Posting 23-27

Area of Consideration: This position is open to all qualified candidates.

Note: First consideration may be made 14 days after the opening date. This is a career ladder opportunity with promotion potential to the grade 12 level. Candidates selected at grade 11 may be non-competitively promoted to the grade 12 level upon the recommendation of the supervisor based on classification requirements, satisfactory performance, and qualifications of the employee.

Summary:

This is the position of Information Technology Specialist (APPSW) Science Education Department, Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory. The employee has applications programming and data management responsibilities for various projects within the Department (SED) that require innovative websites, backend software, and database solutions to meet educational goals.

Duties:

Develop complex software components and subcomponents/modules to support education and outreach, particularly dynamic web based projects and database-driven websites and services. This will involve the creation of innovative, customized applications that add to SED website capabilities and modifying existing applications to meet evolving requirements. (Specialized applications include those that support the Micro Observatory telescope network database and user account management infrastructure; the Observing with NASA Exhibit Kiosk web-based infrastructure; and content management systems for multimedia-intensive websites that integrate artwork, text, video, sound, and interactive elements). This requires familiarity with the requirements for the entire subsystem of each project.

Maintain, administer, and customize SED’s Moodle Content Management System, ensuring the security of user databases.

Function effectively as part of a team, serving as technical lead for designing, developing, testing, and implementing complex software applications, dynamic web application layouts, relational database systems, and content and user interfaces.

Refine system requirements and develop detailed plans and schedules for new programming projects and software enhancements by consulting project leads, subject matter specialists, external vendors, and internal and external system users about the functionality and types of information.

Design and develop software in a production environment that requires strong knowledge of the capabilities, limitations, and appropriate uses of various programming languages, APls, and scripting tools; and the ability to communicate technical information to non-IT specialized staff.

Duties at grade 12 include those above and:

 Refine system requirements and develop detailed plans and schedules for new programming projects and software enhancements by consulting project leads, subject matter specialists, external vendors, and internal and external system users about the functionality and types of information

Manage the design and development of software in a production environment that requires strong knowledge of the capabilities, limitations, and appropriate uses of a variety of programming languages, APls, and scripting tools; and the ability to communicate technical information to non-IT specialized staff.

Implement and provide technical direction for all aspects of the web or code development lifecycle: requirements generation, design, code, verification and test, and maintenance.

Perform logical and physical database design, design data models and database architecture to provide differential account management and access, powerful query and reporting functions, security, maintenance, backup and recovery.

Oversee the verification and testing of all generated software through complete system and user acceptance testing and the transitioning and integration of the software modules to production. Provide ongoing maintenance and oversight of applications, databases, web servers, security, and connectivity.

 Oversee the generation of clear and concise documentation of programs and systems so that others can use and/or maintain them. Document software design so that others can develop the software. Coordinate with other programmers on the project team or external vendors, working to integrate and test software systems. Prepare presentations on technical topics for team meetings and/or presentations to external stakeholders. Document procedures, processes, and/or standards13. Perform other duties as required.

Qualifications:

For all positions individuals must have IT-related experience demonstrating each of the four competencies listed below.
1. Attention to Detail - Is thorough when performing work and conscientious about attending to detail.
2. Customer Service - Works with clients and customers (that is, any individuals who use or receive the services or products that your work unit produces, including the general public, individuals who work in the agency, other agencies, or organizations outside the Government) to assess their needs, provide information or assistance, resolve their problems, or satisfy their expectations; knows about available products and services; is committed to providing quality products and services.
3. Oral Communication - Expresses information (for example, ideas or facts) to individuals or groups effectively, taking into account the audience and nature of the information (for example, technical, sensitive, controversial); makes clear and convincing oral presentations; listens to others, attends to nonverbal cues, and responds appropriately.
4. Problem Solving - Identifies problems; determines accuracy and relevance of information; uses sound judgment to generate and evaluate alternatives, and to make recommendations.

AND

Candidates for grade 11 must possess a minimum of one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least grade 9 in the normal line of progression for this occupation. 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 such as experience writing and maintaining code for dynamic web applications using industry standard development; demonstrated knowledge of HTML, JavaScript, CSS, json, PHP, and relational database systems. Familiarity with authentication and authorization systems and knowledge of the course management platforms such as Moodle are desirable.

Candidates for grade 12 must possess a minimum of one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least  grade 11 in the normal line of progression for this occupation. 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 such as expert knowledge and experience using industry standard web development tools and programming languages including, but not limited to PHP/MySQL, CSS, AJAX, JavaScript, Python, XML, HTML/XHTML, Perl/CGI, etc.), on Unix, Linux, Mac and PC platforms sufficient to develop alternative solutions to complex programming challenges; proficient knowledge of SQL database systems, course management platforms, and authentication and authorization systems; and demonstrated knowledge of software development project management practices.

or

Education:
All academic degrees and coursework must be from accredited or pre-accredited institutions. Undergraduate or Graduate Education: Degree in computer science, engineering, information science, information systems management, mathematics, operations research, statistics, or technology management or degree that provided a minimum of 24 semester hours in one or more of the fields identified above and required the development or adaptation of applications, systems or networks.

Grade 11: PhD. or equivalent doctoral degree
or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a PhD. or equivalent doctoral degree. 

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APPLICATION PROCEDURE: We will only accept applications online for this position. To view the complete vacancy posting, requirements and the procedures to apply, please visit USAJOBS

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