
COMPUTER SCIENTIST
Department of the Air Force Headquarters
Patrick AFB, FLFull-time$118–153K/yrPosted 1 day ago
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At a glance
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Requirements
Credentials this posting asks for.
Job overview
The Department of the Air Force seeks a computer scientist to apply scientific and engineering principles to complex electronic systems and mission-support projects. The role includes systems and software engineering, modeling and simulation, technical guidance, and professional development. Applicants must meet the applicable engineering, operations research, or computer science education requirements and demonstrate relevant experience and competencies.
Skills & qualifications
Skills
Qualifications
Full job description
Summary
Click on "Learn more about this agency" button below for IMPORTANT additional information. The primary purpose of this position is to provide professional and scientific knowledge in performance of work requiring the application of engineering, mathematics, statistical analysis, modeling/simulation, and/or other scientific principles, methods, and techniques.
Duties
DUTY 1: Applies systems/software engineering knowledge in the planning, research, design, development, test, evaluation, integration, acquisition, dissemination, sustainment, modification, and/or exploitation of complex electronic systems to support the organization's mission objectives. DUTY 2: Utilizes scientific inquiry in the development of models/simulations and/or computer programs to evaluate and predict the ability to support assigned projects, studies, or problems. DUTY 3: Provides technical guidance, advisory support, and assistance. DUTY 4: Attends meetings, conferences, briefings, and seminars related to program planning, advanced technologies, and support system concepts. DUTY 5: Accomplishes professional development and maintains technical proficiency through professional interaction with technical and professional societies, associations, academia, symposia, contractors, research and development (R&D) organizations, by reading/reviewing technical journals and current literature, and participation in formal training programs. Qualifications
This is a GG-12 position in the Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System (DCIPS). The GG-12 duties for the "Professional" work category are at the "Full Performance" work level and are equivalent to those at the GS-12 level. The selectee's salary will be set within the grade equivalent to a GS/GG grade based on the selectee's qualifications in relation to the job. In order to qualify, you must meet the specialized experience requirements described in the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards for General Schedule Positions, Professional and Scientific Positions. BASIC REQUIREMENTS: 0854 COMPUTER ENGINEER & 0855 ELECTRONICS ENGINEERSuccessfully completed a professional engineering degree: The curriculum must be in a school of engineering with at least one curriculum accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) as a professional engineering curriculum or 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. Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. NOTE: YOU MUST SUBMIT COPIES OF YOUR OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPTS. OR Combination of education and experience that is college-level education, training, and/or technical experience that furnished (1) a thorough knowledge of the physical and mathematical sciences underlying professional 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. BASIC REQUIREMENTS: 1515 OPERATIONS RESEARCH ANALYST: Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree that included a major field of study or specific course requirements in: operations research; or at least 24 semester hours in a combination of operations research, mathematics, probability, statistics, mathematical logic, science, or subject-matter courses requiring substantial competence in college-level mathematics or statistics. At least 3 of the 24 semester hours must have been in calculus. NOTE: YOU MUST SUBMIT COPIES OF YOUR OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPTS. BASIC REQUIREMENTS: 1550 COMPUTER SCIENTIST: Requires a Bachelor's degree in computer science or a bachelor's degree with 30 semester hours in a combination of mathematics, statistics, and computer science. At least 15 of the 30 semester hours must have included any combination of statistics and mathematics that included differential and integral calculus. All academic degrees and course work must be from accredited or pre-accredited institutions. Courses designed to provide an introduction to computer science techniques and methodologies, to problems of system design, and to other specialized fields are acceptable. Courses or experience in teaching elementary business, or shop mathematics are not acceptable. NOTE: YOU MUST SUBMIT COPIES OF YOUR OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPTS. POSITIVE EDUCATION REQUIREMENT: This position has a positive education requirement. If transcripts are not provided, your resume MUST list the appropriate academic field (e.g. biology, mechanical engineering, economics, sociology, etc.) and all courses you have taken (including those failed), which appear to satisfy the qualification requirements of the position for which you are applying. List graduate and undergraduate courses separately. Include the descriptive title and course code, completion date, grade, number of semester, quarter or classroom hours (for education completed at business, secretarial, technical school or military schools) and graduate and undergraduate classes. In addition to meeting the basic requirement above, to qualify for this position you must also meet the qualification requirements listed below: EXPERIENCE REQUIRED: Your resume must reflect quality level experience which demonstrates the possession of the knowledge, skills, abilities and competencies necessary for successful job performance required for this position. Quality experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular competencies/knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position and is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. Examples of creditable experience include: Knowledge of engineering, mathematics, statistical analysis, modeling /simulation, and/or other scientific concepts, principles, standards, methods, techniques, practices, and procedures; knowledge and understanding of national -level doctrine, regulations, policies, guidelines, requirements, and initiatives; and knowledge of security procedures to maintain control of classified material. Note: You must submit a copy of official transcripts / Creditable experience may include previous military experience, experience gained in the private sector, or experience gained in another government agency. KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs): Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following areas: 1. Professional knowledge of the concepts, principles, theories, and practices involved in engineering, mathematics, and/or computer science to perform studies, modify standard practices, and/or resolve issues related to the planning, development, fielding, and sustainment of complex software systems, to include knowledge and experience in agile software development methodologies and all phases of the software engineering lifecycle to include requirements, design, implementation, testing, deployment, and sustainment. 