Duties

The General Engineer/Human Factors Research Psychologist:

• Lead human factors analysis and oversee programs that support the identification, development, test, and evaluation of new and emerging crash mitigation technologies and their interactions with the human driver or occupants (in the case of automated driving systems).
• Independently conceives, organizes, and executes plans to accomplish research in the multidisciplinary areas of automotive safety engineering, crash avoidance technologies and advanced driver assistance systems.
• Handles inquiries from individuals or companies concerning their inventions and ideas to improve vehicle safety. These concepts are sometimes highly technical in nature and require the incumbent to assess their merits and recommend a NHTSA response.

The ideal candidate should possess excellent technical and leadership skills. The ideal candidate must possess an understanding of human factors research skills and working knowledge of human perception and performance. The ideal candidate should be able to understand emerging technical information and how to conduct research programs. The ideal candidate must possess project planning, management, and execution experience. The ideal candidate must be able to manage and guide contractors. Knowledge of crash avoidance and automotive technologies are highly desirable.

REMOTE WORK: This position may be eligible for Remote Work. Remote work is an arrangement in which an employee works at an approved alternative worksite (e.g., from home) that is at a location away from the agency worksite. Remote work location will be determined upon/after selection and may affect locality pay. The difference in salary is determined by the locality pay in each location. Salaries for all areas are available on the OPM website at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/2022/general-schedule/

PLEASE NOTE : Three vacancies will be filled from this announcement from either Washington, DC or East Liberty, OH which will be determined by the manager. The difference in the salary is determined by the locality pay in the duty location. Salaries for all areas are available on the OPM website at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/2022/general-schedule/

Open Continuous: This announcement establishes an open continuous 3 month vacancy announcement. The first referral of eligible applicants will be 2 weeks from the opening date. Given our continuing need for top professionals in this field, it is anticipated that applications will be reviewed approximately every 8 to 10 weeks throughout the open period. We will give equal consideration to all applications we receive.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• You must be a U.S.Citizen and eligible for consideration.
• You must meet specialized experience to qualify.
• Required documents must be submitted by the closing date.
• Submit application and resume online by 11:59 PM EST on the closing date.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

• SELECTIVE SERVICE: Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for the Selective Service.
• PROBATIONARY PERIOD: You must complete a one-year probationary period (unless already completed).
• TIME-IN-GRADE: Federal applicants must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade in the competitive or excepted service in the executive branch to satisfy time-in-grade restrictions contained in 5 CFR 300, Subpart F.
• DEU REQUIREMENTS: Applicants selected under delegated examining procedures may be required to successfully complete a one-year probationary period (unless already completed).

Qualifications

Please note: This is an interdisciplinary position, which means that the duties and responsibilities of the position relates to the 0180 (Research Psychologist) and 0801(General Engineer) fields. Because of the interdisciplinary nature of this position, a person with the education and experience in the 0180 and 0801 field may be considered equally well qualified to do the work.

To meet the minimum qualifications for this position, you must (1) meet the Education Requirement for the series, (2) provide a copy of transcripts for verification, AND (3) meet the experience qualifications for the grade at which you are requesting consideration.

To qualify for the GS-13, you must have at least one year of experience equal or equivalent to the GS-12, it must include:

• Experience planning, organizing, directing, and executing research related to human factors, crash avoidance, and automotive technologies.
• Experience preparing contract award documents. This includes detailed work statements, cost estimates, evaluation criteria, and deliverables and schedules with minimal supervision.

To qualify for the GS-14, you must have at least one year of experience equal or equivalent to the GS-13, it must include:

• Experience planning, organizing, directing, and executing research related to human factors, crash avoidance, and automotive technologies.
• Experience preparing contract award documents. This includes detailed work statements, cost estimates, evaluation criteria, and deliverables and schedules with minimal.
• Experience handling inquiries from individuals or companies concerning their inventions and ideas to improve vehicle safety.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs): Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following areas:

Demonstrated knowledge and experience working with the theory and principles of human factors engineering, behavioral science, experimental methodology, injury control, and/or public health as applied to vehicle and traffic safety problems.

Demonstrated skill in the planning, organization, direction, coordination, conduct, management, and evaluation of research projects.

Demonstrated ability to communicate and present complex technical concepts to internal and external stakeholders. Ability to critically analyze reports/scientific findings, anticipate problems, and recommend alternative courses of action, if necessary.

Ability to prepare written documentation, produce well written reports, and prepare and deliver oral presentations of research, development, and evaluation efforts.

Experience refers to 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.

For additional information about applying to Federal positions, please click on the following link: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-policies/#url=e4


All applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Education

MANDATORY EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS:

Psychology Series, 0180

Degree: major or equivalent in psychology for all specializations except clinical psychology and counseling psychology.

General Engineer Series, 0801

(1) All applicants must meet the education requirements under A or B to qualify for applying to an engineering position.

A. Successful completion of a degree in engineering that: (1) has at least one program accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET); or (2) that included 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; (c) fluid mechanics, hydraulics; (d) thermodynamics; (e) electrical fields and circuits; (f) nature and properties of materials; and (g) any other comparable area of fundamental engineering science or physics, such as optics, heat transfer, soil mechanics, or electronics; OR

B. Combination of education or training: college level education, training and/or technical experience that has 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), or licensure as a Professional Engineer (PE).
2. Written Test - Evidence of having successfully passed the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) 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 which included the courses as specified in Paragraph A above.
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 had at least 1 year of professional engineering experience acquired under professional engineering supervision and guidance. There should be either an established plan of intensive training to develop professional engineering competence, or several years of prior professional engineering type experience. This must be clearly described in your resume.

For more specifics, please see the OPM qualifications standard for GS-800: All Professional Engineering Positions qualifications at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0800/files/all-professional-engineering-positions-0800.pdf

(2) Upload the appropriate document(s) to your application for verification purposes.

Students enrolled in a qualifying degree program can apply if the anticipated graduation date is within six months of the closing date of this announcement. If selected, the final transcript must be received before your start date. Other applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

(3) Qualifications:

To determine which grade(s) you are eligible for, review the following grade specific details. You will be asked questions as part of your application but make sure to verify how you meet this experience in your resume or you may be deemed ineligible.

Additional information

PLEASE NOTE: This is not a Bargaining unit position.

COVID VACCINATION: If selected, you will be required to provide information regarding your COVID-19 vaccination status for the purposes of implementing workplace safety protocols, such as protocols related to masking, physical distancing, testing, travel, and quarantine.

This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if similar vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificate.