Careers

NIST Engineering Laboratory, Gaithersburg, MD USA

The National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Engineering Laboratory anticipates the need for an upcoming Materials Research Engineer, ZP-III position, 0806 Materials Engineering Job Series, for the Infrastructure Materials Group (IMG) in the Materials and Structural Systems Division (MSSD) in Gaithersburg, Maryland USA. 

When the position is available, an official vacancy announcement will be posted on USAJOBS.gov.  

Job Description: 
The IMG serves as the world-class resource for developing and promoting the use of science-based tools – measurements, data, models, protocols, and reference standards – to enhance both the global competitiveness of U.S. industry through innovations in building materials and construction technology; and the safety, security, and sustainability of the nation's buildings and physical infrastructure, including adaptation efforts due to climate change.  NIST works with industry and science to advance innovation and improve quality of life. 

We are looking for a Materials Research Engineer to join our team! 

This position will play a critical role in building a vibrant and innovative research program focused on understanding the relative impact of building materials on the resilience of the built environment and developing tools, which are hardware and software-based, to evaluate the durability of these materials.  If selected, you will join NIST's world-class research team in Infrastructure Materials, and will be responsible for: 

Salary and Benefits: 
The salary range for this ZP-III position, 0806 Materials Engineering Job Series, is $82,764,665 - $128,956 per year. The appointment type is Term - 2 years.  Exact compensation may vary based on skills and experience. 

The position is eligible for Alternate Work Schedule and Telework flexibilities. Additional information on Federal benefits can be found at https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/benefits/. 

Please note that only U.S. citizens can be considered for this position, and this position is not eligible for full-time remote work (relocation would be required from outside the area). Relocation expenses may be considered. 

Basic Requirements: 
This position requires a minimum of a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering (or another appropriate scientific field), or a combination of education and experience. 

Submission of Interest:  
To express interest in the future job posting, please submit a resume to MSSDJobs [at] nist.gov (MSSDJobs[at]nist[dot]gov) by April 30, 2024. In your submission cover letter/email, please reference this position specifically and let us know how you learned about this position. 

The Department of Commerce is an equal-opportunity employer.  

Research Engineer (ZP IV/V)

NIST Engineering Laboratory, Gaithersburg, MD USA

Introduction:
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)’s Engineering Laboratory (EL) is seeking interested parties for an upcoming Research Engineer with focus on wind and/or coastal engineering, ZP-0801-IV/V, position within the EL’s Materials and Structural Systems Division (MSSD) in Gaithersburg, Maryland USA. Specifically, this will be a position within the Structures Group of the MSSD.  

When the position is available, an official vacancy announcement will be posted on USAJOBS.gov. 

Job Description:
We are looking for someone who has knowledge of current wind and/or coastal engineering practices, as well as familiarity or expertise within one or more of the following technical areas: Computational fluid dynamics with applications to coastal or wind engineering; storm surge modeling; hurricane risk modeling for buildings or infrastructure; hurricane loading; field instruments for storm surge measurement; or structural damage analysis or modeling.

If selected, you will play a leading role in the Disaster and Failures Studies (DFS) Program’s Hurricane Ian Study program, which includes working with NIST and external partners on planning and directing computational and/or experimental research to study the effects of Hurricane Ian’s hazards (wind, storm surge, waves, and flooding) on coastal built-environment, developing recommendations, Research and Development plan to implement the recommendations, and, if warranted, proposing guidance/codes/standards provisions for improved resilience of coastal communities. Longer term (beyond the Hurricane Ian study), the successful applicant will also play a leading role in expanding NIST’s research on coastal hazard quantification and engineering design to resist wind and storm surge hazards.

Key activities for ZP-IV position would include, but not be limited to:

• Compiling available field data and information on Hurricane Ian, its associated hazards and effects on the built environment, and development of a comprehensive, multi-year research plan with aim to improve resilience of coastal communities for future hurricanes.
• Providing technical leadership and expertise in hydrodynamic simulations, computational fluid dynamics with applications to coastal and wind engineering, and leading research efforts to (1) characterize the risks posed by hurricanes and other extreme wind events on the built environment and to (2) quantify their effects on the performance of buildings (structural system and envelope) and other structures.
• Completing field data collection related to Hurricane Ian or similar future events, as warranted.
• Disseminating Hurricane Ian and other research results through presentations at conferences and publication of authoritative journal papers and reports. 
• Representing NIST within the wind and/or coastal engineering communities.
• Participating in standards and codes development organizations, as well as national and international collaborations, to champion the implementation of NIST research results in codes, standards, and guidelines.
• Participating in the development and/or revision of standards and codes for improved resilience of the built-environment against wind- and surge-induced hazards.

