The Chief Engineer, Exploration Systems Development (ESD), serves as the Engineering Technical Authority (TA) as delegated from the Office of the Chief Engineer to the host Center Engineering Directorate. ESD is a division in the Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate that integrates a portfolio of incrementally-developed capabilities that are managed as loosely-coupled programs. ESD is charged to oversee the development of our nation's next generation of human exploration systems.
Summary
The Chief Engineer, Exploration Systems Development (ESD), serves as the Engineering Technical Authority (TA) as delegated from the Office of the Chief Engineer to the host Center Engineering Directorate. ESD is a division in the Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate that integrates a portfolio of incrementally-developed capabilities that are managed as loosely-coupled programs. ESD is charged to oversee the development of our nation's next generation of human exploration systems.
This is open to current NASA Johnson Space Center, Kennedy Space Center, and Marshall Space Flight Center civil service employees on career, career conditional, NASA Johnson Space Center, Kennedy Space Center, and Marshall Space Flight Center term appointments with conversion eligibility, or other non-temporary appointments. A person is considered to be in the civil service only if occupying a civil service position at the time of application.
The Chief Engineer for Exploration Systems Development:
- Reports to the host Center's Engineering Director and coordinates across the multi-Center engineering efforts being carried out at the three ESD program host Centers and other support Centers. The Chief Engineer (CE), ESD is responsible for technical excellence and implementation of Engineering TA for the ESD Enterprise and Cross Program Integration for the Space Launce System, MPCV-Orion, and Exploration Ground Systems (EGS) throughout all life-cycle phases of the Enterprise and Programs.
- Provides an independent view of ESD and Program activities, ensures direction to the programs reflects the views of the NASA technical community; reviews and approves waivers, deviations, and exceptions to NASA technical standards and specifications; facilitates dissenting opinions and the appeal process to assure proper implementation and disposition to appropriate management levels; and keeps Center Engineering Management and the Office of the Chief Engineer (OCE) informed on Enterprise and Cross Program activities and issues.
- Ensures that proper engineering approach, rigor, review, risk evaluation, resolution, and coordination occur in critical technical issues of ESD at the Enterprise and Cross-Program Integration level. This includes cross-program efforts and products for establishing requirements, design integration and interfaces, systems engineering and integration, integrated testing, integrated systems analyses, integrated risks, integrated hazards and failure mode and effects analysis, integrated verification/validation and certification, flight operations, and future upgrades.
- Possesses a detailed technical understanding of the design, development, certification, and operation of space flight vehicles and systems and possesses significant experience in technical management, design, and development of flight systems, program and project management activities for complex systems, and operation of intricate flight and ground systems. The incumbent must exercise exceptional creativity in developing strategies for resolving complex technical issues where existing methodology and precedents are inadequate.
- Exercises recognized technical leadership, outstanding creativity, and exceptional scientific and engineering judgment to prove or disprove the feasibility of ideas and devices. The CE ESD is recognized as an authoritative source of information on the ESD Enterprise and Cross-Program System Integration and associated Agency technical standards and specifications.
- Provides insight and context to Engineering management across the three host Centers on key decisions and actions from these activities.
- Through a deep understanding of advanced space flight systems, multi-discipline engineering, and modern analytical approaches, the incumbent identifies areas of highest risk and implements strategic, creative methods for eliminating and resolving issues in order to reduce program risk.
- The CE ESD's work involves establishing requirements, evaluating maturity of integrated design solutions, establishing integrated certification of flight hardware, assessing integrated systems for safety of flight, and certification of flight readiness.
- The incumbent is responsible for planning, directing, and coordinating engineering and integration activities in support of the host Engineering Directorate's and support Center's technical activities, and represents the three host Engineering Directorates at ESD and Cross-Program level critical milestone reviews, boards, and panels.
The individual selected will be required to file an 'Executive Branch Personnel Financial Disclosure Report (OGE-278) in accordance with the Ethics in Government Act of 1978.
Successful completion of a background investigation commensurate with the risk and sensitivity level of the position.
Successful completion of random drug screening may be required.
Qualifications
Candidates must be a recognized subject matter expert with at least 1 year specialized experience equivalent to the GS-15 level.
Specialized experience is described as the following:
1. Knowledge and experience in serving as Engineering Technical Authority in human space flight programs or enterprise (e.g., ESD, Commercial Crew Program, International Space Station, etc.).
2. Knowledge and experience in technical decisions and standards that have a direct impact on the safe and reliable design, development, test, integration, and operation of human space flight systems, in accordance with Agency policies.
3. Knowledge and experience in conducting reviews and assessments to establish the technical quality and engineering soundness of program planning, execution, control, and management in the design and development of hardware, systems, and program elements.
To meet the minimum qualification requirements for this position, you MUST address each Senior Level (SL) Evaluation Criteria separately not to exceed a total of ten (10) pages. If you fail to do so, your application will be rated ineligible. For the full definition of the SL Evaluation Criteria and Process please visit https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/final_sl_application_and_evaluation_process_2.pdf. Please include your full name on all documents submitted.
