Aerospace Engineer, AST-Research Pilot

Duties

• Serves as an instructor pilot aboard a high performance jet trainer, and performs classroom and simulator instructor duty in support of astronaut Space Flight Readiness Training.
• Serves as pilot-in-command or co-pilot aboard a large two-engine business jet and/or a large four engine turbo propeller cargo aircraft flying a variety of missions, and frequently requiring extended domestic or overseas deployment.
• As pilot-in-command, responsible for managing up to 9 crew, supporting passengers during mission support operations, and/or engineers and scientists for airborne science missions.
• Serves as a project team member providing engineering and operational expertise for periodic test and research flight programs, to include aircraft upgrades/modifications and airborne science missions.
• Manages project schedule as required. Supports reviews, such as the Configuration Control Panel, Test Readiness Review, Flight Readiness Review, and Operational Readiness Review meetings, for modifications to division aircraft.
• Identifies hazards and reports unsafe acts and procedures. Supports investigation and resolution of aircraft anomalies and mishaps as assigned. Participates in safety inspections and training.
• Provides in-flight support for emergency aircraft, managing flight schedule, and monitoring status of aircraft off-station. Recommends and submits task requests for aircraft upgrades. Monitors and provides aircrew input for all aircraft upgrades.
• Communicates effectively with other project pilots and NASA managers to effectively utilize aircrew and aircraft to maximize mission accomplishment.
• Maintains aircraft flight manuals/checklists, aircraft-specific standard operating procedures, and annual proficiency exam and conducts quarterly continuation and aircraft-specific Crew Resource training.
• Plans aircraft deployments and coordinates travel requirements for all travelers. Ensures deploying aircrew have requisite training and documentation.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• This position is open to U.S. citizens, nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.
• Position subject to pre-employment background security investigation
• You must meet qualifications requirements by the closing date of this announcement
• At the time of initial appointment, you must possess a current FAA first class medical certificate or a military pilot flight physical; or you must obtain a NASA flight medical certification
• You must be proficient in the English Language
• This position may require a one year probationary period

Qualifications

In addition to the Basic Education Requirement (in the Education section below), to qualify for this position you must meet the requirements below. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the particular ability, skill, and knowledge to successfully perform the duties of this position and is typically in or related to this line of work.

NASA utilizes OPM-approved qualification and rating requirements specific for Aerospace Technology (AST) positions which recognizes NASA's unique aerospace work. The specific qualifications and minimum education requirements are further described below and within the education section of the job announcement.

1. Certificate and Rating: A current Federal Aviation Administration commercial pilot's license with an instrument rating and flight instructor certification or an instrument pilot rating and flight instructor certification from the armed services.

2. Flight Hours: 1,500 hours of pilot-in-command (or first pilot) flight time that included at least 500 hours in a high performance jet aircraft having at least 3,000 pounds of thrust per engine.

3. Specialized experience:

To qualify for GS-14, you must have one year of directly related specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 level:

• Experience with the principles of engineering with respect to research and/or test flight operations;
• Planning and coordinating aircraft missions and aircraft evaluation projects, to include test plan preparation;
• Applying technical project management to include planning, scheduling, and managing technical requirements involving high-performance aircraft;
• Establishing aviation safety training principles and procedures; and
• Communicating verbally, and in writing, technical information to all levels of management.

Desired Experience: Experience as a Military Test Pilot and hold an FAA Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certificate.

To receive proper consideration, you must (1) submit a copy of your license with your application and (2) ensure that your flight hours are indicated in your resume.

NOTE*** Candidates establishing eligibility based on military flight experience must provide official orders, forms, or logbooks showing their status as a rated military pilot when requested.

Your resume must include a clear and detailed narrative description, in your own words, of how you meet the required specialized experience. Experience statements 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: You must have successfully completed a bachelor's degree with a major in one of the following:
a) Engineering from a college or university that has ABET accredited engineering programs
b) Physical Science, Mathematics, Life Science or other field of Science
c) Computer Science that included 30 semester hours or 45 quarter hours of course work in any combination of mathematics, statistics and computer science with at least half of those hours in mathematics and statistics courses that included differential and integral calculus.

If you did not complete a qualifying bachelor's degree, you may be eligible if you have obtained a graduate degree in an AST qualifying field, as listed above.

Degrees in engineering technology are not considered qualifying for this position.

Engineering degrees earned within the United States: Engineering degrees earned within the United States must be from a college or university that has at least one ABET accredited engineering program. To find out if a school has at least one ABET accredited program, please visit http://www.abet.org.

Engineering degrees earned outside the United States: Engineering degrees earned outside the United States must be recognized by a Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA), often known as accords. These are non-governmental agreements among organizations that accredit academic degree programs. MRAs recognize the substantial equivalence of mature accreditation systems and programs accredited by signatory organizations within their jurisdictions. For a listing of Signatories, please visit, https://www.abet.org/global-presence/mutual-recognition-agreements/is-your-program-recognized/.

Science and other related degrees earned within the United States: Science and other related degrees 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/.

Science and other related degrees earned outside the United States: 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. These education credentials must be 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.

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

Additional information

Additional selections may be made for similar positions across NASA within the local commuting area(s) of the location(s) identified in this announcement. By applying, you agree to have your application shared with interested selecting official(s) within NASA. CTAP/ICTAP will be cleared for any additional selection from this announcement.

If you have special priority selection rights under the Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP), you must:

- Indicate your eligibility when applying for a position. The questionnaire asks you to identify your ICTAP/CTAP eligibility.
- Meet the minimum qualifications requirements for the position
-Submit proof that you meet the requirements for CTAP/ICTAP as indicated in 'Required Documents'

For additional information about CTAP/ICTAP eligibility, click here - https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/#ictap.

This is a bargaining unit position. If additional selections are made, those positions may or may not be in a bargaining unit. To learn more about bargaining units at NASA please click here NASA Unions (Bargaining Units) | NASA.

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How You Will Be Evaluated

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

Direct Hire Authority: These positions will be filled through the Office of Personnel Management's Direct Hire Authority. Category rating and veterans' preference will not be considered in evaluating applicants. For more information on Direct Hire Authority, please see: OPM Direct Hire Fact Sheet.

Veterans: Under the provisions of Direct Hire Authority, veterans' preference does not apply. However, applicants who are eligible for veterans' preference are encouraged to include that information in their application and submit supporting documentation (i.e. DD-214, or other substantiating documents). For more information please see: Veterans' Preference information on the FedsHireVets website.

You will be evaluated for this position based on how well you meet the qualifications and eligibility requirements listed in this vacancy announcement. To determine your qualifications and referral status, we may review your resume and supporting documentation and compare it against your responses to the vacancy questionnaire. Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration.

You will be assessed on the following competencies:

• Institutional Aircraft Operations
• Mission Execution
• General Engineering
• Teaching Others

NASA considers paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.