General Engineer, AST, Technical Management (Direct Hire)

About the role

Serves as the Data Officer responsible for developing and implementing data strategies to support effective scientific data management, governance, integration, and use. Applies data science and open science principles to improve data accessibility, collaboration, innovation, and technical decision-making.

Provides technical leadership in data governance, analytics, security, policy, and emerging technologies.

What you will do

• Leads development and integration of the Biological and Physical Sciences (BPS) data ecosystem, applying advanced technologies to improve scientific data accessibility, interoperability, usability, and impact.
• Serves as a senior technical authority and liaison for BPS data initiatives, representing BPS across NASA and with Federal and international partners to advance data integration and collaboration.
• Provides expert technical guidance on open science and scientific data policy, collaborating with Science Mission Directorate (SMD) leadership to develop and implement data strategies, standards, and requirements.
• Provides technical oversight of major BPS scientific data repositories and capabilities, evaluating performance, integration, resources, risks, and operational issues to support BPS mission requirements.
• Leads implementation and assessment of BPS data management, sharing, and stewardship requirements, providing technical guidance to ensure compliance with NASA and SMD policies and standards.
• Represents BPS on SMD and NASA data governance boards, providing authoritative technical recommendations on data systems, computing, artificial intelligence, open science, and data stewardship.

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; and that provided an in-depth knowledge of theoretical and practical applications of computer science, including digital computer system architecture and system software organization, the representation and transformation of information structures, and the theoretical models for such representations and transformations.

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.

Applicants who do not fully meet the basic education requirement may still be considered if they possess exceptional relevant experience, or a combination of education and experience, that clearly demonstrates significant full performance-level achievement directly related to the duties of 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 ***

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, ***

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 ***

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: ***

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

How you will be evaluated

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: Attention to Detail Decision Making Oral Communication Planning and Evaluating Written Communication Data Management Technical Competence Executive Management To preview the application questionnaire, click on the following link: *** 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: ***.

Documents you must provide

• All submitted resumes must not exceed two (2) pages in length.
• Resumes longer than two pages will be rejected by USAJOBS.
• Applicants are strongly encouraged to prioritize including experience and relevant qualifications that directly align with the position advertised.
• All work experience and accomplishments must be associated with dates (month/year) to allow for accurate qualification assessment.
• A complete application package includes a resume, required documents and completion of the vacancy announcement questionnaire.
• Please see this guidance: What to include in your resume.
• Your resume should describe your specialized experience and support your answers to the vacancy announcement questionnaire.
• If you are using a Curriculum Vitae (CV) as a resume, it must meet all requirements listed above for a complete resume package.
• Please note: if any of the following types of information are included on your resume, your application package will be disqualified: Classified or government sensitive information.
• Social Security Number (SSN) Photos of yourself Personal information, such as age, gender, religious affiliation, etc. Encrypted and digitally signed documents.
• If your resume contains any of the above information, you must redact that information prior to the submission of your application.
• The following documents are required: Resume Transcript As listed in the Education section above, this position has a basic education requirement.
• To be found qualified, you must provide a copy of your college transcript that fully demonstrates you meet the requirements listed in the Education section.
• You may provide either an unofficial transcript or a copy of an official transcript.
• Failure to provide a complete copy of your college transcript that shows you have completed a required degree program or coursework may result in you being found not qualified.
• You may need to submit other supporting documents (licenses, certification, veterans' preference information, etc.), based on your answers to the application questionnaire.
• When you apply, please verify you submit the appropriate documents.
• Do not submit an OF-306 with your application.
• If you are a surplus or displaced employee (CTAP and ICTAP), submit proof that you meet the requirements for CTAP/ICTAP.
• This includes copies of your agency notice, most recent Performance Rating and most recent Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50) noting current position, grade level, and duty location.
• Official documents are required at the time of appointment for verification of eligibility and qualifications.

What to expect next

Once you submit your application package, you will receive an acknowledgement email. Throughout the process you will receive regular status updates through USAJOBS. To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account (Account Login), all of your applications will appear on the Welcome screen.

The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: Application Status. Whether or not you are contacted for an interview depends upon the location of the position and the judgment of the hiring manager.

If you are selected, you will be notified by phone or email with a tentative job offer. If you fail to meet the conditions of employment or any other pre-employment requirements, such as missing a scheduled appointment, we may rescind a tentative job offer. An official, written job offer will be issued once all requirements have been verified.

Additional information

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.

For purposes of Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) selection priority, well-qualified is defined as possessing knowledge, skills, abilities, and/or competencies which clearly exceed the minimum qualification requirements for the position, as determined through SME review of the resume/application.

If you have special priority selection rights under ICTAP, you must: Indicate your eligibility when applying for a position. Exceed the minimum qualification requirements for the position.

Submit proof that you meet the requirements for ICTAP as indicated in "Required Documents." For additional information about CTAP/ICTAP eligibility, click here - *** Any applicant that received a Voluntary Separation Incentive Payment (VSIP) from the federal government within 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 - *** 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.