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Aerospace Engineer, AST, Flight Systems Test

Employer
USAJobs
Location
Greenbelt, Maryland
Closing date
Nov 20, 2019
Duties

Summary

The Engineering and Technology Directorate, Electrical Engineering Division, Flight Data Systems and Radiation Effects Branch (Code 561) is seeking a highly experienced individual to serve as a Radiation Effects Engineer, in which you will lead teams to design, develop, and verify approaches to characterize and mitigate radiation effects.

This position may be filled at either the GS-11 or GS-12 level.

As identical vacancies are identified, additional selections may be made.
Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

  • The duties described below are for the full-performance level. At developmental grade levels, assignments will be of more limited scope, performed with less independence and limited complexity.
  • You will serve as a radiation engineer in which you will work on teams to design, develop, and verify approaches to characterize and mitigate radiation effects.
  • You will provide assistance in verifying the performance of flight systems under simulated launch and on-orbit conditions, acquisition and analysis of flight data, derivation of test criteria and requirements based on flight measurements.
  • You will provide assistance in simulation of environments with emphasis on the effects of the flight radiation environment on scientific instruments and spacecraft electronics.
  • You will plan and conduct investigations, tests, and evaluation of equipment, components, or systems where critical problems need to be resolved.
  • You will coordinate aerospace engineering projects and provide technical expertise in the formulation of engineering policies/procedures related to test and characterization of radiation effects on scientific instruments and electronic systems.
  • You will develop, review, and provide recommendations for proposed project requirements, expected results, and budgetary estimates.
  • You will consult and recommend parts acceptability for use on spacecraft and instruments for broad spaceflight projects and programs.
  • You will consult with both branch and project management in the construction of facilities, systems, or equipment in the area of test and characterization of radiation effects on scientific instruments and electronic systems.
  • You will work with all levels of local management and program officials, key personnel of the Agency, other government agencies, and private industry to resolve complex and controversial problems, and assure the overall resolution of issues.


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

  • Position subject to pre-employment background investigation.
  • A one-year probationary period may be required.


Qualifications

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

To qualify for the GS-11 level:

A. You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade (GS-09), which has equipped you with the particular competencies needed to successfully perform the duties of the position described above. Specialized experience is defined as developing, demonstrating, and implementing test initiatives and test technologies that address the identification and resolution of radiation effects on scientific instruments and electronic systems for major flight missions and research projects; OR

B. Completion of all requirements for a doctoral degree (Ph.D. or equivalent) in an appropriate field; OR

C. Completion of three full academic years of graduate education in an appropriate field; OR

D. An equivalent combination of experience and graduate education as discussed in (a) and (c) above.

To qualify for the GS-12 grade level, you must have one year of specialized experience at the next lower grade (GS-11), which has equipped you with the particular competencies needed to successfully perform the duties of the position described above. Specialized experience is defined as developing, demonstrating, and implementing test initiatives and test technologies that address the identification and resolution of radiation effects on scientific instruments and electronic systems for major flight missions and research projects; and assisting in the development of engineering policies and procedures related to test and characterization of radiation effects on scientific instruments and electronic systems.

Your resume must include a clear and detailed narrative description, in your own words, of how you meet the required specialized experience. Experiences 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

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.

You must indicate your major as well as your degree in order to receive full consideration for this position.

Education completed outside of the United States must be deemed equivalent to that gained in conventional, accredited U.S. education programs to be acceptable for Federal employment.

Most foreign education is not accredited by an accrediting body that is recognized by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education.

Additional information

Any applicant tentatively selected for this position may be required to undergo a pre-employment background investigation. 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

This position may be filled at either the GS-11 or GS-12 level.

Identification of promotion in this position does not constitute a commitment or an obligation on the part of management to promote the employee. Promotion will depend upon administrative approval and the continued need for an actual assignment and performance of higher level duties.

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
Not Required

Drug test required
No

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.

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