Duties

Summary

The Flight Projects Directorate, Exploration and Space Communications Projects Division (Code 450), is looking for a highly skilled individual to serve as a Spectrum Manager. You will play a mission-essential role in every Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) spaceflight mission and NASA mission that utilizes Near Earth Spectrum frequencies that provide the communications services that make scientific discoveries possible.
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Responsibilities

• As a Spectrum Manager, you must understand all major facets of the diverse activities related to spectrum management at the mission, center, agency, national and international levels.
• You will work with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), Space Frequency Coordination Group (SFCG), and ITU Radiocommunication Sector (ITU-R).
• You will work in coordination with the GSFC Spectrum Manager and Deputy to assure that all spectrum requirements are satisfied.
• You will work to satisfy requirements including definition of institutional support for spectrum usage and obtain the required spectrum authority at the national/international levels in accordance with FCC, NTIA, ITU-R and SFCG rules and regulations.
• You will be responsible for accurate technical work to recommend candidate radio frequencies for new GSFC missions, and for the studies of potential interference.
• You will conduct studies regarding the feasibility of sharing the spectrum with other space-to-space, space-to-ground, ground-to-space, or other service scenarios allocated for Near Earth spectrum use.
• You will be responsible for RF mitigation techniques applied to enhance spectrum sharing, assessment of the likelihood of regulatory approvals and the technical adequacy of the bands for the proposed function.
• You will serve as an adviser to the GSFC Spectrum Manager and Deputy and represent GSFC at ad hoc advisory panels of national and international significance.
• As necessary, you will resolve RFI incidences, spectrum sharing or usage problems affecting projects and programs of major national significance.
• You will remain cognizant in spectrum management policy, procedures, technical approaches and risk-based matters pertaining to the complex challenges inherent to protection of the science services, GSFC networks and missions.
• You will serve in the spectrum management community as an authoritative source.
• You will conduct trade studies and present recommended solutions to the GSFC Spectrum Manager and Deputy on complex technical matters within policy constraints as defined by Federal law and/or treaty.
• You will recommend the scope, skill-level and amount of resources needed to support new GSFC missions and Agency functions; develop schedules, define process flow, identify primary stakeholders, identify risks with appropriate mitigation strategies.
• You will decide on the acceptability, correction, or reduction of work products or services necessary to support assigned tasks, and submit these assessments to the GSFC Spectrum Manager for approval, execution or prioritization.
• You will conduct detailed and complex RF analyses of programs of national significance such as those assigned in support of the GSFC Space Network and Near Earth Network and GSFC missions.

Travel Required

Occasional travel - Travel may be required for training or other work-related duties

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
15

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• Applicants must possess at least a Bachelor's Degree or equivalent
• Selectee must complete a financial disclosure statement.
• A one-year probationary period may be required.
• Position subject to top secret/SCI background investigation.
• You must meet all qualifications requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Qualifications

In addition to the Basic Education Requirement, you must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-14 level, which has equipped you with the particular competencies needed to successfully perform the duties of the position described above.

Specialized experience is defined as (1) conducting radio frequency analysis of sub-systems used to support communications requirements of satellite systems and earth stations; (2) solving complex engineering problems associated with inter-system interference and the overall frequency management process; and (3) conducting studies regarding the feasibility of sharing the spectrum with other space-to-space, space-to-ground, ground-to-space, or other service scenarios allocated to use Near Earth spectrum.

To receive consideration, your resume MUST contain your complete degree information (i.e., type of degree-received, year degree received, and major area of study). If you have received a degree in Computer Science, you MUST list all courses you have taken which meet the education requirements as stated in the qualification requirements section as well as the semester hours awarded. You MUST include the descriptive title, course code, and number of semester/quarter hours. (i.e., CMSC-435-Software Engineering, 3 Semester hours) If this information is not provided, you will lose consideration for this position. Please note that degrees in engineering technology are not considered to be qualifying for this position. If you are selected for this position, you will have to provide an official copy of your transcripts prior to entering on duty.

Education

Basic Education Requirement: A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major study in Aeronautical Engineering, Aeronautics, Aerospace Engineering, Architecture, Astronautical Engineering, Astronautics, Astronomy, Astrophysics, Biomedical Engineering, Ceramic Engineering, Ceramics, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Civil Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science*, Earth and Planetary Science, Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering, Geology, Geophysics, Industrial Engineering, Materials Engineering, Materials Science, Mathematics (Pure or Applied), Applied Mechanics, Engineering Mechanics, Mechanical Engineering, Metallurgical Engineering, Metallurgy, Meteorology, Nuclear Engineering, Nuclear Engineering Physics, Oceanography, Optical Engineering, Physics, Applied Physics, Engineering Physics, Space Science, Structural Engineering, Welding Engineering or other appropriate physical science or engineering field. Degrees in engineering technology are not considered to be qualifying for this position. *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.

