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Computer Engineer

Department of Transportation
Federal Aviation Administration
AVS, Office of Aerospace Medicine, CAMI, Flight Deck Human Factors Research Lab, AAM-510
This job announcement has closed

Summary

Coordinates and manages the integration, configuration control, and deployment of aviation simulations (flight deck and air traffic) across multiple user environments including off-line engineering simulations, real-time piloted engineering simulations, and real-time simulations for hardware-in-the-loop and other human performance based research studies.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
10/01/2023 to 10/10/2023
Salary
$69,664 to - $107,984 per year

Salary includes locality pay of 16.50%

Pay scale & grade
FV H
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Oklahoma City, OK
Telework eligible
Yes—This position is not remote. Telework is authorized for situational and emergencies.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - The job may require travel from time-to-time, but not on a regular basis. The travel may be for training or other work-related duties.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Excepted
Promotion potential
NA
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
No
Announcement number
AAC-AAM-23-AAM510-86462
Control number
751590000

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

Also open to former permanent excepted service federal employees eligible under an interchange agreement. Current or former permanent federal employees must have met a one year probationary period or trial period in the competitive or excepted service. Applications will also be accepted from preference eligibles and veterans who are honorably discharged from the Armed Forces after completing at least 3 years of continuous active duty service.

Duties

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Performs a mixture of routine, multiple and varying assignments under the limited direction of a manager, project/program manager, team leader, or more experienced technical specialist. Participates effectively in research project and program planning with principal investigators, psychology technicians, computer specialists, and laboratory manager. Consults with human factors research team members and, in consideration of existing problems, constraints, and potentially relevant developments in hardware/software technology, recommends to laboratory manager priority areas of emphasis to improve current simulation software and hardware systems. Attends closely to emerging requirements for particular simulation capabilities needed to accomplish planned research projects. Notes special requirements for simulator support, modifications, upgrades, and associated time schedule. Acts as an individual contributor and/or member of a team. May perform some leadership functions for small projects/programs/teams.

Applies experience and detailed technical knowledge of the objectives, overall design and operating principles of computers and servo-mechanical and projection systems employed in general aviation simulators (i.e., fixed wing, rotorcraft, and unmanned aircraft system (UAS)), and understands their interrelationships to plan and accomplish assignments. Typical assignments may include limited system development; collecting, recording and analyzing data/information; identifying problems; performing investigation and inspection activities.

Continually monitors and reviews the operational readiness of simulators in the division and effectively considers the long-term availability of flight simulators. Tracks, plans and coordinates availability and efficient implementation of upgrades to each simulator.

Prepares time, cost, and capability plans for near-term and longer-term modifications and upgrades to the simulator for consideration by the principal investigators, research technicians, and laboratory and division managers. Reviews documentation and proposed simulation study requirements to determine impact on simulator hardware/software capability. Gathers information and data from hardware/software designers and manufactures to aid in system optimization process. Evaluates technological developments as necessary to improve simulator capabilities.

Determines requirements and obtains maintenance and operational support for simulator hardware and software systems through preparation and execution of specialized maintenance and support agreements with qualified providers. Organizes and implements plans to incorporate approved simulator upgrades and modifications in a timely manner so as to meet research needs. Develops and submits technically correct and appropriate statements-of-work for contractor support to obtain needed maintenance actions in a timely manner and minimize simulator downtime. When needed, develops contract vehicles for simulator support, serves on proposal evaluation and contract award committees, and advises management on the level of progress. Serves as COTR for contracts to provide hardware/software maintenance or to develop new or modified hardware/software. Monitors contractor performance in an appropriate manner and maintains knowledge of level of progress in meeting deadlines and deliverables. When required, takes steps with Contracting Officer to improve contractor focus, timeliness and quality of deliverables.

Expands knowledge and understanding of emerging technologies in the area of real-time simulation, noting implications of developments for improving simulator capabilities and availability. Advises principal investigators, research technicians, laboratory and division managers on emerging technology that is necessary to meet proposed simulation study requirements.

