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Aircraft Pilot (Direct Hire)

National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Langley Research Center
This job announcement has closed

Summary

Serve as the Aviation Safety Officer/Research Pilot in the Research Services Directorate which involves the piloting of crewed aircraft (and/or Uncrewed Aerial Systems(UASs)) used in research, development, and test programs; planning/evaluating test parameters; performing flight/ground simulations of advanced missions and aircraft; participating with project engineers and scientists responsible for development, design, testing, evaluation, and reporting on new aircraft or aircraft systems.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open date: 07/28/2023
Closed date: 08/07/2023
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
$134,876 - $175,335 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 14
Promotion potential
14
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
Term - Not to exceed 6 years
Occupations and job series
Supervisory status
No
Federal service type
This job is in the Competitive Service
Drug test
Yes
Security clearance
Secret
Position sensitivity and risk
Noncritical-Sensitive (NCS)/Moderate Risk
Jobs require a background check and some require a security clearance. The type depends on the job.
Background check type
Announcement number
LaRC-23-DE-11927950-MG
Control number
739849400

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Duties

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  • As safety officer, provides input to aircraft operations to ensure a safe environment for ground crew and aircrew. Performs safety investigations on mishaps and near miss events.
  • Participates in engineering research and operational aspects of a wide variety of flight, simulation, and lab experiments which require operation of aircraft types from single engine piston aircraft to medium sized jet aircraft.
  • Applies aviation/flight test knowledge and experience/safety practices to all flight projects in order to safely plan and operate Langley aircraft in support of NASA missions.
  • Develops, executes, and leads complex plans for flight mission operations with complicated and interactive factors, concepts, or conditions. Develops mission operations plans to accomplish research objectives.
  • Applies accepted flight research principles/practices/techniques for aircraft operations to meet requirements of research experiments. Serves as a safety pilot during flight experiments/research with other subject pilots.
  • Interfaces with experiment developers, flight crew, research systems personnel, and mechanics in formulating/applying system constraints/procedures to flight documentation or flight/ground activities.
  • Serves as a Lead Research Pilot on assigned flight/simulation experiments providing support piloting/operational consultation on other experiments/activities both inside and outside the continental United States.
  • Develops/designs flight operations, equipment, or systems for a broad range of interdisciplinary activities that cut across conventional lines of engineering/scientific fields.

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
  • At the time of initial appointment, you must possess a current FAA first class medical certificate or a military pilot flight physical; or you must obtain a NASA flight medical certification
  • This position may require a one year trial period

Qualifications

To qualify for this position you must possess:

1. Certificate and Rating: A current Federal Aviation Administration commercial pilot certificate with an instrument rating or a pilot and instrument rating from the armed services.

Note: Candidates establishing eligibility based on military flight experience must provide official orders, forms, or logbooks showing their status as a rated military pilot when requested.

Desired Experience:
Experience in multiple platforms; Graduation from a recognized Test Pilot School (USNTPS, USAFTPS, ETPS, EPNER, or NTPS (long course)); Aviation safety officer experience; international experience; and hold an airline transport pilot (ATP) certificate; type ratings in G-III or G-IV aircraft.

2. Flight Hours: A minimum of the following flight time hours:

  • 1,500 hours of flight time as pilot-in-command or co-pilot in aircraft of any weight or category; and
  • 250 hours pilot-in-command; and
  • 75 hours of night flying; and
  • 100 hours of flight time in the preceding 12 months.
3. Specialized experience: One year of directly related specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 level that includes:
  • managing an organization's Aviation Safety Management System;
  • applying project management principles to the planning and execution of high-performance aircraft missions; and
  • establishing aviation safety training principles and procedures.
4.

Multi-Engine Airplane Requirement: A minimum of 500 hours of flight time operating heavy multi-engine airplanes with a gross takeoff weight in over 12,500 pounds OR a minimum of 100 hours flight time operating heavy multi-engine airplanes and heavy helicopters, and at least of half of the flight hours were acquired in heavy multi-engine airplanes.

Instrument Requirement: A minimum of 75 hours of instrument flying with a minimum of 10 hours in actual instrument weather in aircraft directly related to the work of the position.

Instructor Time Requirement: A minimum of 500 hours providing flight instruction directly related to the area of instruction and category of aircraft in the position.

Flight Test Pilot Requirement: Completion of a flight test course from a United States military flight test school OR one year of experience

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

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

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.

This appointment is at the maximum of six years.

Current Federal civilian employees may apply for this position. If selected, a break in service of at least 4 calendar days may be required prior to appointment to this position.

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.

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:

  • Research
  • Crew Systems and Aviation Operations
  • Institutional Aircraft Operations
  • Mission Execution

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.

Langley Research 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
Langley Research Center
1 NASA Dr
Hampton, VA 23666
US

Visit our careers page

Learn more about what it's like to work at Langley Research Center, what the agency does, and about the types of careers this agency offers.

https://www.nasa.gov/careers

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