Duties
With the ever-increasing technological complexities in the world of supercomputers, we need talented computer and electrical engineers to be part of our team architecting, designing and verifying the next generation of high performance computing solutions (HPCS) that will support of our mission. Our goal is to provide supercomputers of the highest quality to ensure the success of the NSA and its partners.
The areas of responsibility may include one or more of the following:
- Accelerating application performance using Register Transfer Level (RTL) design
- Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) firmware development and integration
- RTL design closure using logic simulation, functional verification, synthesis, and timing analysis
- Printed Circuit Board (PCB) logic design, simulation and test
- PCB layout
- Signal Integrity / Power Integrity
- Commercial systems acquisition and contracting
- Create and maintain documentation on technical information
- Operate specialized scientific and technical equipment
- Attend conferences and communicate with people in a particular technical field to keep abreast of new technologies and information
- Conduct research including studies, experiments, and investigations
- Research emerging technologies for application(s) within the Agency
- Serve as a subject matter expert to support research and development efforts
- Work with customers to clarify their needs and to determine how their needs can be met
- Modeling and simulation to evaluate design alternatives
Requirements
Conditions of employment
- Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a security background investigation and polygraph.
Qualifications
The qualifications listed are the minimum acceptable to be considered for the position.
Degree must be in professional Engineering, Physics or Astronomy from an accredited college or university, or a relevant professional technical field (e.g. chemistry, architecture, computer science, mathematics, hydrology, geology).
For all of the above degrees, if program is not ABET accredited, it must include specified coursework.*
*Specified coursework includes courses in differential and integral calculus and 5 of the following 18 areas: (a) statics or dynamics, (b) strength of materials/stress-strain relationships, (c) fluid mechanics, hydraulics, (d) thermodynamics, (e) electromagnetic fields, (f) nature and properties of materials/relating particle and aggregate structure to properties, (g) solid state electronics, (h) microprocessor applications, (i), computer systems, (j) signal processing, (k) digital design, (l) systems and control theory, (m) circuits or generalized circuits, (n) communication systems, (o) power systems, (p) computer networks, (q) software development, (r) Any other comparable area of fundamental engineering science or physics, such as optics, heat transfer, or soil mechanics.
FULL PERFORMANCE
With a degree in Engineering, entry is with a Bachelor's degree plus 3 years of relevant experience, or a Master's degree plus 1 year of relevant experience, or a Doctoral degree and no experience. With a degree in either (1) Physics or Astronomy from an accredited college or university or (2) a relevant professional technical field (for example, chemistry, architecture, computer science, mathematics, hydrology, geology), entry is with a Bachelor's degree plus 3 years of relevant experience, or a Master's or Doctoral degree plus 1 year of relevant experience.
Relevant experience must be in one or more of the following: digital equipment design, assembling computers, electronic design automation (EDA) tools, hardware description language (HDL), or printed circuit board (PCB).
SENIOR
Entry is with a Bachelor's degree plus 7 years of relevant experience, or a Master's degree plus 5 years of relevant experience, or a Doctoral degree plus 3 years of relevant experience. Degree must be in either (1) professional Engineering, (2) Physics or Astronomy from an accredited college, or (3) a relevant professional technical field (for example, chemistry, architecture, computer science, mathematics, hydrology, geology).
Relevant experience must be in one or more of the following: digital equipment design, assembling computers, electronic design automation (EDA) tools, hardware description language (HDL), or printed circuit board (PCB). At least one year of project management experience OR project management certification (for example, DAWIA, PMP) is also required.
Additional information
Pay: Salary offers are based on candidates' education level and years of experience relevant to the position and also take into account information provided by the hiring manager/organization regarding the work level for the position.
Salary Range: $105,262 - $192,764 (Full Performance, Senior)
Salary range varies by location, work level, and relevant experience to the position.
Training will be provided based on the selectee's needs and experience.
Benefits: NSA offers a comprehensive benefits package.
Work Schedule: This is a full-time position, Monday - Friday, with basic 8hr/day work requirement between 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. (flexible).
DCIPS Trial Period:
If selected for this position, you will be required to serve a two-year DCIPS trial period, unless you are a veterans' preference-eligible employee, in which case you are required to serve a one-year trial period. This trial period runs concurrently with your commitment to the position, if applicable. Before finalizing your appointment at the conclusion of your trial period, NSA will determine whether your continued employment advances the public interest. This decision will be based on factors such as your performance and conduct; the Agency's needs and interests; whether your continued employment would advance the Agency's organizational goals; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.
Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.
If you do not receive certification for continued employment, you should receive written notice prior to the end of your trial period that your employment will be terminated and the effective date of such termination.
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.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Review our benefits
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
How you will be evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
The ideal candidate is someone with excellent problem-solving, communication, and interpersonal skills who is:
- Motivated
- Creative
- Able to work effectively across several different functional areas in a collaborative environment
- Well-organized and able to handle multiple assignments
- Customer service and requirements focused
- Detail oriented
Knowledge and experience in one or more of the following is desired:
- Concepts, theories, and methods for designing, analyzing, testing, and verifying large scale computational and data storage systems
- Translate conceptual designs into technical specifications
- Designing digital logic (e.g., FPGAs, ASICs)
- Experience using Electronic Design Automation (EDA) tools
- Unified Verification Methodology (UVM)
- Applying engineering principles to design and layout PCBs
- Firmware development for configuring and controlling hardware devices
- Evaluate information in technical documents to understand its importance and significance
- Operate specialized scientific and technical equipment
- Applied Cryptography and Mathematics
- Programming Languages (C, C++, OpenCL, Perl, Python, TCL)
- Hardware description languages (VHDL, Verilog, SystemVerilog)
- Computer System Architecture and Design
- Computer Networks and Security
- CPU and GPU processor architectures
- Memory, interconnect, and storage architectures
Required Documents
**VETERANS AND TRANSITIONING SERVICE MEMBERS**
Thank you for your service! The National Security Agency (NSA) is part of the Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System (DCIPS). All positions at NSA are in the Excepted Service under Title 10, United States Codes (U.S.C.), Section 1601 appointment authority.
Veterans' Preference
In accordance with the procedures provided in DoD Instruction 1400.25, Volume 2005, "DoD Civilian Personnel Management System: Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System Employment and Placement," NSA applies veterans' preference, as defined by Section 2108 of Title 5, U.S.C., to eligible candidates. If you are claiming veterans' preference, you are required to provide acceptable documentation of your preference eligibility upon application.
Acceptable documentation includes:
- DD-214: "Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty," which shows dates of service and discharge under honorable conditions (Copy 4);
OR
- Certification of Service:
A written document on letterhead from the appropriate branch of the armed forces that certifies the service member is expected to be discharged or released from active duty service in the armed forces under honorable conditions not later than 120 days after the date the certification is signed. The certification should include the military service dates, including the expected discharge or release date;
AND
- Standard Form 15 (SF-15)
Application for 10-point Veteran Preference (http://www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/sf15.pdf).
If you are claiming a service-connected disability of 30 percent or more, the documentation you provide must specifically demonstrate this level of disability;
AND
- VA Letter of Disability (for 10pt and Sole Survivorship rating)
You may obtain a letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs reflecting your level of disability for preference eligibility by visiting a VA Regional Office, contacting a VA call center, or online (https://www.ebenefits.va.gov/).
**Failure to provide sufficient documentation of veterans' preference eligibility may preclude NSA from identifying you as a preference eligible candidate during the hiring selection process.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from
schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.