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Aviation Safety Inspector, Principal Avionics Inspector

Department of Transportation
Federal Aviation Administration
FAA, Flight Standards Division, Air Carrier Safety Assurance, Orlando CMO
This job announcement has closed

Summary

The Principal Avionics Inspector (PAI) is responsible for recommending new and amended Title 14Code 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 air carrier avionics safety issues.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
08/20/2025 to 09/09/2025
Salary
$106,382 to - $138,296 per year

Salary above is basic pay. Locality rate added based on location.

Pay scale & grade
FG 14
Locations
1 vacancy in the following locations:
Orlando, FL
Tampa, FL
Telework eligible
Yes—As determined by Agency policy. This is not a 100% telework or remote position.
Travel Required
25% or less - The job may require up to 25% travel.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Excepted
Promotion potential
14
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
No
Bargaining unit status
Yes - This position is represented by PASS: Flight Standards Services.
Announcement number
ACE-FS-25-DLS-96052
Control number
843763500

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

Current Permanent Employees ONLY: Current permanent FAA employees ONLY.

Duties

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The PAI receives administrative direction from management in terms of broadly defined missions or functions. The PAI, mostly independently plans, designs, and carries out programs, projects, studies, or other work. The PAI provides policy assistance to field level Aviation Safety Inspectors (ASIs) and difficult or complex policy interpretations. The work is normally accepted without change. Completed work may be reviewed for adherence to Federal aviation Administration (FAA) policy and for assurance that project requirements have been fulfilled.

Some FG-14 assignments involve Service wide responsibility for application of expert knowledge of flight avionics for an advanced multiengine turbojet aircraft. Such employees are concerned with all aspects of the operational capabilities and limitations of the aircraft. Other FG-14 inspectors establish technical procedures and performance yardsticks. Additionally, the PAI may review complete flight operation or maintenance programs for major air carriers who are leaders in the aviation industry, or who have problems of comparable scope and complexity, or a uniquely complex group of general aviation organizations. Assignments at this level are of great scope and unusual complexity; the organizations monitored are major factors in the industry.

ASIs at the FG-14 level establish technical procedures and performance indexes and review complete maintenance programs for major air carriers who are leaders in the aviation industry, or who have problems of comparable scope and complexity, or a uniquely complex group of general aviation organizations. Assignments at this level are of great scope and unusual complexity.

The following assignments are illustrative:

1. As a Service wide expert on a particular type of sophisticated multiengine turbojet aircraft:
−Advises other inspectors of major changes in the operation of the aircraft;
−Standardizes procedures and judgments used by inspectors to evaluate the operation of the aircraft;
−Evaluates new training methods and equipment (e.g., simulators) for initial certification;
−Serves on national boards that determine the minimum equipment necessary to operate a particular type of aircraft safely; and
−Serves on boards that evaluate incidents, accidents, complaints, and other serious problems relating to the aircraft. Develops plans to resolve problems.

2.As principal representative in regulatory surveillance of air carrier activities, exercises certificate authority over a major air carrier with very extensive and complex avionics. Analyzes flight involving large fleets of turbojet aircraft engaged in large-scale passenger and freight service; or evaluates maintenance activities and complete aircraft overhaul facilities which are equipped and staffed to handle the latest and most sophisticated turbojet aircraft and associated systems. This level includes responsibility for nationally and internationally prominent carriers who operate the largest, most advanced fleets of turbojet aircraft in the industry. (By comparison, FG-13 employees exercise certificate authority over less complex air carriers or perform major portions of certification, inspection, and surveillance for major carriers under the direction of FG-14 inspectors.)

3.Exercises certificate authority and safety responsibility over a complex of broad and varied major air carriers in terms of size and complexity of aircraft fleet employed, scope and technical complexity of operations, management sophistication, industry leadership, and public impact. The magnitude, intensity, and scope of program responsibility are typically such as to require significant and regular assistance of lower graded inspectors.


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

Applicants must meet the minimum eligibility requirements for an Aviation Safety Inspector in the 1825 series as outlined in the OPM qualification standards. The minimum eligibility requirements for this position are below or may be found on the following link: http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/1800/aviation-safety-series-1825/

General Requirements for All Positions:

1. Not more than two separate incidents involving Federal Aviation Regulations violations in the last 5 years;

2. Valid State driver's license;

3. Fluency in the English language;

4. No chemical dependencies or drug abuse that could interfere with job performance; and

5. High school diploma or equivalent.

Aviation Safety Series, 1825

Aviation Safety Inspector positions have job-related medical requirements. When applicable, applicants must meet job-related medical requirements which will be assessed and validated during the pre-employment process.

These medical requirements include:

Aviation Safety Inspector

Medical Requirements: Applicants must be physically able to perform the duties of the Aviation Safety Inspector position in a safe and efficient manner, with or without a reasonable accommodation. The minimum medical requirements include the following requirements:

  1. Have good distant vision in each eye and be able to read, without strain, printed materials the size of typewritten characters (glasses and contact lenses permitted);
  2. Have the ability to hear the conversational voice (hearing aid permitted); and
  3. Not have any physical condition that would cause them to be a hazard to themselves or others that would interfere with their ability to fly as passengers in a variety of aircraft.

Applicants for Aviation Safety Inspector, Air Carrier Avionics positions must meet all of the following requirements.

1. Aircraft avionics experience involving the maintenance, repair, and troubleshooting of installed avionics systems on aircraft.

2. Avionics maintenance experience on aircraft of more than 12,500 pounds maximum certificated takeoff weight.

(Recency of specialized experience is waived for current FAA employees in the 1825 series, if applicable.)

AND

In addition to meeting the minimum requirements, applicants for the FG-14 level must have one year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression (FG-13), as an Aviation Safety Inspector, Air Carrier Avionics 1825.

Examples of Specialized Experience include:

* Monitoring activities of organizations to determine whether they are following authorized programs and evaluating proposals to change programs.

* Planning and conducting inspections and surveillance of assigned areas of air carriers to assure compliance with Federal aviation regulations.

* Responsibility for the conduct of enforcement investigations and preparation of final reports and recommendations on disposition.

* Deciding whether facilities, equipment, materials, personnel, inspection methods and maintenance practices and techniques are satisfactory to assure airworthiness of aircraft; and approving manuals or requiring amendment thereto.

Qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

Education

High School Diploma or equivalent.

Ingrade/Downgrade will be accepted.

All or none of the candidates may be interviewed.

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)/Leadership and Management Dimension (LMD) 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/LMD.

In lieu of providing a KSA NARRATIVE response in the text box listed below each KSA/LMD, in your work history on your resume/application, please include information that provides specific examples of how you meet the response level or answer you chose for each KSA/LMD. Your work history examples should be specific and clearly reflect the highest level of ability. Please also ensure EACH work history includes ALL of the following information: Job Title (include series and grade if Federal Job); Duties (be specific in describing your duties); Employer's name and address; Supervisor name and phone number; Start and end dates including month and year (e.g. June 2007 to April 2008); Full-time or part-time status (include hours worked per week); & Salary. Determining length of Experience is dependent on the above information and failure to provide ALL of this information may result in a finding of ineligible due to an incomplete application.

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.

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

Links to Important Information: Locality Pay, COLA

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.



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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