Posting 23-75

AREA OF CONSIDERATION:  This position is open to all qualified candidates.

Note: First consideration may be made 14 days after the opening date. This is a career ladder opportunity with promotion potential to grade 12. Selection for this position to be made at the grade 09, 11, 0r 12 level. Candidates may be non-competitively promoted to the next grade level, up to grade 12, upon the recommendation of the supervisor based on classification requirements, satisfactory performance and qualifications of the employee.

SUMMARY:

The Minor Planet Center (MPC) at the CfA, is sanctioned by the International Astronomical Union, and works within the Solar Stellar Planetary Sciences Division to process, archive, and publish all astrometric and radar observations of the Solar System’s small bodies. 

DUTIES:

• Functions as a software IT Specialist to develop and maintain Python and web-based software applications and services related to the Minor Planet Center
• Develops unit tests and applies continuous integration to both existing and new software projects
• Collaborates with scientists and software development staff as needed
• Participates in regular software planning and status reporting activities
• Contributes to the improvement and upkeep of Minor Planet Center software development best practices
• Performs other duties as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS:

For all positions individuals must have IT-related experience demonstrating each of the four competencies listed below.
1. Attention to Detail - Is thorough when performing work and conscientious about attending to detail.
2. Customer Service - Works with clients and customers (that is, any individuals who use or receive the services or products that your work unit produces, including the general public, individuals who work in the agency, other agencies, or organizations outside the Government) to assess their needs, provide information or assistance, resolve their problems, or satisfy their expectations; knows about available products and services; is committed to providing quality products and services.
3. Oral Communication - Expresses information (for example, ideas or facts) to individuals or groups effectively, taking into account the audience and nature of the information (for example, technical, sensitive, controversial); makes clear and convincing oral presentations; listens to others, attends to nonverbal cues, and responds appropriately.
4. Problem Solving - Identifies problems; determines accuracy and relevance of information; uses sound judgment to generate and evaluate alternatives, and to make recommendations.

AND

Candidates for grade 09 must possess a minimum of one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the grade 07 in the normal line of progressions for this occupation.  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 such as substantive contributions to a commercial or open source software projects.

Candidates for grade 11 must possess a minimum of one year of specialized  experience equivalent to at least the grade 9 in the normal line of progression for this occupation. 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 such as substantive contributions to a commercial or open source software projects; experience with building advanced containerized deployments using Docker and Amazon Web Services; and experience designing, developing and administering complex PostgreSQL databases. 

Candidates for grade 12 must possess a minimum of one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the grade 11 in the normal line of progression for this occupation. 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 such as substantive contributions to a commercial or open source software projects; experience with building advanced containerized deployments using Docker and Amazon Web Services; experience designing, developing and administering complex PostgreSQL databases; and experience in science software project management of a team of 10 or more people.

    OR

Education:

All academic degrees and coursework must be from accredited or pre-accredited institutions. Undergraduate or Graduate Education: Degree in computer science, engineering, information science, information systems management, mathematics, operations research, statistics, or technology management or degree that provided a minimum of 24 semester hours in one or more of the fields identified above and required the development or adaptation of applications, systems, or networks.

Grade 09: master's degree or equivalent graduate degree 

or 2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's degree or equivalent graduate degree

Grade 11: Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or

3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree. 

Qualification requirements are derived from the Office of Personnel Management's Qualification Standards Handbook for General Schedule Positions viewable on the web at http://www.opm.gov/qualifications/Standards/IORs/gs1300/1330.htm. 

For the latest information on the COVID-19 vaccination requirements and its impact on your application, click on Smithsonian Institution’s Frequently Asked Questions.  

APPLICATION PROCEDURE We will only accept applications online for this position.  For complete information about this position and the online application procedures, please visit: USAJOBS

The Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity in our workplace.

Visit the SAO website at http://www.cfa.harvard.edu/