When there is a positive education requirement, or you are using education to qualify as a substitution for experience, official transcripts will be required at the time of selection to verify that you meet the educational requirement or substitution.

All degree(s) 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/.

Engineering degrees must have been awarded from a college or university school of engineering with at least one curriculum accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC) of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). To find out if a degree meets this requirement, go to http://www.abet.org.

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

Foreign Education: 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 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

As identical vacancies are identified, additional selections may be made.

Please list your General Schedule (GS) equivalency on your resume for every federal position you have held.

Individuals who have special priority selection rights under the Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) must be well qualified for the position to receive consideration for special priority selection. See "How You Will Be Evaluated" for definition of well qualified.

Federal employees seeking CTAP/ICTAP consideration must indicate their eligibility when applying for a position. The USAJOBS resume asks you to identify your ICTAP eligibility; the NASA Supplemental Information asks you to identify your CTAP eligibility. If you are selected for the position, you must be prepared to submit proof that you meet the requirements for CTAP/ICTAP. This includes a copy of the agency notice, a copy of their most recent Performance Rating and a copy of their most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location.

As a condition of employment, male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must certify that they have registered with the Selective Service System, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. In order to receive preference in hiring, you must clearly identify your claim for veterans preference on your resume.

NASA's Applicant Guide provides the information needed to assist you in determining whether or not you can claim 5 or 10 point veterans preference. You should not submit documents to prove your eligibility for veterans preference at this time. However, you must be prepared to submit proof of veterans preference (DD-214, and, if claiming 10-point preference, SF-15 plus proof required by that form) as requested by the Human Resources Office. Veterans preference will only be considered based on what is supported For instance, if you claim 10-point preference, but are only able to document 5-point preference, you will be considered accordingly. If you fail to provide the required documents within the stated time period, we may withdraw a job offer and/or remove you from further consideration.

Your USAJOBS account asks you to assign a name to each of your resumes. When you apply to a NASA position, we will show you the text of the resume you have submitted, but we do not maintain the name you have assigned to that resume. If you wish to keep track of that information, we recommend you make note of it at the time you apply.

Fair Employment Opportunities for Applicants
NASA Credit for National Service

The payment of relocation expenses is authorized.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

NASA uses an automated system (Resumix) that matches the competencies extracted from your resume to the competencies identified by the selecting official for the position. Based on the competencies you match, you are placed in one of three categories identified as 90, 80, or 70 pt. quality categories, which are defined as:

90 pt. Category - Tentatively meets (until subsequent confirmation upon referral) the basic qualification requirements identified in the vacancy announcement and has experience in the same or similar job that has demonstrated superior proficiency in the primary requirements of the position.

80 pt. Category - Tentatively meets (until subsequent confirmation upon referral) the basic qualification requirements identified in the vacancy announcement and demonstrates satisfactory proficiency in the primary requirements of the position.

70 pt. Category - Fails to meet criteria described in the 80 pt. category.

Additional application guidance is available in NASA's Applicant Guide .

Information for Veterans : The Category Rating Process protects the rights of veterans by placing them ahead of non-preference eligibles within each category. Preference eligibles who meet qualification requirements and have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent must be listed at the top of the highest quality category, except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-09 grade level or higher.

For the purpose of the Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) and the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP), candidates rated in the top quality category are considered well-qualified.

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Sensitive Compartmented Information

Drug test required
Yes

Required Documents

NASA's application process has been specifically developed to ensure that we only ask you for the information we absolutely need to evaluate your qualifications and eligibility. In order to apply for this position, you only need to submit your resume and answer the screening questions and supplemental information. No additional documentation is accepted at the time of application. (For example you need not submit narrative 'KSA' statements; they are not required and will not be evaluated.) In this way we allow you to focus on preparing a resume that best describes your background and abilities. For assistance in preparing your resume, consult the Applicant Guide . Nothing further is required until requested by the Human Resources Office. At that point, we may ask you to submit documentation to support statements made in your resume. For example, we may ask you to provide academic transcripts or proof of Federal employment status. If you are claiming veterans' preference, we may ask you to submit proof of veterans preference (DD-214, and, if claiming 10-point preference, SF-15 plus proof required by that form). If you fail to provide the required documents within the stated time period, we may withdraw a job offer and/or remove you from further consideration.

Please be sure to review your resume on the 'Review tab' by clicking on 'Your Resume.' Ensure that the correct copy of the resume you have selected has been transferred from your USAJOBS account. If you fail to validate the information in your resume, you may not be appropriately evaluated for this position. Also, please be sure to review and complete the Supplemental Information questions.

To receive consideration, you must submit a resume and answer NASA-specific questions. The NASA questions appear after you submit your resume and are transferred to the NASA web site. If you successfully apply, USAJOBS will show your application status as 'resume received - complete.' If your status is 'Application Started,' you have not successfully applied. Do not rely on a USAJOBS email to confirm successful application. Only an email from NASA confirms a successful application.

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education .

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.