TITLE: IT Specialist (Data Specialist), IS-2210, Grades 7, 9; $44,897 to $68,812/yr
TYPE OF POSITION: Trust Fund (non-Federal), Indefinite
DIVISION: - High Energy Astrophysics
LOCATION: Cambridge, Massachusetts
AREA OF CONSIDERATION: All qualified candidates

First consideration may be made 14 days after the opening date. This is a career ladder opportunity with promotion potential to grade 11. Selection may be made at either the grade 7 or 9 level. The employee may be non-competitively promoted to the next higher grade, up to grade 11, upon the recommendation of their supervisor, based on the position classification as well as their qualifications and satisfactory performance.

DUTIES: Individuals in this position may perform a variety of computer-related duties as a data specialist, in support of astrophysical research in the area of user support.

Duties at the 7 level are in the form of assigned tasks relating to the duties described for the next higher grade level. At this level, the incumbent is in a developmental trainee level where the employee receives on-the-job-training and developmental experience in research techniques and methods. Assignments are designed to develop the employee for work at a higher level.

Duties at the grade 9 level may include, but are no limited to: activities such as specifying, testing, writing, modifying, debugging, and/or documenting software for data analysis, user support, proposal planning, simulations and modeling; running software and analyzing data output; writing and testing developing and maintaining databases; drafting and maintaining materials for websites; preparing reports summarizing results for use in research; fitting atomic physics data so it can be used for modeling sources; and providing support to users via personal interaction and email.

QUALIFICATIONS : Candidates for all grade levels must possess experience in computer operations and/or software development ideally in a UNIX or Linux environment, and good communication, interpersonal, and self-motivational skills. Knowledge of IDL, FORTRAN and C; knowledge of physics, astronomy and modern instrumentation techniques; knowledge of HTML or equivalent; scripting languages such as Perl and mathematics to be able to develop and analyze algorithms and perform the necessary calculations to develop code; and skill in analyzing problems and developing solutions. Specialized experience referred to below, for grades 7 and 9, is experience which has equipped candidates with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities required to successfully perform the above duties, and is typically in or related to the above described work. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for this occupation.

Candidates for the grade 7 level must also possess at least one of the following:

1. minimum of one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least grade 5, which may have been gained through work as a computer assistant, programmer, research assistant, or other position that employed the application of computer technology to carry out the basic duties. Such experience may have included translating detailed logical steps developed by others into computer code requiring understanding procedures and limitations of the programming language; interviewing subject-matter users to get facts necessary to develop specifications; operating computer consoles where this involved choosing from among various procedures in responding to machine commands or unscheduled halts; or scheduling the sequence of programs to be processed by computers where alternatives had to be considered with a view to production efficiency; or
2. one year of graduate level education in computer science, mathematics, engineering, or related field, or in a field such as physical science where course work required the development or adaptation of computer programs and systems and provided knowledge equivalent to graduate level education in a computer field; or
3. superior academic achievement as an undergraduate in one of the above cited fields; or
4. combination of successfully completed graduate level education and experience equivalent to the above.

1. minimum of one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least grade 7, which may have been gained through work as a computer programmer, research assistant, or data analyst, which employed the application of computer technology to carry out the basic duties. Such experience should demonstrate knowledge of computer requirements and techniques in carrying out assignments consisting of several related tasks; knowledge of mathematics to be able to analyze algorithms and or perform the necessary calculations to develop code; ability to analyze problems and develop solutions; ability to develop complex programs and to ability to meet deadlines ; or
2. two years of graduate level education or Master's or equivalent degree in computer science, mathematics, engineering, or related field, or in a field such as physical science where course work required the development or adaptation of computer programs and systems and provided knowledge equivalent to graduate level education in a computer
3. field; or
4. combination of successfully completed graduate level education and experience equivalent to the above.

NOTE: The appointment will be subject to the applicant’s successful/satisfactory completion of a pre-employment background check and subsequent background investigation. New employees are subject to background checks, including fingerprinting and a one-year probationary period.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE: Please reference Job Posting #28-16 and submit resume to the address below, or via email to saoresumes@cfa.harvard.edu. Please note that this email address is for resume/application materials only.

Applicants who have experience in a research environment are encouraged to augment their resume by elaborating on their education, software and research experience by 1) briefly relating research projects and their objectives, and 2) describing how specific software was applied to the scientific research being conducted.

Please complete the Applicant Survey Form, which is used to collect information from candidates during the search process to evaluate the effectiveness of the Institution's search and recruit efforts. Please print all responses. The information provided is not a part of the selection process and will be used for statistical purposes only. Your voluntary responses will have no effect on your consideration.

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

Visit our SAO website. or http://cfa-www.harvard.edu/sao-home.html

Mailing address:
Recruiter 461 (JP#28-16)
Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory
60 Garden Street, MS 17
Cambridge, MA 02138