General Engineer

About the role

The Structures and Propulsion Branch conducts research to advance scientific knowledge to establish an operational environment that is free of accidents and fatalities.

This is achieved by continuously improving the scientific understanding of aviation propulsion systems, atmospheric hazards such as aircraft icing, new structural materials in aircraft, and the necessary support to maintain older aircraft for safe operations.

What you will do

• - Provide programmatic and technical support to the Aircraft Icing Research Program.
• This program conducts research on structural airframe icing in flight, ground deicing, and anti-icing prior to takeoff, and engine compressor icing due to the ingestion of ice particles into the engine core. - Perform experimental and analytical research to provide data and information that can be used in the development of physical models that represent the trajectory, impact, adhesion, accretion, and the release of ice crystal icing within a turbine engine compressor. - Works with other FAA colleagues to advance the safety of civil aviation in related propulsion areas. - Performs computational modeling in support of the Aircraft Icing Program and other research programs within the Aviation Research Division.
• This includes working on division-wide research initiatives by leading cross organizational teams and applying computational modeling, predictive analytics, data science, advanced statistical methods, aerospace and/or system engineering, and any multi-disciplinary scientific approach as needed by the Aviation Research Division.
• Called upon to provide leadership for highly complex and challenging activities under the minimal direction of a manager or executive.
• May act as a technical expert to develop new and innovative concepts, approaches, methodologies, techniques, and policies, or as a senior project manager or team leader for large, challenging work activities.
• Applies experience and comprehensive knowledge of general engineering principles, theories, and concepts, as well as an understanding of new technologies and methodologies, to perform critical tasks which require the development of new concepts or innovative approaches.
• Identifies and resolves highly complex problems or issues which often cross organizational boundaries and impact on the accomplishment of FAA's strategic objectives.
• Also predicts potential issues and proposes recommendations for preventive action.
• Typical assignments may include: system design and integration; extensive research; and direct responsibility for project program management.
• Applies knowledge of FAA's policies and objectives to identify, define, and organize work for multiple work activities.
• Acquires and allocates resources to accomplish work activities within established schedules.
• Contacts are internal and external.
• Often represents FAA as the primary technical authority for major projects, programs, and other areas of FAA responsibility.
• Formulates and recommends organizational reports or policies for internal and external audiences.
• Broad policies and objectives provide general guidance for addressing issues, but almost always require the development of new and innovative approaches.
• Often develop new policies, procedures, and approaches taking into consideration FAA policies, government-wide rules and regulations, and industry standards.
• Develops innovative approaches to attain organizational objectives and optimize resources.
• Conceives, plans, and conducts studies involving complex issues and unique problems.
• Seeks to continually learn from these duties and work with supervisor to ensure processes, methods, and systems applied are improved upon for future phases and shares with colleagues and other collaborators.
• Work is reviewed rarely, typically though status reports and at project completion, to ensure technical compliance and alignment with the requirements of the project or other work activity, final work is typically reviewed for success in achieving planned results.

Requirements

• We are not accepting applications from noncitizens.

Education

This position has a positive education requirement: Applicants must submit a copy of their college or university transcripts(s) and certificates by the closing date of announcement to verify qualifications. If selected, an official transcript will be required prior to appointment.

You may upload these documents with your application in USAJOBS or fax it to fax number provided in the announcement (please include announcement number on each page).

Failure to do so will result in loss of consideration.

Schools must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Accreditation may be verified at the following website: ***

Foreign education must be evaluated by a private professional organization specializing in interpretation of foreign education credentials or an accredited U.S. educational institution in terms of equivalence to a degree acquired at an American college or university. A copy of the evaluation results must be included, otherwise your foreign education will not be considered.

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

• Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50) required.
• Only supplemental documentation, e.g. transcripts or veteran's documentation will be accepted in combination with your on-line application.
• These documents must be uploaded or emailed to *** on or before the closing date of this announcement.
• All submitted documents should reference the announcement number.
• This position has a positive education requirement; college transcripts are required for ALL candidates newly appointed to the FAA in the 0800 (Engineering) series.
• College transcripts must be submitted from current FAA employees applying for internal vacancies if they have never held a position in the 0800 (Engineering) series with the FAA.
• College transcripts are not required from current FAA employees who are currently occupying an 0800 (Engineering) series.
• If selected, official transcripts are required prior to employment.
• 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. *** 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.

Eligible applicants meeting the minimum qualification requirements and selective factor(s), if applicable, may be further evaluated on the Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA) 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. Links to Important Information: Locality Pay, COLA