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Aerospace Engineer AST-Liquid Propulsion Systems (Direct Hire)

National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center
This job announcement has closed

Summary

The Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) Cross Program System Manager will be responsible for all NASA propulsion activities for LEO programs, namely the ISS & Commercial Crew Program. Responsibilities involve the insight/oversight of contractor/partner vehicles (SpaceX, Boeing, Northrup Grumman, SNC, Axiom, ESA, JAXA, RSA, and others). The System Manager must be proficient on the designs, tests, and issues facing the vehicles, and lead a team of engineers with the goal of signing the CoFR/FRA for flights.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open date: 03/16/2023
Closed date: 03/22/2023
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Work site options
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Remote job
No
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Salary
$158,026 - $183,500 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 15
Promotion potential
15
Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.
Work schedule
Full-time
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Appointment type
Permanent
Occupations and job series
Supervisory status
No
Federal service type
This job is in the Competitive Service
Drug test
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Jobs require a background check and some require a security clearance. The type depends on the job.
Background check type
Announcement number
JSC-23-DE-11851507-JMK
Control number
712879400

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

This vacancy has been amended to extend the closing date from 03/20/23 to 03/22/23.**

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Duties

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  • Manages NASA oversight of the design, development, and test of major elements of ground test and space flight systems. Understanding propulsion, fluid, electro-mechanical, hydraulic pneumatic, and auxiliary power systems.
  • Proposes and manage independent verification and validation of or risk reduction analyses and tests for partner systems. Includes management of technical contracts involved in elements listed above.
  • Manages planning, resource requirements, schedules, and tasks for NASA propulsion activities relating to the portfolio Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) mission spacecraft.
  • Leads reviews of prime contractor products and NASA defined requirements.
  • Promotes and advocates for independent research into technologies that support propulsion, fluid, electro-mechanical, hydraulic, auxiliary power, and in-situ resource utilization systems related to the LEO portfolio.
  • Plans, coordinates, manages, evaluates, and reports upon analysis, studies, and tests of components and systems.

Requirements

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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
  • If selected, you will be required to complete a financial disclosure statement

Qualifications

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-15, you must have one year of directly related specialized experience equivalent to the GS-14 level in the federal sector:

  • Providing technical leadership and/or oversight to engineers engaged in the design, development, test, manufacturing, and/or operations of components within space flight propulsion systems and associated fluid and thermal systems across one or more of the following disciplines: fluid propulsion, electro-mechanical, hydraulic pneumatic, reaction control thrusters, orbital maneuvering engines, pressurization systems, propellant acquisition devices, feed systems for storable and cryogenic propellants in pressure-fed spacecraft auxiliary propulsion systems and auxiliary power systems;
  • Applying techniques, processes, and procedures for managing and oversight of contractor requirements, surveillance, and contractor performance measurement for space flight vehicles;
  • Leading or providing technical support for a multi-disciplinary team that includes resolving problems and providing advice on Certification of Flight Readiness (CoFR), flight readiness status and endorsement.
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.

Education

Basic Education Requirement: You must have successfully completed a bachelor's degree with a major in one of the following:
a) Engineering from a college or university that has ABET accredited engineering programs
b) Physical Science, Mathematics, Life Science or other field of Science
c) Computer Science that included 30 semester hours or 45 quarter hours of course work in any combination of mathematics, statistics and computer science with at least half of those hours in mathematics and statistics courses that included differential and integral calculus.

If you did not complete a qualifying bachelor's degree, you may be eligible if you have obtained a graduate degree in an AST qualifying field, as listed above.

Degrees in engineering technology are not considered qualifying for this position.

Engineering degrees earned within the United States: Engineering degrees earned within the United States must be from a college or university that has at least one ABET accredited engineering program. To find out if a school has at least one ABET accredited program, please visit http://www.abet.org.

Engineering degrees earned outside the United States: Engineering degrees earned outside the United States must be recognized by a Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA), often known as accords. These are non-governmental agreements among organizations that accredit academic degree programs. MRAs recognize the substantial equivalence of mature accreditation systems and programs accredited by signatory organizations within their jurisdictions. For a listing of Signatories, please visit, https://www.abet.org/global-presence/mutual-recognition-agreements/is-your-program-recognized/.

Science and other related degrees earned within the United States: Science and other related degrees must have been awarded from colleges or universities that are accredited by recognized accrediting organizations. For a list of schools that meet this criteria, go to http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/.

Science and other related degrees earned outside the United States: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs. These education credentials must be deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

All degrees must have been received in the year of, or any year subsequent to the original date of accreditation.

Additional information

Additional selections may be made for similar positions across NASA within the local commuting area(s) of the location(s) identified in this announcement. By applying, you agree to have your application shared with interested selecting official(s) within NASA. CTAP/ICTAP will be cleared for any additional selection from this announcement.

If you have special priority selection rights under the Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP), you must:

- Indicate your eligibility when applying for a position. The questionnaire asks you to identify your ICTAP/CTAP eligibility.
- Meet the minimum qualifications requirements for the position
- Submit proof that you meet the requirements for CTAP/ICTAP as indicated in 'Required Documents'

For additional information about CTAP/ICTAP eligibility, click here - https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/#ictap.

This is a bargaining unit position. If additional selections are made, those positions may or may not be in a bargaining unit. To learn more about bargaining units at NASA please click here NASA Unions (Bargaining Units) | NASA.

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 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
  • Planning and Evaluating
  • Rocket Propulsion
  • Spacecraft and Auxiliary Propulsion System Design
  • Teamwork
  • Technical Competence
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.

Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center

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Explore the extraordinary, every day; explore a career at NASA!

Agency contact information

NASA Shared Services Contact Center
Phone
1-877-677-2123
Fax
1-866-779-6772
Email
nssc-contactcenter@mail.nasa.gov
Address
Johnson Space Center
2101 NASA Parkway
Houston, TX 77058
US

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https://www.nasa.gov/careers

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