Airway Transportation Systems Specialist

About the role

Serves as an ATSS (NAS Area Specialist), in a Service Operations Center (SOC). Performs a variety of functions directly relating to the operations of the NAS. Focus is on the availability and reliability of the services and products provided to users of the NAS.

What you will do

• The Airway Transportation Systems Specialists (ATSS) at this level is recognized as the subject matter expert in their field.
• All duties of an ATSS are tied to maintaining safe and efficient operating capacity of the vast and complex network of electronics systems required for the world's largest air traffic control and navigation system.
• ATSS personnel install, evaluate, maintain, modify and certify facilities, services and equipment that support the National Airspace System (NAS).
• They are also responsible for various duties that contribute to providing reliable and safe FAA services to the flying public.
• Recognized as the principal technical specialist on legacy and newly developed systems within a large facility or multiple facilities over a large geographical area.
• Responsible for the planning, directing, coordinating, monitoring, and maintenance activities associated with the management of assigned NAS systems/facilities.
• Performs work of broad scope and complexity with a high degree of independence.
• Applies broad experience and comprehensive technical knowledge to maintain and protect the integrity and safety of all components and systems for the NAS service delivery.
• Provides the highest organization level of technical support associated with analyzing, installing, repairing, fabricating, maintaining, modifying, or evaluating the most complex systems for which the FAA is responsible.
• Plans, coordinates and performs work with a high degree of independence, keeping the supervisor advised only of the most critical issues.
• Resolves unique technical problems without managerial intervention, providing coordination and suggested solutions.
• Rapidly analyzes and seeks resolution to problems as they arise, and makes adjustments as necessary to deal with system outages and network performance deterioration.
• Initiates action for the timely repair or restoration of services and systems, taking into account the availability of back-up systems, possible reconfigurations to minimize service interruptions, and the relative criticality of particular functions to the safe and efficient operation of the NAS.
• Incumbent is responsible for timely upward reporting of NAS information that could have an impact to operations for purposes of Situation Awareness (i.e. NOTAM, SAL Paging function).
• Incumbent-in-charge is expected to be a management's representative during non-administrative hours.
• Integrate Operational Risk Management (ORM) into restoration, schedule maintenance activities, and all planned projects, ensuring that all customers and users of services are included and involved in ORM implementation and planning.
• Contacts are both internal and external.
• Often represents the organization as the primary point of contact on projects, programs, and other work activities to coordinate and implement plans or obtain information and resolve problems.
• The Operations area serves as a principal organizational element of the Technical Operations Organizational to plan, direct, coordinate, monitor, and accomplish activities associated with real-time management of assigned NAS systems/facilities at the service integrity level.
• Reports to the Service Operations Center Manager.
• Receives general program assignments from a supervisor or higher level manager.
• Assignments are stated in terms of priorities, overall objectives, and boundaries.
• Completed assignments are considered technically authoritative and are reviewed only for general compliance with organizational objectives.
• Identifies resources needed to perform assignments.
• Organizes and assigns resources needed to accomplish large work activities within established schedules.
• Work is reviewed for compliance with established policies and sound technical and programmatic judgement.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
• Incumbent must possess a valid driver's license.

Requirements

• We are not accepting applications from noncitizens.

Education

Not applicable.

How you will be evaluated

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.

Documents you must provide

• If your selection for this position would be considered a PROMOTION, then a supervisory endorsement form endorsing your candidacy is REQUIRED by the closing date of this announcement.
• The endorsement must include the vacancy announcement number.
• To obtain the supervisory endorsement, please contact your manager.
• NOTE: A supervisory endorsement is not required for ingrade/downgrade candidates.
• Applicants must apply on-line to receive consideration for this vacancy announcement.
• Faxed, mailed, or e-mailed applications cannot be accepted.
• Applicants must apply on-line, through USAJOBS, to receive consideration; Faxed, mailed or e-mailed applications cannot be accepted.
• If you need to submit additional documents to supplement your on-line application, e.g. transcripts, SF-50, or veteran's documents, you may upload these documents with your application in USAJOBS If you are an FAA employee, you MUST provide a copy of your SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action) containing information in Blocks 15, 17, 18, 19, 22, and 24 so it can be used to verify your position title, series, grade, tenure, and organization of record by the closing date of the announcement.
• You may fax your SF-50 or upload it into the on-line application.
• If faxing the SF-50, please ensure you include the vacancy announcement number on the faxed copy.
• If you are an FAA employee, you can access and print your SF-50 from the eOPF system ***

What to expect next

Once we receive your complete application, the Human Resources Office will conduct an evaluation of your qualifications. Eligible and qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager for consideration. You will be contacted directly if selected for an interview.

For instructions on how to check the status of your application, please go to: USAJOBS Help Guide. Important - If you make any changes to your application, you must resubmit it. If you make changes to your application and do not resubmit it, your changes will not be considered part of your application package, and only your previously submitted application will be evaluated.

All qualified applicants will be considered regardless of political affiliation, race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, age, disability, or other non-merit factors. DOT provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities.

If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the agency contact listed in the Agency Contact Information section of this announcement or the hiring manager. An employee with a disability must notify the decision-maker of the accommodation request.

Job applicants and employees are required to follow up oral requests in writing. Decisions on granting reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. Additional information on reasonable accommodations procedures or on EEO Programs is available on Office of Civil Rights (ACR) or by contacting the local FAA Civil Rights Office.

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. *** This position is covered by the Department of Transportation's Drug and Alcohol Testing Program.

Any applicant tentatively selected for this position will be subject to pre-employment or pre-appointment drug screening. Persons occupying a "testing designated position (TDP)" will be subject to random drug and/or alcohol testing.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs): 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 the level that you selected. Interviews: If the Agency decides to interview any qualified employee on the selection list, then all on the list who are qualified must be interviewed.

Supervisory Endorsement: If your selection for this position would be considered a PROMOTION, then a supervisory endorsement form endorsing your candidacy is REQUIRED by the closing date of this announcement. The endorsement must include the vacancy announcement number. To obtain the supervisory endorsement, please contact your manager.

NOTE: A supervisory endorsement is not required for ingrade/downgrade candidates.

Applicants must apply on-line to receive consideration for this vacancy announcement.

Faxed, mailed, or e-mailed applications cannot be accepted. Security Clearance: Moderate risk (5), this position requires completion and favorable adjudication of a National Agency Check and Inquiry (NACI) background investigation prior to appointment, unless a waiver is obtained. Links to Important Information: Locality Pay, COLA