Summary The System Safety Section is focused on conducting research to improve transport, general aviation, and rotorcraft safety in areas such as continued airworthiness, risk analysis, automation, flight controls, system safety management, and terminal area safety. Responsibilities Serves as an aerospace engineer within the Federal Aviation Administration. In this capacity, they apply experience and comprehensive knowledge of engineering principles, theories, and concepts applicable to his/her discipline, as well as an understanding of new technologies and methodologies, to solve complex problems and to develop improved technical processes for the organization. Considers the objectives of the major subdivision and Line of Business/Staff Office (LOB/SO) when developing, integrating and implementing solutions to diverse, complex problems. Assignments frequently require knowledge and experience working across functional and/or organizational lines. Typical assignments may include system design and integration; extensive research; and direct responsibility for project/program management. Develops and implements independent and interdependent engineering studies to resolve issues and/or identify problems. Analyzes, tests and evaluates operational and technical information; identifies, mitigates or resolves current or potential problems with systems. Evaluates existing/proposed policies, standards, requirements, and objectives for efficient performance of programs and systems. Evaluates state-of-the-art technology, aerospace engineering concepts, and potentially useful tests and evaluations internal and external to FAA. Analyzes trends, developments, and performance data. Determines compatibility with established/planned systems and their desirability and effectiveness. Identifies requirements for new or modified standards, objectives, policies, or system modifications. Submits fully documented recommendations for systems acquisition, approval, and/or modification to supervisor. Participates and contributes to an interdisciplinary team of technical experts to develop, test, evaluate, and/or implement aircraft systems and/or components that impact the NAS. Functions as Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) during acquisition and procurement cycle. Participates in a team that reviews contractor proposals for adequacy of design, and for operation, maintenance, and implementation procedures. Conducts feasibility, cost-benefit, and other studies for technical and fiscal adequacy. Submits evaluations and recommendations to Contracting Officer. Coordinates and provides technical guidance to managers and sponsors. Identifies existing or potential problems. Assists in defining requirements, proposes alternatives, and coordinates solutions with sponsors. Provides periodic status reports to supervisors. Identifies existing/potential problems which may impact on established or proposed plans, identifies alternatives, and provides recommendations. Conducts administrative or on-site comprehensive reviews of existing or proposed projects; verifies cost estimates with managers throughout the FAA. Identifies questionable parts of proposals or procedures. Develops funding documents and/or schedules and milestones. Contributes to the development of aerospace engineering design criteria for inclusion of reliability, maintainability, availability, safety, and test criteria for technical procurement activities. Represents the organizational unit at various seminar, committee, user group panel, and conference meetings at intra agency, interagency, aviation industry, and national levels. Provides guidance to lower-level staff to solve difficult technical issues. Resolves all but unique technical problems without the intervention of management or a more experienced engineer. Develops plans, techniques, and policies to address current or anticipated problems and issues. Works with senior management to solve problems. Work activities typically impact directly on the objectives of one or more major subdivisions and/or LOB/SOs and may impact on the objectives of the FAA. Requirements Conditions of Employment We are not accepting applications from noncitizens. Qualifications To view the complete OPM qualification standard for the Group Coverage Qualification Standard for Aerospace Engineering Series 0861, please refer to: Aerospace Engineering Series 0861 (opm.gov) To qualify for this position you must demonstrate in your application that you possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to FV-I, FG/GS 13. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. Experience includes: Experience leading technical aviation research and development to formulate, plan, communicate, execute, and monitor technical short and long-range programs to include technological changes and applications of new solutions to aviation systems both in and outside the aircraft. Qualifications must be met by the closing date of this vacancy announcement. Some, all or none of the applicants may be interviewed. 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/accreditation. 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. Additional Information We may use this vacancy to fill other similar vacant positions. Position may be subject to a background investigation. A one-year probationary period may be required. 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. www.faa.gov/jobs/workinghere/financial-disclosure-requirements The U.S. Department of Transportation strives to ensure that equity, transparency, accountability, collaboration, and communication permeate all that we do for the betterment of the Department, the traveling public, and our nation. As such, DOT values a highly diverse workforce of persons who promote a culture of belonging by respecting the personal dignity and worth of each individual and fostering a positive environment where all feel safe and welcome. If these commitments coincide with your personal ideals and professional aspirations, please consider joining the DOT family. Leave Enhancement: FAA organizations may offer enhanced annual leave accrual to newly appointed or reappointed employees. In order to receive consideration for such a benefit, applicants' prior non-Federal service or active duty uniformed service must directly relate to the duties of the position to which appointed. Granting enhanced annual leave is at the sole discretion of the hiring organization, and granting such benefit is not an entitlement nor guaranteed to any newly hired employee. As a part of the Federal-Wide Hiring Reform Initiative (streamlining the hiring process), the FAA is committed to eliminating the use of the Knowledge, Skills and Ability (KSA) narratives from the initial application in the hiring process for all announcements. Therefore, as an applicant for this announcement, you are NOT required to provide a narrative response in the text box listed below each KSA. In lieu of providing a KSA narrative response in the text box listed below each KSA, in your work history, please include information that provides specific examples of how you meet the response level or answer you chose for each KSA. Your work history examples should be specific and clearly reflect the highest level of ability. Your KSA answers will be evaluated further to validate whether the level that you selected is appropriate based on the work history and experience you provided. Your answers may be adjusted by a Human Resource Specialist as appropriate. Eligible applicants meeting the minimum qualification requirements and selective factor(s), if applicable, may be further evaluated on the Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA) listed in the announcement. Based on this evaluation, applicants will be placed in one of the following categories: score order, category grouping, or alphabetical and referred to the selecting official for consideration. This is a bargaining unit position. This position is represented by NFFE 1340: Tech Center Professionals. Links to Important Information: Locality Pay , COLA