NIST's Time & Frequency Division is hiring a Senior Atomic Clock Research Physicist to lead research on microwave and optical atomic clocks, advance primary and secondary frequency standards, and support the UTC(NIST) timescale. This notice is issued under direct-hire authority to recruit new talent to occupations for which NIST has a severe shortage of candidates.
NIST's Physical Measurement Laboratory (PML) sets the definitive U.S. standards for nearly every kind of measurement employed in commerce and research, spanning more than 20 orders of magnitude. This position is in PML's Time Realization and Distribution Group, which operates an ensemble of commercial atomic clocks and purpose-built atomic frequency standards to provide the U.S. with official sources of time or frequency.
If hired as the Senior Atomic Clock Research Physicist, you will: Determine optimal solutions and designs for primary and secondary frequency standards and pursue these solutions. Conduct systematic research on microwave or optical atomic clocks and their use in generating and steering standards of official time and frequency for the United States. Maintain the continuous operation and contribute to ongoing development of the UTC(NIST) timescale.
Provide technical leadership with a high degree of insight and ingenuity to operate, maintain, and improve existing primary and secondary frequency standards. If you apply, please make sure your resume/CV clearly demonstrates the relevant experience described in the Requirements section below, particularly the requirements outlined under Basic and Additional Requirements. These include transcript requirements.
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 $118675 – $182316/yr.
This position requires a Top Secret security clearance.
Applications close on 2026-09-14.
This position is open under the 'Fed Transition' hiring path.
Source: USAJOBS.gov — U.S. Federal Government
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