Key activities for ZP-V position would include, but not be limited to:

• Conceiving and directing the Hurricane Ian Study program, overseeing all aspects of the research, and serving as the overall lead.
• Providing strategic direction and guidance for the ZP-IV position's responsibilities, ensuring alignment with program goals and objectives. 
• Leading high-level planning and coordination efforts with NIST and external partners to study the effects of Hurricane Ian's hazards on coastal built environments.
• Developing comprehensive, multi-year research plans aimed at enhancing the resilience of coastal communities to future hurricanes and similar events. 
• Offering expert technical leadership in hydrodynamic simulations, computational fluid dynamics, and coastal and wind engineering. 
• Leading research endeavors to assess hurricane and extreme wind event risks on the built environment and quantify their impact on building performance. 
• Overseeing and directing field data collection efforts related to Hurricane Ian or similar future events, as necessary. 
• Disseminating research findings through conference presentations, authoritative journal papers, and reports.
• Representing NIST within wind and coastal engineering communities, fostering collaborations and partnerships. 
• Leading in standards and codes development organizations, advocating for the integration of NIST research into industry guidelines. 
• Leading the development and revision of standards and codes to enhance the resilience of built environments against wind and surge hazards. 

Salary and Benefits:
The salary range for this position is $117,962 to $191,900 per annum. Exact compensation may vary based on skills and experience.

The position is eligible for Alternate Work Schedule and Telework flexibilities. Additional information on Federal benefits can be found at https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/benefits/.

Please note that only U.S. citizens can be considered for this position, and that this position is not eligible for full-time remote work (relocation would be required from outside the area). Relocation expenses may be considered.

Basic Requirements:
This position requires a minimum of a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering and at least one year (52 weeks) of specialized experience.   

For ZP-IV position: Applicants must have at least one year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent at the GS-12 (ZP-III for NIST) grade level in the federal service. Specialized experience is defined as experience in compiling and analyzing hurricane-related field data, conducting hydrodynamic simulations, and applying computational fluid dynamics in the area of coastal or wind engineering research. 

For ZP-V position: Applicants must have at least one year (52 weeks) of specialized experience at the GS-14 (ZP-IV at NIST) grade level. Specialized experience is defined as experience in conducting complex systematic hurricane hazard characterization and research, as well as providing high-level strategic guidance and standards development as it pertains to hurricane hazards and resilience of coastal buildings, infrastructure, and communities.

Submission of Interest: 
To express interest in the future job posting, please send resumes to MSSDjobs [at] nist.gov (MSSDjobs[at]nist[dot]gov) by June 01, 2024. In your submission cover letter/email, please reference this position specifically and let us know how you learned about this position. 

The Department of Commerce is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Research Engineer (ZP III)

NIST Engineering Laboratory, Gaithersburg, MD USA

Introduction:
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)’s Engineering Laboratory (EL) is seeking interested parties for an upcoming Research Engineer with a focus on wind and coastal engineering, ZP-0801-III, position within the EL’s Materials and Structural Systems Division (MSSD) in Gaithersburg, Maryland USA. This position will be a 4-year term that may be extended up to 6 years. Specifically, this will be a position within the Structures Group of the MSSD.  

When the position is available, an official vacancy announcement will be posted on USAJOBS.gov. 

Job Description:
We are looking for someone who has knowledge of current wind and/or coastal engineering practices, as well as familiarity or expertise within one or more of the following technical areas: Computational fluid dynamics with applications to coastal or wind engineering; storm surge modeling; hurricane risk modeling for buildings or infrastructure; hurricane loading; field instruments for storm surge measurement; or structural damage analysis or modeling.

If selected, you will work with a larger NIST team to conduct computational and/or experimental research to study the effects of coastal hazards, including wind, storm surge, waves, and flooding, on coastal built-environment to support the Disaster and Failures Studies (DFS) Program’s Hurricane Ian Study.

Key activities would include, but not be limited to:

• Participation in the collection and compilation of field data and other information on Hurricane Ian, and its associated hazards and effects on the built environment.
• Providing expertise and support in hydrodynamic simulations, computational fluid dynamics with applications to coastal and wind engineering for (1) characterization of the risks posed by hurricanes and other extreme wind events on coastal built-environment and (2) quantification of their effects on the performance of buildings (structural system and envelope), other structures, and coastal communities.
• Participation in field data collections related to Hurricane Ian or similar future events when warranted.
• Supporting the development and dissemination of Hurricane Ian’s research results through presentation at conferences and publication of authoritative journal papers and reports. 
• Participation in standards and codes development organizations, national and international collaborations to champion the implementation of NIST research results in codes, standards, and guidelines.
• Supporting the development and/or revision of standards and codes for improved resilience of the built-environment against wind- and surge-induced hazards.

