data for use by the Intelligence Community (IC) and external customers. They populate and maintain data and metadata in the bathymetry database, ensuring the accuracy of metadata pertaining to collection source platforms and depth recording devices. They also provide customers with conflated and corrected mission-specific data.

Additional Job Information

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Band 2 Bathymetrists assist with receiving and analyzing bathymetric data for use by the Department of Defense (DoD), Intelligence Community (IC), and mission partners. They assist with bathymetric data compilation and product generation in support of Safety of Navigation (SoN), ocean modeling, and mission-specific intelligence. They analyze, acquire, compile, and disseminate maritime safety information to meet NGA's worldwide maritime SoN obligations under U.S. Code, Title 10, other Federal and International laws, as well as NGA's own regulations. They perform elementary assignments to help populate and maintain basic data and metadata in bathymetry databases. These Bathymetrists may also assist senior Bathymetrists with providing customers with conflated and corrected mission-specific data. Band 2 Bathymetrists should possess at least rudimentary knowledge of the following: hydrographic and bathymetric surveying techniques and equipment, sound velocity corrections, sensor offsets, and horizontal and vertical datum corrections applied to survey data during collection and post-processing. They should also have basic knowledge of cartographic projections and grids; tidal datums; gridded models used for bathymetric analysis, seafloor feature identification; 3D software visualization; and bathymetric data cleaning and validation. Band 2 Bathymetrists should have some experience with: Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and bathymetric data processing software (ArcGIS, QPS Qimera/Fledermaus, and CARIS preferred); as well as some familiarity with various data file formats (VPF or S-57, BAG, ASCII, xyzu, etc). Familiarity with a variety of bathymetric sensors and (SONAR, Bathymetric LiDAR, Satellite Derived Bathymetry) is also beneficial.

This position is 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.

Candidates may receive an invitation to provide additional information or respond to questions via email and/or HireVue as part of the candidate evaluation process.

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:

* Online questionnaires or assessments that require you to describe your job-related knowledge, skills(U) , 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 Qualifications

MANDATORY 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:

* Rudimentary experience collecting bathymetric or hydrographic data; and/or data manipulation, feature extraction, and/or attribution of bathymetric or hydrographic data independently.
* Rudimentary experience with Geographic Information System (GIS).
* Proven ability to communicate ongoing work to peer and leadership through written, visual, spoken reports and briefings.
* Demonstrated ability to apply critical thinking to problem identification, analysis and resolution on challenging issues.

EDUCATION REQUIREMENT: A. Education: Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major study of at least 24 semester hours in Oceanography or a related discipline such as Biology, Chemistry, Engineering, Geography, Geology, Geophysics, Hydrography, Hydrology, Marine Sciences, Mathematics, Meteorology, Physical Science, Physics, Remote Sensing, plus 20 additional semester hours in any combination of Oceanography, Physics, Geophysics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Meteorology, Computer Science, and Engineering Sciences. Applicants who qualify on the basis of major study in Biology or Geology must have at least 6 semester hours in the major directly concerned with Marine Science or 6 semester hours in Oceanography. -OR- B. Combination of Education and Experience: A minimum of 24 semester (36 quarter) hours of coursework in any area listed in option A, with 20 additional semester hours in any combination of Chemistry, Computer Science, Engineering Sciences, Geophysics, Oceanography, Mathematics, Meteorology, and Physics, plus experience in the disciplines of Hydrography or Bathymetry that includes marine surveying, the use of current GIS tools, methods of research and analysis, application of hydrographic or bathymetric principles, 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. -AND- LICENSES/CERTIFICATIONS: Designation as an American Congress on Surveying and Mapping-The Hydrographic Society of America (ACSM-THSOA) Certified Hydrographer, or similar certification is highly desired.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENT: Distinguish principal colors and shades/hues of principal colors; Near visual acuity of 20/20 or better with or without corrective lenses; Far visual acuity of 20/60 or better binocular with or without corrective lenses

Highly Desired Qualifications

QUALIFICATION CRITERIA: In addition to the mandatory qualifications, experience in the following is desired:

* Demonstrated experience coordinating with customers and providers of bathymetric source data to develop clear, realistic product and service requests.
* Knowledge of, or experience working in hydrographic and bathymetric data processing software, such as Fledermaus, Qimera, and/or CARIS.
* Basic knowledge of scripting programs such as Python, R, FME, or Matlab.

Additional Job Requirements

You 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 Schedule

PROMOTION 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 02 $49,157 - $86,085

PERMANENT 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.html

Cover Letter

Applicants 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 apply

External Applicants Only

How to apply

Application 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 Employment

As 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 Required

DCIPS Disclaimer

NGA 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.

Keywords: National Geospatial Intelligence Agency, Alexandria , Bathymetrist, Other , La Plata, Virginia