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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.
• Serves as an aerospace structures engineer in the design, development, analysis, test, and checkout of advanced flight equipment and aircraft.
• Performs aircraft structural and loads analysis per NASA guidelines and appropriate industry standards. Guides product design and verifies structural integrity by using analytical methods, finite element models/simulations and other analysis tools.
• Develops structural ground test and flight test plans, conducts risk and safety analysis, supports ground and flight test execution and analyzes/reports test results to validate and verify systems and components meet requirements and specifications.
• Serves as an advisor to manufacturers, engineers, management, related organizations, or contractor personnel in order to give advice relative to structural analysis, testing and evaluation.
• Serves as a technical specialist in conducting unique, leading edge, and advanced flight investigations and identifies structural loads measurements in relation to flight research objectives and flight safety considerations.
• Identifying and reporting safety hazards, potentially hazardous situations, and close calls to supervisor.
• Supports in-service products by investigating failures and analyzing improvements.
• Formulates, develops, and/or modifies appropriate research techniques and utilizes the NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center Flight Loads Laboratory.

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
• Please see the "Additional Information" section for important information about COVID-19 vaccination requirements for federal employees.
• This position may require a one year trial period.

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 in the federal sector

• Applying practical engineering concepts to evaluate airframe structural integrity; and
• Preforming structural loads and stress analysis under supervision; and
• Participating in structural ground test or flight test planning and execution.

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 in the federal sector

• Performing structural loads and stress analysis using hand calculation methods, finite element models/simulations and other analysis tools; and
• Designing and executing structural ground test to demonstrate structural integrity or to calibrate strain gages; and
• Identifying structural analysis or test requirements that are consistent organizational guidelines and standards.

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

• Overseeing and performing structural loads and stress analysis using hand calculation methods, finite element models/simulations and other analysis tools; and
• Reviewing, advising, and conducting analysis and development studies in support of organization programs; and
• Consulting with management and project personnel in preparing technical requirements and criteria for projects, or hardware.

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 (GS-11):

Aeronautical Engineering, Aeronautics, Aerospace Engineering, Astronautical Engineering, Astronautics, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Materials Engineering, Materials Science, Applied Mechanics, Engineering Mechanics, Mechanical 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: Ceramics or Ceramics Engineering (with 12 semester hours in refractory ceramics, cermets or protective coatings); Civil Engineering, Computer Science, or Geology (with 12 semester hours in strength of materials, structures, thermodynamics, and/or basic static and dynamics); Metallurgy or Metallurgical Engineering (with 12 semester hours in physical or adaptive metallurgy, high temperature metals and alloys, cermets); Mathematics or Nuclear Engineering (with nine semester hours in physics, structures, materials or other appropriate courses). Other appropriate physical science or engineering fields may qualify with appropriate supplemental courses.

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:

• Aerospace Engineering
• Technical Competence
• Mechanics and Durability
• Structural Test Engineering

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.