Duties

Summary

Due to the Pandemic, and individual states with different phases of reopening, the selectee's report date to the official duty station/facility may be delayed until such time as employees are allowed to report to the workplace. The person selected may telework up to the maximum extent possible, up to and including full time, until it is safe to relocate.

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Responsibilities

Serves as an Aerospace Engineer within the Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Research Office, AUS, and is charged with assisting in establishing the Agency's research priorities, developing a comprehensive UAS research plan, sponsoring research studies, and providing subject matter expertise to support the FAA's evolving regulatory and operational framework for the safe and efficient integration of UAS into the National Airspace System (NAS). As a leader and technical project manager, directly supports the Division with a variety of responsibilities including, researching needs analyses, requirement definitions. literature reviews, concept development, project management, technical evaluations, sponsor coordination and technical monitoring for FAA sponsored UAS research and development to inform rulemaking, aviation safety, policy and air traffic operations.

Applies experience and comprehensive technical knowledge of engineering principles, theories, and concepts, as well as an understanding of new technologies and methodologies, to solve complex problems and develop improved technical processes for the organization. Organizes and assigns resources and project deliverable schedules to accomplish organizational objectives. Plans and accomplishes highly complex and challenging projects/programs and other work activities under the minimal direction of a manager, project/program manager, team leader, or more experienced engineer. May act as a principal technical specialist or as a project/program manager or team leader for large work activities.

Considers the objectives of the Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) lntegration Office, AUS, when developing, integrating and implementing solutions to diverse, complex problems. Assignments frequently require knowledge and experience working across functional and/or organizational lines. Typical assignments may include: system design and integration; extensive research; and direct responsibility for project/program management.

Contacts are internal and external. Often represents FAA as a senior technical point of contact on UAS projects, programs and other work activities. Communicates results to all levels internally (within an LOB/SO or across LOB's/SO's) and externally. Plays a lead role in drafting, reviewing, and editing reports or contractual documents for finat approval prior to external distribution. Presents briefings to obtain consensus/approval on policies. Coordinates significant technical matters with representatives of external organizations.

Participates in the preparation of formal documentation as well as the presentation of plans, results, responses and recommendations to a variety Of audiences including senior FAA management, Department of Transportation (DOT), Government Accountability Office (GAO), Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and Congress. Collaborates and coordinates with other government agencies such as National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Department of Defense, Department Of Homeland Security (DH5) and Department of lnterior (DOl). This also includes organizations that are internal and external to the FAA within the UAS community.

Broad policies and objectives provide general guidance for addressing issues, but allow considerable discretion to develop new and innovative approaches. Draws on experience to solve unusual problems and may create new solutions and policy interpretations as the situation requires. Provides policy guidance and instruction to others, both internally and externally. Provides guidance to lower-level staff to solve difficult technical issues. Resolves all but unique technical problems without the intervention of management or a more experienced engineer. Develops plans, techniques, and policies to address current or anticipated problems and issues. Works with senior management to solve problems.

Travel Required

Occasional travel - The job may require travel from time- to-time, but not on a regular basis. The travel may be for training or other work-related duties.

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
NA

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• US Citizenship is required.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• This position has a positive education requirement. Transcript(s) required.
• Transcripts - See Required Documents

Qualifications

To view the complete qualification standard, applicants should reference - U.S. Office of Personnel Management the Individual Occupational Requirements for All Professional Engineering Positions, 0800.

https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0800/files/all-professional-engineering-positions-0800.pdf

BASIC REQUIREMENTS:

Degree: professional engineering. To be acceptable, the curriculum must: (1)be in a school of engineering with at least 1 curriculum accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) as a professional engineering curriculum; or (2)include differential and integral calculus and courses (more advanced than 1st year physics & chemistry) in 5 of these 7 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 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 professional 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: Current registration as a professional engineer by any State, the District of Columbia, Guam, or Puerto Rico; OR evidence of having successfully passed the Engineer-in-Training (EIT) exam, or the written test required for professional registration; OR successful completion of at least 60 semester hours of courses in the physical, mathematical, and engineering sciences AND in engineering that included the courses specified in paragraph 1; OR successful completion of a curriculum leading to a bachelor's degree in engineering technology or in an appropriate professional field, e.g., physics, chemistry, computer science, mathematics, provided the applicant had at least 1 year of professional engineering experience acquired under professional engineering supervision.

