Duties

Summary

The Policy and Innovation Division supports aerospace innovation by creating novel means of compliance, develops and maintains Aircraft Certification Service regulations, manages the Aviation Safety (AVS) Senior Technical Experts Program (STEP) and overall fleet safety, as well as educational outreach. The Chief Scientific and Technical Advisor (CSTA) for Dynamic Systems is one of a cadre of nationally and internationally recognized technical experts comprising the AVS STEP.

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Responsibilities

The CSTA for Dynamic Systems provides an FAA-wide, mission-critical, leadership role in identifying and mitigating aviation safety risk related to the application of dynamic systems and phenomena in aviation products and their use. The incumbent works to retain and strengthen U.S. leadership related to dynamic systems and control principles and practices across a range of products and their analysis, test, and operations. Examples of application include, but are not limited to: aircraft vehicle dynamics, engine dynamics, vehicle drivetrains and other systems dynamics, vibration, loads, and aeroelasticity. The incumbent works to evaluate the readiness of emerging technologies, shape agency policies, and promote the adoption of safety enhancing operational requirements and practices into the FAA's regulatory and certification programs. The CSTA for Dynamic Systems also provides instruction and advice to the FAA, other departments and agencies, the aviation industry, professional societies, associations, academia, and international organizations.

Specific responsibilities include:

• Serves as a senior advisor in the Aviation Safety (AVS) Line of Business, providing scientific expertise and assistance to the relevant stakeholders working to enhance aviation safety, efficiency, and innovation. The incumbent provides expert advice and assistance to AVS managers and leaders, type certification boards, airworthiness directive boards, maintenance review boards, flight operation evaluation boards, special certification review teams, accident investigation teams, and special condition standards review activities.

• Plans, directs, promotes, and coordinates research and the publication of scientific papers intended to evaluate new technologies, address service difficulties, and promote FAA adoption of the most safety enhancing policies and practices in the realm of dynamic systems.

• Prepares and/or provides technical education and training to the FAA, industry, associations, foreign airworthiness certification authorities, and international organizations through certification projects, training courses, seminars, and workshops.

• Represents the FAA in dealings with other civil aviation authorities, national and international forums, industry committees, and task groups on work to mitigate aviation safety risk posed by dynamic systems. Coordinates regulatory initiatives with foreign airworthiness authorities to provide harmonized requirements and consensus standards in order to expedite and reduce the cost of international certification to the aviation industry.

• Supports industry and government in the investigation of accidents or incidents where vehicle or system dynamics or loads are thought to have played a role. Collaborates with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and foreign entities by applying expertise in determining causal factors; identifying shortcomings in policy, technology, or practices; and recommending remedial actions to prevent or reduce the probability of such accidents or incidents in the future.

Travel Required

50% or less - The job may require up to 50% travel.

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.
• Designated or Random Drug Testing required.
• This position has a positive education requirement. Transcript(s) required.

Qualifications

As a basic requirement for entry into the FAA Executive System, you must provide evidence of progressively responsible leadership experience that is indicative of senior executive level capability; and that is directly related to the skills and abilities outlined under the Technical Requirements listed below.

In addition to the minimum qualifications, the following have been determined to be selective factors for this position. This means possession of this criteria is part of the minimum qualifications and is essential to perform the duties and responsibilities of this position. Applicants who do not possess this criteria are ineligible for further consideration.

TECHNICAL REQUIREMENT : Demonstrated leadership in dynamic systems, to include - but not limited to - aircraft vehicle dynamics, engine dynamics, vehicle drivetrains and other systems dynamics, vibration, loads and aeroelasticity.

TECHNICAL REQUIREMENT : Demonstrated leadership experience in the development and application of requirements and/or standards related to advanced technology products.

TECHNICAL REQUIREMENT : Demonstrated ability to serve as an effective spokesperson and represent a high profile organization with global regulatory authorities, national and international industry bodies, manufacturers, research organizations, academia, and the public on work to mitigate safety risks associated with dynamic systems.

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.

A. Degree: Engineering. To be acceptable, the program must: (1) lead to a bachelor's degree in a school of engineering with at least one program accredited by ABET ; or (2) include 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 (stress-strain relationships); (c) fluid mechanics, hydraulics; (d) thermodynamics; (e) electrical fields and circuits; (f) nature and properties of materials (relating particle and aggregate structure to properties); 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 and experience -- college-level education, training, and/or technical experience that 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:

Professional registration or licensure -- Current registration as an Engineer Intern (EI), Engineer in Training (EIT)1, or licensure as a Professional Engineer (PE) by any State, the District of Columbia, Guam, or Puerto Rico. Absent other means of qualifying under this standard, those applicants who achieved such registration by means other than written test (e.g., State grandfather or eminence provisions) are eligible only for positions that are within or closely related to the specialty field of their registration. For example, an applicant who attains registration through a State Board's eminence provision as a manufacturing engineer typically would be rated eligible only for manufacturing engineering positions.

Written Test -- Evidence of having successfully passed the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE)2 examination or any other written test required for professional

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

Additional information

Position may be subject to a background investigation.
A one-year probationary period may be required.
Veterans preference does not apply to the FAA Executive System.
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.

This position is covered by the Department of Transportation's Drug and Alcohol Testing Program. Any applicant tentatively selected for this position will be subject to pre-employment or pre-appointment drug screening. Persons occupying a "testing designated position (TDP)" will be subject to random drug and/or alcohol testing.

This is not 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
Top Secret

Drug test required
Yes

Required Documents

1. A resume.
2. An attachment individually addressing each Technical Requirement if you do not address them in the answer blocks within the application.

NOTE: Please do not submit additional materials (e.g., DD Form 214, performance plans/evaluations, letters of recommendation, etc.); they will not be considered as part of the application package.

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.