Physical Scientist Jobs
Physical Scientist jobs are open across federal agencies, defense contractors, environmental consulting, and research institutions, from entry-level to principal and senior research scientist, with specializations in atmospheric science, geophysics, and remote sensing. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.
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Summary
You will serve as a Research Physical Scientist in the Earth Science Division at NASA's Ames Research Center. You will advance the goals of NASA's Science Mission Directorate and Earth Science to Action Strategy by conducting innovative research, enabling applications, and applying innovative data science and analysis techniques to solve challenging Earth Science problems.
Learn more about this agency
This job is open to
The public
Duties
- Lead as principal investigator or contribute as co-investigator to directed and competed research or application efforts addressing the goals of NASA’s Earth Science to Action Strategy and the Earth System Science Research Program.
- Deliver and contribute to new research outcomes and innovations using NASA’s Earth Science missions, suborbital campaigns, and commercial data acquisitions to expand knowledge of Earth system science in collaboration with NASA, academia and industry.
- Advance societal benefit of NASA’s Earth Science missions and commercial data investments through co-development of new applications with end user communities.
- Communicate scientific research and novel application outcomes as lead or high-ranking co-author to impactful publications or presentations.
- Lead or contribute to the formulation of new directed or competed research investigations and new application developments in collaboration with peers across NASA, academia and industry.
Requirements
Conditions of employment
- This position is open to U.S. citizens, nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.
- This position may require a one-year probationary/trial period. If selected, the requirement to serve such period will be determined by Title 5 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 11. **See Additional Information section**
- You must meet qualifications requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
- Position subject to pre-employment background investigation or higher-level clearance. Investigation/Clearance may differ and be required based on the duty location/NASA Center requirements.
- Financial Disclosure, Drug Testing, and/or the Travel Requirements for this position may differ and be required based on the duty location/NASA Center requirements.
Qualifications
In addition to the Basic Education Requirement (in the Education section below), to qualify for this position you must meet the requirements below. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the particular ability, skill, and knowledge to successfully perform the duties of this position and is typically in or related to this line of work.
NASA utilizes OPM-approved qualification and rating requirements specific for Aerospace Technology (AST) positions which recognizes NASA's unique aerospace work. The specific qualifications and minimum education requirements are further described below and within the education section of the job announcement.
To qualify for GS-13, you must have one year of directly related specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 level:
- Advancing or leading research investigations into Earth system spheres and processes;
- Developing new Earth science applications from global data imagery; and
- Communicating research and application outcomes through leading or co-authoring peer-reviewed publications and engaging through relevant conferences, symposia, and presentations to relevant stakeholders.
Please visit https://www.nasa.gov/careers/how-to-apply/#Super-Intelligence to review NASA's guidance on the use of super intelligent (SI) or SI-assisted tools during the application process.
Education
This position requires education or exceptional experience
Basic Education Requirement: You must have successfully completed a bachelor's degree with a major in one of the following:
a) Engineering from a college or university that has ABET accredited engineering programs
b) Physical Science, Mathematics, Life Science or other field of Science
c) Computer Science that included 30 semester hours or 45 quarter hours of course work in any combination of mathematics, statistics and computer science with at least half of those hours in mathematics and statistics courses that included differential and integral calculus; and that provided an in-depth knowledge of theoretical and practical applications of computer science, including digital computer system architecture and system software organization, the representation and transformation of information structures, and the theoretical models for such representations and transformations.
If you did not complete a qualifying bachelor's degree, you may be eligible if you have obtained a graduate degree in an AST qualifying field, as listed above.
Applicants who do not fully meet the basic education requirement may still be considered if they possess exceptional relevant experience, or a combination of education and experience, that clearly demonstrates significant full performance-level achievement directly related to the duties of this position.
Engineering degrees earned within the United States: Engineering degrees earned within the United States must be from a college or university that has at least one ABET accredited engineering program. To find out if a school has at least one ABET accredited program, please visit http://www.abet.org.
Engineering degrees earned outside the United States: Engineering degrees earned outside the United States must be recognized by a Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA), often known as accords. These are non-governmental agreements among organizations that accredit academic degree programs. MRAs recognize the substantial equivalence of mature accreditation systems and programs accredited by signatory organizations within their jurisdictions. For a listing of Signatories, please visit, https://www.abet.org/global-presence/mutual-recognition-agreements/is-your-program-recognized/.
Science and other related degrees earned within the United States: Science and other related degrees must have been awarded from colleges or universities that are accredited by recognized accrediting organizations. For a list of schools that meet this criteria, go to http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/.
Science and other related degrees earned outside the United States: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs. These education credentials must be deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.
All degrees must have been received in the year of, or any year subsequent to the original date of accreditation.
Additional information
For purposes of Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) selection priority, well-qualified is defined as possessing knowledge, skills, abilities, and/or competencies which clearly exceed the minimum qualification requirements for the position, as determined through SME review of the resume/application. If you have special priority selection rights under ICTAP, you must:
- Indicate your eligibility when applying for a position.
