The Recent Graduates Program is a dynamic, one-year developmental program that promotes careers in the Federal Government to recent graduates. Participants in the Program receive training and professional development, complete an Individual Development Plan (IDP), and are assigned a mentor. Recent Graduates who successfully complete Program requirements may be eligible for non-competitive conversion to a term or permanent position in the civil service.
Please choose your top 2 duty locations that you are willing to report to. This position offers varying full performance levels (e.g., GS-11, GS-12, or GS-13 equivalent) depending on the specific needs of the selecting Program Office. Further details regarding specific grade levels and responsibilities will be discussed during the interview process.
As a GS-7 Physical Scientist (Recent Graduate) you will: Serve as a professional engineer or scientist and performs general engineering or scientific work of limited scope and complexity in support of DOE projects assigned to higher grade engineers. Plan work procedures and select standard practices and data to be applied to engineering or scientific assignment and identified problems.
Assist in coordinating and carrying out limited, well-defined engineering and/or scientific projects. Prepare routine, recurring engineering and/or scientific reports for use by higher graded engineers or to convey factual engineering and/or scientific data and information.
As a GS-9 Physical Scientist (Recent Graduate) you will: Research, analyze, interpret, evaluate, and carry out difficult but conventional scientific and/or engineering assignments in support of programs/projects. Conduct preliminary scientific and/or engineering analyses to assist higher graded scientists and engineers in accomplishing work on large and complicated projects.
Review reports, plans, specifications, change orders, modifications, and other documents prepared by others to identify discrepancies or potential issues. Prepare, provide, and evaluate conventional plans, designs, design specifications, and related documentation to support higher level scientific and/or engineering efforts.
Provide input into, and prepares, recurring technical reports to inform stakeholders of status of projects issues that may impact program/project objectives and goals. CONVERSION REQUIREMENTS: DOE has the option to non-competitively convert a Recent Graduate to a permanent or term position upon successful completion of program requirements. This is not automatic, nor guaranteed. Conversion is at the discretion of the hiring manager and employing office.
To be eligible to be converted to a permanent or term position you must: Be a US Citizen or National Be recommended for conversion by your manager or supervisor. Complete all training and development requirements within the 1-year appointment period. Successful completion of 1 year of continuous service. Demonstrate successful job performance of at least a "Fully Successful" or equivalent on performance appraisal.
Meet the Office of Personnel Management's qualification standards for the position to which the Recent Graduate will be converted (which may include a positive education requirement). 1301 Physical Science A Recent Graduate may be converted to the highest General Schedule (GS) grade level qualified for at time of conversion.
Recent Graduates converted to a term position in the competitive service may subsequently be non-competitively converted to a career or career-conditional appointment without further competition. WHERE CAN I FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE PATHWAYS PROGRAM? For additional information regarding the Pathways Program, please refer to the following website: USAJOBS Help Center | Students & recent graduates
REMINDER: Submit transcripts for all degrees earned.
You must meet the following Basic Education Requirement listed below in order to qualify for the 1301 series: Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a Bachelor's degree or higher in 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 above that included at least 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science, plus appropriate experience or additional education.
You must submit proof of eligibility (e.g., transcripts, certificate of completion) to show that you meet the Pathways Recent Graduate Program requirements. Unofficial transcripts with the degree title, list of courses, grades earned, completion dates, and quarter or semester hours earned can be used as a substitute for official transcripts at the time of application; if you are selected for a position, official transcripts will be required prior to entering on duty.
What constitutes a valid certificate program: The Pathways Programs regulation (see 5 CFR 362.102) defines certificate program as post-secondary education at either: A qualifying educational institution (trade or vocational school, 2-year or 4-year college or university, or graduate or professional school) equivalent to at least one academic year of full-time study that is part of an accredited college-level, technical, trade, vocational, or business school curriculum.; OR A qualifying career or technical education program of at least one year that awards a recognized postsecondary credential.
What types of programs would meet the eligibility criteria for a qualifying career or technical education program?
Three types of programs meet these criteria: Federally administered educational programs that provide rigorous academic content, technical skill proficiency, and a recognized postsecondary credential to prepare the individual for further education and/or a career in a current or emerging profession.; Registered Apprenticeship Programs; and Federally administered local, state, national, or international volunteer service programs.
What is a Federally administered career or technical education program?
A Federally administered career or technical education program is subject to programmatic oversight by a federal agency that includes: The nature and scope of work to be performed by participants, The type(s) and scope of training to be provided to participants, The types of skills participants will acquire or develop during the program (e.g., teaching, environmental, business, scientific, public health/health care, languages), The level and extent of mentoring participants will receive, and The metrics for successful completion of the program.
Programmatic oversight may be reflected in partnership or cooperative agreements.
PathwaysNewRecruitActions@hc.doe.gov
This position is with Department of Energy Headquarters, Department of Energy.
The posted pay range is $50460 – $91815/yr.
Applications close on 2026-10-21.
There are 12 openings for this position.
This position is open under the 'Graduates' hiring path.
Source: USAJOBS.gov — U.S. Federal Government · Retrieved 2026-10-14 · Not affiliated with or endorsed by OPM or USAJOBS.gov
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