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Job sounds extremely awesome: https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob...

Job Overview

Summary

About the Agency

This position is assigned to Office of Safety and Mission Assurance for Planetary Protection. Planetary protection is concerned with the avoidance of organic-constituent and biological contamination in human and robotic space exploration. NASA maintains policies for planetary protection applicable to all space flight missions that may intentionally or unintentionally carry Earth organisms and organic constituents to the planets or other solar system bodies, and any mission employing spacecraft, which are ntended to return to Earth and its biosphere with samples from extraterrestrial targets of exploration. This policy is based on federal requirements and international treaties and agreements.

Current Agency policy requires the SL appointments be time-limited. The initial appointment will be for 3 years, with the possibility of extending for an additional 2 years. The selectee for this position will receive a temporary promotion. Employee will then return to a grade level no lower than the grade previously held at the home center. This temporary promotion may be converted to permanent without further competition.

Duties
The Planetary Protection Officer (PPO) is responsible for the leadership of NASA's planetary protection capability, maintenance of planetary protection policies, and oversight of their implementation by NASAs space flight missions. The PPO also supports the Safety and Mission Assurance (SMA) Technical Authority and serves as a principal advisory resource for the Chief, SMA and other senior officials on matters pertaining to planetary protection. The PPO is the Agency's focal point for interactions with external organizations on matters related to planetary protection. Primarily the Planetary Protection Officer performs the following:

Leads planning and coordination of activities related to NASA mission planetary protection needs.

Leads independent evaluation of, and provides advice regarding, compliance by robotic and human spaceflight missions with NASA planetary protection policies, statutory requirements and international obligations.

Advises the Chief, SMA and other officials regarding the merit and implications of programmatic decisions involving risks to planetary protection objectives.

In coordination with relevant offices, leads interactions with COSPAR, National Academies, and advisory committees on planetary protection matters.

Recommends and leads the preparation of new or revised NASA standards and directives in accordance with established processes and guidelines.

Supervisory Status
No

Promotion Potential
00

The highest paying gov't job on the first page of USAJOBS results was $300k, which I wouldn't call "low six figures". I work with several people who make more than Congressmen and my own salary is approaching that.

They have a careers subpage. I would be willing to bet its got a form or two, and that's *very* personal info.

http://www.nhtsa.gov/Jobs has no login at all I could see. Most sites like that will deep-link to https://www.usajobs.gov/ which is secured-only. Seems to do pretty well at it today, but no reason to not turn on SSL for the sites with no personal information.

There's almost no reason to not default to HTTP for everything. There's no reason to not just encrypt it, even for static pages.

There is absolutely no reason to use HTTP for anything. Encrypting the connection costs very little, prevents you from having stupid mistakes by not encrypting things that need to be, and provides enhanced privacy to things you may not realize that person is sensitive on. There's no reason NOT to make HTTPS everywhere.

Yup, that's what I said. The only reason not to is if you have a very popular web site with only static content. SSL on that will drain resources for minimal gain.

Seriously? You're posting this here without telling me how I can get this job?

Sorry about that - you apply for federal jobs at USA Jobs Website

There are not any patent examiner openings posted right now, but here are some current IT openings at the Patent Office:

IT Acquisitions Specialist - DE

IT Specialist (APPSW) - Software Developer - DE

Systems Development Lead - IT Specialist (SYSANALYSIS/APPSW) - DE

Seriously? You're posting this here without telling me how I can get this job?

Sorry about that - you apply for federal jobs at USA Jobs Website

There are not any patent examiner openings posted right now, but here are some current IT openings at the Patent Office:

IT Acquisitions Specialist - DE

IT Specialist (APPSW) - Software Developer - DE

Systems Development Lead - IT Specialist (SYSANALYSIS/APPSW) - DE

Seriously? You're posting this here without telling me how I can get this job?

