National Reconnaissance Office (NRO)
Location
Las Cruces, NM | United States
Job description
WE ARE THE NRO
For sixty years, the NRO has developed, acquired, launched and operated the satellites that are the foundation for America’s advantage and strength in space. Using a diversified architecture of spacecraft, NRO collects and delivers the best space-based intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance content on the planet.
Learn more at NRO.gov.
Basic Eligibility For A Position With The NRO
- You must be a U.S. Citizen
- You must be 18 years of age or older
- You must be able to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI security clearance
- You will be subject to pre-employment and periodic drug testing
- You will be subject to pre-employment and periodic polygraph examinations
Where You Will Work The Mission Operations Directorate (MOD) is the single National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) entity that operates all NRO systems to deliver intelligence value to national decision makers, the Intelligence Community, and warfighters. We continually innovate how we deliver, employ, and integrate NRO systems to solve the most challenging intelligence problems while identifying and defining critical future capabilities. We defend and fight through crisis and conflict in concert with U.S. and allied mission partners.
As part of the MOD team, you will...
... be empowered to provide direct mission impact to end users
... have global reach
... have the ability to do hands-on work with cutting-edge technology
... have the ability to work with all NRO acquisitions and systems
... work in a truly dynamic, rewarding environment
... gain invaluable experience for future assignments
The NRO Cadre is collecting resumes for consideration against current and future opportunities for Full Performance level (GG-12/13), Systems Engineers, occupational series 0801/1301/1501. For more information on the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) occupational series, click here.
Your resume may be considered for other positions which your skills and experience may be a good match. This is a full-time position that is open from February 15, 2024 to February 29, 2024. Resumes must be submitted by 11:59 PM EST on February 29, 2024. Who May Apply - This position is open to the public.
- Federal government employees MUST currently be at the grade level or higher as indicated in this announcement. This is NOT a promotion opportunity for current Federal government employees. If selected for the position, Federal government employees will transition laterally at their current grade level and step.
- Federal applicants who exceed the advertised grade may voluntarily request acceptance at the lower grade per IAW DoD 1400.25 Volume 2006.
- The NRO is only accepting external applicants for this job announcement. Current NRO Cadre employees should apply internally.
- This position does not qualify for the appointment of a reemployed federal annuitant IAW DoDI 1400.25 Volume 300.
What You Will Be Doing The Missions Operations Directorate (MOD) operates, protects, and enhances national space, cyber, and ground systems to address U.S. and allied nations’ intelligence needs. MOD uses its tenets of Operate, Innovate, and Defend & Fight to safeguard our nation’s security. MOD operates NRO systems to dynamically employ NRO capabilities, innovates to solve the most challenging intelligence problems, and relentlessly fights to deliver mission across the competition continuum to support the nation and its allies.
The Aerospace Data Facility Southwest (ADF-SW) is a multi-mission ground station responsible for supporting worldwide defense operations and multi-agency collection, analysis, reporting and dissemination of intelligence information. It provides data to defense, intelligence and civil agencies supporting the United States Government and its allies.
ADF-SW is situated in the beautiful Mesilla Valley of Las Cruces, NM, is bordered by the rugged Organ and Dona Ana Mountains, and enjoys an average of 350 sunny days each year. Modern Las Cruces boasts New Mexico State University, many museums, art galleries, theaters, and is considered the gateway to the southwest.
This is full performance work as a Cadre position in the Mission Operations Directorate of the NRO. Full performance incumbents perform with moderate guidance and assistance from management. Incumbents apply fundamental knowledge of technical methods and approaches to assist leadership in analysis, defining and coordinating user, customer and stakeholder needs and translating them into technical, analytical, or operational requirements, for the research, development, production, and/or procurement of processes, systems and/or services. This includes designing and developing unique operational devices and/or solutions to support technical, analytical, or operational requirements. Level II officers may monitor, troubleshoot, and test equipment/processes throughout an operation, implementing appropriate technical modifications as necessary. With minimal guidance, incumbents identify, deploy and maintain applications, equipment, tools, or systems to ensure proper functionality. Under the direction of leadership, incumbents participate in or conduct training on equipment/systems.
As the Systems Engineer, you will be responsible for the following duties:
- The selected candidate will serve as a Systems Engineer (SE) in the System Engineering and Integration Office (SEIO), Aerospace Data Facility Southwest (ADF-SW), MOD Directorate, and National Reconnaissance Office (NRO). Utilizing a diverse team of government and contractor personnel, the Systems Engineer is responsible for execution of readiness planning and execution of activities to ensure current and future NRO system deliveries satisfy NRO requirements. In this position, the incumbent will gain knowledge and experience in integration and readiness activities by expanding mission capability as well as resilient architectures. Being at the forefront of these critical NRO activities, the candidate will be able to apply what is learned to similar efforts within the IC.
- The position is also responsible for SE project management activities throughout the life of a project and may lead team members and contractors to achieve the project objectives and customer requirements. Position will oversee and be responsible for the integration of system deliveries and mission applications to the ground station.
