Duties

Summary

The Subsonic/Transonic Testing Branch within the Ground Facilities and Testing Directorate is seeking an individual to serve as a Control Systems Specialist. The position's work involves the development, design, procurement, fabrication, installation, activation, operation, and maintenance of electrical and electronic control systems and subsystems associated with ground-based research systems, facilities, and ancillary systems.
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Responsibilities

• Makes recommendations on high level technical decisions regarding the design, development, installation, activation, operation, and maintenance of electrical and electronic control systems for ground-based research systems and facilities.
• Makes decisions affect the research test capability of unique aerospace research facilities such as wind tunnels, structural test machines and flight simulators.
• Plans/develops new systems and modifications to existing systems/equipment by applying knowledge of practical engineering methods and techniques. Drafts, analyzes, and reviews plans for fabrication, activation and integration into existing systems.
• Provides technical expertise in designing, evaluating and implementing experimental products and procedures to enable new or enhanced testing mechanisms into the testing process.
• Provides direct support to various research organizations on major electrical projects involving modifications or initial design of equipment for experimental, one-of-a-kind projects or procedures.
• Prepares engineering evaluation tests of equipment such as prototypes of experimental hardware conceived by engineers but are personally developed, designed and constructed by the incumbent.
• Operates the equipment being tested and records the data collected. Examines the test data and determines that readings reflect actual operating conditions and test equipment is producing the desired data.
• Troubleshoots, adjusts, modifies, and improves test systems to provide support that minimizes interruptions in the ability to carry out critical testing and evaluation functions within the organization.
• Ensures that tests are set up and carried out in accordance with established objectives and milestones for project completion.

Travel Required

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

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
13

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• A one-year probationary period may be required.
• Position subject to a pre-employment drug test.
• Successful completion of a security investigation will be required.

Qualifications

Applicant must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade, which has equipped the applicant with the particular competencies needed to successfully perform the duties of the position described above.

Specialized experience includes: Experience making recommendations regarding the design, development, installation, activation, operation, and/or maintenance of electrical and electronic control systems, such as, Programmable Logic Control (PLC) systems; providing technical expertise in designing, evaluating and implementing experimental products and procedures to enable new or enhanced testing mechanisms and; experience utilizing technologies such as, conventional electrical devices, PID controllers, solid state motor drive equipment. Makes recommendations on high level technical decisions regarding the design, development, installation, activation, operation, and maintenance of electrical and electronic control systems for ground-based research systems and facilities.

Education

There are no education requirements for this position.

Additional information

This position is being announced in conjunction with vacancy announcement number LA19D0047 open to all U.S. citizens and U.S. Nationals. Only one position will be filled as a result of these two vacancy announcements.

Current Federal employees must meet time in grade and three months after competitive appointment restrictions by the closing date of the announcement.

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.

Qualified NASA term employees who have term conversion eligibility under the NASA Flexibility Act of 2004 will be referred and considered equally with other NASA permanent employees under internal competitive placement procedures.

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

As identical vacancies are identified additional selections may be made.

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

Resumes will be rated by an automated system (Resumix) that matches the competencies extracted from the candidate's resume to the competencies identified by the selecting official for the position. Candidates will be evaluated on the competencies they possess that are directly related to the duties of the job, as described in the announcement. Candidates should refer to NASA's Applicant Guide for assistance in developing a complete resume, as NASA will not accept separate KSA statements.

Qualified candidates will be assigned to one of three quality levels based on the degree to which their competencies meet the duties required. A human resources specialist will validate the qualifications of those candidates eligible to be referred to the selecting official. For the purpose of the Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) and the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP), candidates rated in the top quality level are considered well-qualified.

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Secret

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.

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.