Public Notice - Engineering (Direct Hire)
What you'd do
Positions advertised are in various organizations at Johnson Space Center and White Sands Test Facility. NASA may fill positions in any of the following series and at any grade level listed in this announcement (GS-0801, 0806, 0819, 0850, 0854, 0855, 0861 at the GS-7/9/11/12/13/14/15 levels).
Major duties
Duties described below are at the highest grade advertised. Duties assigned at lower grade levels will be of more limited scope, performed with less independence and limited complexity; duties will be commensurate with the grade of selected employee. Directs technical efforts across organizational boundaries and provides authoritative guidance to senior officials on highly complex engineering matters. Conducts and oversees advanced engineering analysis, design, test, and evaluation on mission-critical systems. Applies expert judgment to resolve complex technical problems and recommends optimal solutions. Advises executive leadership and program managers on complex technical and programmatic matters. Represents the organization in high-level technical forums, boards, and reviews at the agency and interagency levels. Develops and approves engineering standards, technical policies, and requirements documents at the program or enterprise level. Authors technical reports and assessments that inform senior leadership decisions. Provides technical mentorship and discipline leadership across experience levels. Serves as a functional area expert supporting long-term organizational technical capability and engineering workforce development. Represents the organization in technical exchanges with contractors, partner agencies, and external entities. Leads formal technical reviews and integrated product teams requiring senior-level engineering expertise. For supervisory positions, you will perform a full range of supervisory duties which includes assigning and evaluating work; recommending personnel actions; taking disciplinary actions; and identifying training needs and developing employees.
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-07, you must have: a) One year of directly related specialized experience equivalent to the GS-05 level: Performing routine engineering support tasks under close supervision; Collecting data, maintaining records; or Preparing basic technical documentation in support of engineering projects or programs. OR b) Completed 1 full academic year of graduate study in an appropriate field OR c) Any combination of experience and graduate study in an appropriate field OR d) You may also qualify at the GS-07 level by meeting one of these Special Provisions: Are in the upper third of your class, based on completed college work at the time of filing an application. Have an average of 2.9 or better on a 4.0 scale for either all completed college work at the time of application, or all college courses completed during the last 2 years of the undergraduate curriculum. Achieved a grade average of B+ (3.5 on a 4.0 scale) or better in the major field of study where such field is fully qualifying. This is either the average of all completed college work in the major field of study at the time of application or the average of all college courses completed in the major field of study during the last 2 years of the undergraduate curriculum. Elected to membership in one of the national honorary scholastic societies meeting the minimum requirements of the Association of College Honor Societies (other than freshman honor societies). These honor societies are listed at ACHS. Completed 12 months of student trainee experience that includes at least one work period equivalent to the GS-5, or at least 15 months of appropriate student trainee experience which includes one work period equivalent to the GS-04 level. One work period is 2 months or 320 hours. For engineering positions, successfully completed a 5-year program of study, or at least 160 semester hours, leading to a bachelor's degree. For engineering positions, have a professional engineering degree, and up to 12 months of experience gained as a technician or technologist equivalent to the GS-5 or higher level. Successfully completed all requirements for two bachelor's degrees, one in an appropriate field of science or engineering. Have six months of directly related/specialized experience or training, including 3 months gained after the junior year of college. This experience may have been obtained on a part-time or intermittent basis and may have been paid or unpaid. Received honors or elective positions indicating superior leadership outside of your academic setting. Additionally, your academic standing must have been in the upper half of the graduating class. Have pattern of completing courses that include unusual preparatory value or direct relation to the particular aerospace specialty for which you are being considered. Have creative research aptitude or special talent for NASA scientific or engineering work. This must be shown by evidence obtained and documented by NASA in certifications from college professors or officials, or standardized questionnaires, or similar techniques. To qualify for GS-09, you must have: a) One year of directly related specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 level: Performing engineering analysis, design, test, or evaluation on assigned systems or components; Applying engineering principles to solve technical problems under supervision; Preparing technical documentation in support of engineering projects or program requirements. OR b) Completed all requirements for a master's or equivalent graduate degree in an appropriate field OR c) Completed 2 full academic years of graduate education in an appropriate field OR d) Have an equivalent combination of experience and graduate study as discussed in a), b) and c) above To qualify for GS-11, you must have: a) You must have one year of directly related specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 level: Conducting engineering analysis, design, test, or evaluation; Applying professional engineering judgment with limited supervision; Producing technical reports and recommendations. OR b) Completed all requirements for a doctoral degree (i.e., Ph.D. or equivalent) in an appropriate field OR c) Completed 3 full academic years of graduate education in an appropriate field OR d) Have an equivalent combination of experience and graduate study as discussed in a), b) and c) above To qualify for GS-12, you must have one year of directly related specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level: Conducting complex engineering work; Serving as technical authority on moderately complex systems; Leading engineering projects; Integrating multi-discipline technical requirements. To qualify for GS-13, you must have one year of directly related specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 level: Leading engineering programs or technical projects; Serving as recognized technical authority on complex systems; Developing engineering solutions. To qualify for GS-14, you must have one year of directly related specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 level: Providing senior engineering technical leadership; Directing multi-disciplinary programs; Serving as expert in the applicable discipline; Advising senior officials on complex technical and programmatic matters. To qualify for GS-15, you must have one year of directly related specialized experience equivalent to the GS-14 level: Providing expert-level engineering program direction; Serving as a technical authority; Developing technical policy or standards. 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. In determining the NASA AST specific position title to which you are appointed, you may be required to have one of the following majors (this list is not inclusive): Aeronautical Engineering, Aeronautics, Aerospace Engineering, Astronautical Engineering, Astronautics, Biomedical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Materials Engineering, Applied/Engineering Mechanics, Mechanical Engineering, Nuclear Engineering, Nuclear Engineering Physics, Applied/Engineering/Physics, Structural Engineering. Other majors may qualify if supplemented as follows: Ceramic Engineering, Ceramics, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Computer Science*, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering, Mathematics (or other related field), if it includes or is supplemented by nine semester hours (or the equivalent) in machine design, mechanics, hydraulics, dynamics, thermodynamics, mechanical design or mechanical measurement. Promotion Potential: The full performance level (FPL) will vary based on the position in which the selectee is placed and does not default to the highest grade advertised.
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