Summary
This position is located in Division of Engineering and Risk Analysis. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies within the agency.
The supervisor is Meraj Rahimi
This position is subject to Confidential Financial Disclosure reporting requirements. This position is subject to security ownership restriction reporting requirements.
This job is open to
Internal to an agency
Current federal employees of the hiring agency that posted the job announcement.
Clarification from the agency
Applications will be accepted from current employees of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission on a permanent or competitive term appointment only.
Duties
The successful candidate will perform the full range of duties such as plans, organizes, directs, coordinates, and conducts assigned research associated with chemistry and, in particular, nuclear chemistry aspects of metallurgy, materials behavior, irradiation effects, environmental effects, and/or structural integrity of NRC-licensed facility components. Provides technical assessments of exceptionally complex chemistry related aspects of materials engineering in nuclear power plant systems needed for safe operation and safe shutdown of nuclear facilities subject to the NRC Regulatory programs. Manages and performs studies and analyses of complex technical issues within the Branch's area of review, including chemistry aspects of materials degradation, water chemistry, fuel oil, neutron absorbing material and coatings for nuclear power plants and chemistry related materials issues for spent-fuel storage and transportation systems and components. The purpose of such research is to support the technical bases for NRC licensing decisions. Provides specialized technical assistance and advice to other Divisions and Offices.
Such duties include but are not limited to:
- Provides primary management and technical direction for the assigned research and development program activities related to metallurgy, materials behavior, irradiation effects, environmental effects, fracture mechanics, and structural integrity of the reactor primary system. Bears primary responsibility for the development of technical criteria, regulations, and regulatory guides associated with the materials engineering aspects of the safe design, construction, and operation of light water reactors. Performs technical reviews of national and international codes and standards related to the assigned areas. Maintains a liaison with appropriate organizational components of the NRC in order to keep them informed of plans and programs in the assigned functional areas. Coordinates and leads ACRS, CRGR, and NSRRC presentations related to assiqned functional areas.
- Develops objectives and plans for programs on metallurgy, materials behavior, irradiation effects, environmental effects, fracture mechanics, and structural integrity of the reactor systems as they relate to safety analysis and interpretation of primary and secondary system performance to be expected during the plant license period. Prepares recommendations on the nature and extent of the research to be undertaken, considering among other matters: current level of scientific knowledge regarding the problem, issues, and concerns as developed in discussions, reports, and recommendations of licensing staff, NRC advisory boards, research laboratories, related federal agencies (i.e., DOE, DOD, etc.), and others having an interest in the research effort; relative urgency of the effort considering previous efforts, proposed milestones, and availability of equipment and facilities; staff situation within immediate office and available professionals with appropriate disciplines; and availability of appropriated funds for the current fiscal year and prospects for subsequent fiscal years if project has extended duration.
- Prepares work schedules, scope of work, milestones, etc.
- Reviews and evaluates plans and proposals submitted by laboratories for undertaking a research effort under contract. Evaluates the proposal and laboratory, considering past record of performance, capabilities of staff, nature of equipment and facilities, and contract terms. Recommends program scope and awarding of contract
- Manages and coordinates work of the contract laboratory personnel in the accomplishment of their respective assignments.
- Reviews results of research and experimental verification tests to assess progress and to assure the focus of such work is applicable to licensing needs.
- Reviews and evaluates contractor accomplishments, milestones, adjustments needed in equipment, staff, or facilities, and usefulness of data. Based on such reviews and evaluations, prepares recommendations for project changes, new directions, and new milestones, consistent with the overall program objectives.
Requirements
Conditions of employment
You must meet the qualifications for this position by no later than 30 calendar days after the closing date of this announcement and before placement in the position.
All information in your resume must be true and accurate.
Conditions of Employment:
- This is a Drug Testing position
- Must be able to meet and maintain security & suitability requirements.
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 that demonstrates a knowledge of the design, construction, operation, inspection, and/or evaluation of nuclear plant materials, components, structures, and/or facilities
The ideal candidate will be able to demonstrate the following:
- Demonstrated knowledge of the design, construction, operation, inspection, and evaluation of nuclear plant components, structures, and facilities to understand the value and impact of the requirements of proposed standards.
- Demonstrated knowledge of NRC's regulations, principles and procedures, regulatory guides, and industry codes and standards applicable to the integrity of components and structures used in nuclear power plants and/or spent fuel storage facilities.
- Demonstrated ability to plan, coordinate, and control complex engineering research projects.
- Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing with a broad range of audiences on technical issues, challenges, and resolutions.
PLEASE BE CLEAR AND CONCISE. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.
Education
Qualification for 0806 series:
Basic Requirements:
- Degree: Engineering. To be acceptable, the program must: (1) lead to a bachelor's degree in a school of engineering with at least one program accredited by ABET; or (2) include differential and integral calculus and courses (more advanced than first-year physics and chemistry) in five of the following seven areas of engineering science or physics: (a) statics, dynamics; (b) strength of materials (stress-strain relationships); (c) fluid mechanics, hydraulics; (d) thermodynamics; (e) electrical fields and circuits; (f) nature and properties of materials (relating particle and aggregate structure to properties); and (g) any other comparable area of fundamental engineering science or physics, such as optics, heat transfer, soil mechanics, or electronics.
OR
- Combination of education and experience -- college-level education, training, and/or technical experience that furnished (1) a thorough knowledge of the physical and mathematical sciences underlying engineering, and (2) a good understanding, both theoretical and practical, of the engineering sciences and techniques and their applications to one of the branches of engineering. The adequacy of such background must be demonstrated by one of the following:
- Professional registration or licensure -- Current registration as an Engineer Intern (EI), Engineer in Training (EIT)1, or licensure as a Professional Engineer (PE) by any State, the District of Columbia, Guam, or Puerto Rico. Absent other means of qualifying under this standard, those applicants who achieved such registration by means other than written test (e.g., State grandfather or eminence provisions) are eligible only for positions that are within or closely related to the specialty field of their registration. For example, an applicant who attains registration through a State Board's eminence provision as a manufacturing engineer typically would be rated eligible only for manufacturing engineering positions.
