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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.
• Assists senior engineers with conducting research into the structure, property relationship of aerospace polymers.
• Assists with research and testing of the application of polymeric materials to aerospace applications in areas such as polymer synthesis, processing characterization and polymer-based nanotechnology.
• Assists with analysis of the application of polymeric materials, including processing science, fabrication technology, performance evaluation, and/or material selection for use in aerospace applications or other extreme environments.
• Develops computational and theoretical materials models to explain or characterize unique features of advanced polymers and evaluate materials and processes for aerospace applications.
• Reviews, plans, and performs experimental studies and analyses in support agency programs and mission capabilities, including application of materials processing, fabrication technology, performance evaluation, and material selection.

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

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-07, you must have:
a) One year of directly related specialized experience equivalent to the GS-05 level in the federal sector studying or applying theories, principles, practical concepts, and processes related to engineering; or

• preparing graphs, curves, and tables related to materials and their associated processes; or
• performing basic materials testing operations and/or basic analytical and thermal materials testing capabilities (eg., Infrared Spectroscopy, Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) and Morphology);

OR
b) Completed 1 full academic year of graduate study in an appropriate field by December 31, 2022;
OR
c) Any combination of experience and graduate study in an appropriate field by December 31, 2022;
d) You may also qualify at the GS-07 level by meeting one of these Special Provisions by December 31, 2022:

1. Are in the upper third of your class, based on completed college work at the time of filing an application.
2. Have an average of 2.9 or better on a 4.0 scale for either all completed college work at the time of application or all college courses completed during the last 2 years of the undergraduate curriculum.
3. Achieved a grade average of B+ (3.5 on a 4.0 scale) or better in the major field of study where such field is fully qualifying. This is either the average of all completed college work in the major field of study at the time of application or the average of all college courses completed in the major field of study during the last 2 years of the undergraduate curriculum.
4. Elected to membership in one of the national honorary scholastic societies meeting the minimum requirements of the Association of College Honor Societies (other than freshman honor societies). These honor societies are listed at ACHS.
5. Completed 12 months of student trainee experience that includes at least one work period equivalent to the GS-5, or at least 15 months of appropriate student trainee experience which includes one work period equivalent to the GS-04 level. One work period is 2 months or 320 hours.
6. For engineering positions, successfully completed a 5-year program of study, or at least 160 semester hours, leading to a bachelor's degree.
7. For engineering positions, have a professional engineering degree, and up to 12 months of experience gained as a technician or technologist equivalent to the GS-5 or higher level.
8. Successfully completed all requirements for two bachelor's degrees, one in an appropriate field of science or engineering.
9. Have six months of directly related/specialized experience or training, including 3 months gained after the junior year of college. This experience may have been obtained on a part-time or intermittent basis and may have been paid or unpaid.
10. Received honors or elective positions indicating superior leadership outside of your academic setting. Additionally, your academic standing must have been in the upper half of the graduating class.
11. Have pattern of completing courses that include unusual preparatory value or direct relation to the particular aerospace specialty for which you are being considered.
12. Have creative research aptitude or special talent for NASA scientific or engineering work. This must be shown by evidence obtained and documented by NASA in certifications from college professors or officials, or standardized questionnaires, or similar techniques.

To qualify for GS-09, you must have:
a) One year of directly related specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 level in the federal sector

• conducting materials and/or processes studies to assist with resolving engineering, materials or processes related problems; or
• assisting in the calculations or computer simulations to predict material properties over time and under various environmental conditions and stressors; or
• assisting with basic analytical and thermal materials testing capabilities, that may include new technique development (e.g., Infrared Spectroscopy, Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) and Morphology);

OR
b) Completed all requirements for a master's or equivalent graduate degree in an appropriate field by December 31, 2022;
OR
c) Completed 2 full academic years of graduate education in an appropriate field by December 31, 2022;
OR
d) Have an equivalent combination of experience and graduate study as discussed in a), b) and c) above by December 31, 2022.

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

• researching and resolving engineering, materials or processes related problems; or
• performing calculations and computer simulations to predict material properties over time and under various environmental conditions and stressors; or
• utilizing the applications of different test techniques suitable to aerospace materials that may include ionic liquids; or
• performing analytical and thermal materials testing, that may include the development of new techniques (e.g., Infrared Spectroscopy, Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) and Morphology);

OR
b) Completed all requirements for a doctoral degree (i.e., Ph.D. or equivalent) in an appropriate field by December 31, 2022;
OR
c) Completed 3 full academic years of graduate education in an appropriate field by December 31, 2022;
OR
d) Have an equivalent combination of experience and graduate study as discussed in a), b) and c) above by December 31, 2022.


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 undergraduate or graduate education only:

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:

• Chemistry/Chemical Engineering
• Non-metallics
• Research
• 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.