Remote Ground Control Jobs in Washington (NOW HIRING)

Summary
This position is located in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Office of Space Commerce (OSC) Commercial Remote Sensing Regulatory Affairs (CRSRA) with one vacancy in Washington, D.C.
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Duties
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As a Compliance Specialist, you will perform the following duties:

• Develop and execute investigative plans, including the identification and collection of necessary information, to monitor private remote sensing space system operations, including in space (e.g., satellite bus and payload control), on the ground (e.g., at remote ground terminals or mission control centers), and in information systems (e.g., data security, integrity, confidentiality, and governance).
• Analyze private remote sensing space system technical collection capabilities and architectures (such as command and control networks and data receipt, processing, and dissemination networks) and associated regulatory compliance and cybersecurity measures. Apply expert knowledge of satellite operations and remote sensing phenomenologies to evaluate unenhanced data and metadata to ensure regulatory compliance.
• Plan and lead on-site inspections of private remote sensing space system ground components to ensure compliance with Federal licenses, laws, and regulations.
• Author comprehensive reports and analysis of remote sensing space system investigations and inspections, including identifying and documenting non-compliance.

POSITION REQUIREMENTS:

• This position requires the operation of a Federal motor vehicle. Requires a valid state driver's license to operate a government vehicle for site visits, inspections, etc.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

• Must be able to obtain and maintain a Special Sensitive security clearance to carry out duties requiring access to Top Secret documents and information, systems, or meetings.
• Drug Testing required.

Requirements
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Conditions of employment
This position will be filled under the DOC Alternative Personnel System (CAPS). This system replaced the Federal GS pay plan and structure. Under CAPS, positions are classified by career, pay plan, and pay band.
The ZA-4 is equivalent to the GS-13/14.
Key Requirements:

1. Applicants must be U.S. Citizens.
2. Suitable for Federal employment, as determined by background investigation.
3. Selectee may be subject to serving a one-year probationary period.
4. More requirements are listed under Qualifications and Other Information.
5. Must be registered for Selective Service, if applicable (www.sss.gov)

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, for those required to serve a 1-year probationary period, we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• Your performance and conduct;
• 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.

• This position is subject to both pre-employment and random drug testing as a condition of employment. Applicants will not be appointed to the position if a verified positive drug test is received.
• A background investigation will be required for this position. Continued employment will be subject to the applicant's successful completion of a background security investigation and favorable adjudication. Failure to successfully meet these requirements will be grounds for termination.
• Throughout the recruitment and hiring process we will be communicating with you via email; therefore, it is imperative that the email address you provide when applying for this vacancy remains active. Should your email address change, please notify the point of contact identified in the vacancy announcement as soon as possible so that we can update our system.
• If you are a Federal employee applying for a promotion (under merit promotion procedures) you must meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of the announcement.

Qualifications
The open period for this announcement may be up to 12 months (or until the position is filled). New and independent certificates will be issued for each cutoff.
The initial cut-off will be 2/13/2026 , subsequent cut-off dates will be: 3/30/2026; 4/30/2026; 5/29/2026; 6/30/2026; 7/31/2026; 8/31/2026; 9/30/2026; 10/30/2026; 11/30/2026; 12/31/2026 and 1/29/2027.
Qualification requirements in the vacancy announcements are based on the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards Handbook, which contains federal qualification standards. This handbook is available on the Office of Personnel Management's website located at: https://www.opm.gov/policy.
EDUCATION: There is no positive education requirement for this position.
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.
Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations e.g., professional; philanthropic, religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies; knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
To qualify at the ZA-4 or GS-13 level:
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the ZA-3 or GS-12 in the Federal service. Specialized experience MUST include all of the following:

• Ensuring requirement compliance for command and control systems and mission payloads by evaluating technical capabilities against end-use requirements, assessing system architectures, monitoring data security during remote communications and dissemination, and assessing mission data products.
• Ensuring the operation of remote systems, platforms, or networks and collection and dissemination of remotely-sensed data, including but not limited to remote sensing (ISR) products, comply with mission requirements, including data handling, dissemination, and cybersecurity; and
• Authoring investigations, assessments, or reports regarding remote system analysis, compliance evaluation, and component (e.g., network, ground, payload, data processing) inspections.

Education
Substitution of education for specialized experience is not applicable to this vacancy.
Additional information
CTAP and ICTAP candidates will be eligible if it is determined that they have exceeded the minimum qualifications for the position by attaining at least a rating of 85 out of 100. Information about CTAP and ICTAP eligibility is on the Office of Personnel Management's Career Transition Resources website at: Employee Guide Career Transition
CTAP applicants MUST submit the following documents:

1. A copy of your specific RIF notice; notice of proposed removal for failure to relocate; a Certificate of Expected Separation (CES); or certification that you are in a surplus organization or occupation (this could be a position abolishment letter, a notice eligibility for discontinued service retirement, or similar notice).
2. A copy of your SF-50 "Notification of Personnel Action", noting current position, grade level, and duty location;
3. A copy of your latest performance appraisal including your rating; and
4. Any documentation from your agency that shows your current promotion potential.

ICTAP applicants MUST submit the following documents:

1. A copy of your RIF separation notice; notice of proposed removal for failure to relocate; notice of disability annuity termination; certification from your former agency that it cannot place you after your recovery from a compensable injury; or certification from the National Guard Bureau or Military Department that you are eligible for disability retirement;
2. A copy of your SF-50 "Notification of Personnel Action" documenting your RIF separation, noting your positions, grade level, and duty location, and/or Agency certification of inability to place you through RPL, etc;
3. A copy of your latest performance appraisal including your rating; and
4. Any documentation from your agency that shows your current promotion potential.

Non-Competitive Reinstatement to a Higher Grade/Band than Previously Held MUST submit the following documents:
1. SF-50, "Notification of Personnel Action: you must provide the most current Notification of Personnel Action (Form SF-50) that verifies career/career-conditional status, title, series, and highest grade level held on a permanent basis for your previous position. (do not submit an Award SF-50) AND, the SF-50 that verifies your separation date; AND.
2. Performance Appraisal - most recent performance appraisal showing the official rating of record, signed by a supervisor, or statement why the performance appraisal is unavailable. Do not submit a performance plan that does not include this information.
NOAA participates in e-Verify. E-Verify is an Internet based system operated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in partnership with the Social Security Administration (SSA) that enables participating employers to electronically verify the employment eligibility of their newly hired employees.
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER.
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Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
Benefits
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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.