Overview
Physical science professionals in federal government use scientific research, testing and analysis to help agencies understand natural systems, protect public health and safety, and make informed decisions about environmental and resource management.
They may study air, water, soil, minerals, energy systems, hazardous materials or other physical conditions that affect communities nationwide. This work is ideal for those who enjoy scientific problem-solving, field or laboratory work, data analysis and applying technical expertise to real-world public needs.
What You Might Work On
In the federal government, professionals in this field often:
- Evaluate physical, chemical or environmental risks to support regulatory or safety actions
- Translate scientific findings into guidance and operational recommendations for federal programs
- Provide technical expertise for long-term planning or emergency responses
- Support investigations, inspections and monitoring efforts, ensuring compliance with federal safety standards
Is This a Good Fit?
While roles and responsibilities vary, you might enjoy this field if you:
- Are curious about how natural and physical systems work
- Enjoy collecting, analyzing and interpreting scientific data
- Want to use science to protect people, communities and the environment
- Can communicate technical information clearly to both scientific and non-scientific audiences
Job Series Codes
What are job series codes?
In the federal government, most jobs are grouped into “job series” based on the type of work. Each series has a four-digit code (for example, Chemistry, 1320).
How to use them:
You can use job series codes to narrow your search on USAJOBS. Start with a keyword (like “program analyst”), then add a series code for more targeted results. Here are a few examples to get you started — there are hundreds of job series codes across the federal government!
| Code | Series / category name | Common keywords | What you’ll do |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0696 | Consumer Safety Series | Consumer Safety Officer, Consumer Safety Inspector, Consumer Safety Specialist | Evaluate product safety, quality and regulatory compliance |
| 1301 | General Physical Science | Physical Scientist, Interdisciplinary | Physical science work that does not fit into any other series |
| 1313 | Geophysics Series | Geophysicist, Physical Scientist, Interdisciplinary | Analyze geophysical phenomena related to the earth and its atmosphere |
| 1320 | Chemistry Series | Chemist, Forensic Chemist | Analyze chemical reactions, molecular structure and related properties |
| 1910 | Quality Assurance Series | Quality Assurance Specialist, Product Quality | Ensure the quality, safety and performance standards of products used by federal agencies |
Where You Could Work
The federal government is big — so where do you start?
One approach is to focus on a type of role. Another is to focus on a mission area, or the kind of impact you want to have (i.e., in public health, education, transportation or elsewhere).
Keep in mind: mission areas often span multiple agencies, so you may find relevant roles in places you wouldn’t expect!
Professionals in this field work across many federal agencies depending on mission area, including:
- Public safety: Consumer Product Safety Commission
- Materials research: National Institute of Standards and Technology
- Environmental protection: U.S. Geological Survey
Sample Positions
Geophysicist (1313)
| Employer / agency | Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement |
|---|---|
| Location(s) | Multiple Locations |
| Mission context | Geophysicists with the Department of the Interior oversee offshore geological data to safeguard people, the environment and energy resources. |
In this role, you may:
- Analyze, evaluate and interpret geological/geophysical information and related data to independently carry out detailed, complex and complete geoscientific investigations of considerable breadth and scope involving reservoir identification, structure and amplitude mapping, determination of faulting, pay zones and contracts, and complete all evaluation at current industry standards
- Keep current with new and developing evaluation techniques, 3-D seismic data and computer software packages
Quality Assurance Specialist (1910)
| Employer / agency | Army National Guard Units |
|---|---|
| Location(s) | Multiple Locations |
| Mission context | This role ensures aviation maintenance operations meet Army safety and quality standards. |
In this role, you may:
- Develop a Quality Management Plan that documents the management and operational policies and procedures to ensure work processes, products and services satisfy expectations and quality standards
- Develop quality assessment plans to evaluate and improve quality of maintenance production and work processes
Top 10 agencies for this Field
Top 10 Most Common Jobs in this Field
Positions Currently Open on USAJOBS
Browse current federal job openings on USAJOBS and explore opportunities across agencies and career fields. Use the filters to find positions that match your skills, review requirements, and understand how to apply.
121 Results
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Permanent
INTERDISC ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER / PHYSICAL SCIENTIST
Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command
- Closes Oct 1, 2026
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Permanent
ENGINEER/SCIENTIST
Naval Sea Systems Command
- Closes Oct 1, 2026
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Permanent
Supervisory Interdisciplinary
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
- Closes Oct 1, 2026
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Permanent
Interdisciplinary
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
- Closes Oct 1, 2026
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Term
Interdisciplinary
U.S. Army Chemical Materials Activity
- Closes Oct 1, 2026
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Permanent
MULTIDISCIPLINARY COMPUTER SCIENTIST
U.S. Marine Corps
- Closes Oct 1, 2026
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Permanent
Physical Science Technician
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
- Closes Oct 1, 2026
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Permanent
Physical Science Technician
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
- Closes Oct 1, 2026
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Permanent
Gas Metrologist Technician
National Institute of Standards and Technology
- Closes Oct 1, 2026
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Permanent
Chemist
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
- Closes Oct 1, 2026
