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Aerospace Engineer (Powerplants)

Employer
USAJobs
Location
Washington, D.C
Closing date
Jul 4, 2022
Duties

OAS investigates all U.S. civil aviation accidents, including those involving unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), public aircraft, and commercial space launches, and other significant aviation incidents, proposes the probable causes of these events, and develops recommendations to minimize recurrence.

As a Aerospace Engineer (Powerplants), GS-0861-13, you will perform the following major duties:
  • Ability to write technical reports and complete work assignments in a timely manner with minor to moderate supervision required.
  • Working knowledge of Microsoft products like Word, PowerPoint, Excel.
  • Independent judgement and leadership with minor to moderate supervision required while directing the efforts of the investigative group.
  • Ability to recognize and manage risk in an investigative setting particularly with individuals outside of their own organization and in remote locations.
  • Objectivity in assembling factual information; preparing factual and analytical repots; developing logical conclusions.
  • Ability to work effectively as a team builder and as a member of a project team. Ability to take direction and work assignments, communicate those assignments to others with specific tasking, work to a schedule, work collaboratively or in a group as well as individually.
  • Ability to communicate effectively (formally and informally) with all levels of an investigation - ranging from interns to Presidential appointees.
  • Work Environment: The incumbent supports major go-team launches as well as significant international investigations. Major go-team launch teams commonly travel on the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) jet from Reagan National Airport within two hours after an accident notification is received. Timely arrival at the scene of a major accident allows for timely documentation of a wreckage; a delay in this effort can have significant impacts, such as impeding the re-opening of an airport. International travel by US Government employees frequently requires the issuance of a visa from the host country, which is most efficiently obtained at the embassies located in Washington, DC. Additionally, security concerns in many locations make it essential that the investigative team travel together.

    Physical Demands: Occasionally the aircraft wreckage may contain hazardous materials that may be burning by the time the investigator arrives on-the-scene; therefore, the incumbent may be exposed to a variety of weather conditions and other environmental discomforts such as remote, rugged, snow, rain, temperature extremes, swampy or mountainous areas and hostile settings and may have to wear a hardhat, safety shoes, goggles, gloves, and other protective equipment.


Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • U.S. Citizenship
  • Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered for Selective Service
  • Resume and supporting documents (see "How to Apply" section.)
  • Suitability for Federal employment
  • Financial Interest in transportation enterprises will be evaluated on a case-by-case-basis.
  • Bargaining Unit Position: YES
  • Direct Deposit is required.
  • Trial or probationary period may be required.
  • Status candidates must meet time-in-grade requirements (52 weeks at the next lower grade level) by the closing date of this announcement. Only experience and education obtained by the closing date of this announcement will be considered.
  • This position is being announced concurrently under Public (U.S Citizens) procedures under Vacancy Number AS-11499009-22-KAT. To be considered under both Public (US Citizens) and Government-Wide procedures, you must apply to both announcements.
  • You may be required to complete a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report, OGE-450, upon entering the position and annually.
  • THIS POSITION IS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR REMOTE TELEWORK.
  • If selection is made below the full performance level, promotion up to the full performance level may be made without further competition. However, promotions are not automatic or guaranteed and will depend on the performance and supervisor approval.
  • Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement.


Qualifications

You must meet the "Education Requirements" and the "Specialized Experience" to qualify for this position as described below.
GS-13: You MUST have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 grade level in the Federal service (experience may have been gained in the private sector). Specialized experience is defined as:
1.Working knowledge of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations requirements (Part 23, 25, 33, 39 and 43) or equivalent military specifications with gas turbine engine maintenance experience (121 and 135 Airline operating environment), turbine powered complex propellers (Part 35);

2.Thorough understanding of how to apply engineering concepts and principles to the design, testing, evaluation, or troubleshooting of aircraft systems, components, structures and powerplants;

3.Strong communication skills and ability to explain complex technical concepts to non-technical and senior decision-makers;

4.Ability to interpret engineering schematics, gas turbine engine. complex propeller (gas turbine powered), and fuel system installation instructions, and other technical documentation related to propulsion and mechanical systems, and to use these skills to evaluate gas turbine engine and complex propeller (gas turbine powered) performance, determine gas turbine engine and complex propeller (gas turbine powered) potential failure modes and their characteristics, develop test plans and procedures for gas turbine engine and complex propeller (gas turbine powered), develop new troubleshooting procedures for gas turbine engine and complex propeller (gas turbine engine powered) ; and

5. Interpersonal skills to establish and maintain effective collaborative working relationships in multi-agency investigations.

For more information see link: Aerospace Engineering Series 0861 (opm.gov)

NOTE: IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your resume must clearly show the specialized experience and competencies related to this position. Failure to demonstrate how you possess the education, specialized experience and/or competencies will result in an "Ineligible" rating.

Education

This position has a positive education requirement:

Applicants must submit a copy of their college or university transcripts(s) and certificates by the closing date of announcement to verify qualifications. If selected, an official transcript will be required prior to appointment.