Performs other duties as assigned.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • US Citizenship is required.
  • Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
  • Must submit an SF50 (See Required Documents)
  • This position has a positive education requirement. Transcript(s) required.
  • A one-year probationary period may be required.
  • Successful completion of a security investigation may be required.
  • Please review required Documents and Additional information.

Qualifications

BASIC REQUIREMENTS:

A. Degree: Engineering. To be acceptable, the program must: (1) lead to a bachelor’s degree in a school of engineering with at least one program accredited by ABET; or (2) include differential and integral calculus and courses (more advanced than first-year physics and chemistry) in five of the following seven areas of engineering science or physics: (a) statics, dynamics; (b) strength of materials (stress-strain relationships); (c) fluid mechanics, hydraulics; (d) thermodynamics; (e) electrical fields and circuits; (f) nature and properties of materials (relating particle and aggregate structure to properties); and (g) any other comparable area of fundamental engineering science or physics, such as optics, heat transfer, soil mechanics, or electronics.

OR

B. Combination of education and experience -- college-level education, training, and/or technical experience that furnished (1) a thorough knowledge of the physical and mathematical sciences underlying engineering, and (2) a good understanding, both theoretical and practical, of the engineering sciences and techniques and their applications to one of the branches of engineering. The adequacy of such background must be demonstrated by one of the following:

1. Professional registration or licensure -- Current registration as an Engineer Intern (EI), Engineer in Training (EIT)1, or licensure as a Professional Engineer (PE) by any State, the District of Columbia, Guam, or Puerto Rico. Absent other means of qualifying under this standard, those applicants who achieved such registration by means other than written test (e.g., State grandfather or eminence provisions) are eligible only for positions that are within or closely related to the specialty field of their registration. For example, an applicant who attains registration through a State Board's eminence provision as a manufacturing engineer typically would be rated eligible only for manufacturing engineering positions.

2. Written Test -- Evidence of having successfully passed the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE)2 examination or any other written test required for professional registration by an engineering licensure board in the various States, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico.

3. Specified academic courses -- Successful completion of at least 60 semester hours of courses in the physical, mathematical, and engineering sciences and that included the courses specified in the basic requirements under paragraph A. The courses must be fully acceptable toward meeting the requirements of an engineering program as described in paragraph A.

4. Related curriculum -- Successful completion of a curriculum leading to a bachelor's degree in an appropriate scientific field, e.g., engineering technology, physics, chemistry, architecture, computer science, mathematics, hydrology, or geology, may be accepted in lieu of a bachelor’s degree in engineering, provided the applicant has had at least 1 year of professional engineering experience acquired under professional engineering supervision and guidance. Ordinarily there should be either an established plan of intensive training to develop professional engineering competence, or several years of prior professional engineering-type experience, e.g., in interdisciplinary positions. (The above examples of related curricula are not all-inclusive).

IN ADDITION TO THE ABOVE BASIC REQUIREMENTS:

To qualify at theFV-H (FG/GS 11/12) level, you must demonstrate possession of at least 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to the FV-G (FG/GS 5/7/9) level. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position.

Specialized Experience includes:

  • Experience in the planning, coordination, and management of simulation deployment across multiple simulation environments including off-line engineering simulations, real-time piloted engineering simulations, and real-time simulations for hardware-in-the-loop laboratories.
  • Experienced using MATLAB/Simulink; C and C++ coding; and defining/using coding standards and style guides.
  • Experience with updating personnel on the developments in hardware/software technology.

Applicants should include examples of Specialized Experience in their work history. Qualifications must be met by the closing date of the vacancy announcement.

OR

Education: 3 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree.

AND


In addition to the minimum qualifications, the following has been determined to be a selective factor for this position. This means possession of this criterion is part of the minimum qualifications and is essential to perform the duties and responsibilities of this position. Applicants who do not possess this criterion are ineligible for further consideration.
  • Selective Placement Factor (SPF): Skill and experience building, modifying, or maintaining simulators including fixed wing, rotorcraft, and unmanned aircraft system (UAS).


IMPORTANT: Ensure that your work experience supports your Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA), and Other Factors answers. Your answers and associated work experience will be evaluated further to validate whether the answers that you selected are appropriate.

