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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.
• Plan and conduct research to understand the human response to sounds generated by aircraft, including Uncrewed Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and vehicles serving the Urban Air Mobility transportation market.
• Apply acoustical principles of sound generation and propagation to develop and improve capabilities to auralize operational noise of aerospace vehicles.
• Design/execute human response experiments using agency facilities, including the Exterior Effects Room and the Remote Psychoacoustic Test Capability, to collect data and facilitate development of human response models.
• Apply statistical concepts to design, execute, and analyze human response experiments and develop human response models.
• Participate in the development of research plans and objectives, including the generation of project milestones.
• Serve as technical expert in interactions with Agency researchers, other government agencies, academia, and commercial industry.
• Communicate results of research efforts to the broader technical community in appropriate conferences, working groups, and archival publications.

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
• Start dates will be set after all requirements have been met and verified.

Qualifications

In addition to the Basic Education Requirement (in the Education section below), to qualify for this position you must meet the requirements below. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the particular ability, skill, and knowledge to successfully perform the duties of this position and is typically in or related to this line of work.

Vacant research positions may be filled at one of several grade levels depending upon the scientific impact of the person selected. A review may be required to determine the appropriate grade level of the position and supplemental materials may be required from the selectee. Please keep this in mind when indicating the lowest grade, you will accept. If selected at the lower grade level, the scientific impact of the incumbent will be examined in addition to other factors, to determine if the person is eligible for promotion.

To qualify for GS-11, you must have:
a) One year of directly related specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 level in the federal sector:

• Applying signal processing methods for time series analysis;
• Supporting the study of auditory perception or psychoacoustics; and
• Using statistical methods such as regression modeling, optimization techniques, Bayesian analysis, or machine learning.

OR
b) Completed all requirements for a master's or equivalent graduate degree in an appropriate field.
OR
c) Expect to complete all requirements for a master's or equivalent graduate degree in an appropriate field by December 31, 2022.
OR
d) Completed 3 full academic years of master's level education in an appropriate field.
OR
e) Expect to complete 3 full academic years of master's or equivalent graduate level education in an appropriate field by December 31, 2022.
OR
f) Have an equivalent combination of experience and master's or equivalent graduate level study as discussed in a), b), c), d), and e) above.
OR
g) Expect to have an equivalent combination of experience and master's or equivalent graduate level study as discussed in a), b), c), d), and e) above by December 31, 2022.

To qualify for GS-12, you must have:
a) One year of directly related specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level in the federal sector:.

• Processing sounds for human response applications;
• Participating in a study of auditory perception or psychoacoustics; and
• Applying statistical methods such as regression modeling, optimization techniques, Bayesian analysis, or machine learning to acoustic data.

OR
b) Completed all requirements for a doctoral degree (i.e., Ph.D. or equivalent) in an appropriate field.
OR
c) Expect to complete all requirements for a doctoral degree (i.e., Ph.D. or equivalent) in an appropriate field by December 31, 2022.
OR
d) Have an equivalent combination of experience and doctoral level study as discussed in a), b) and c) above.
OR
e) Expect to have an equivalent combination of experience and doctoral level study as discussed in a), b) and c) above by December 31, 2022.

Required college majors for applicants qualifying on the basis of graduate education at the GS-11 or GS-12 only: Aeronautics, Aerospace Engineering, Astronautical Engineering, Astronautics, Astrophysics, Electrical Engineering (except power), Electronics Engineering, Applied Mechanics, Engineering Mechanics, Mechanical Engineering, Nuclear Engineering, Nuclear Engineering Physics, Physics, Applied Physics, Engineering Physics.

To qualify for GS-13, you must have one year of directly related specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 level in the federal sector:

• Conducting research in sound processing for human response applications;
• Conducting studies in auditory perception or psychoacoustics; and
• Conducting research using statistical methods for assessing acoustic data.

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.

Other appropriate physical or computer science, mathematics or engineering fields are qualifying if the major includes or is supplemented by at least 12 semester hours (or the equivalent) of appropriate physical science or engineering courses including nine semester hours (or the equivalent) of physics, thermodynamics, fluid dynamics or gas dynamics.

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:

• Mathematical Reasoning
• Research
• Acoustics
• Mathematical Modeling and Analysis

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.