- Exceed the minimum qualification requirements for the position.
- Submit proof that you meet the requirements for ICTAP as indicated in "Required Documents."
Any applicant that received a Voluntary Separation Incentive Payment (VSIP) from the federal governmentwithin the last five years based of the closing date of this announcement, if selected, may be required to repay the full amount prior to establishing a start date. For additional information on the VSIP repayment requirement, click here - https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/voluntary-separation-incentive-payments/.
Per Executive Order 14343, this position is not part of a bargaining unit.
Probationary Period
You may be required to serve a one-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. If selected, the requirement to serve such period will be determined by Title 5 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 11.
In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:
your performance and conduct;
the 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.
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
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.
Review our benefits
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.
How you will be evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Direct Hire Authority: These positions will be filled through the Office of Personnel Management's Direct Hire Authority. Category rating and veterans' preference will not be considered in evaluating applicants. For more information on Direct Hire Authority, please see: OPM Direct Hire Fact Sheet.
Veterans: Under the provisions of Direct Hire Authority, veterans' preference does not apply. However, applicants who are eligible for veterans' preference are encouraged to include that information in their application and submit supporting documentation (i.e. DD-214, or other substantiating documents). For more information please see: Veterans' Preference information on the FedsHireVets website.
You will be evaluated for this position based on how well you meet the qualifications and eligibility requirements listed in this vacancy announcement. To determine your qualifications and referral status, we may review your resume and supporting documentation and compare it against your responses to the assessment questionnaire. Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or assessment questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration.
You will be assessed on the following competencies:
- Earth Atmosphere
- Earth Science Applications Research
- Remote Sensing Technologies
- Oral Communication
- Research
- Written Communication
- Problem Solving
- Teamwork
NASA considers 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.
NASA will not ask you to disclose criminal history record information during the application process or before we make a conditional/tentative offer of employment. If you apply for this position and are selected, NASA will conduct a suitability/security background investigation after you accept a tentative job offer. If you feel you are asked to disclose your criminal history before you accept a tentative offer and wish to file a complaint within 30 days, please contact: Agency-FCCJ@NASA.gov.
Required Documents
All submitted resumes must not exceed two (2) pages in length. Resumes longer than two pages will be rejected by USAJOBS. Applicants are strongly encouraged to prioritize including experience and relevant qualifications that directly align with the position advertised. All work experience and accomplishments must be associated with dates (month/year) to allow for accurate qualification assessment.
A complete application package includes a resume, required documents and completion of the vacancy announcement questionnaire. Please see this guidance: What to include in your resume. Your resume should describe your specialized experience and support your answers to the vacancy announcement questionnaire. If you are using a Curriculum Vitae (CV) as a resume, it must meet all requirements listed above for a complete resume package.
Please note: if any of the following types of information are included on your resume, your application package will be disqualified:
- Classified or government sensitive information.
- Social Security Number (SSN)
- Photos of yourself
- Personal information, such as age, gender, religious affiliation, etc.
- Encrypted and digitally signed documents.
The following documents are required:
- Resume
- Transcript
As listed in the Education section above, this position has a basic education requirement.
To be found qualified, you must provide a copy of your college transcript that fully demonstrates you meet the requirements listed in the Education section. You may provide either an unofficial transcript or a copy of an official transcript. Failure to provide a complete copy of your college transcript that shows you have completed a required degree program or coursework may result in you being found not qualified.
You may need to submit other supporting documents (licenses, certification, veterans' preference information, etc.), based on your answers to the application questionnaire. When you apply, please verify you submit the appropriate documents. Do not submit an OF-306 with your application.
If you are a surplus or displaced employee (CTAP and ICTAP), submit proof that you meet the requirements for CTAP/ICTAP. This includes copies of your agency notice, most recent Performance Rating and most recent Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50) noting current position, grade level, and duty location.
Official documents are required at the time of appointment for verification of eligibility and qualifications.
How to Apply
Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application and have all required information available. We encourage you to provide a complete description of your educational achievements and include both paid and non-paid work in the experience portion of your resume. If you submit a resume that does not contain the required information, you may lose consideration.
To apply for this position, you must complete the initial online application, to include the initial online assessment and submission of the required documentation specified in the Required Documents section below.
The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration. The application process is as follows:
- To begin the application process, you will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account. If you do not have a USAJOBS account, you will need to create one before beginning the application process. Once logged in to your account, click on the "Apply" link.
