Sr. Computer Engineer

Sr. Computer Engineer

Department: Other Agencies and Independent Organizations

Location(s): Atlanta, Georgia, Naperville, Illinois, Rockville, Maryland, King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, Arlington, Texas

Salary Range: $147945 - $197200 Per Year

Job Summary: This position is located in Division of Engineering. The supervisor is Sergiu Basturescu. This position IS subject to Confidential Financial Disclosure reporting requirements. This position IS subject to security ownership restriction reporting requirements.

Major Duties:

• As a Senior Computer Engineer, Senior Computer Scientist, you will serve as an NRC authoritative senior-level expert responsible for a variety of computer science and engineering duties to develop, plan, organize, manage and coordinate research activities dealing with technical issues associated with cyber (i.e., computer system or network-related) threats, vulnerabilities, exploits, and risks or system configuration, hardware, and software states involving digital components in safety-related, important-to-safety, security, emergency preparedness, and material control and accounting systems at NRC-licensed facilities. Duties include but are not limited to: 1. Manage the most difficult projects involving research on digital components and systems and the safety/security implications for the use of those systems and components for nuclear regulatory applications. Studies facility specific critical systems and critical digital assets to include, determining adverse impacts from cyber compromise and considering unique design differences associated with different licensee types. 2. Provides computer science/ engineering expertise in the development of cyber security requirements and associated regulatory guidance. Reviews and evaluates analyses and assessments from other NRC stakeholders (e.g., Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response, Office of Nuclear Materials Safety and Safeguards) as well as technical divisions within the Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research, and other organizational units. 3. Leads and recommends computer science- and/or engineering-related technical assistance contracts or research work that the NRC should sponsor to enhance the cyber security in NRC- licensed facilities; develops or confirms requirements and supports development and implementation of cyber security-related contracts. 4. Reviews and evaluates plans and proposals submitted by laboratories, universities, or other organizations for undertaking research efforts under contract and recommends program scope and awarding of contracts. 5. Reviews with technical staff and contractor personnel the problems, milestones, accomplishments, and the usefulness of the results to the NRC. Based on such reviews and evaluations, clarifies for contractors technical issues and prepares recommendations for changes consistent with NRC objectives. 6. Communicates with international regulatory agencies to share programs, processes and lessons learned, including participating in IAEA and NEA guidance development. Support agency efforts regarding cyber security risk analyses and reviews, and maintains regulatory security or safety documentation, procedures, and other technical documents.

Qualifications: In order to qualify for this position, you must have at least one year of specialized experience at the next lower grade level in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private or public sector. SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE is defined as experience which demonstrates knowledge of cyber security technology and the Commission's cyber security policies for NRC-licensed facilities. The ideal candidate will be able to demonstrate the following: 1. Demonstrated skill applying theories, principles and practices to evaluate cyber (i.e., computer system or network-related) security threats, vulnerabilities, exploits, and risks, including evaluation of system configurations, computer networks, hardware, and software states associated with digital components/critical data assets at NRC-regulated facilities. EXAMPLE: Describe substantive experience in applying cyber security knowledge to protect digital components and systems, and the security implications for use of those systems and components, for NRC-regulated facilities. Include experience with TCP and network protocols, wireless technologies such as Bluetooth and 802.11, and digital signature/encryption based on PKI and skills at using associated digital forensics tools to analyze network traffic and detect intrusions, attacks and anomalous activity within a digital system. Include experience with facility-specific critical systems and critical digital assets to determining adverse impacts from cyber compromise or due to adverse digital instrumentation and controls states. 2. Demonstrated ability to independently plan, direct, coordinate, and manage complex, highly technical research projects associated with cyber security and the protection of critical data assets at NRC-regulated facilities. Demonstrated ability to anticipate problem areas and/or emerging technical issues and develop research projects/tasks leading to issue resolution. EXAMPLE: Describe specific training/education and experience that demonstrate your ability to plan, direct, coordinate and manage complex, technical research projects in the area of cyber security. Include relevant technical research projects or tasks that you have developed and managed with a focus on identification of problem areas, emerging issues and processes used to achieve resolution, and your specific role in the project or task. 3. Demonstrated ability to work effectively with internal and external organizations and provide leadership in conducting research related to cyber security. EXAMPLE: Discuss specific experience and accomplishments communicating effectively with individuals across various organizations to conduct research. Examples should discuss your role and responsibilities in interfacing with other organizations to develop research and/or recommended solutions. 4. Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing with a broad range of audiences on technical issues, challenges, and resolutions. EXAMPLE: Discuss specific experiences and accomplishments communicating effectively orally and in writing with a diverse and broad range of audiences on technical issues, challenges, and resolutions. 5. Demonstrated knowledge of NRC regulations, principles and policy, regulatory guides or equivalent industry codes, inspection procedures, and/or standards applicable to cyber security associated with digital components/critical data assets at NRC-regulated facilities. EXAMPLE: Discuss specific experiences and describe your NRC-related experience. Include any examples that show understanding of risk-informed, performance-based approaches (e.g., applying the Be riskSMART framework). Include any examples where you evaluated the impact of future technological advances related to cyber security and related equipment currently for use (or anticipated use) at NRC-regulated facilities. A description of how you possess the specialized experience as well as how you meet the qualifications desired in an ideal candidate must be addressed in your resume. The NRC encourages applicants to provide job experience details in your resume. Applicants may also use the supplemental vacancy question to provide additional information pertaining to the specialized experience and ideal candidate criteria. PLEASE BE CLEAR AND CONCISE. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

How to Apply: Please read the entire announcement and all instructions before you begin an application. To be considered for this position, you must complete the online application process and submit all required documents electronically by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on 05/19/2026. Incomplete or late applications will not be considered. For a preview of the application questions, please see https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12953188. Your complete application must include your resume, responses to all required vacancy questions, and any required documents that prove your eligibility to apply. To begin your application, select the "Apply" button located on the right side of this screen. Follow the subsequent prompts to log in or register, submit all required documents, answer the questions, and complete the application process. You may either select your required documents within your USAJOBS profile to upload with your application or directly upload them during the application process. The following types of document types can be uploaded: .gif, jpg., .jpeg, .png, .rtf, .pdf, .doc, and .docx. Important Considerations: Paper Applications: Paper applications will not be accepted unless you can demonstrate hardship circumstances through the agency contact listed below. Application Extensions: Requests for application extensions will not be granted. Hardship Assistance: If you experience hardship applying online, please contact the Human Resources Specialist listed below for assistance. You must reach out during business hours before the announcement closing date and speak with someone who can provide support for your online submission. The NRC provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the coordinator at (301) 415-5888 or TDD 240-482-3217. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.

Application Deadline: 2026-05-19