Ocean Career: NOAA Research Physical Scientist

Research Physical Scientist

As a Research Physical Scientist, you will perform the following duties:

• Serve as a senior scientist providing strategic leadership to formulate and conduct complex research projects focused on developing and/or improving the detection and prediction of severe weather hazards. Employ specialized and advanced scientific techniques using Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) across scientific disciplines to integrate massive datasets, guide experimentation, and to create and enhance AI/ML-enabled models and applications to improve scientific understanding, detection, and prediction of hazardous weather.
• Define research, drawing on scientific expertise and experience to identify specific problems essential to the investigative objectives or conceptually related studies. Identify scientific and technical resource requirements to support assigned projects; establish goals and define the most feasible approach to resolve conflicting technical issues and unique problems. Publish scientific results in peer-reviewed journals and present at seminars, conferences, and workshops. Develop original research ideas and use a variety of approaches, methods, and procedures to plan and execute assignments, resolving issues/problems that significantly affect the Laboratory scientific programs.
• Use innovative data analysis to investigate and assess technical computing problems; develop and lead new or modified procedures or approaches for problem solving. Serve as a subject matter expert and consultant to the scientific and technical personnel of other agencies; collaborate on projects, and coordinate own work with others to advance the agency's goals and objectives. Collaborate with scientists at other labs, centers for operational implementation, and universities to develop proposals for exchanging technical information and ideas and working on projects of interest to the agencies.

The ZP-4 is equivalent to the GS-13/14.

Key Requirements:

• Applicants must be U.S. Citizens.
• Suitable for Federal employment, as determined by background investigation.
• More requirements are listed under Qualifications and Additional Information.
• Must be registered for Selective Service, if applicable (sss.gov)
• Qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement.

To qualify for the 1301 series:

Degree: physical science, engineering, or mathematics that included 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science such as mechanics, dynamics, properties of materials, and electronics.

OR

Combination of education and experience: education equivalent to one of the majors shown in A above that included at least 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

AND

SPECIALIZED

EXPERIENCE:

Applicants must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to the next lower grade level in the Federal Service. 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. This experience need not have been in the federal government.

To qualify at the ZP-4 or GS-13 level:

SPECIALIZED

EXPERIENCE:

In addition to meeting the Basic Requirement above, applicants must also possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the ZP-3 or GS-12 in the Federal service. Specialized experience MUST include all of the following:

• Conducting weather forecasting research using artificial intelligence or machine learning; and
• Modifying or creating new computer programs for the processing, analysis, conversion, or archiving of research data and results.

Salary range: $106,437 – $163,514 per year

Final date to receive applications:
May 11, 2026

Learn more about this opportunity and how to apply.