Sorry about that - you apply for federal jobs at USA Jobs Website

There are not any patent examiner openings posted right now, but here are some current IT openings at the Patent Office:

IT Acquisitions Specialist - DE

IT Specialist (APPSW) - Software Developer - DE

Systems Development Lead - IT Specialist (SYSANALYSIS/APPSW) - DE

Seriously? You're posting this here without telling me how I can get this job?

Sorry about that - you apply for federal jobs at USA Jobs Website

There are not any patent examiner openings posted right now, but here are some current IT openings at the Patent Office:

IT Acquisitions Specialist - DE

IT Specialist (APPSW) - Software Developer - DE

Systems Development Lead - IT Specialist (SYSANALYSIS/APPSW) - DE

https://www.usajobs.gov/Search?keyword=uspto&Location=&AutoCompleteSelected=&search=Search

Nine openings, seven list at over 100K/year. Good luck!

You sir, may have excellent potential in the exciting career of government alphabet soup.

https://www.usajobs.gov/JobSearch/Search/GetResults?Keyword=Alphabet Soup

"Sorry, I couldn't possibly think of anything to cut!"

NASA's Pathways Internship (Salary $31,177.00 to $83,126.00 / Per Year)

"...nope, everything is absolutely necessary."

Look: bureaucrats aren't simpletons. When facing cost reductions, they can either cooperate by presenting a rank ordered list of programs and negotiate which should be pared back/eliminated... *or* they can stonewall (bonus points for threatening to end publicly popular, yet inexpensive programs).

Guess which actually happens in practice?

If you are laid off and face a reduction in standard of living, you can survey your expenses, decide everything you are spending is "necessary" and refuse to make any cuts. Generally people are smarter than that, though. They prioritize necessities based on some sort of assessment and base cuts on that.

Don't listen to Sir Humphrey's sophistry. They can make cuts.

There's an IT opening at the NTIA. Yes, there's actually an agency besides the FCC involved with spectrum.

http://www.usajobs.gov/JobSearch/Search/GetResults?OrganizationID=CM61&ApplicantEligibility=All

http://www.ntia.doc.gov/about

Try http://www.usajobs.gov/ . There are lots of jobs there in every geographic area. Even a few math courses will open up lots of these jobs. A complete major will open up even more.

To Wit:

http://www.nsa.gov/careers/career_fields/mathematics.shtml

Plus, any of the Navy's Surface Warfare Commands (NAVSEA), or hell any government agency for that matter. Sure the pay isn't as great as private sector, but you CAN'T beat the benefits, and it (literally) takes an act of Congress to RIF you:

http://www.usajobs.gov/JobSearch/Search/GetResults?Keyword=mathematician&Location=&search=Search!

There's worse choices out there... like public school.

Good Luck.

Hi Surt!

FYI - unless your vision isn't correctable to 20/20 via glasses or contacts, eyesight isn't an impediment for becoming a non-piloting astronaut (you can become a mission or payload specialist, EVA specialist, and so on). If you really want to become an astronaut, keep your eyes open on the http://www.usajobs.gov/ site. They open astronaut candidate vacancies every 3 - 5 years.

I know about the glasses because my application is under consideration. Here's what NASA replied:

Eyeglasses and contacts are permitted. I would not recommend having any type of surgery solely for the purpose of being eligible for the Astronaut Candidate Program.

The refractive surgical procedures of the eye, PRK and LASIK, is allowed, providing at least 1 year has passed since the date of the procedure with no permanent adverse after effects. For those applicants under final consideration, an operative report on the surgical procedure will be requested. We anticipate completing review of the applications to determine the highly qualified applicants in July 2012 so the surgery must have been performed no later than July 31, 2011.

For additional information regarding the medical standards, please contact our Flight Medicine Office.

So... good luck with your application!

http://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/302967000

...which begs the question: Why can't the patent office employ a few people who are skilled in the art of software?

It's the same reason that the people doing tech support aren't skilled software engineers - yes it would be helpful if the guy answering the phone knew the minute details of the application you needed help with...

