Location: Huntsville, Alabama

Salary: $95,242 to $123,816 per year, GS13

Level: Early to Mid-Career

Sector: Government and National Lab

Work Function: Science Research

Discipline: Physics-Astrophysics

Preferred Education: Doctorate

Citizenship: United States

NASA’s George C. Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC)  is seeking declarations of interest via a submitted letter and other documents (see below) for an early to mid-career Gravitational Wave Research Scientist position within the Astrophysics Branch in the Science Research and Projects Division of the Science and Technology Office. The selected individual will work as part of a diverse and agile high energy team whose core values include excellence, integrity, transparency, teamwork, and a growth mindset toward enabling and advancing science and research at MSFC.

The MSFC Relativistic Astronomy team has a prize-winning track record of historic achievements in multi-messenger astronomy and is fundamentally involved in the European Space Agency (ESA) Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) mission. As an integral part of that team, the successful applicant will develop data science algorithms and astrophysical models for gravitational wave astronomy; participate in on-going science ground segment developments for space-based gravitational wave missions and conduct research for future programs; conceive and develop techniques to scientifically exploit gravitational wave and multi-messenger observations; serve as a scientific advisor to interns and post-doctoral scholars; publish in peer-reviewed journals; and, present at national and international conferences and workshops.

This will be a permanent civil servant position. US Citizenship is required. The delay between this request and the job posting is to allow for adequate community response. The posting will open for approximately 10 days only (est. late June/July 2022) through https://www.USAJOBS.gov via a Direct Hire Authority (DHA) announcement. The short period that the announcement is open is due to agency guidance and notice of the vacancy is being provided in advance to allow for a large pool of interested and qualified scientists to prepare and apply. Given the short period the announcement will be open, it is a good idea to log into USAJOBS before the announcement opens and update your username, password, resume, etc., to facilitate the timely submission of an application. Enabling USAJOB alerts using the features of the USAJOBS website can notify interested candidates of the job opportunity opening. Given the type of announcement authority, it is strongly suggested that the submitted application map closely to the position requirements.

A transcript demonstrating that you meet the education requirements for a Federal physical scientist will be required at the time of application. Given the short period that the announcement will be open, it is a good idea to obtain a transcript in advance. While a transcript is the preferred proof of qualifying education, any of the following items will be accepted as proof of education:

• An unofficial transcript,
• A copy of an official transcript,
• A copy of a degree (i.e., a picture or scan), or
• A list of courses.

To apply for this position, you will only need to (1) submit your resume and a transcript and (2) answer the screening questions and supplemental information through USAJOBS.

Further Information

Interested applicants should send a letter stating their interest, a CV, a statement of research interests, and the names of at least three independent references (which should be contained within the aforementioned documents) directed to Debra Wallace, Deputy Branch Chief, Astrophysics Branch, debra.j.wallace@nasa.gov. Those who respond will receive additional, specific notification when the respective USAJOBS opportunity opens. Note that these documents are not required to apply for the job, but are strongly encouraged.