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Public Notice - Quality Assurance Specialist (Aerospace) (Direct Hire)

National Aeronautics and Space Administration
John F. Kennedy Space Center

Summary

Positions advertised are in various organizations at Kennedy Space Center. NASA may fill positions in any of the grade levels listed in this announcement (GS-9/11/12/13/14/15).

Overview

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Posted today · Apply by 07/27/26
Due by 11:59 p.m. ET on July 27, 2026
Location
Many vacancies in the following location:
Work site options
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Remote job
No
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Salary
$62,181 - $193,760 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 9 - 14
Promotion potential
None - Contingent - Promotion potential will be based on the position to which appointed.
Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.
Work schedule
Full-time
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Appointment type
Permanent
Occupations and job series
Supervisory status
Yes
Federal service type
This job is in the Competitive Service
Represented by a union
No
Drug test
Yes
Security clearance
Sensitive Compartmented Information
Position sensitivity and risk
High Risk (HR)
Jobs require a background check and some require a security clearance. The type depends on the job.
Background check type
Financial disclosure required
Yes
Some jobs require financial disclosure to identify conflicts of interests.
Announcement number
KSC-26-DE-13015974-AS
Control number
877642500

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Duties

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  • Duties described below are at the highest grade advertised. Duties assigned at lower grade levels will be of more limited scope, performed with less independence and limited complexity; duties will be commensurate with the grade of selected employee.
  • Define technical work requirements/milestones, evaluate employee accomplishments by accepting or rejecting work products, and present/defend employee work to senior management.
  • Work with Center and Directorate managers, negotiate/obtain resources, and identify strategic objectives for the organization.
  • Support the Center Management Board and participate in special Center-focused working groups as assigned.
  • Establish quality requirements and oversees/approves procedures for all aircraft launch operations and maintenance activities for a diverse fleet of aircraft types, involving both government and contractor personnel.
  • Develop programs and processes to ensure Center activities are planned, developed, and implemented sufficient to identify, prevent, and correct unsatisfactory conditions or elements that influence the acceptability of the end product.
  • Monitor production quality control and inspection program implementation. Review production records and performs on-site audits and inspections. Investigate and analyzes adverse quality trends or conditions and initiates corrective action.
  • Assist Directors in identifying and eliminating unsafe conditions. Report safety hazards, potentially hazardous situations, and close calls to supervisors. Serve as technical authority on avionics, mechanical or other aerospace related matters.
  • Verify products comply with contractual requirements before they are accepted; Recommend or specify appropriate levels of quality control for inclusion in contracts.
  • For supervisory positions, you will perform a full range of supervisory duties which includes assigning and evaluating work; recommending personnel actions; taking disciplinary actions; and identifying training needs and developing employees.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • This position is open to U.S. citizens, nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.
  • This position may require a one-year probationary period. If selected, the requirement to serve such period will be determined by Title 5 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 11. **See Additional Information section**
  • You must meet qualifications requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
  • Position subject to pre-employment background investigation or higher-level clearance. Investigation/Clearance may differ and be required based on the duty location/NASA Center requirements.
  • Financial Disclosure, Drug Testing, and/or the Travel Requirements for this position may differ and be required based on the duty location/NASA Center requirements.
  • A one-year supervisory probationary period may be required.

Qualifications

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.

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

  • Assisting with quality assurance or operational safety for system fabrication, activation, or operations; assisting with evaluating compliance with work instructions, standards, codes, and/or policies supporting test activities; assisting with monitoring materials, equipment, and work processes for conformance to requirements.
OR
b) Completed all requirements for a master's or equivalent graduate degree with a major in quality assurance, statistics, mathematics, production management, industrial management, computer science, engineering, engineering technology, physical sciences, textiles or a directly related field.
OR
c) Completed 2 full academic years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's degree or equivalent graduate degree with a major in quality assurance, statistics, mathematics, production management, industrial management, computer science, engineering, engineering technology, physical sciences, textiles or a directly related field.
OR
d) LL. B or J.D, if related
OR
e) Have an equivalent combination of experience and graduate study as discussed in a), b), c) and d) above

To qualify for the GS-11, you must have:a) One year of directly related specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 level:
  • Providing technical guidance and assisting with resolving quality or safety issues found during production, fabrication, inspection, or testing; applying quality assurance methods to monitor, control, or improve product or service quality; supporting audits and inspections to recommend corrective actions, or applying sampling or statistical techniques.
OR
b) Completed all requirements for a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree with a major in quality assurance, statistics, mathematics, production management, industrial management, computer science, engineering, engineering technology, physical sciences, textiles, or directly related field.
OR
c) Completed 3 full academic years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree with a major in quality assurance, statistics, mathematics, production management, industrial management, computer science, engineering, engineering technology, physical sciences, textiles, or directly related field.
OR
d) Completed all requirements for a LL.M. degree in an appropriate field.
OR
e) Have an equivalent combination of experience and graduate study as discussed in a), b), c) and d) above