- Functional responsibilities include systems engineering, project management, risk and opportunity management, and generation of ground station master schedules. Additionally, the selected officer will participate in Integrated Product Teams (IPTs) by advising on and enforcing NRO integration processes on behalf of MOD. Furthermore, the officer will be responsible for providing recommendations based on performance assessments to the Contracting Officer’s Technical Representative (COTR), advise line management on work-related problems and issues, and will be responsible for a full range of contracting activities in coordination with the Contracting Officer.
- Based on assignments, incumbents may serve as a COTR responsible for a full range of contracting activities in coordination with the contracting officer.
What You Need - Bachelor's Degree: technical or scientific field (STEM) such as engineering, physics, physical science, chemistry, mathematics, statistics, operations research, engineering management, or computer science.
- Experience in Systems Engineering or Project Management.
- Demonstrated ability to manage/prioritize multiple tasks and achieve their timely completion.
- Demonstrated ability to work in a challenging, dynamic environment, and ability to be flexible, creative and formulate ideas and solutions in the face of ambiguity.
- Demonstrated competencies in interpersonal and oral/written communication skills appropriate for the audience, including conveying complex technical/programmatic issues concisely to management.
Desired Qualifications - Masters's Degree: physical science, engineering, or mathematics.
- Understanding of requirement decomposition, Request for Change (RFC) process, capability based features, risk management and other traditional SE and Agile SE roles.
- Knowledge of NRO mission, partners, and spacecraft or space systems.
- Knowledge of other IC organizations and their missions.
- COTR, PM or SE certifications.
Qualifying experience may have been acquired in any public or private sector job, but will clearly demonstrate past experience in the application of the particular competencies/knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to successfully perform and is typically in or directly related to the duties of the position as described above.
Experience must be reflected in your resume. Rotational Assignment This position requires a three-year rotational assignment agreement with possible extensions of two-years. Approved extensions will be in one-year increments based on mission requirements. At the conclusion of the rotational assignment, the position’s occupant will be required to relocate to NRO Headquarters, Chantilly, VA or another acceptable assignment within the NRO.
Other Information - Overtime Statement: MAY be required to work other than normal duty hours, which may include evenings, weekends, and/or holidays.
- Travel Statement: MAY be required to travel in military or commercial aircraft to perform temporary duty assignments.
- Financial Disclosure: MAY be required to file an OGE Form 450, Confidential Financial Disclosure Report, upon appointment and will be required to file annually.
- Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) coded positions: If selected for a DAWIA coded position, the incumbent must meet appropriate certification requirements IAW the Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) no later than 24 months after accepting this position. Individual shall maintain, at a minimum 80 continuous Learning Points every 24 months via the services acquisition management system. DAWIA requirements may be located at the Defense Acquisition University website.
- Mobility Agreement: Mobility is a condition of employment.
Location Las Cruces, NM
Telework is not available and you must be able to work at the specified location(s). Salary This position meets the qualifications for Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System (DCIPS) Targeted Local Market Supplement (TLMS) STEM pay for NRO Cadre employees and candidates as authorized by the office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security’s (OUSD(I&S)). Cadre employees and candidates are eligible to receive STEM pay if they are currently serving in a STEM designated position. Should a Cadre employee or candidate earning STEM pay change positions within the organization, they must be assigned to another STEM qualifying position in order to continue to remain eligible for STEM pay. Otherwise, Cadre employees and Candidates Generally would be transitioned to the DCIPS GG Pay Scale. For more information on STEM pay, visit
2024 STEM salary range:
GG-12 $114,639 – $149,026.
GG-13 $129,239 – $168,015.
**This position is a full performance level DCIPS position. The NRO is accepting applications from U.S. Citizens and current federal government employees for this position.
To qualify for the position, federal government employees MUST currently be at the GG – 12/13 grade level and may ONLY apply for a lateral reassignment at their current grade level and step. Federal applicants who exceed the advertised grade may voluntarily request acceptance at the lower grade per IAW DoD 1400.25 Volume 2006.
Hiring Incentives The NRO may offer hiring incentives and other entitlements at management’s discretion.
Trial Period All new DCIPS employees will be required to serve a 2-year trial period.
Veterans’ Preference 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, Vol 2005, DCIPS Employment and Placement. If you are a veteran claiming veterans’ preference, as defined by section 2108 of Title 5 USC, you must submit documents verifying your eligibility upon request.
Equal Employment Opportunity Policy The United States Government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factor.
- Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) for federal employees & job applicants
Reasonable Accommodation Policy Federal agencies must provide reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process should follow the instructions in the job opportunity announcement. For any part of the remaining hiring process, applicants should contact the hiring agency directly. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.
A reasonable accommodation is any change to a job, the work environment, or the way things are usually done that enables an individual with a disability to apply for a job, perform job duties or receive equal access to job benefits.
Under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, federal agencies must provide reasonable accommodations when:
- An applicant with a disability needs an accommodation to have an equal opportunity to apply for a job.
- An employee with a disability needs an accommodation to perform the essential job duties or to gain access to the workplace.
- An employee with a disability needs an accommodation to receive equal access to benefits, such as details, training, and office-sponsored events.
You can request a reasonable accommodation at any time during the application or hiring process or while on the job. Requests are considered on a case-by-case basis. Please send your request to [email protected].
Privacy Act Notice
Privacy Act Notice (PL 93-579): We use this information to determine qualifications for employment. This is authorized under Title 5 U.S.C. 3302 and 3361.
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