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Direct Hire Occupations

Direct Hire is a hiring authority permitted by the NIST Alternative Personnel Management System (APMS). It used to fill the critical shortage occupations listed below and/or hire candidates who meet the critical shortage highly qualified candidate criteria indicated.

Critical Shortage Highly Qualified Applicants

Applicants who meet high academic standards are critical shortage highly qualified applicants. They are eligible for direct hire into the Scientific and Engineering (ZP) and Scientific and Engineering Technician (ZT) career paths as follows:

  1. ZP Career Path: Pay Bands I and II applicants having a bachelor’s degree with at least a 2.9 GPA (out of 4.0) or a Master's Degree

  2. ZT Career Path: Pay Band I applicants with at least a 2.9 GPA (out of 4.0) in a two year program in an accredited college, junior college, or technical institution and candidates for positions at band II who have at least a 2.9 GPA in 4 years of college study


Critical Shortage Occupational Coverage:

Occupation Gaithersburg, MD
Boulder, CO

Scientific and Engineering Positions (ZP):

Duties are to advise on, administer, supervise, or perform professional scientific or engineering research and/or development; or formulate, conduct, lead, manage, or consult on technology programs or policy issues.

ZP Pay Bands I–V
(equivalent to GS-5 through GS-15):

  • 0801 – General Engineer
  • 0803 – Safety Engineer
  • 0804 – Fire Protection Engineer
  • 0806 – Material Engineer
  • 0810 – Civil Engineer
  • 0819 – Environmental Engineer
  • 0830 – Mechanical Engineer
  • 0840 – Nuclear Engineer
  • 0850 – Electrical Engineer
  • 0854 – Computer Engineer
  • 0855 – Electronics Engineer
  • 0858 – Biomedical Engineer
  • 0892 – Ceramics Engineer
  • 0893 – Chemical Engineer
  • 0896 – Industrial Engineer
  • 1321 – Metallurgist
  • 1529 – Mathematical Statistician
  • 1550 – Computer Scientist
  • 2210 – Information Technology Specialist

ZP Pay Bands III through V
(equivalent to GS-11 through GS-15):

  • 0101 – Social Scientist
  • 0110 – Economist
  • 0401 – Biologist
  • 0403 – Microbiologist
  • 1301 – Physical Scientist
  • 1306 – Health Physicist
  • 1310 – Physicist
  • 1320 – Chemist
  • 1515 – Operations Research Analyst
  • 1520 – Mathematician
  • 1530 – Statistician

ZP Pay Bands I–V
(equivalent to GS-5 through GS-15):

  • 0801 – General Engineer
  • 0806 – Material Engineer
  • 0810 – Civil Engineer
  • 0830 – Mechanical Engineer
  • 0850 – Electrical Engineer
  • 0854 – Computer Engineer
  • 0855 – Electronics Engineer
  • 0893 – Chemical Engineer
  • 1321 – Metallurgist
  • 1550 – Computer Scientist
  • 2210 – Information Technology Specialist

 

ZP Pay Bands III through V
(equivalent to GS-11 through GS-15):

  • 1301 Physical Scientist
  • 1310 Physicist
  • 1320 Chemist

Technician Positions (ZT):

At the ZT Pay Band I–III levels, Nuclear Engineering Technician duties are to apply a practical knowledge of nuclear engineering principles involved in the monitoring, operation, and maintenance of nuclear reactors and auxiliary systems.

At the ZT Pay Bands I–II, occupational duties are to assist scientists and engineers in design and development of technical aspects of the work; operating instruments and equipment; conducting tests; data entry; developing and providing technical information about equipment and developing equipment maintenance programs and techniques; maintaining surveillance and on-site inspection of contracts for the construction, remodeling, or repair of structures and facilities, etc.

ZT Pay Band I–III
(equivalent to GS-1 through GS-10):

  • 0802 – Nuclear Engineering Technician

ZT Pay Bands I–II

  • 0019 – Safety Technician
  • 0404 – Biological Technician
  • 0802 – Engineering Technician
  • 0856 – Electronics Tech.
  • 1311 – Physical Science Technician
None

Administrative Positions (ZA): 

Duties are to advise on or administer, supervise, or perform professional duties in developing or carrying out policies and procedures to procure supplies, services, construction, or research and development using formal advertising or negotiation procedures; to evaluate contract price proposals; and to administer, terminate, and close out contracts.

ZA Pay Band I–V
(equivalent to GS-05 through GS-15):

  • 1102 – Contract Specialist
  • 1102 – Procurement Analyst

ZA Pay Band I–V
(equivalent to GS-05 through GS-15):

  • 1102 – Contract Specialist 
  • 1102 – Procurement Analyst