Research Physical Scientist

Research Physical Scientist

Department: Department of Commerce

Location(s): Norman, Oklahoma

Salary Range: $106437 - $163514 Per Year

Job Summary: This position is located in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR), National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL), with one vacancy in Norman, OK.

Major Duties:

• As a Research Physical Scientist, you will perform the following duties: Serve as a senior scientist providing strategic leadership to formulate and conduct complex research projects focused on developing and/or improving the detection and prediction of severe weather hazards. Employ specialized and advanced scientific techniques using Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) across scientific disciplines to integrate massive datasets, guide experimentation, and to create and enhance AI/ML- enabled models and applications to improve scientific understanding, detection, and prediction of hazardous weather. Define research, drawing on scientific expertise and experience to identify specific problems essential to the investigative objectives or conceptually related studies. Identify scientific and technical resource requirements to support assigned projects; establish goals and define the most feasible approach to resolve conflicting technical issues and unique problems. Publish scientific results in peer-reviewed journals and present at seminars, conferences, and workshops. Develop original research ideas and use a variety of approaches, methods, and procedures to plan and execute assignments, resolving issues/problems that significantly affect the Laboratory scientific programs. Use innovative data analysis to investigate and assess technical computing problems; develop and lead new or modified procedures or approaches for problem solving. Serve as a subject matter expert and consultant to the scientific and technical personnel of other agencies; collaborate on projects, and coordinate own work with others to advance the agency's goals and objectives. Collaborate with scientists at other labs, centers for operational implementation, and universities to develop proposals for exchanging technical information and ideas and working on projects of interest to the agencies. 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.

Qualifications: 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 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-4 or GS-13 level: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: In addition to meeting the Basic Requirement above, applicants must also possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the ZP-3 or GS-12 in the Federal service. Specialized experience MUST include all of the following: Conducting weather forecasting research using artificial intelligence or machine learning; and Modifying or creating new computer programs for the processing, analysis, conversion, or archiving of research data and results.

How to Apply: Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply and be considered for this position, you must complete all required questionnaires, assessments and submit all required documentation as specified in the How to Apply and Required Documents section. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration. The application process is as follows: Click the blue "Apply Online" button. If you are not a registered USAJOBS user, please create a new account and follow the instructions to complete your application process. If you are a registered user, login to access your existing USAJOBS profile. As a registered user, select a stored resume and select one or more of your stored documents to attach to your application. Check the "Certification" box and click the "Apply for this position now!" button located at the bottom of the screen. Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all necessary supporting documentation. Click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59 PM (ET) on the announcement closing date. If you experience technical difficulties during the online application process, please contact the USAJOBS helpdesk To update your application, including supporting documentation: During the announcement open period, return to your USAJOBS account, find your application record, and click Edit my application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed.

Application Deadline: 2026-05-11