To qualify for GS-12, you must have one year of directly related specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level:
  • Providing leadership or technical guidance to resolve quality or safety issues found during production, fabrication, inspection, or testing; monitoring materials, equipment, and work processes for conformance to requirements; monitoring, controlling, or improving products or service quality in accordance with quality assurance methods or techniques.
To qualify for the GS-13, you must have one year of directly related specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 level:
  • Providing supervision, leadership, or technical guidance to resolve quality or safety issues found during production, fabrication, inspection, or testing; managing or overseeing materials, equipment, and work processes for conformance to requirements; monitoring, controlling, or improving products or service quality in accordance with quality assurance methods or techniques.
To qualify for the GS-14, you must have one year of directly related specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 level:
  • Leading or advising a group or team performing quality assurance oversight/insight activities on a project or program; coordinating resource management and ensuring the execution of quality assurance programs, requirements, and processes; performing acceptance of Government Mandatory Inspection Points, audits, assessments, surveillance inspections, contract quality assurance, or evaluation of Quality Management Systems on flight hardware or similar programs.
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.

NASA prohibits the use of artificial intelligence (AI) or AI-assisted tool in drafting application and assessment responses. Please visit https://www.nasa.gov/careers/how-to-apply/#Artificial-Intelligence to review NASA's guidance on the use of AI tools during the application process.

Promotion Potential: The full performance level (FPL) will vary based on the position in which the selectee is placed and does not default to the highest grade advertised.

Education

(GS-9/11 levels only)
If you are using education completed in the United States to meet the qualification requirements, your degree must have been awarded from a college or university that is accredited by a recognized accrediting organization. For a list of schools that meet this criteria, go to http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/.

If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs. These education credentials must be deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

All degrees must have been received in the year of, or any year subsequent to the original date of accreditation.

Additional information

In the Announcement Questionnaire, you will be prompted to select series you wish to be considered for. You will also be prompted to select the lowest grade you wish to be considered for.

Supervisory and/or non-supervisory positions may be filled from this announcement at any applicable grade.

By applying, you agree to have your application shared with interested selecting official(s) within NASA. CTAP/ICTAP will be cleared for any additional selection from this announcement.

If you have special priority selection rights under the Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP), you must:
  • Indicate your eligibility when applying for a position. The questionnaire asks you to identify your ICTAP/CTAP eligibility.
  • Meet the minimum qualifications requirements for the position
  • Submit proof that you meet the requirements for CTAP/ICTAP as indicated in 'Required Documents'
For additional information about CTAP/ICTAP eligibility, click here - https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/#ictap.Any applicant that received a Voluntary Separation Incentive Payment (VSIP) from the federal governmentwithin the last five years based of the closing date of this announcement, if selected, may be required to repay the full amount prior to establishing a start date.

For additional information on the VSIP repayment requirement, click here - https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/voluntary-separation-incentive-payments/.

Per Executive Order 14343, this position is not part of a bargaining unit.

Probationary Period

You may be required to serve a one-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. If selected, the requirement to serve such period will be determined by Title 5 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 11.

In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

  • your performance and conduct;

  • the needs and interests of the agency;

  • whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and

  • whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Supervisory probationary periods are not subject to the above process, although, if a standard probationary period is required. You are subject to the conditions of both a standard probationary period and the supervisory probationary period.

Other duty locations not specifically listed on this announcement may be considered at management's discretion.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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 assessment questionnaire. Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or assessment questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration.

You will be assessed on the following competencies:

  • Contracting/Procurement
  • Mission Assurance
  • Oral Communication
  • Product Evaluation
  • Production and Processing
  • Quality Assurance
  • Quality Engineering and Assurance
  • Quality Management
  • Reasoning
  • Teamwork
  • Technical Competence
To preview the application questionnaire, click on the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13015974

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.

NASA will not ask you to disclose criminal history record information during the application process or before we make a conditional/tentative offer of employment. If you apply for this position and are selected, NASA will conduct a suitability/security background investigation after you accept a tentative job offer. If you feel you are asked to disclose your criminal history before you accept a tentative offer and wish to file a complaint within 30 days, please contact: Agency-FCCJ@NASA.gov.

John F. Kennedy Space Center

Explore the Extraordinary
Calling all the innovators, pioneers, visionaries, and adventurers! We are a diverse group of professionals united by a common purpose: to discover and expand knowledge for the benefit of humanity. We're building on our rich legacy by embarking on new and exciting missions, both on Earth and beyond and we're looking for fresh ideas to help us get there. Do you have a passion for exploration? Do you want your work to leave an enduring impact? Join us in a career that can take you farther than you can imagine. At NASA, our work is more than just a profession-it's a lifelong pursuit, a passion, and a chance to change the world. NASA is more than astronauts. We are scientists, engineers, IT specialists, human resources specialists, accountants, writers, technicians and many other kinds of people working together to break barriers to achieve the seemingly impossible.

Explore the extraordinary, every day; explore a career at NASA!

Agency contact information

Hiring Support Hub
Fax
1-866-779-6772
Email
nssc-hiring@mail.nasa.gov
Address
Kennedy Space Center
Space Commerce Way
Titusville, FL 32899
US

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