Summary There are four (4) positions that may be filled from this announcement. Responsibilities At the Band IIA, the incumbent serves as a Sr. Biological Scientist / General Engineer / Physical Scientist providing research and analysis toward technology assessments, technical performance audits, and technology and/or engineering / physical science / biological science related engagements. Duties of Band IIA staff involve, but are not limited to, the following: - Support the execution of science and technology engagements including performance audits, technology assessments, and Comptroller General forums and roundtables; - Provide technical advice and support to engagement teams across GAO on biological science, general engineering and/or physical science related aspects of the engagement, in accordance with GAO standards; - Contribute to the development of the engagement's approach, including participating in the preparation of the design matrix and project plan; conducting background research on the subject matter; preparing and organizing engagement-related documentation; data gathering and analysis from a variety of sources, including developing interview questions and taking thorough interview notes; and evaluating engagement-related documentation to make logical inferences and draw accurate conclusions; - Conduct interviews to gather appropriate information, and communicate relevant information to agency officials, team members, internal stakeholders, and congressional staff, during formal and informal presentations and meetings; - Conduct analysis of the engagement research data, responses received from interviewees, and other evidence that has been collected from various sources; - Prepare written summaries of interviews and analyses, and produce reports and other written products that effectively communicate information and findings; - Collaborate with others to address issues or solve problems and follow up with others to ensure needs are met; and solicit, listen to, and consider diverse perspectives, approaches, or viewpoints, and incorporate others' perspectives into decision-making; - Support the data analysis and evaluation phase of the engagement related to biological science, general engineering and/or physical science topics. This includes data analysis and message development by synthesizing technical information and drawing preliminary conclusions, and periodically presenting findings to engagement team members, management, and stakeholders; - Perform indexing and referencing of products and assist with the coordination of agency comments and the preparation of final products; and - Perform other duties as assigned. Requirements Conditions of Employment You must meet both the education and experience requirements for this position by 5/18/2025 (effective date of promotion). Transcripts to verify your education should also be submitted with your application. If selected, you will be required to provide official transcripts verifying your education. Qualifications In addition to the education requirement, you must meet either of the two following criteria by 5/18/2025 (effective date of the promotions): (1) have a minimum of 104 weeks of GAO experience, equivalent to at least the next lower band level (PE-I, PA-I, PT-II, PT-I, AC-III, AC-IV) applying biological science, engineering or physical science practices to ensure the project systems meet performance objectives; plan and conduct projects/studies to evaluate and recommend ways to improve the efficiency of operations; provide recommendations to ensure projects/programs are coordinated in an efficient and cost-effective manner; and participate in the resolution of issues affecting assigned project(s). OR (2) have 78 weeks of GAO experience, equivalent to at least the next lower band level (PE-I, PA-I, PT-II, PT-I, AC-III, AC-IV) AND have a minimum of 52 weeks of directly related work experience prior to starting work at GAO applying biological science, engineering or physical science practices to ensure the project systems meet performance objectives; plan and conduct projects/studies to evaluate and recommend ways to improve the efficiency of operations; provide recommendations to ensure projects/programs are coordinated in an efficient and cost-effective manner; and participate in the resolution of issues affecting assigned project(s). Education This position has a positive education requirement. To qualify you must meet the requirements for either occupational series listed below. Transcripts to verify your education should also be submitted with your application. Basic Requirements for Biological Science series, 0401: A. Degree: biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position. OR B. Combination of education and experience: Courses equivalent to a major, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. Basic requirements for all Professional Engineering Positions, 0800 series (including 801): You must possess one of the following: A. Degree: Successful completion of a professional engineering degree. To be acceptable, the program must: (1) lead to a bachelor's degree (or higher) in a school of engineering with at least one program accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET); or (2) include differential and integral calculus and courses (more advanced than first-year physics and chemistry) in five of the following seven areas of engineering science or physics: (a) statics, dynamics; (b) strength of materials (stress-strain relationships); (c) fluid mechanics, hydraulics; (d) thermodynamics; (e) electrical fields and circuits; (f) nature and properties of materials (relating particle and aggregate structure to properties); and (g) any other comparable area of fundamental engineering science or physics, such as optics, heat transfer, soil mechanics, or electronics. Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position. OR Combination of education and experience -- college-level education, training, and/or technical experience that furnished (1) a thorough knowledge of the physical and mathematical sciences underlying engineering, and (2) a good understanding, both theoretical and practical, of the engineering sciences and techniques and their applications to one of the branches of engineering. The adequacy of such background must be demonstrated by one of the following: 1. Professional registration or licensure - Current registration as an Engineer Intern (EI), Engineer in Training (EIT), or licensure as a Professional Engineer (PE) by any State, the District of Columbia, Guam, or Puerto Rico. Absent other means of qualifying under this standard, those applicants who achieved such registration by means other than written test (e.g., State grandfather or eminence provisions) are eligible only for positions that are within or closely related to the specialty field of their registration. For more information about EI and EIT registration requirements, please visit the National Society of Professional Engineers website at: http://www.nspe.org 2. Written Test - Evidence of having successfully passed the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) examination or any other written test required for professional registration by an engineering licensure board in the various States, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico. The FE examination is not administered by the U. S. Office of Personnel Management. For more information, please visit: http://www.nspe.org/Licensure/HowtoGetLicensed/index.html. 3. Specified academic course - Successful completion of at least 60 semester hours of courses in the physical, mathematical, and engineering sciences and in engineering that included the courses specified in the basic requirements under paragraph A (above). The courses must be fully acceptable toward meeting the requirements of an engineering program as described in paragraph A (above). 4. Related curriculum - Successful completion of a curriculum leading to a bachelor's degree in an appropriate scientific field, e.g., engineering technology, physics, chemistry, architecture, computer science, mathematics, hydrology, or geology, may be accepted in lieu of bachelor's degree in engineering, provided the applicant has had at the least 1 year of a professional engineering acquired under professional engineering supervision and guidance. Ordinarily there should be either an established plan of extensive training to develop professional engineering competence, or several years of prior professional engineering-type experience, e.g., in interdisciplinary positions. (The above examples of related curricula are not all inclusive.) Basic requirements for Physical Scientist, 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. Additional Information BARGAINING UNIT STATUS: This position is included in the bargaining unit. For information on the number promotion opportunities by team, please see the GAO-wide Notice published and distributed (via email) earlier this month. Job locations are based on agency needs. Generally, you will remain in your current official duty station (ODS) if selected. However based on agency needs, you may be offered a position in a different location and if you accept, your ODS will change. If you have an approved Flexible Work Agreement (FWA) and you are selected for promotion, you must complete and submit a new flexible work application for approval. Your new flexible work arrangement will be reviewed and decided based on Agency policy governing these arrangements. Additionally, you may have a 90-day waiting period to submit an arrangement changing your ODS to a different locality area. If you would like to apply for Specialist and/or National Security promotion opportunities (ARM, DCM, HSJ, IAT, NRE, IT Analyst, Financial Auditor, etc.), you must submit a separate application directly to the appropriate announcement for each Specialist and/or National Security position for which you wish to be considered. This position is a moderate risk public trust position with possible upgrade to a Secret or Top Secret or SCI clearance depending on the type of engagement the employee will be assigned to within the mission teams. REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION: GAO provides reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. To request accommodation, please email ReasonableAccommodations@gao.gov. The U.S. Government Accountability Office's policy is to provide equal employment opportunity for all regardless of race, religion, color, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, sexual orientation, or gender identity.