Aerospace Engineer (Human Factors)

at  US Federal Aviation Administration

QUALIFICATIONS

Specialized Experience for J-Band: All applicants must demonstrate one year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the FV-I or FG/GS-13 level. Specialized experience is experience which has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position and that is typically in or directly related to work of the position to be filled. SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE includes:

• Experience with the design and certification of advanced flight deck designs and flight display systems in FAR 23/25/27/29 aircraft, FAR 23/25/27/29 Human Factors regulations and policy (or military equivalent airworthiness standards).
• Experience with flight testing experience as test conductor during experimental, developmental or certification of aircraft.

Applicants should include examples of specialized experience in their work history.
Qualifications must be met by the closing date of this vacancy announcement.
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.
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.

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).

IF YOU ARE RELYING ON YOUR EDUCATION TO MEET QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

• How to Apply

You must apply online to receive consideration. Your application must be submitted by 11:59 PM Eastern Time on the Close Date for it to be accepted. If you are applying for positions associated with FAA registers, your application must be submitted at the time a referral list is created in order to receive consideration for positions associated with a register.

DETERMINING LENGTH OF GENERAL OR SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE IS DEPENDENT ON THE ABOVE INFORMATION AND FAILURE TO PROVIDE ALL OF THIS INFORMATION MAY RESULT IN A FINDING OF INELIGIBLE.

You may upload completed documents to your USAJOBS Account. This will provide you the opportunity to utilize the uploaded information again when applying for future vacancies. Please see this guide, Document Upload Guide, for more information on uploading and re-using the documents in your applications.

IF YOU ARE RELYING ON YOUR EDUCATION TO MEET QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
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DUTIES

Plans and accomplishes highly complex and challenging projects/programs and other work activities under the minimal direction of a manager, project/program manager, team leader, or more experienced engineer. May act as a principal technical specialist or as a project/program manager or team leader for large work activities.
Incumbent applies experience and comprehensive knowledge of aerospace engineering principles, theories, and concepts as a Human Factors Specialist in the Aircraft Certification Service, Compliance and Airworthiness Division, Flight Test Branch. Assignments frequently require knowledge and experience working across functional and/or organizational lines. Typical assignments may include: system design and integration; extensive research; and direct responsibility for project/program management. Responsible for the application of Federal Aviation regulations, programs, policies, and procedures pertaining to the type certification and continued operational safety of aircraft. Supports all aspects of human factor evaluation and flight testing related to certification programs, development programs, designee programs and continued operational safety. This includes, but is not limited to planning, development, review, and execution of ground and flight evaluations conducted during certification programs. Analyzes and evaluates technical data submitted by applicants to show compliance for the design and flight testing of aircraft, aircraft systems, propulsion, human factor evaluation, and flight crew interfaces.
Broad policies and objectives provide general guidance for addressing issues but allow considerable discretion to develop new and innovative approaches. Draws on experience to solve unusual problems and may create new solutions and policy interpretations as the situation requires. Participates in the evaluation, standardization, and approval of flight display symbology, color philosophy, flight deck design, and pilot-vehicle interface for type certification programs while balancing standardization needs with existing certification practices, project schedules, pilot training, and operational issues. Works with appropriate Standards Staff personnel, Flight Test Pilots, and Aircraft Evaluation Division (AED) personnel to evaluate human factors requirements for flight decks and associated equipment and displays. This includes coordinating and participating in formal team evaluations for new and novel display formats and technologies when necessary.
When requested, participates in strategic initiatives to standardize Human Factors evaluation procedures and requirements within the FAA through policy and regulation development, and through industry panels, consensus groups, and technical committees including working with the Human Factors (HF) Chief Scientific and Technical Advisor to accomplish AVS HF related strategic goals. Supports the FAA as required in industry forums and public speaking events where HF related issues are discussed or presented. Models leadership behavior through accountability, goal setting, collaborating, utilizing strategic thinking and influencing others to do the same.
Provides guidance to lower-level staff to solve difficult technical issues. Resolves all but unique technical problems without the intervention of management or a more experienced engineer. Work is reviewed rarely, typically through status reports and at project completion, to ensure technical compliance and alignment with the requirements of the project or other work activity.
Incumbent, as a crew member, may be assigned as a member of a flight test team and will be required to participate in flight tests on experimental aircraft. As a crew member, incumbent is required to maintain currency in the tasks assigned in the Flight Test Operations Manual (FTOM) and is required to maintain current first, second, or third class medical and is subject to drug testing in a Testing- Designated Safety Critical Position.

Specialized Experience for J-Band: All applicants must demonstrate one year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the FV-I or FG/GS-13 level. Specialized experience is experience which has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position and that is typically in or directly related to work of the position to be filled. SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE includes:

• Experience with the design and certification of advanced flight deck designs and flight display systems in FAR 23/25/27/29 aircraft, FAR 23/25/27/29 Human Factors regulations and policy (or military equivalent airworthiness standards).
• Experience with flight testing experience as test conductor during experimental, developmental or certification of aircraft