General Engineer-DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY
What you'd do
Veteran's preference does not apply to DHA recruitment. Click on "Learn more about this agency" button below for more information. The primary purpose of this position is to service as the United Air Force (USAF) Test Pilot School's (TPS) nationally/internationally recognized technical expert in one of the 4 major phases of the curriculum; Flight Services, Mission systems, , Space sciences or Test Foundations..
Major duties
Senior Advisor: Serves as the top education advises and senior technical consultant to the commandant and the Technical Director of the USAF Curriculum Developer: Defines integrates and implements curriculum development for a graduate-level education program Master's Degree Educator: As a technical expert, educates students on how to conduct evaluation of new or critically aerospace vehicles; fathers, analyzes, and report on data; identifies and characterizes deficiencies; National/International Technical Expert: Represents TPS and AFTC as a recognized test technical expert at national and internation symposia Ensures the TPS curriculum includes state-of-the-art test technology and continues to advance new concepts in flight and space testing and test education, test and safety planning, data collection and analysis, and reporting. Delivers master's degree level education through teaching academic courses, leading simulator and/or laboratory sessions, and conducting airborne or air/space control room instruction. Acts as technical and/or safety advisor, subject matter expert, and/or report reviewer for AFMC, STARCOM, DoD, NASA, other government agencies, and allied nations as required. There are flying opportunities in multiple military and Qualitative Evaluation aircraft and, depending on your background, a possibility to be an instructor in gliders and Cessnas. Research Opportunities: There are opportunities to mentor student Test Management Projects and conduct staff Research Projects on cutting edge research topics that span the entire spectrum from advanced controls, autonomy, new sensors, revolutionary navigation techniques, emerging communication techniques/protocols, cyber and electronic warfare concepts, battle management algorithms, multi-domain operations, etc.
What you need to qualify
Experience requirements are described in the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards for General Schedule Positions, Professional Engineering Positions located here. BASIC REQUIREMENT OR INDIVIDUAL OCCUPATIONAL REQUIREMENT: 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: (Click here for detailed explanation of each of these items)1. 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. 2. Written Test - Evidence of having successfully passed the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE)2 examination or any other written test required for professional registration by an engineering licensure board in the various States, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico. 3. Specified academic courses - Successful completion of at least 60 semester hours of courses in the physical, mathematical, and engineering sciences and that included the courses specified in the basic requirements under paragraph A. The courses must be fully acceptable toward meeting the requirements of an engineering program as described in paragraph A. 4. Related curriculum - Successful completion of a curriculum leading to a bachelor's degree in an appropriate scientific field, e.g., engineering technology, physics, chemistry, architecture, computer science, mathematics, hydrology, or geology, may be accepted in lieu of a bachelor's degree in engineering, provided the applicant has had at least 1 year of professional engineering experience acquired under professional engineering supervision and guidance. Ordinarily there should be either an established plan of intensive training to develop professional engineering competence, or several years of prior professional engineering-type experience, e.g., in interdisciplinary positions. (The above examples of related curricula are not all inclusive.) In addition to meeting the basic requirement above, to qualify for this position you must also meet the qualification requirements listed below: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must have at least 1 year (52 weeks) of specialized experience at the next lower broadband NH-03, equivalent to the next lower grade GS-12 or equivalent in other pay systems. Specialized experience includes mastery of advanced professional systems engineering concepts, principles, practices, standards, methods, techniques, materials, and equipment to effectively apply advanced engineering theories, principles, and concepts to development, execution, and advisory services. NOTE: Due to the use of 120-day rosters, this period of experience may be completed within 120 days of the closing date of this announcement. Ideal Candidate : The "Ideal Candidate" should have extensive experience with multiple levels of responsibility in flight-sciences-related flight test projects with the most emphasis on depth and breadth of technical understanding. The individual must enjoy teaching and have previous teaching experience. A graduate of a military test pilot school is highly desired. Flying experience is also highly desired. Along with being an inherently inquisitive individual, the Ideal Candidate should also actively share their knowledge and leadership skills as a member of a professional society such as AIAA, SETP, SFTE, ITEA, etc. And finally, the individual should be excited about the amazing opportunity to work with a world-class faculty to educate the next generation of test leaders. KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs): Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following areas: Mastery of advanced professional systems engineering concepts, principles, practices, standards, methods, techniques, materials, and equipment to effectively apply advanced engineering theories, principles, and concepts to JSE development, execution, and advisory services. Expert professional knowledge of learning theory and psychology of learning including application of learning theories as it relates to systematic design, development, and validation of instructional programs. Expert knowledge of advanced technical concepts, principles, and techniques across multiple interrelated and integrated technical and test engineering disciplines. Expert knowledge, skill, and ability to conduct ground and live-flight instruction of technical theory, modeling and simulation, test planning, test conduct, coordination and supervision, data analysis and evaluation, technical reporting and administrative aspect of test programs. This includes classroom lectures. simulator sessions, laboratory exercises, test briefings/debriefings and airborne/live-fly instruction. Strong ability to plan and organize work, coordinate between various electronic/aerospace/mechanical engineering and test disciplines, and coordinate with Air Force, Space Force, DoD, and other domestic and foreign government agencies. Ability to flexible adapt to changing requirements due to internal and external influences. Ability to communicate effectively, clearly, concisely, and with technical accuracy both orally and in writing. PART-TIME OR UNPAID EXPERIENCE: Credit will be given for appropriate unpaid and or part-time work. You must clearly identify the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the total number of hours per week. VOLUNTEER WORK EXPERIENCE: Refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service Programs (i.e., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student and social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge and skills that can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
Before you apply
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