NIST is seeking a Computational Physicist to support computing infrastructure across the Material Measurement Laboratory. This role enhances the performance and reproducibility of materials science workflows, and involves deploying CPU/GPU resources, administering CTCMS projects, migrating data, and ensuring IT policy alignment. This notice is issued under direct-hire authority to recruit new talent to occupations for which NIST has a severe shortage of candidates.
The primary purpose of this position is to provide operational administration and technical support for high-performance computing (HPC) infrastructure across the Material Measurement Laboratory (MML). The Computational Physicist works closely with senior staff and researchers to optimize computing environments, implement performance-enhancing strategies, and maintain alignment with institutional IT policies.
Major duties include: HPC Infrastructure Support: Assisting in the deployment, configuration, and maintenance of both CPU and GPU high-performance computing resources across the laboratory. Operational Administration: Serving as an operational administrator for the NIST Center for Theoretical and Computational Materials Science (CTCMS) to provide technical support for computational projects.
Workflow Optimization: Implementing and testing technical strategies aimed at improving the performance and reproducibility of computational materials science workflows. Data and System Management: Providing technical assistance for the operation of data management systems, including executing data migration activities to new computing platforms.
Stakeholder Collaboration: Collaborating directly with senior staff to ensure all HPC infrastructure and resources are configured to meet the specific research needs of MML scientists. Policy Compliance: Maintaining the technical alignment of all managed computational and data systems with NIST-wide IT and security policies.
This position has an education requirement. Transcripts must be submitted to validate that the education requirement has been met. Unofficial transcripts will be accepted in the application package. However, an official copy will be required before a final offer of employment. Use of foreign education for qualifications. An accredited organization must evaluate education completed outside of the U.S.
to ensure that it is comparable to education received in accredited institutions in the U.S. Click here to view a listing of accredited organizations from the Department of Education's website. A copy of the foreign education evaluation (containing the results with course-by-course listing) is required with your application.
This position is with National Institute of Standards and Technology, Department of Commerce.
The posted pay range is $85447 – $133142/yr.
This position is eligible for telework.
Applications close on 2026-11-10.
This position is open under the 'Fed Transition' hiring path.
Source: USAJOBS.gov — U.S. Federal Government · Retrieved 2026-11-04 · Not affiliated with or endorsed by OPM or USAJOBS.gov
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