BASIC EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS: Degree: Engineering. To be acceptable, the program must: (1) lead to a bachelor's degree in a school of engineering with at least one program accredited by ABET; or (2) include differential and integral calculus and courses (more advanced than first-year physics and chemistry) in five of the following seven areas of engineering science or physics: (a) statics, dynamics; (b) strength of materials (stress-strain relationships); (c) fluid mechanics, hydraulics; (d) thermodynamics; (e) electrical fields and circuits; (f) nature and properties of materials (relating particle and aggregate structure to properties); and (g) any other comparable area of fundamental engineering science or physics, such as optics, heat transfer, soil mechanics, or electronics.

-OR-

Combination of education and experience
-- college-level education, training, and/or technical experience that furnished (1) a thorough knowledge of the physical and mathematical sciences underlying engineering, and (2) a good understanding, both theoretical and practical, of the engineering sciences and techniques and their applications to one of the branches of engineering. The adequacy of such background must be demonstrated by one of the following:

1. Professional registration or licensure -- Current registration as an Engineer Intern (EI), Engineer in Training (EIT)1, or licensure as a Professional Engineer (PE) by any State, the District of Columbia, Guam, or Puerto Rico. Absent other means of qualifying under this standard, those applicants who achieved such registration by means other than written test (e.g., State grandfather or eminence provisions) are eligible only for positions that are within or closely related to the specialty field of their registration. For example, an applicant who attains registration through a State Board's eminence provision as a manufacturing engineer typically would be rated eligible only for manufacturing engineering positions.

2. Written Test -- Evidence of having successfully passed the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE)2 examination or any other written test required for professional registration by an engineering licensure board in the various States, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico.

3. Specified academic courses -- Successful completion of at least 60 semester hours of courses in the physical, mathematical, and engineering sciences and that included the courses specified in the basic requirements under paragraph A. The courses must be fully acceptable toward meeting the requirements of an engineering program as described in paragraph A.

4. Related curriculum -- Successful completion of a curriculum leading to a bachelor's degree in an appropriate scientific field, e.g., engineering technology, physics, chemistry, architecture, computer science, mathematics, hydrology, or geology, may be accepted in lieu of a bachelor's degree in engineering, provided the applicant has had at least 1 year of professional engineering experience acquired under professional engineering supervision and guidance. Ordinarily there should be either an established plan of intensive training to develop professional engineering competence, or several years of prior professional engineering-type experience, e.g., in interdisciplinary positions. (The above examples of related curricula are not all-inclusive.)You MUST provide transcripts or other documentation to support your educational claims. Unless otherwise stated: (1) official or unofficial transcripts are acceptable, or (2) you may submit a list with all your courses, grades, semester, year, and credit for the course. All materials must be submitted by the closing date of the announcement.

GENERAL EDUCATION: All academic degrees and coursework must be completed at an institution that has obtained accreditation or pre-accreditation status from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education for it to be credited towards qualifications. For a list of schools that meet these criteria, see http://www.ed.gov Applications submitted without the required supporting documents will not be accepted. An unofficial transcript; statement from the institution's registrar, dean, or other appropriate official; or equivalent documentation is acceptable at the time of application. Education submitted must be appropriately accredited by an accredited body recognized by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education. For additional information, refer to the U.S. Department of Education web site at: http://www.ed.gov

FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been 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

Additional information

  • The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes, in part, paid vacation, sick leave, holidays and various benefits as well as work life amenities such as alternate work schedules, telework, flextime, fitness and transit benefits.
  • Moving expenses associated with permanent change of station (PCS) ARE NOT authorized for this position.
  • NTSB may authorize Recruitment Incentives currently offered by the Federal Government for highly qualified candidates who possess unique skills and abilities.
  • If you left Federal Employment and received a buy out and you are selected for this position, you may be required to repay the full amount of the payment.
  • Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA): To be eligible for a VEOA appointment under Merit Promotion procedures, you must be a preference eligible or a Veteran separated after 3 years or more of continuous active service performed under honorable conditions. For more information on VEOA please visit https://www.fedshirevets.gov/job-seekers/special-hiring-authorities/#veoa
  • Noncompetitive Appointment Authorities: For more information on noncompetitive appointment authority eligibility requirements identified below please visit https://www.fedshirevets.gov/job-seekers/special-hiring-authorities/
    • - Persons with Disabilities-Schedule A
    • - Special Hiring Authorities for Veterans
    • - Special Hiring Authority for Certain Military Spouses
    • - Other Special Appointment Authorities
  • Career Transition Assistance Programs: These programs apply to employees who have been involuntarily separated from a Federal service position within the competitive service or Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed. To receive selection priority for this position, you must: (1) meet CTAP or ICTAP eligibility criteria; (2) meet the basic qualification standards (including minimum educational and experience requirements; (3) be rated well-qualified for the position with a score of 90 and above on the rating criteria for this position; and, (4) submit the appropriate documentation ( to support your CTAP or ICTAP eligibility. For more information visit: http://www.opm.gov/rif/employee_guides/career_transition.asp
  • All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement. Additional information on the qualification requirements is outlined in the OPM Qualifications Standards Handbook of General Schedule Positions. It is available for your review on OPM's web site at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/
  • Telework may be authorized on a case-by-case basis. Telework is available and will be based on the, training status, mission requirements, supervisory determination, and agency policy.
  • Multiple and subsequent vacancies may be filled from this announcement.
  • NTSB uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit http://www.uscis.gov/e-verify .


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