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• 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.
• Design, develop, and/or conduct tests, checkout, and readiness of advanced environmental and thermal control and life support systems for human space flight vehicles and extravehicular equipment involving new concepts and technologies.
• Collaborate with multi-disciplined team of engineers developing test plans, procedures, methodology, or techniques for evaluation and/or preparation of systems or hardware for space flight operations; conducts risk, safety, and performance analyses.
• Develop new technologies for innovative test article design concepts and materials utilization; plan, conduct and/or review complex analyses and multi-discipline engineering studies resulting in new designs and capabilities.
• Participate in conceptual requirements development, hardware specifications, verification and validation, and/or test procedures for unique or leading-edge technologies in support of aerospace missions.
• Research regenerative atmosphere revitalization and water recovery systems, including atmospheric composition and pressure, humidity and temperature control, carbon dioxide removal, oxygen generation, heat rejection, or water and waste management.

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 investigation
• You must meet qualifications requirements by the closing date of this announcement
• Financial Disclosure, Drug Testing, and/or the Risk Designation for this position may differ and be required based on the duty location/NASA Center requirements.
• 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-07, you must have:
a) One year of directly related specialized experience equivalent to the GS-05 level

• studying or applying theories, concepts, principles, and methodology to assist in the aerospace research, development and design of various flight or ground systems and subsystems, or components; or
• assisting with collecting data to support performance assessments, requirements development and analysis;

OR
b) Completed 1 full academic year of graduate study in an appropriate field by September 30, 2022.
OR
c) Any combination of experience and graduate study in an appropriate field by September 30, 2022.
d) You may also qualify at the GS-07 level by meeting one of these Special Provisions by September 30, 2022:

1. Are in the upper third of your class, based on completed college work at the time of filing an application.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. For engineering positions, successfully completed a 5-year program of study, or at least 160 semester hours, leading to a bachelor's degree.
7. 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.
8. Successfully completed all requirements for two bachelor's degrees, one in an appropriate field of science or engineering.
9. 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.
10. 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.
11. Have pattern of completing courses that include unusual preparatory value or direct relation to the particular aerospace specialty for which you are being considered.
12. 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

• assisting a team of engineers involved in the aerospace research, development design or closely related function in the support technology of Environmental Control and Life Support; or
• assisting with the preparation of performance and launch vehicle assessments; or
• gathering data to resolve issues for ground systems or flight systems; or
• assisting with researching behavior in atmospheric and space environments to support resolving issues for ground or flight systems;

OR
b) Completed all requirements for a master's or equivalent graduate degree in an appropriate field by September 30, 2022.
OR
c) Completed 2 full academic years of graduate education in an appropriate field by September 30, 2022.
OR
d) Have an equivalent combination of experience and graduate study as discussed in a), b) and c) above by September 30, 2022.

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

• working with a team of multi-disciplinary engineers involved in the applying scientific concepts, methods, and processes related to theoretical analysis of launch vehicles to determine their behavior in their environments;
• assisting with performing separation system engineering design, literature reviews and selecting materials for off-nominal operations; or
• applying engineering disciplines sufficient to assist with accomplishing test, analysis, and technical problem solving on ground and/or flight systems; or
• supporting system engineering activities to ensure delivery of the completed aerospace research, development design, operations, or closely related function in the NASA technological specialty of Environmental Control and Life Support.

OR
b) Completed all requirements for a doctoral degree (i.e., Ph.D. or equivalent) in an appropriate field by September 30, 2022.
OR
c) Completed 3 full academic years of graduate education in an appropriate field by September 30, 2022.
OR
d) Have an equivalent combination of experience and graduate study as discussed in a), b) and c) above by September 30, 2022.


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 undergraduate or graduate education only (GS-7 through GS-11):
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.

Direct Hire Authority: These positions will be filled through the Office of Personnel Management's Direct Hire Authority. Category rating and veterans' preference will not be considered in evaluating applicants. For more information on Direct Hire Authority, please see: OPM Direct Hire Fact Sheet.

Veterans: Under the provisions of Direct Hire Authority, veterans' preference does not apply. However, applicants who are eligible for veterans' preference are encouraged to include that information in their application and submit supporting documentation (i.e. DD-214, or other substantiating documents). For more information on please see: Veterans' Preference information on the FedsHireVets website.

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:

• General Engineering
• Research
• Technical Competence
• Written Communication

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.