Salary and Benefits:
The salary range for this position is $82,764 to $128,956 per annum. Exact compensation may vary based on skills and experience.

The position is eligible for Alternate Work Schedule and Telework flexibilities. Additional information on Federal benefits can be found at https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/benefits/.

Please note that only U.S. citizens can be considered for this position and that this position is not eligible for full-time remote work (relocation would be required from outside the area). Relocation expenses may be considered.

Basic Requirements:
This position requires a minimum of a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering and at least one year (52 weeks) of specialized experience. Specialized experience is described as experience in applying computational techniques for simulation and characterization of loading due to hurricane hazards - including wind, storm surge, and waves - and their effects on coastal buildings, infrastructure, and communities.

Submission of Interest: 
To express interest in the future job posting, please send resumes to MSSDjobs [at] nist.gov (MSSDjobs[at]nist[dot]gov) by June 01, 2024.  In your submission cover letter/email, please reference this position specifically and let us know how you learned about this position. 

The Department of Commerce is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

SOCIAL SCIENTIST  (ZP-0101-IV)

NIST Engineering Laboratory, Gaithersburg, MD USA

Introduction:
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)’s Engineering Laboratory (EL) is seeking interested parties for an upcoming Social Scientist position with a focus on disaster emergency communication and evacuation. This ZP-0101-IV position is within the Structures Group of EL’s Materials and Structural Systems Division (MSSD) in Gaithersburg, Maryland USA. This position will be a 4-year term that may be extended up to 6 years.  

When the position is available, an official vacancy announcement will be posted on USAJOBS.gov. 

Job Description:
We are seeking a candidate with Social Science expertise in both qualitative and quantitative data collection, analysis, and dissemination. The candidate should have research experience relevant to the policy and practice of emergency preparedness, communications, and evacuation from natural disasters, such as hurricanes and/or tornadoes. 

Work will involve collaborating with a multi-disciplinary NIST team to formulate and lead a research study that focuses on emergency communication decision-making in response to Hurricane Ian’s impact in Florida in 2022.  The research supports the NIST Disaster and Failures Studies (DFS) Program’s Hurricane Ian Study.  Of particular interest are efforts that can identify the effect of emergency communication on the protective actions and evacuation decision-making of populations at risk in the affected areas.

Key activities would include, but not be limited to:

• Leading the development of a comprehensive research plan to study the effectiveness of Hurricane Ian’s emergency communications and resulting evacuation.
• Leading the collection and compilation of available social science data and other information on: the decision-making process related to the issuance of emergency communications in response to Hurricane Ian; public perception of and responsiveness to the emergency communications; factors affecting the rate of evacuation; possible influence of storm shelter or other home attributes on evacuation decisions by the public; and factors influencing the overall fatalities.
• Leading the analysis of the above data.
• Leading the development of data collection instruments and working with other NIST staff to obtain necessary Institutional Review Board (IRB) and Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) clearances.
• Organizing field data collections and interviews related to Hurricane Ian or similar future events when warranted using approved instruments.
• Leading the development and dissemination of Hurricane Ian’s research results and recommendations for improving emergency communications and evacuation practice through presentation at conferences and publication of authoritative journal papers and reports. 
• Participating in standards and codes development organizations, national and international collaborations to champion the implementation of NIST research results in codes, standards, and guidelines.
• Leading the development and/or revision of standards, codes, and practices for improved disaster emergency communication and evacuation.

Salary and Benefits:
The salary range for this position is $117,962 to $181,216 per annum. Exact compensation may vary based on skills and experience.

The position is eligible for Alternate Work Schedule and Telework flexibilities. Additional information on Federal benefits can be found at https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/benefits/.  This position is also eligible for full-time remote work.  Should relocation be required from outside the area, relocation expenses may be considered.

Please note that only U.S. citizens can be considered for this position.

Basic Requirements:
Degree in behavioral or social science; or related disciplines appropriate to the position.

OR

Combination of education and experience that provided the applicant with knowledge of one or more of the behavioral or social sciences equivalent to a major in the field.

OR

Four years of appropriate experience that demonstrated that the applicant has acquired knowledge of one or more of the behavioral or social sciences equivalent to a major in the field.

In addition to the above requirements, all applicants must have one year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 level (ZP-III at NIST). Specialized experience is defined as experience in applying social science to study effects of natural disasters on resilience of affected communities.

Submission of Interest: 
To express interest in the future job posting, please send resumes to MSSDjobs [at] nist.gov (MSSDjobs[at]nist[dot]gov) by June 01, 2024.  In your submission cover letter/email, please reference this position specifically and let us know how you learned about this position. 

The Department of Commerce is an Equal Opportunity Employer.