Anyone smart enough to write a computer program is doing that - they aren't sitting there for 20-30 dollars an hour reviewing patents.

Check this out:

http://jobview.usajobs.gov/GetJob.aspx?JobID=101034973&JobTitle=Patent+Examiner+(Computer+Science)&q=CP-2011-0013&rad_units=miles&brd=3876&pp=25&sort=rv%2C-dtex&jbf574=CM56&jbf785=&vw=b&re=134&FedEmp=N&FedPub=Y&caller=basic.aspx&ss=0&AVSDM=2011-07-19+19%3A09%3A00

I'm pretty sure any skilled computer scientist could get work for more money.

The PTO does hire CS people, but not IT grads. IT grads tend not to have enough science and math credits and don't meet the PTO's requirements of hiring people with science and engineering backgrounds.

The below discloses the requirements for a computer science position.

http://jobview.usajobs.gov/GetJob.aspx?JobID=101034973&JobTitle=Patent+Examiner+(Computer+Science)&q=CP-2011-0013&rad_units=miles&brd=3876&pp=25&sort=rv%2C-dtex&jbf574=CM56&jbf785=&vw=b&re=134&FedEmp=N&FedPub=Y&caller=basic.aspx&ss=0&AVSDM=2011-07-19+19%3A09%3A00

BASIC QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in Computer Science at an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree that included a major field of study or specific course requirements.
Education can be substituted for experience.

Basic Qualification Requirements for Patent Examiner (Computer Science), GS-1224:

A. Degree: professional computer science. Bachelor's degree in computer science or bachelor's degree with 30 semester hours in a combination of mathematics, statistics, and computer science. At least 15 of the 30 semester hours must have included any combination of statistics and mathematics that included differential and integral calculus. All academic degrees and course work must be from accredited or pre-accredited institutions.

Quite a few of the people working at the USPTO are from Virginia Tech as it is one of the closer big schools. Examiner's are hamstrung, not by their own knowledge, but by legal requirements. KSR rationales have made it easier than the old TSM guidelines.

Search for "2210", "1550", or similar "interdisciplinary" cyber jobs within DHS NPPD:
JobID=86515922 JobTitle=INTERDISCIPLINARY+(CYBER)
JobID=86667657 JobTitle=INTERDISCIPLINARY+(CYBER)
JobID=86642799 JobTitle=INTERDISCIPLINARY+(CYBER)

Search for "2210", "1550", or similar "interdisciplinary" cyber jobs within DHS NPPD:
JobID=86515922 JobTitle=INTERDISCIPLINARY+(CYBER)
JobID=86667657 JobTitle=INTERDISCIPLINARY+(CYBER)
JobID=86642799 JobTitle=INTERDISCIPLINARY+(CYBER)

Search for "2210", "1550", or similar "interdisciplinary" cyber jobs within DHS NPPD:
JobID=86515922 JobTitle=INTERDISCIPLINARY+(CYBER)
JobID=86667657 JobTitle=INTERDISCIPLINARY+(CYBER)
JobID=86642799 JobTitle=INTERDISCIPLINARY+(CYBER)

Isn't that exactly what (properly qualified) consultants are for?

Government worker unions despise contractors. Better the NHTSA be incapable of actual engineering than that they misdirect money into non-union contract engineers.

Worse than that, this is really a problem of bureaucracy. The SEC missed Madoff [*] completely because it is populated by lawyers that really have no interest in rocking the boats of the wealthy and powerful. Lawyers have a great deal at stake whenever they interact with powerful people; their careers depend on their reputation among the connected. Bernie didn't work any miracles; his fraud was at least suspected if not obvious to hedge fund managers, quants, clients and media people. The lawyers at the SEC just didn't WANT to find anything dramatic because they're lawyers; they put on their blinders, do the audit and clock out happy they aren't on the front page of the NYT throwing a grenade into some rich guys setup.

