Psychologist, AST, Human Performance Studies (Direct Hire)
What you'd do
The Operational Psychologist serves as a subject matter expert related to high-performance individuals and teams. Provides psychological assessment, operational countermeasure implementation, and support to astronauts and their dependents, and operational personnel. Includes astronaut applicant screening and selection; training of astronauts; provision of interventions; monitoring pre-flight readiness; in-flight wellness; post-flight psychological repatriation; and resource management.
Major duties
Lead real-time clinical and operational psychological support to NASA crew pre-flight, in-flight, and post-flight. Develop and implement the behavioral health and performance portion of astronaut selection. Develop and deliver psychological training and countermeasures for human space flight. Lead the development of design criteria, standards, and operational requirements for the human system, including habitability, cognition, and human performance. Provide oversight, direction, and mentoring of contract operational psychologists and monitor contractor performance on Behavioral Health and Performance tasks. Lead the development of novel clinical countermeasures to mitigate mission safety risks related to human performance. Provide aeromedical expertise in individual psychological testing and assessment, with emphasis on neurocognitive testing and psychological suitability assessments for mission-critical positions Mentor less experienced operational and clinical psychologists in the advanced practice of psychological assessment, training, and psychological support in operational settings.
What you need to qualify
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. To qualify for GS-15, you must have one year of directly related specialized experience equivalent to the GS-14 level: Performing work in clinical psychological testing and evaluation, including behavioral health examinations of personnel performing in high-risk, complex operational environments; Providing design and development of psychological methods and measures to assess and select high-performance personnel for spaceflight or other high-risk operational deployments; Translating behavioral health and performance expertise and countermeasures into operational requirements and managing the budget resources necessary to accomplish institutional and programmatic objectives. Preferred, but not required: PhD or PsyD in Clinical Psychology from an APA accredited program and completion of an APA accredited internship. 5 to 10 years post-licensure experience 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. NASA prohibits the use of artificial intelligence (AI) or AI-assisted tool in drafting application and assessment responses. Please visit https://www.nasa.gov/careers/how-to-apply/#Artificial-Intelligence to review NASA's guidance on the use of AI tools during the application process.
Before you apply
Federal applications are different: your resume should be 3–5 pages and mirror the language of this announcement. Read our federal resume guide first — it's the #1 reason qualified people get screened out.
Don't miss the next one.
Get an email the moment a similar federal job opens — postings can close in as little as 5 days.