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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.
• Perform mechanical engineering design and thermal-fluid analysis work in the area of rocket propulsion testing.
• Perform analysis on cryogenic liquid, high pressure liquid and gas, pneumatic or hydraulic systems to determine whether or not customer requirements are being attained.
• Assist in development of performance requirements and design criteria for evaluating propulsion test facilities including cryogenic and high-pressure propellant systems.
• Conducts preliminary investigations to obtain baseline data for propulsion test system studies. Documents design process (i.e. design reviews) per procedures.
• Develops, exercises, and reviews fluid mechanical mathematical models of test facility pressurant, purge, and propellant systems in support of rocket propulsion test activities.
• Develops analytical and computational models of conventional fluid systems as well as high-pressure, cryogenic propellant systems. Evaluates facility test data and assesses the performance of the test facility.
• Identifies and investigates standard problems in mechanical systems.
• Works to provide engineering solutions and technical consultation to civil servants and support contractors in the resolution and correction of field problems and monitors corrective actions through completion.

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.

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-09, you must have:
a) One year of directly related specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 level

• Gathering data to resolve issues for mechanical systems testing; and
• Assisting a team of engineers involved in the design, development, or testing of various mechanical systems, subsystems, or components.

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

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

• Supporting testing of mechanical systems components through analysis, design, fabrication, or testing;
• Assisting with calculations, analyses, or computations on specialized information; and
• Assisting with the design and development of computational models for mechanical systems, subsystems, or components.

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

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 graduate education only:
Aeronautical Engineering, Aeronautics, Aerospace Engineering, Astronautical Engineering, Astronautics, Biomedical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Materials Engineering, Materials Science, Applied Mechanics, Engineering Mechanics, Mechanical Engineering, Metallurgical Engineering, Metallurgy, Nuclear 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: Ceramic Engineering, Ceramics, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering, Mathematics (Pure or Applied) (or other related field), if it includes or is supplemented by nine semester hours (or the equivalent) in machine design, mechanics, hydraulics, dynamics, thermodynamics, mechanical design or mechanical measurement.

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:

• Planning and Evaluating
• Problem Solving
• Written Communication
• General Engineering
• Technical Competence
• Simulation Systems
• Customer Service

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 category rating process, applicants will be assessed on the position competencies and placed in one of three categories identified and defined below:

• Best Qualified Category - Applicants who demonstrate a superior level of all evaluation criteria.
• Highly Qualified Category - Applicants who demonstrate a satisfactory level of the evaluation criteria.
• Qualified Category - Applicants who demonstrate the basic qualifications, with general knowledge, skills, and abilities.

Names of all qualified candidates in the Best Qualified category will be sent to the hiring official for employment consideration (unless a sufficient number of qualified veterans are found - in which case only those names will be initially certified ). Candidates within the Best Qualified category who are eligible for veteran preference will receive selection priority over non-veteran preference eligibles.