What do you suppose the predominant form of life is at NHTSA? Well, right now they are looking for a Trial Attorney and a "Supervisory Equal Employment Opportunity Specialist" which is, according to the job description, a law clerk to handle civil rights complaints.

Bunch of lawyers hiring more lawyers. No surprise they can't analyze code. What happens to these lawyers after they've made their regulatory bones at the NHTSA? Same thing that happens to the SEC lawyers; they get hired by the wealthy and powerful to handle the government.

The previous NHTSA administrator was Nicole Nason, a Case Western lawyer. The new guy is David L. Strickland, a lawyer from Harvard. These people wouldn't tolerate sharing the same building with an actual engineer.


* I've read through about half of the 500+ SEC Madoff investigation transcripts; so far the only non-attorney I have encountered is a guest finance professor on loan from some Washington area university.

http://www.usajobs.gov/

In a Herculean effort, I succeeded in applying to the Cyber Command just now. But I must say that their website doesn't speak well of their cyber expertise; they make it extremely difficult to figure out how to even apply. The "Join" link on the Cyber Command website just goes to the main Air Force recruiting site, where all I learned is that I'm too old and too fat to join the Air Force. Undaunted, I submitted a question about whether I'd qualify anyway, given that I want to work for the Cyber Command, and gave them a link to my resume.

(I have more than ten years of experience as a software engineer, including embedded, systems programming, and HMI/SCADA. I expect them to be particularly interested in my HMI/SCADA work, as that would be how I'd make things blow up over the Internet.)

Somewhere I found a link to USAJOBS website, where I spent several hours filling out an online resume. They want separate entries for each job one has held, rather than uploading a text resume. They also wanted the name and phone number of every manager I ever had.

But I spent quite a bit of time searching at USAJOBS, and couldn't find any positions that looked like they had anything to do with the Cyber Command.

Back at the Cyber Command website, I found their contact form - which was hard to spot - and which, Lo and Behold! allowed me to specify a recipient of "Employment Inquiries". So I put my resume in there, and pointed out they could find my resume on USAJOBS.

I emailed a buddy who is a civilian software engineer for the Navy, and he told me that most Cyber Command jobs are going to be civilian. So I guess it's OK that I'm old and fat, but I won't get to wear that cool blue Air Force uniform. I imagine I'll also just be flying a desk rather than an electronic warfare jet.

Standing height between 62 and 75 inches

I just got a job. Took me about 6 months. I am now, ahem, an application development team leader with Uncle Sam. Good money, too. Anyhoo, check out www.usajobs.gov. The CS and IT jobs are labled Computer Specialist (GS-334-xx), IT Specialist (GS-2210-xx), Computer Engineer (GS-854-xx), Computer Scientist (GS-1550-xx), Electronics Techs (GS-856-xx), Telecomm. Spec. (GS-391-xx), Electronics Engineers (GS-850-xx), . (The 'xx' is the grade 1-15. Grade 9 is college-degreed entry level.) The salary ranges from Entry level (GS-9 (34K-44K))through Branch or Division Manager, (GS-15 ($82K-107K)), with a little extra for high-rent areas (3%-10%). Please note that relevant experience in specific areas is the overriding criteria for getting an interview and getting hired. Most job announcements have requirements of either a degree or X years (usually 4-8 years) of relevant experience. The process, if a success, can take 2-5 months, assuming no security clearance is required. Many of the jobs have a "career ladder" that can take one from GS-9 (or higher) up to GS-13 & GS-14, my new grade. http://www.opm.gov/oca/02tables/indexGS.htm
The quality of federal employee is much higher than generally realized. (At least by me.) Surprisingly, most feds. are pretty serious about the idea of being a civil servant, probably because it's their taxes, too. I find it very interesting to be a part of something that can, on occasion, directly affect everyone in my (& your) neighborhood. (Ba-ha-ha!) Good luck!