Clarification from the agency

** This vacancy has been amended to extend the closing date from 04/06/2023 to 04/11/2023.**

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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.
• Leads a multidisciplinary research team to design, implement, and integrate advanced technologies and procedures for the flight deck, operator's station, dispatcher, or controller to improve efficiency and safety of the national airspace system.
• Conceives and designs Human-in-the-Loop simulation experiments, or ensures human factors are properly considered, in response to agency needs for data in specific scientific, technical, or health-related areas.
• Conceives and formulates research ideas that are the basis for productive studies by other research scientists/engineers.
• Works as a member of a team to proactively resolve difficult problems with conflicting and inadequate guidelines and precedents.
• Develops solutions to problems encountered by the research team in data collection, monitoring, compilation, and analysis.
• Makes major contributions to the scientific community such as inventions or new designs and techniques that are of material significance in the solution of important applied problems.
• Remains cognizant of Air Traffic Management (ATM) and ATM-related research problems and areas of research and has a working knowledge of current state of the art approaches in modeling and simulation.

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.
• If selected, you will be required to complete a financial disclosure statement.
• 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.

NASA utilizes OPM-approved qualification and rating requirements specific for Aerospace Technology (AST) positions which recognizes NASA's unique aerospace work. The specific qualifications and minimum education requirements are further described below and within the education section of the job announcement.

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

• Participating in simulation experimentation;
• Applying human factors principles in research projects; and
• Analyzing data collected from research projects.

OR
b) I have completed all requirements for a master's or equivalent graduate degree in an appropriate field.
OR
c) I expect to complete all requirements for a master's or equivalent graduate degree in an appropriate field by August 31, 2023.
OR
d) I have an equivalent combination of experience and graduate study as described in A, B, and C above.
OR
e) I expect to have an equivalent combination of experience and graduate education when I have completed additional graduate study as described in A, B, and C above by August 31, 2023.

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

• Conducting goal-directed research using human-in-the-loop simulation experimentation;
• Applying human factors principles in research and experimentation;
• Writing, publishing, or presenting results from research.

OR
b) Completed all requirements for a doctoral degree (i.e., Ph.D. or equivalent) in an appropriate field.
OR
c) I expect to have completed all requirements for a doctoral degree (i.e., Ph.D. or equivalent) in an appropriate field by August 31, 2023.


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

• Managing a multi-disciplinary team to plan and execute goal-directed human-factors research using human-in-the-loop simulation experimentation;
• Implementing the principles of human factors in the aviation operations and air traffic management context;
• Writing, publishing, and presenting results from human-subjects research.

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:
a. Major study in biology (botany, zoology, biophysics, radiation biology, biochemistry, microbiology, physiology, toxicology), or in behavioral science (experimental, physiological or clinical psychology) or other appropriate field of life science, including or supplemented by at least 20 semester hours of physical science or engineering (undergraduate or graduate), or experience sufficient to provide a basis for understanding, use and interpretation of the highly specialized ground-based or in-flight measurement, environmental control, vehicle control and other equipment required for manned or organism bearing aerospace flights and voyages; or
b. Major study in an appropriate engineering or physical science, including or supplemented by at least 20 semester hours of physiology, experimental or physiological psychology, or other appropriate life science, or experience in biotechnology, human factors engineering or other appropriate life science field.

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:

• Human Factors Engineering
• Research
• Problem Solving
• Written Communication

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.