Summary As an Information Technology Specialist with NASA's Office of the Chief Data and AI Officer, you will help deliver high-impact data and artificial intelligence solutions that advance NASA's mission. You will partner with customers across the agency to design, build, and operate data products using cloud data platforms, application programming interface management, and workload identity technologies, while collaborating across platform, governance, and communications functions. Responsibilities Duties described below are at the highest grade advertised. Duties assigned at lower grade levels will be of more limited scope, performed with less independence and limited complexity; duties will be commensurate with the grade of selected employee. Provide technical leadership for the delivery of complex, high-impact data and artificial intelligence (AI) solutions supporting NASA missions, programs, and enterprise priorities. Lead the design, engineering, and operation of cloud data platform solutions, defining technical approaches that span data warehousing, lakehouse, and analytics environments. Serve as a primary technical authority on solution delivery, providing expert guidance to engineers, contractors, customers, and stakeholders on architecture and integration patterns. Define and operate application programming interface (API) management and workload identity strategies that enable secure, governed access to delivered solutions across the agency. Lead complex technical projects from requirements through delivery, coordinating across customers, programs, partners, and team functions to achieve mission outcomes. Evaluate contractor proposals and deliverables for solution delivery work, validating technical performance and ensuring alignment with enterprise architecture and federal compliance frameworks. Advise team and senior leadership on technical risks, opportunities, and trade-offs related to solution delivery, supporting investment, prioritization, and architectural decisions. Partner with platform engineering, governance, and communications functions to align solution delivery with enterprise architecture, policy direction, and customer engagement strategy. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the particular ability, skill, and knowledge to successfully perform the duties of this position and is typically in or related to this line of work. To qualify for the GS-11, you must have: a) One year of directly related specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 level: Using tools such as Python, SQL, Databricks, Snowflake, Palantir Foundry or similar analytics technologies to collect, clean, transform, and organize data for analytics, reporting, or machine learning use; Assisting with development, testing, or support of data products, analytic workflows, dashboards, AI use cases, or basic automation solutions for customers or end users; Working with APIs, structured data exchange, or system-to-system data access, including assisting with API consumption, data extraction, or technical documentation. OR b) Completed all requirements for a Ph.D. degree or equivalent doctoral degree with (1) a major in computer science, engineering, information science, information systems management, mathematics, operations research, statistics, or technology management OR (2) a major that provided a minimum of 24 semester hours in one or more fields of computer science, engineering, information science, information systems management, mathematics, operations research, statistics, or technology management, and that required the development or adaptation of applications, systems, or networks. OR c) Completed 3 full academic years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or equivalent doctoral degree with (1) a major in computer science, engineering, information science, information systems management, mathematics, operations research, statistics, or technology management OR (2) a major that provided a minimum of 24 semester hours in one or more of fields of computer science, engineering, information science, information systems management, mathematics, operations research, statistics, or technology management, and that required the development or adaptation of applications, systems, or networks. To qualify for GS-12, you must have one year of directly related specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level. Building or maintaining data pipelines using Python, SQL, Databricks, Snowflake, Palantir Foundry, or similar analytics technologies to extract, transform, and prepare data for analytics, reporting, or machine learning use cases; Supporting AI use case development by preparing data for model development and deployment or assisting with data quality, performance, testing, and operational readiness; Contributing to the design of API-based architectures, data services, and integrations that enable secure, machine-readable data access and interoperability across systems and organizations. To qualify for GS-13, you must have one year of directly related specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 level. Leading customer-facing implementation of AI, analytics, or data modernization solutions using Python, SQL, Databricks, Snowflake, Palantir Foundry, or similar enterprise data and AI platforms in organizational environments; Leading development of AI use cases, preparing and governing data for model development and deployment, and establishing technical approaches for data quality, performance, testing, and operational readiness; Designing or overseeing API-based architectures, data services, or integration approaches that enable secure, machine-readable access and enterprise interoperability across multiple systems or organizations. AND IF you are qualifying based on experience, you MUST also have IT-related experience demonstrating each of the four competencies listed below: Attention to Detail - Is thorough when performing work and conscientious about attending to detail. 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. 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. Problem Solving - Identifies problems; determines accuracy and relevance of information; uses sound judgment to generate and evaluate alternatives, and to make recommendations. Your resume must include a clear and detailed narrative description, in your own words, of how you meet the required specialized experience. Experience statements copied from a position description, vacancy announcement or other reference material constitutes plagiarism and may result in disqualification and losing consideration for the job. NASA prohibits the use of artificial intelligence (AI) or AI-assisted tool in drafting application and assessment responses. Please visit https://www.nasa.gov/careers/how-to-apply/#Artificial-Intelligence to review NASA's guidance on the use of AI tools during the application process. Education Basic Requirement: If you are using education completed in the United States to meet the qualification requirements, your degree must have been awarded from a college or university that is accredited by a recognized accrediting organization. For a list of schools that meet this criteria, go to http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs. These education credentials must be deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. All degrees must have been received in the year of, or any year subsequent to the original date of accreditation. Additional Information Additional selections may be made for similar positions across NASA within the local commuting area(s) of the location(s) identified in this announcement. By applying, you agree to have your application shared with interested selecting official(s) within NASA. CTAP/ICTAP will be cleared for any additional selection from this announcement. If you have special priority selection rights under the Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP), you must: - Indicate your eligibility when applying for a position. The questionnaire asks you to identify your ICTAP/CTAP eligibility. - Meet the minimum qualifications requirements for the position - Submit proof that you meet the requirements for CTAP/ICTAP as indicated in 'Required Documents' For additional information about CTAP/ICTAP eligibility, click here - https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/#ictap. Any applicant that received a Voluntary Separation Incentive Payment (VSIP) from the federal government within the last five years based of the closing date of this announcement, if selected, may be required to repay the full amount prior to establishing a start date. For additional information on the VSIP repayment requirement, click here - https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/voluntary-separation-incentive-payments/. Per Executive Order 14343, this position is not part of a bargaining unit. Probationary Period You may be required to serve a one-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. If selected, the requirement to serve such period will be determined by Title 5 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 11. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.