Education

This position has a positive education requirement: Applicants must submit a copy of their college or university transcripts(s) and certificates by the closing date of announcement to verify qualifications. If selected, an official transcript will be required prior to appointment. You may upload these documents with your application in USAJOBS or fax it to fax number provided in the announcement (please include announcement number on each page).

Failure to do so will result in loss of consideration.

Schools must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Accreditation may be verified at the following website: www.ed.gov/accreditation.

Foreign education must be evaluated by a private professional organization specializing in interpretation of foreign education credentials or an accredited U.S. educational institution in terms of equivalence to a degree acquired at an American college or university. A copy of the evaluation results must be included, otherwise your foreign education will not be considered.

KSA INFORMATION:

As a part of the Federal-Wide Hiring Reform Initiative (streamlining the hiring process), the FAA is committed to eliminating the use of the Knowledge, Skills and Ability (KSA) narratives from the initial application in the hiring process for all announcements. Therefore, as an applicant for this announcement, you are NOT required to provide a narrative response in the text box listed below each KSA.

In lieu of providing a KSA narrative response in the text box listed below each Knowledge Skills and Abilities (KSAs), in your work history, please include information that provides specific examples of how you meet the response level or answer you chose for each KSA. Your work history examples should be specific and clearly reflect the highest level of ability. Your KSA answers will be evaluated further to validate whether the level that you selected is appropriate based on the work history and experience you provided. Your answers may be adjusted by a Human Resource Specialist as appropriate.

Eligible applicants meeting the minimum qualification requirements and selective factor(s), if applicable, may be further evaluated on the KSAs and Other Factors listed in the announcement. Based on this evaluation, applicants will be placed in one of the following categories: score order, category grouping, or alphabetical and referred to the selecting official for consideration.

Preview job questionnaire

Make sure your resume includes detailed information to support your qualifications and answers to the job questionnaire.

Additional information

We may use this vacancy to fill other similar vacant positions.
Position may be subject to a background investigation.
A one-year probationary period may be required.

The person selected for this position may be required to file a financial disclosure statement within 30 days of entry on duty. FAA policy limits certain outside employment and financial investments in aviation-related companies. www.faa.gov/jobs/working_here/financial_disclosure_requirements

The U.S. Department of Transportation strives to ensure that equity, transparency, accountability, collaboration, and communication permeate all that we do for the betterment of the Department, the traveling public, and our nation. As such, DOT values a highly diverse workforce of persons who promote a culture of belonging by respecting the personal dignity and worth of each individual and fostering a positive environment where all feel safe and welcome. If these commitments coincide with your personal ideals and professional aspirations, please consider joining the DOT family.

Leave Enhancement: FAA organizations may offer enhanced annual leave accrual to newly appointed or reappointed employees. In order to receive consideration for such a benefit, applicants' prior non-Federal service or active duty uniformed service must directly relate to the duties of the position to which appointed. Granting enhanced annual leave is at the sole discretion of the hiring organization, and granting such benefit is not an entitlement nor guaranteed to any newly hired employee.

NOTES:

1) Applicants must apply on-line to receive consideration for this vacancy announcement. Faxed, mailed or emailed applications cannot be accepted. Errors or omissions may impact your rating or may result in you not being considered for the job.

2) Some, none, or all candidates may be interviewed.

3) Additional information regarding living in Oklahoma can be found at www.abetterlifeokc.com.

4) This position is covered by the FAA Core Compensation plan. Additional information about core compensation is available on the following website: https://www.faa.gov/jobs/working_here/benefits

5) To check receipt of documents, please email kinsley.l.kerlick@faa.gov.



This is a bargaining unit position. This position is represented by AFGE 2282: Civil Aeromedical Inst AAM-3.

Links to Important Information: Locality Pay , COLA

How you will be evaluated

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



IMPORTANT: Applicants may be rated on the extent and quality of experience, education, and training relevant to the duties of the position(s). All answers provided in the on-line process must be substantiated. Ensure that your application package/resume supports your responses.

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