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Research Mechanical Engineer, AST Mechanical Components (Direct Hire)

National Aeronautics and Space Administration
John Glenn Research Center at Lewis Field
This job announcement has closed

Summary

NASA Glenn Research Center is seeking skilled engineers to conduct Research and Development (R&D) supporting rotating machine research to enable carbon-free electrified air transportation.

** Announcement extended to close July 18, 2022 **

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
07/06/2022 to 07/18/2022
Salary
$69,092 to - $128,015 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 11 - 13
Location
few vacancies in the following location:
Cleveland, OH
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
13
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
GRC-22-DE-11536689-RW
Control number
663267100

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Duties

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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.
  • Conduct Research and Development in one or more of the following areas supporting rotating machine research to enable carbon-free electrified air transportation:
  • Design and conduct experiments to electrically characterize conductor candidates (conventional and superconducting) for motor and generator windings under DC and AC currents and magnetic fields.
  • Research and develop gearboxes and/or electric machines (conventional and partially or fully superconducting) for space missions and electrified aircraft propulsion.
  • Conceptualize electric machine and/or cryogenic system designs; simulate the multi-physics response of the designs; develop, build, and test coils, subcomponents, and machines.
  • Conceptualize, analyze, design and develop lightweight aerospace mechanisms and mechanical components (gears, bearings, and splines) for an electrified powertrain including application of tribology for lubrication, wear and efficiency.
  • Analyze data, results and findings and document research in archival publications.
  • Monitor and guide NASA-supported academic and industry projects on powertrain technologies and systems.

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
  • Position subject to pre-employment background investigation
  • Individuals who will have received a qualifying graduate degree by 8/31/2022, in a field of study required for the position will be considered. All other qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement.
  • If selected, your start date will be set after all requirements have been met and verified.
  • If selected, you will be required to complete a financial disclosure statement
  • Please see the "Additional Information" section for important information about COVID-19 vaccination requirements for federal employees.

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.

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 that 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

  • Participating in R&D of electro-mechanical systems (conventional and/or superconducting) with a focus on powertrain/ subcomponent conceptual design, simulation, and development
  • Working in a team environment to accomplish program/project goals
  • Preparing conventional plans, designs, specifications or related documentation
OR

b) Completed, or will have completed, all requirements for a master's or equivalent graduate degree in an appropriate field by 8/31/2022
OR

c) Have an equivalent combination of experience and graduate study as discussed in a) and b) above when qualifying education is completed by 8/31/2022.

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:
  • Conducting R&D of electro-mechanical systems (conventional and/or superconducting) with a focus on powertrain/subcomponent conceptual design, simulation, and development including multi-physics characterization, experimentation, and reliability assessment
  • Serving as a contributor on team-based projects
  • Providing technical advice to accomplish program/project goals
  • Organizing and evaluating results of studies and preparing reports of findings
OR

b) Completed, or will have completed, all requirements for a doctoral degree (i.e., Ph.D. or equivalent) in an appropriate field by 8/31/2022.

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 R&D of electro-mechanical systems ( conventional and/or superconducting) with a focus on powertrain/subcomponent conceptual design, simulation, and development including multi-physics characterization, experimentation, and reliability assessment
  • Investigating, evaluating, advising on, and resolving unusual engineering problems, issues, and conditions
  • Organizing and evaluating results of studies and preparing reports of findings
  • Monitoring or guiding research conducted by others, e.g., academia, industry
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 (GS-11 and GS-12):

Code 720 Propulsion: Aeronautical Engineering, Aeronautics, Aerospace Engineering, Astronautics, Chemistry, Applied Mechanics, Electrical Engineering, Engineering Mechanics, Mechanical Engineering, Nuclear Engineering, Nuclear Engineering Physics, Physics, Applied Physics, Engineering Physics.

Other majors will qualify if the major includes or is supplemented as follows: Electronics Engineering, Applied Mathematics (or other field), if the major includes or is supplemented by one course in thermodynamics, nuclear physics, rocket propulsion fundamentals, gas dynamics or modem or molecular physics; Astronautical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Pure Mathematics (or other related field), if includes or is supplemented by nine semester hours (or the equivalent) in physics, thermodynamics, chemistry or closely related fields.

Education

Basic Education Requirement: You must have successfully completed a bachelor's degree with a major in one of the following:
a) Engineering from a college or university that has ABET accredited engineering programs
b) Physical Science, Mathematics, Life Science or other field of Science
c) Computer Science that included 30 semester hours or 45 quarter hours of course work in any combination of mathematics, statistics and computer science with at least half of those hours in mathematics and statistics courses that included differential and integral calculus.

If you did not complete a qualifying bachelor's degree, you may be eligible if you have obtained a graduate degree in an AST qualifying field, as listed above.

Degrees in engineering technology are not considered qualifying for this position.

Engineering degrees earned within the United States: Engineering degrees earned within the United States must be from a college or university that has at least one ABET accredited engineering program. To find out if a school has at least one ABET accredited program, please visit http://www.abet.org.

Engineering degrees earned outside the United States: Engineering degrees earned outside the United States must be recognized by a Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA), often known as accords. These are non-governmental agreements among organizations that accredit academic degree programs. MRAs recognize the substantial equivalence of mature accreditation systems and programs accredited by signatory organizations within their jurisdictions. For a listing of Signatories, please visit, https://www.abet.org/global-presence/mutual-recognition-agreements/is-your-program-recognized/.

Science and other related degrees earned within the United States: Science and other related degrees must have been awarded from colleges or universities that are accredited by recognized accrediting organizations. For a list of schools that meet this criteria, go to http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/.

Science and other related degrees earned outside the United States: 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://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

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

Additional information

If you are selected, NASA may request information regarding your vaccination status for the purposes of implementing workplace safety protocols, such as masking, physical distancing, testing, travel, and quarantine.
Additional selections may be made for similar positions across NASA within the local commuting area(s) of the location(s) identified in this announcement. 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.

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 on 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:

  • Electromagnetics
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Research
  • Teamwork
  • Technical Competence
  • 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.

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