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Equipment Specialist

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

Summary

You will serve as an Equipment Specialist in the Systems Integration and Test Branch (SITB) of the Engineering Directorate (ED), responsible for supporting integration and environmental testing of developmental, flight, and ground support systems for NASA's missions. The incumbent will be responsible for the operation and maintenance of vibration test equipment, load test equipment, mass property measurement devices, modal testing and analysis systems, and vibration related instruments.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open date: 11/03/2021
Closed date: 11/09/2021
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Work site options
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Salary
$77,862 - $120,365 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 12 - 13
Promotion potential
13
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
Yes
Security clearance
Not Required
Position sensitivity and risk
Moderate Risk (MR)
Jobs require a background check and some require a security clearance. The type depends on the job.
Background check type
Announcement number
LaRC-22-IMP-11277062-CWO
Control number
619326200

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

Current Langley Research Center federal employee serving on a career, career-conditional, VRA, Schedule A for individuals with disabilities, or NASA term appointment that provides eligibility to convert to a permanent appointment or a current NASA employee on a long-term rotational assignment to the NASA Engineering and Safety Center or the NASA Safety Center.

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Duties

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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.
  • The incumbent will be an equipment subject matter expert responsible for operating and maintaining vibration systems, mass properties systems, modal test equipment, sensor calibration systems, and other test equipment in the Vibration Laboratory.
  • Generate equipment installation, operational, maintenance, and calibration procedures.
  • Generate the specifications for the procurement of test systems, test equipment, and sensors.
  • Participate in the development of test plans, test and process procedures, and the documentation of test results.
  • Lead and participate in task teams to work with other technicians, engineers, and managers to resolve test anomalies and recommend changes in test design, equipment design, techniques, or methods.
  • Proactively recommend and implement process or equipment modifications to achieve required simulated environments for testing, improve test operations, and/or advance the state-of-the art in static and dynamic structural testing.
  • Perform the duties of a Safety Operator for Laboratory troubleshooting and maintenance operations.
  • Perform precision prototype machining, to support the assembly, and integration of aerospace flight systems.
  • Metrology point of contact for the Laboratory. Ensure compliance with LAPD-8730.1, Langley Metrology Program. Responsible for logistics and the resolution of MTE discrepancies pertaining to the calibration of test equipment in the Laboratory.
  • Assist the Laboratory's leadership in providing technical leadership to Laboratory personnel task planning, mentoring junior technicians and specialist in laboratory systems and operations, and recommending subordinate training plans.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Position subject to pre-employment background investigation
  • You must meet qualification 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.

Qualifications

You must 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-12, you must have one year of directly related specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level in the operation and maintenance of vibration test systems, mass properties measurement systems, calibration systems, and modal test equipment; the mentoring of junior technicians in laboratory systems and operations; and the development of new or enhanced test mechanisms and processes.

To qualify for GS-13,you must have one year of directly related specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 level serving as subject matter expert in the operation and maintenance of vibration test systems, mass properties measurement systems, calibration systems, and modal test equipment; assisting in the leadership and mentoring of junior technicians and engineers in laboratory systems and operations; and the development of new or enhanced test mechanisms and processes.

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

As required by Executive Order 14043, Federal employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 regardless of the employee's duty location or work arrangement (e.g., telework, remote work, etc.), subject to such exceptions as required by law. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination by November 22, 2021 or before appointment or onboarding with the agency, if after November 22. We will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required exception from this requirement.
Due to COVID-19, NASA is currently in an expanded telework posture. If selected, you may be expected to temporarily telework, even if your home is located outside the local commuting area. Once employees are permitted to return to the office, you will be expected to report to the duty station listed on this announcement within 30 days. At that time, you may be eligible to request to continue to telework one or more days a pay period depending upon the terms of the agency's telework policy.

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 are a current federal employee, you must meet applicable time-in-grade requirements to be considered eligible for this position. To be eligible, you must have completed a minimum of 52 weeks in a position no more than 1 grade lower than the advertised position. (Please submit your SF-50 that shows Time-in-Grade eligibility and reflects your title, series, and grade. If your eligibility for both merit promotion and/or time-in-grade cannot be determined, your application will be rated ineligible. Please see Required Documents for additional information).
Note: Time-in-grade requirements also apply to applicants who have held a non-temporary, competitive service GS position in the past year.

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.
- Be well qualified for this position to receive consideration. Candidates rated in the 'Best Qualified' category are considered well-qualified. Please see 'How You Will Be Evaluated' for more information.
- 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.

Qualified NASA term employees who have term conversion eligibility (http://nasapeople.nasa.gov/hclwp/term-appointments.htm) under the NASA Flexibility Act of 2004 will be referred and considered equally with other NASA permanent employees under internal competitive placement procedures.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

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:
Problem Solving
Teamwork
Written Communication
Technical Competence
Facilities Operations and Maintenance
Structural Integration Engineering
Industrial Equipment Operation
Technology Application

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.

Under NASA's quality grouping process, applicants will be assessed on the position competencies and placed in one of three groups identified and defined below:

  • Best Qualified Group - Applicants who demonstrate a superior level of all evaluation criteria.
  • Highly Qualified Group - Applicants who demonstrate a satisfactory level of the evaluation criteria.
  • Qualified Group - Applicants who demonstrate the basic qualifications, with general knowledge, skills, and abilities.
Candidates eligible for ICTAP/CTAP, reemployment priority or priority consideration will be referred before other candidates, as necessary. If no such candidates apply or are eligible to be referred, the following candidates will be sent to the hiring official for employment consideration:
  • Best Qualified merit promotion candidates. Highly Qualified merit promotion candidates may also be referred, if additional candidates are needed.
  • Qualified candidates eligible for consideration under Schedule A or VRA in accordance with veterans' preference rules, as applicable.
  • Qualified candidates that are eligible for special hiring authorities or non-competitive hiring authorities.

Langley Research Center

Explore the Extraordinary
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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@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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