- Written Test -- Evidence of having successfully passed the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE)2 examination or any other written test required for professional registration by an engineering licensure board in the various States, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico.
- Specified academic courses -- Successful completion of at least 60 semester hours of courses in the physical, mathematical, and engineering sciences and that included the courses specified in the basic requirements under paragraph A. The courses must be fully acceptable toward meeting the requirements of an engineering program as described in paragraph A.
- Related curriculum -- Successful completion of a curriculum leading to a bachelor's degree in an appropriate scientific field, e.g., engineering technology, physics, chemistry, architecture, computer science, mathematics, hydrology, or geology, may be accepted in lieu of a bachelor's degree in engineering, provided the applicant has had at least 1 year of professional engineering experience acquired under professional engineering supervision and guidance. Ordinarily there should be either an established plan of intensive training to develop professional engineering competence, or several years of prior professional engineering-type experience, e.g., in interdisciplinary positions. (The above examples of related curricula are not all-inclusive.)
More detailed information about these alternatives are described in the U.S. Office of Personnel Management Qualification Standards Operating Manual which may be accessed at the following website: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0800/files/all-professional-engineering-positions-0800.pdf.
You must include an unofficial or official copy of your college and/or university transcripts with your application. Transcript must include the School Name, Student Name, Degree and Date Awarded (if applicable). Education must be from an accredited (or pre-accredited) college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. If you have multiple degrees (e.g., BS, MS, PhD) please submit transcripts for each degree.
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 a conventional U.S. education program. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying. For special instructions pertaining to foreign education and a list of organizations that can evaluate foreign education, see
the Department of Education website. If you are qualifying on foreign education, you MUST submit proof of creditability of education as evaluated by a credentialing agency. Transcripts must be uploaded with your application to verify education.
All documentation must be in English or include an English translation.
Additional information
This position may be eligible for telework in accordance with agency policy.
This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.
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.
As an NRC employee you will enjoy excellent Federal Benefits, including: comprehensive health and life insurance plans; Flexible Spending Account Program for health and dependent care; Dental and Vision Insurance; retirement savings and investment plan similar to 401(k) (Thrift Savings Plan); annual (vacation) and paid sick leave; family friendly leave policies; 11 paid holidays per year; transit benefits. This link provides an overview of the benefits currently offered to Federal employees.
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.
When the application process is complete, your application will be reviewed to determine if you meet the job requirements. Your application will be evaluated based on the information provided in your resume and responses to any vacancy questions to determine your level of knowledge, skills, and abilities related to the job requirements. You must respond to all required application questions.
If you are among the top candidates for this position, your application will be referred to the hiring manager for possible interview and selection based upon the number of available vacancies to be filled in each office.
Your resume is the key means we have for evaluating your skills, knowledge, and abilities as they relate to this position. Therefore, we encourage you to submit a concise resume that directly relates to this position.
Required Documents
The following documents are required for your application package to be complete. If you fail to provide any required documents, you will be marked as having an incomplete application package and you will not be considered any further.
- Resume that includes: 1) personal information such as name, address, contact information; 2) education; 3) detailed work experience including work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment; title, series, grade (if applicable); and 4) other qualifications. Please limit your resume to 2 pages. See below for Additional Resume Information.
- Transcripts: You must submit an official or unofficial copy of your college and/or university transcripts with your application, if the position has a positive education requirement. Diplomas do not provide the information needed for determining qualifications and will not be accepted in lieu of transcripts.
- SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action): You must submit a copy of your most recent non-award SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action) to verify competitive/excepted status or reinstatement eligibility. Applicants who only submit an award SF-50 will not receive further consideration.
All application materials, including transcripts, must be in English.
Additional Resume Information:
Your resume is crucial in our evaluation of your qualifications. Resumes should clearly demonstrate your skills, knowledge, and abilities.
Please limit your résumé to 2 pages. To ensure your resume contains all required information, we encourage you to use the USAJOBS Resume Builder. If you choose to use your own resume, please ensure it contains all the required information, and you organize it so we can associate the following information with each experience/position:
- Job title
- Name of employer
- Beginning and ending dates of employment (month/year) format
- Hours worked per week. We will assume full-time unless otherwise stated. We will pro-rate part-time employment in crediting experience.
- Concise, results-focused language for job duties, accomplishments, related skills, and responsibilities to include any supervisory/managerial responsibilities and number of staff supervised (if applicable).
- Series and grade or equivalent (if a federal position).
Do not include a photograph or video of yourself, or any sensitive information (age, date of birth, marital status, protected health information, religious affiliation, social security number, etc.) or other inappropriate material on your resume or cover letter.
If your resume contains prohibited information as listed above, your application may be determined ineligible, and you will not receive consideration for this position. We will not access web pages linked on your resume or cover letter, links to social media such as LinkedIn, to determine your qualifications. Cover letters are optional.
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.
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 08/05/2026. Incomplete or late applications will not be considered. For a preview of the application questions, please see https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12998786.
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.
Next steps
You may check the status of your application at any time after the announcement closes by logging onto USAJOBs and selecting "Application Status." You will receive an acknowledgement email that your submission was successful. We will review your resume, question responses, and transcript(s) (if appropriate) to ensure you meet the basic qualification requirements. We will evaluate each applicant who meets the basic qualifications on the information provided and may interview the best-qualified applicants. After making a tentative job offer, we will conduct a suitability and/or security background investigation.