Clarification from the agency

** This vacancy has been amended to extend the closing date from 03/07/22 to 03/10/22.**

Videos

• Duties described below are at the full-performance level. Duties assigned at a lower grade level will be of more limited scope, performed with less independence and limited complexity; duties will be commensurate with the grade of selected employee.
• Identifies flight hazards and controls to mitigate flight hazards in aerospace or aeronautical vehicle tests or operations.
• Performs risk studies and prepares risk analysis and flight safety plans which define the safety limits, risk factors, and mission rules for missions/projects/programs.
• Analyzes mission objectives to assure compliance with Agency and GSFC/WFF Range Flight Safety criteria and advises range users on risk factors as they pertain to the mission.
• Adapts analysis methods and approaches to meet the unique requirements of assignments.
• Works with senior analysts to conduct conceptual definition studies and complex detailed analysis to establish preliminary designs and alternatives for a variety of advanced systems on proposed new projects for which no precedents are available.
• Performs theoretical, aerodynamic studies to evaluate various factors (performance, stability, trajectory, etc.) that affect flight safety. Performs casualty expectation and protected area impact probability studies.
• Calculates flight safety limits for unguided launch vehicles. Analyzes post-flight data to confirm or deduce violations of limits or variations in predicted performance.
• Integrates various study and analysis results into comprehensive technical briefings and reports to review panels and senior management to ensure that the risks for the mission are understood.
• Provides technical advice in flight systems safety both within and outside the organization. Serves as a member of internal and external working groups, review panels, and failure investigation boards as required.
• Performs operational flight safety support functions and duties for assigned launches. Prepares and validates flight safety computer graphics displays and real-time computers are operational for launch.

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
• If selected, you will be required to complete a financial disclosure statement.
• This position may require a one year trial period
• Please see the "Additional Information" section for important information about COVID-19 vaccination requirements for federal employees.

Qualifications

In addition to the Basic Education Requirement (in the Education section below), to qualify for this position you must meet the requirements below and have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade, which has equipped you with the particular competencies needed to successfully perform the duties of the position described 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:

• Using tools and trajectory modeling methods to assist with the analysis of aerospace systems; and
• Applying aerospace or aeronautical theories to assist in system analysis following safety plans.

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:

• Using tools and trajectory modeling methods to support the evaluation of aerospace systems or safety analysis of flight systems; and
• Applying aerospace and aeronautical theories, principles, concepts, standards, and/or methodologies to assist in the analysis of flight system safety.

To qualify for GS-13, you must have one year of directly related specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 level:

• Utilizing tools and trajectory modeling methods to perform flight safety and system analysis;
• Utilizing aerospace and aeronautical methodologies to analyze flight performance and safety hazards; and
• Participating in conducting risk studies to evaluate flight system safety plans.

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.

Required college majors for applicants qualifying on the basis of graduate education only:

Aeronautical Engineering, Aeronautics, Aerospace Engineering, Astronautical Engineering, Astronautics, Biomedical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Materials Engineering, Materials Science, Applied Mechanics, Engineering Mechanics, Mechanical Engineering, Metallurgical Engineering, Metallurgy, Nuclear Engineering, Nuclear Engineering Physics, Physics, Applied Physics, Engineering Physics, Structural Engineering, Welding Engineering. Other majors will qualify if the major includes or is supplemented as follows: Ceramic Engineering, Ceramics, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering, Mathematics (Pure or Applied) (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.

How you will be evaluated

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

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:

• Oral Communication
• Problem Solving
• Written Communication
• Aerospace Engineering
• Research
• Technical Competence
• Safety Engineering and Assurance

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.

Under NASA's category rating process, applicants will be assessed on the position competencies and placed in one of three categories identified and defined below: :

• Best Qualified Category - Applicants who demonstrate a superior level of all evaluation criteria.
• Highly Qualified Category - Applicants who demonstrate a satisfactory level of the evaluation criteria.
• Qualified Category - Applicants who demonstrate the basic qualifications, with general knowledge, skills, and abilities.

Names of all qualified candidates in the Best Qualified category will be sent to the hiring official for employment consideration (unless a sufficient number of qualified veterans are found - in which case only those names will be initially certified ). Candidates within the Best Qualified category who are eligible for veteran preference will receive selection priority over non-veteran preference eligibles.