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Unmanned Aircraft Systems Safety Specialist

Department of Transportation
Federal Aviation Administration
Flight Standards Service, Emerging Technologies Division, AFS-700
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position is located within the Emerging Technologies Division, AFS-700. Serves as an Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Safety Specialist. Responsible for applying knowledge of and experience with Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) for the development and implementation of standards, programs, and procedures for FAA Field personnel and the public governing all matters to unmanned aircraft.

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
07/07/2025 to 07/11/2025
Salary
$110,673 to - $214,492 per year

Salary includes locality pay to be determined based upon Selectee location.

Pay scale & grade
FV I - J
Location
2 vacancies in the following location:
May be filled in various FAA duty locations
2 vacancies
Telework eligible
Yes—Situational telework may be permitted in accordance with agency policy.
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
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
No
Announcement number
AGL-AFX-25-0048-95607
Control number
840027600

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

Open to Current Permanent AVS and AMA-200 Line of Business Employees

Duties

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The incumbent will perform multiple, varying and complex assignments under the minimal direction of a manager, project/program manager, team leader, or more experienced technical specialist. Acts as principal technical specialist or as a project manager or team leader for large work activities. The incumbent will apply experience and comprehensive technical knowledge of aviation safety standards associated with matters related to unmanned aircraft and will independently provide a full range of program support and analytical/investigative expertise.

Will research, develop, and evaluate all aspects of aviation safety systems data to effectively meet operational
requirements and program goals. Receives instruction in terms of the objectives of assignments and are expected to deal with problem and unusual situations on their own.

Defines, organizes and assigns resources to accomplish organization objectives. Allocates resources and works with team members or individually to accomplish large work activities within the established schedules. Leads activities associated with the analytical studies using investigative/research methodologies and techniques to identify emerging and changing performance, risks, and development of performance strategies and metrics.

Monitor's operators’ complex maintenance facility and determine if it is adequately staffed and equipped to perform work in compliance with applicable UAS safety standards. (In comparison, FV-I employees interact with aviation organizations on a narrower, more specific assignment.)

Evaluates and issue certificates for UAS maintenance. Continually monitors the activities of UAS operators and their maintenance practices to ensure that they comply with their UAS programs as necessary.

Monitors UAS which have undergone major alterations and/or repairs, ensuring compliance with appropriate UAS safety standard, technical orders and bulletins, manufacturers' specifications.

Investigates UAS operators accused of not following regulations and standards for safe operation or maintenance of their aircraft. Investigates complaints relating to Part 135 UAS, Part 137 UAS operations and any other UAS FAR's that may be announced in the future. Inspects Part 135 (UAS Only) remote pilot operators and Part 137 (UAS Only) for compliance with regulatory requirements, limitations, and conditions imposed in grants or waivers.

Assists General Aviation Safety Assurance (GASA) Flight Standard District Offices (FSDOs) and Air Carrier Safety Assurance (ACSA) Certificate Management Offices (CMOs) with the investigation of UAS Complaints and to solve specialized issues resulting in decisions (In comparison, FV-I employees are involved in a broader, less specialized scope of activities.

Generates Enforcement action(s). Works closely with GASA and FAA Legal on UAS incidents and complaints.

Assists GASA FSDOs, Air Traffic Organization (ATO), and Security and Hazardous Materials Safety (ASH) with UAS surveillance matters involving special events.

Interprets the UAS regulations and apply their knowledge of precedent cases and good safety practices to carry out their assignments. Follow established laws, orders, policies, and regulations that provide general guidance for completing work objectives but is allowed considerable discretion to develop new or innovative approaches. The UAS uses resourcefulness, initiative, and judgment based on experience to develop and implement evaluation procedures to address problems where precedents are not applicable. Methods, practices, or decisions may be used as guidance in similar problem areas.

Issues UAS related certificates and approve proposals that modify the authority of UAS organizations. Recommendations result from inspections and investigations taken by the assigned office. Their decisions have substantial impact on the activities of UAS organizations for which they have responsibility.

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).

Qualifications

To qualify for the FV-I:

To qualify for this position, you must demonstrate in your application that you possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to FV-H, FG/GS-10-12. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. Experience includes the development and execution of programs that improve organizational effectiveness, efficiency, and/or meet strategic objectives. Advanced knowledge of Unmanned Aircraft System Safety standards to evaluate, analyze, and formulate decisions using the laws, regulations, and safety standards pertaining to the operation and airworthiness of UAS engaged in commercial, general, and agricultural operations, and its associated systems.

To qualify for the FV-J:

To qualify for this position, you must demonstrate in your application that you possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to FV-I, FG/GS-13. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. Experience includes analyzing and performing aircraft certification and surveillance services in order to make recommendation for improvements and providing advice and guidance to management. Researching, developing and evaluating aspects of aviation safety systems data to effectively meet operational requirements and program goals.

Education

None

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/workinghere/financial-disclosure-requirements

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 KSA, 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.

How You Will Be Evaluated for Internal Announcements:

Eligible applicants meeting the minimum qualification requirements and selective factor(s), if applicable, may be further evaluated on the Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA); Demonstrated Abilities; Leadership and Management Dimensions; or 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.

Incomplete Applications:

Please ensure you answer all questions and follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may impact your rating or may result in you not being considered for the job.

Applicants may be asked to verify information on your application for employment with the FAA.

Interviews:

Some, all or none of the applicants may be interviewed.

The position may be filled at the FV-I or FV-J. Identification of promotion in the vacancy announcement does not constitute a commitment or an obligation on the part of management to promote the employee selected at some future date.

Duty Location:

Selectee will be required to report to an FAA Aviation Safety (AVS) Duty Location.

This is not a bargaining unit position.

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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