Duties

• Duties described below are at the full-performance level. Duties assigned at a lower grade level will be of more limited scope, performed with less independence and limited complexity; duties will be commensurate with the grade of selected employee.
• Conduct cutting-edge research and methods development for precision metrology.
• Design, schedule, and implement testing procedures for space flight hardware and instruments.
• Analyze and interpret data from laboratory testing to characterize flight components and the performance and stability of flight instruments.
• Maintain cutting-edge laboratory facilities for Nation Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)-traceable calibration.
• Interface with US and international mission teams and NASA Headquarters.
• Share research and laboratory test results with the science community through peer-reviewed publications and presentations.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• This position is open to U.S. citizens, nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S
• Position subject to pre-employment background investigation
• You must meet qualifications requirements by the closing date of this announcement
• If selected, you will be required to complete a financial disclosure statement.
• This position may require a one year trial period

Qualifications

In addition to the Basic Education Requirement (in the Education section below), to qualify for this position you must meet the requirements below and have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade, which has equipped you with the particular competencies needed to successfully perform the duties of the position described above.

Vacant research positions may be filled at one of several grade levels depending upon the scientific impact of the person selected. A review may be required to determine the appropriate grade level of the position and supplemental materials may be required from the selectee. Please keep this in mind when indicating the lowest grade you will accept.

To qualify for GS-13, you must have one year of directly related specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 level

• Publishing peer-reviewed research in the areas of radiometry, metrology, and optical instrument design, build, test, or calibration.
• In the application of new approaches in optical radiometry and metrology for laboratory calibration of materials and instruments at the system and subsystem level.
• Assisting with laboratory calibration activities involving remote sensing instrument design, build, testing, commissioning, and contributing to the management of projects and resources.

To qualify for GS-14, you must have one year of directly related specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 level

• Publishing peer-reviewed research receiving national recognition in the areas of radiometry, metrology, and optical instrument design, build, test, or calibration.
• National recognition in the development of new approaches in optical radiometry and metrology for laboratory calibration of materials and instruments at the system and subsystem level.
• Conducting laboratory calibration activities involving remote sensing instrument design, build, testing, commissioning, and operation including scheduling, coordinating, and managing projects and resources.

To qualify for GS-15, you must have one year of directly related specialized experience equivalent to the GS-14 level

• Publishing peer-reviewed research receiving international recognition in the areas of radiometry, metrology, and optical instrument design, build, test, or calibration.
• International recognition in the development of new approaches in optical radiometry and metrology for laboratory calibration of materials and instruments at the system and subsystem level.
• Leading a team to conduct laboratory calibration activities involving remote sensing instrument design, build, testing, commissioning, and operation including scheduling, coordinating, and managing projects and resources.

Your resume must include a clear and detailed narrative description, in your own words, of how you meet the required specialized experience. Experience statements copied from a position description, vacancy announcement or other reference material constitutes plagiarism and may result in disqualification and losing consideration for the job.

Education

You must have successfully completed a bachelor's or graduate degree with a major in either a) engineering from a college or university that has ABET accredited engineering programs or b) Physical Science, Mathematics, Life Science, Computer Science*, or other field of physical science.
*Note: Curriculum must include 30 semester hours of course work in a combination of mathematics, statistics and computer science. Of the 30 semester hours, 15 must be in any combination of statistics and mathematics which includes differential and integral calculus.

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.

Degrees in engineering technology are not considered qualifying for 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://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html .

All degrees must have been received in the year of, or any year subsequent to the original date of accreditation.

Additional information

If you are selected, NASA may request information regarding your vaccination status for the purposes of implementing workplace safety protocols, such as masking, physical distancing, testing, travel, and quarantine.

Additional selections may be made for similar positions across NASA within the local commuting area(s) of the location(s) identified in this announcement . By applying, you agree to have your application shared with interested selecting official(s) within NASA. CTAP/ICTAP will be cleared for any additional selection from this announcement.

Under the NASA Flexibility Act of 2004, individuals appointed under this announcement may be converted to permanent appointment, either non-competitively or through internal agency competitive placement procedures. Conversion is not guaranteed, and is contingent on the employee meeting all legal requirements. For more information, see: nasapeople.nasa.gov/hclwp/term-appointments.htm

Current Federal civilian employees may apply for this position. If selected, a break in service of at least 4 calendar days may be required prior to appointment to this position.

If you have special priority selection rights under the Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP), you must:
- Indicate your eligibility when applying for a position. The questionnaire asks you to identify your ICTAP/CTAP eligibility.
-Be well qualified for this position to receive consideration. Candidates rated in the 'Best Qualified' category are considered well-qualified. Please see 'How You Will Be Evaluated' for more information.
-Submit proof that you meet the requirements for CTAP/ICTAP as indicated in 'Required Documents'

For additional information about CTAP/ICTAP eligibility, click here - https:// www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/#ictap.