2. Knowledge of security procedures to maintain control of classified material. 3. Knowledge and understanding of agency, AF, Department of Defense (DoD), and national-level doctrine, regulations, policies, guidelines, requirements, and initiatives related to assigned program(s) and/or project(s). 4. Skill in applying analytical and evaluative techniques to identify, investigate, and resolve complex issues or problems, to include knowledge and experience in software development languages and technologies, to include change management, source control, CICD pipelines, and DevSecOps concepts. 5. Ability to foresee the impact of changing technology leveraging knowledge and experience in modern software engineering practices such as containerization and services-based development. 6. Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing, in order to produce highly technical reports, position papers, and briefings which are appropriate for the intended audience; and to maintain good working relationships. Conditions of Employment Cont. PART-TIME OR UNPAID EXPERIENCE: Credit will be given for appropriate unpaid and or part-time work. You must clearly identify the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the total number of hours per week. VOLUNTEER WORK EXPERIENCE: Refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service Programs (i.e., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student and social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge and skills that can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
Education
IF USING EDUCATION TO QUALIFY: If position has a positive degree requirement or education forms the basis for qualifications, you MUST submit transcripts with the application. Official transcripts are not required at the time of application; however, if position has a positive degree requirement, qualifying based on education alone or in combination with experience, transcripts must be verified prior to appointment. An accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education must accredit education. Click here to check accreditation. 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 conventional U.S. education program. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: This position is a Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel Systems (DCIPS) position implemented under Section 504, Title V of Public Law 99-569, Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1987, as codified in Sec 1601, Chap 83 of Title 10 United States Code which sets forth Air Force policies and procedures for DCIPS. This position is in the Excepted Service. DoD Components with DCIPS positions apply Veterans' Preference to preference eligible candidates as defined by Section 2108 of Title 5 USC, in accordance with the procedures provided in DoD Instruction 1400.25, Volume 2005, DCIPS Employment and Placement. If you are a veteran claiming veterans' preference, as defined by section 2108 of Title 5 U.S.C., you must submit documents verifying your eligibility with your application package. For additional information on DCIPS, click here How You Will Be Evaluated
Your application package (resume, supporting documents, and responses to the questionnaire) will be used to determine your eligibility, qualifications, and quality ranking for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment. Your responses to the questionnaire may be compared to the documents you submit. The documents you submit must support your responses to the online questionnaire. If your application contradicts or does not support your questionnaire responses, you will receive a rating of "not qualified" or "insufficient information" and you will not receive further consideration for this job. Applicants who disqualify themselves will not be evaluated further. Other Information
Other Significant Facts Cont'd: 1. Position is designated special-sensitive and requires eligibility for access to Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI), other intelligence-related Special Sensitive information, or involvement in Top Secret Special Access Programs (SAP) to fully perform the duties and responsibilities of the position. A non-disclosure agreement must be signed. 2. Drug Testing: This position has been designated by the Air Force as a Testing Designated Position (TDP) under the Air Force Civilian Drug Demand Reduction Program. Employee must pass initial and periodic short notice drug testing. Illegal drug use by employees in sensitive positions presents a clear threat to the mission of the Air Force, national security, and public safety. Employed Annuitants (Reemployed Annuitants): Applicants in receipt of an annuity based on civilian employment in the Federal Service are subject to the DoD Policy on The Employment of Annuitants. Click here for more information. 120-Day Register: This announcement may result in a 120-day register that may be used to fill like vacancies for 120 days after the closing date. Applicants may be referred for consideration as vacancies occur. Direct Deposit: All federal employees are required to have direct deposit. Disabled veteran leave is available to a Federal employee hired on/after 5 Nov 2016, who is a veteran with a service-connected disability rating of 30% or more. For more information, click here. If you have questions regarding this announcement and have hearing or speech difficulties click here. Selectees who physically reside permanently in the U.S., the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico or Northern Mariana Islands, and the Possessions of the U.S., during the entire recruitment process (application, selection, and acceptance of a formal job offer) and selected for employment in the foreign area are eligible to receive certain foreign area benefits such as: Living Quarters Allowance (LQA) or government quarters, Post Allowance, Home Leave, etc. (subject to approval) Selectees who physically reside outside the U.S., the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico or Northern Mariana Islands, and the Possessions of the U.S., during any step of the recruitment process (application, selection, and acceptance of a formal job offer) will have foreign area benefits eligibility be determined on a case by case basis.
How this job compares
Set against the 11,509 open Systems Engineer jobs on Olive Jobs, counted November 13, 2026.
- Pay
- This posting$118–153K/yr
- Florida median$98–165K/yr224 salary ranges
- US median$115–189K/yr8,786 salary ranges
This range's midpoint, $135K, is 3% above the Florida median midpoint ($132K) — in the middle half of Systems Engineer salary ranges in Florida.
- Openings
- Olive Jobs lists 338 open Systems Engineer jobs in Florida and 11,509 across the US. 5% of them nationwide are listed as remote or flexible.
- Hiring the most in Florida
- Lockheed Martin56 open
- L3Harris35 open
- Northrop Grumman32 open
- Experience
- Systems Engineer postings that state a minimum ask for 5 years of experience at the median; the middle half ask for 3 to 8 years (9,502 postings).
- Education
- 4,294 of the 11,509 open Systems Engineer jobs (37%) ask for a bachelor's degree or higher.
Pay, requirements and demand for Software Engineer jobs
Counted across the open, public US postings on Olive Jobs on November 13, 2026. Figures based on too few postings are left out.
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