In addition to the basic requirements above, to qualify for this position you must demonstrate in your application that you possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the FV-I, FG/GS-13. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position.

Specialized experience may include but not limited to: Experience in aviation operations and identifying & developing technical solutions to operational challenges in one or more of the following areas: Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) vehicles, optionally piloted vehicles, or autonomous vehicles. Experience identifying the technologies that can be employed to improve operations in the above areas.

Qualifications must be met by the closing date of this vacancy announcement.

Applicants should include examples of specialized experience in their Work History.

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. You may upload these documents with your application in USAJOBS or fax it to fax number provided in the announcement (please include announcement number on each page).

Failure to do so will result in loss of consideration.

Schools must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Accreditation may be verified at the following website: www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html .

Foreign education must be evaluated by a private professional organization specializing in interpretation of foreign education credentials or an accredited U.S. educational institution in terms of equivalence to a degree acquired at an American college or university. A copy of the evaluation results must be included, otherwise your foreign education will not be considered.

Preview Job Questionnaire
Make sure your resume includes detailed information to support your qualifications and answers to the job questionnaire.

Additional information

We may use this vacancy to fill other similar vacant positions.
Position may be subject to a background investigation.
A one-year probationary period may be required.
The person selected for this position may be required to file a financial disclosure statement within 30 days of entry on duty. FAA policy limits certain outside employment and financial investments in aviation-related companies.

Applications will be accepted from any U.S. citizen. Direct Hire Authority will be used to fill this position. The 'Rule of Three', Veterans Preference and traditional rating and ranking of applicants does not apply to this vacancy.

As a part of the Federal-Wide Hiring Reform Initiative (streamlining the hiring process), the FAA is committed to eliminating the use of the Knowledge, Skills and Ability (KSA) narratives from the initial application in the hiring process for all announcements. Therefore, as an applicant for this announcement, you are NOT required to provide a narrative response in the text box listed below each KSA.

In lieu of providing a KSA narrative response in the text box listed below each KSA, in your work history, please include information that provides specific examples of how you meet the response level or answer you chose for each KSA. Your work history examples should be specific and clearly reflect the highest level of ability. Your KSA answers will be evaluated further to validate whether the level that you selected is appropriate based on the work history and experience you provided. Your answers may be adjusted by a Human Resource Specialist as appropriate.

Eligible applicants meeting the minimum qualification requirements and selective factor(s), if applicable, may be further evaluated on the Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA) listed in the announcement. Based on this evaluation, applicants will be placed in one of the following categories: score order, category grouping, or priority grouping and referred to the selecting official for consideration.

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): IAW FAA Travel Policy, fixed rate PCS is authorized. Current Federal government employees (transfers without a break in services) are eligible for fixed rate PCS up to $27K. All other selectee (s) are eligible for a fixed rate PCS up to $10K.

This is a bargaining unit position.

Links to Important Information: Locality Pay , COLA

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

IMPORTANT: Applicants may be rated on the extent and quality of experience, education, and training relevant to the duties of the position(s). All answers provided in the on-line process must be substantiated. Ensure that your application package/resume supports your responses.

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Other

Drug test required
No

Required Documents

Only supplemental documentation, e.g. transcripts or veteran's documentation will be accepted in combination with your on-line application. These documents must be uploaded or emailed to kelley.copp@faa.gov on or before the closing date of this announcement. All emailed documents should reference the announcement number.

This position has a positive education requirement; college transcripts are required for ALL candidates newly appointed to the FAA in the 0800 (Engineering) series.

College transcripts must be submitted from current FAA employees applying for internal vacancies if they have never held a position in the 0800 (Engineering) series with the FAA.

College transcripts are not required from current FAA employees who are currently occupying an 0800 (Engineering) series.

If selected, official transcripts are required prior to employment.

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.