- Follow the prompts to select your resume (2 pages or fewer) and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package. Resumes longer than 2 pages will be rejected by the system. Resumes submitted via other document types will not be forwarded to the hiring manager, nor will they be used in the review of your qualifications. We strongly encourage you to utilize the USAJOBS resume builder when creating your resume. Using the resume builder will help you ensure your resume includes important information related to your qualifications and eligibility for this position. Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all necessary supporting documentation. During the application process you can review, edit, delete and update your information. We'll automatically save your progress as you go, so you won't lose any changes. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
- After acknowledging you have reviewed your application package, complete the 'Include Personal Information' section as you deem appropriate and click to continue with the application process. You will be taken to the vacancy questionnaire which you must complete in order to apply for the position. Complete the online application, verify all required documentation is included with your application package, and submit the application.
- Click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59PM (ET) on the announcement closing date.
NASA provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you are an applicant with a disability and need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the agency contact center listed on the job vacancy announcement. The decision on granting reasonable accommodations will be on a case-by-case basis.
Agency contact information
Moffett Blvd
Mountain View, CA 94035
US
Next steps
Once you submit your application package, you will receive an acknowledgement email. Throughout the process you will receive regular status updates through USAJOBS. To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account (Account Login), all of your applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: Application Status.
Whether or not you are contacted for an interview depends upon the location of the position and the judgment of the hiring manager.
If you are selected, you will be notified by phone or email with a tentative job offer. If you fail to meet the conditions of employment or any other pre-employment requirements, such as missing a scheduled appointment, we may rescind a tentative job offer.
An official, written job offer will be issued once all requirements have been verified.
Overview
- 1301 General Physical Science
- Suitability/Fitness
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Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Education
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in physical scientist jobs.
- Bachelor's or master's degree in physics, geoscience, atmospheric science, or a related physical science
- Experience with data analysis tools such as Python, MATLAB, or R for processing large scientific datasets
- Familiarity with remote sensing platforms, satellite imagery, or environmental monitoring instrumentation
- Ability to obtain or hold a federal security clearance at the Secret or Top Secret level
- Experience writing technical reports, peer-reviewed publications, or government deliverables
- Knowledge of statistical modeling, uncertainty quantification, or numerical simulation methods
Tips for Your Physical Scientist Job Search
Tailor your resume to clearance requirements
Many physical scientist roles in government and defense require a security clearance. Flag your current clearance level, eligibility, or prior investigation prominently near the top of your resume so hiring managers don't have to hunt for it.
Quantify your research contributions clearly
Hiring panels want to see outcomes, not just tasks. Replace vague descriptions like 'conducted experiments' with specifics: instruments calibrated, datasets analyzed, publications co-authored, or models validated against real-world observations.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists physical scientist openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match your specialization and apply directly to each listing without sorting through unrelated results.
Target agencies posting through USAJOBS
Federal physical scientist vacancies follow a strict announcement window. Set up a saved search with your occupational series code so you're notified the moment a role opens, since postings can close in days once the applicant limit is reached.
Prepare technical demonstrations for interviews
Expect to walk through a past project in detail, including the measurement approach, uncertainty analysis, and how you resolved unexpected data artifacts. Practice narrating your methodology to a non-specialist, since panel members often include program managers.
Negotiate start dates around publication cycles
If you're finishing a postdoc or wrapping a field campaign, raise the timeline during the offer stage rather than after signing. Most research employers in this field are accustomed to deferred start dates tied to data collection or manuscript submissions.
Physical Scientist Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most physical scientists?
The most active employers for physical scientists right now are Lynker, ByteDance, and Meta, and the most openings are in California, Maryland, and Washington, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Federal agencies and defense contractors tend to post the highest volumes year-round.
How many physical scientist jobs are remote?
About 71% of physical scientist openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, with remote roles concentrated in data analysis, modeling, and research coordination rather than hands-on instrumentation or fieldwork. Lab-based and field-intensive positions almost always require an on-site presence.
How do you become a physical scientist?
Start with a bachelor's degree in physics, geoscience, atmospheric science, chemistry, or a closely related field. Build research experience through internships, field campaigns, or laboratory work during your degree. Many positions, especially in federal agencies and R&D environments, prefer or require a master's degree. Gaining proficiency in scientific computing, data analysis tools, and technical writing will strengthen your candidacy across nearly every employer.
How do you get hired as a physical scientist with little experience?
Focus on roles labeled as research assistant, junior scientist, or physical scientist I, which are designed for candidates early in their careers. Highlight coursework projects, senior theses, or any published or presented research. Federal agencies post entry-level physical scientist positions with structured onboarding and development programs, making them a practical starting point. Volunteer field work or internships with environmental agencies can also substitute for direct paid experience.
What does the physical scientist interview process look like?
Most employers run a two-to-three stage process: an initial screening call with a recruiter or program manager, a technical interview where you walk through a past project in depth, and a final panel interview that may include written or computational exercises. Federal positions often add a structured behavioral interview scored against competency criteria. References are typically checked before an offer is extended.
Where can I find and apply to physical scientist jobs?
You can find and apply to physical scientist jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from across the United States in one place. Search for roles that match your specialization and experience level, then apply directly to each listing. The page you're on right now shows active postings updated regularly.
See All 32 Physical Scientist Jobs
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