SL EVALUATION CRITERIA:
1. Education Level and Training
2. Technical Excellence and Contributions
a. Experience/Accomplishments
b. Technical and Strategic Problem Solving
c. Information Transfer
3. Awards and Recognition
4. Outside Professional Activities
5. Corporate Cooperation and Technical Leadership Skills
Education
This position has a positive education requirement. To be eligible, you must clearly state in your resume the following: degree, major and/or minor, date degree awarded, and college/university.
A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major study in engineering, physical science, mathematics, life sciences, computer science, or other field of science.
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR FOREIGN EDUCATION: 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, click here.
Additional information
The selectee receives a temporary promotion and serves for a period of 3 to 5 years. Upon conclusion of the temporary promotion, the selectee will then return to an appropriate position at a grade level no lower than the grade previously held. This temporary promotion may be converted to a permanent appointment without further competition. This temporary promotion may be terminated at any time.
This vacancy is open to NASA Johnson Space Center, Kennedy Space Center, and Marshall Space Flight Center civil service employees. The selectee will remain at their Center and Center duty station.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
How you will be evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
All qualifications requirements must be met by 11/23/2020. You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Applicants that meet minimum eligibility requirements outlined in the Qualifications and Education (if applicable) sections of the vacancy announcement will be referred to a panel of subject matter experts for further evaluation. The panel reviews the resume and responses provided to the SL Evaluation Criteria, which are standard for all NASA SL opportunities, as outlined above. The panel evaluates the candidates' experience against each criteria and determines which candidates will be interviewed. The panel will make a recommendation to the appropriate approving authority.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
You must provide a complete application package. If you do not provide all required information, you will not be considered for this position.
1. Resume showing relevant work experience (start/end dates stated in month/year, description of duties), applicable education at a minimum, and your contact information. For current or previous Federal employees, it should also include the Pay Plan, Series and Grade for each work experience entry. Your resumes must not exceed ten (10) pages or 32,000 characters.
2. SL Evaluation Criteria narrative responses.
You may be asked to provide additional documentation to support your eligibility and the information provided in your application package. For example, we may request transcripts, SF-50s, etc. Therefore, we encourage you to have these documents prepared and ready when requested by the agency. If you fail to provide the required documents within the stated time period, we may withdraw a job offer and/or remove you from further consideration.
To apply for this position, you must complete the online application and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section.
A complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration.
To begin, click Apply to access the online application. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply. If you do not have a USAJOBS account, you will need to create one before beginning the application.
Follow the prompts to select your resume and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package. You will have the opportunity to upload additional documents to include in your application before it is submitted. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
After acknowledging you have reviewed your application package, complete the Include Personal Information section as you deem appropriate and click to continue with the application process.
You will be taken to the online application which you must complete in order to apply for the position. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation is included with your application package, and submit the application.
To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account (https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login), all of your applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/.
If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application.
NASA Headquarters
300 E St SW
Washington, DC 20546
US
Next steps
Although you may or may not be contacted during the selection process, we will always advise you about the outcome of the announcement. If you have questions, please feel free to contact NASA Executive Staffing at Agency-Executive-Staffing@mail.nasa.gov.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
You must provide a complete application package. If you do not provide all required information, you will not be considered for this position.
1. Resume showing relevant work experience (start/end dates stated in month/year, description of duties), applicable education at a minimum, and your contact information. For current or previous Federal employees, it should also include the Pay Plan, Series and Grade for each work experience entry. Your resumes must not exceed ten (10) pages or 32,000 characters.
2. SL Evaluation Criteria narrative responses.
You may be asked to provide additional documentation to support your eligibility and the information provided in your application package. For example, we may request transcripts, SF-50s, etc. Therefore, we encourage you to have these documents prepared and ready when requested by the agency. If you fail to provide the required documents within the stated time period, we may withdraw a job offer and/or remove you from further consideration.
To apply for this position, you must complete the online application and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section.
A complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration.
To begin, click Apply to access the online application. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply. If you do not have a USAJOBS account, you will need to create one before beginning the application.
Follow the prompts to select your resume and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package. You will have the opportunity to upload additional documents to include in your application before it is submitted. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
After acknowledging you have reviewed your application package, complete the Include Personal Information section as you deem appropriate and click to continue with the application process.
You will be taken to the online application which you must complete in order to apply for the position. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation is included with your application package, and submit the application.
To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account (https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login), all of your applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/.
If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application.
NASA Headquarters
300 E St SW
Washington, DC 20546
US
Next steps
Although you may or may not be contacted during the selection process, we will always advise you about the outcome of the announcement. If you have questions, please feel free to contact NASA Executive Staffing at Agency-Executive-Staffing@mail.nasa.gov.
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
