Aviation Safety Inspector (Direct Hire) (Manufacturing)

at  US Federal Aviation Administration

QUALIFICATIONS

All applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Not more than 2 separate incidents involving Federal Aviation Regulations violations in the last 5 years;
• Have a valid state driver’s license;
• Be fluent in the English language;
• Have no chemical dependencies or drug abuse that could interfere with job performance; and
• Be a high school graduate or equivalent.

MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS: Applicants must be physically able to perform the duties of the Aviation Safety Inspector position in a safe and efficient manner, and must meet all of the following requirements:

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

APPLICANTS FOR AVIATION SAFETY INSPECTOR (MANUFACTURING) POSITIONS MUST MEET ONE OF THE FOLLOWING REQUIREMENTS.

• Experience in the area of quality systems, methods, and techniques in the manufacture of products and/or articles that demonstrates the ability to determine whether aircraft and related products meet the approved design criteria, or the design criteria on which approval is being sought and is in condition for safe operations; or
• Experience involving either the actual issuance of airworthiness certificates or having responsibility for managing programs leading to the issuance of original airworthiness certificates or original export airworthiness approvals for products and/or articles; or
• Experience involving a combination of paragraph A and paragraph B above.

Acceptable specialized experience for paragraph A includes actual experience in a majority of the following areas:

• First article, in process and final assembly inspection;
• Quality assurance provisions of special processes (e.g. heat treating, brazing, welding, carburizing, plating, CAD-CAM, robotics, software quality control, etc.,)
• Destructive and non-destructive inspection;
• Manufacturing processes;
• Airworthiness assurance;
• Developing and implementing quality systems and procedures;
• Testing procedures; and
• Use of improved design data.

The experience in paragraph A or B is typically acquired in such positions as:

• Quality engineer;
• Quality systems supervisor/manager;
• Quality systems auditor;
• Service representative with technical quality experience;
• FAA designee such as a designated manufacturing inspection representative (DMIR); or
• Designated airworthiness representative (DAR) authorized to perform manufacturing inspection functions on behalf of the FAA.

To qualify for this position at the FG/GS-11 level - All candidates must demonstrate one year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower-level grade (FG/GS-9/10) that is typically in or related to the line of work of the position to be filled and which has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform in this position. Specialized experience is defined as knowledge and experience of aerospace quality assurance systems, and having the ability to make decisions independently, as it relates to an aerospace manufacturing environment in the areas of assembly, test and final inspection, and airworthiness determination as evidenced by practical experience working in this environment.
To qualify for this position at the FG/GS-12 level - All candidates must demonstrate one year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade (FG/GS-11). Specialized experience is defined as knowledge and experience of aerospace quality assurance systems in a position of leadership, or having the ability to make decisions independently, as it relates to an aerospace manufacturing environment in the areas of assembly, test and final inspection, and airworthiness determination as evidenced by practical experience working in this environment.
To qualify for this position at the FG/GS-13 level - All candidates must demonstrate one year (52
weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade (FG/GS-12). Specialized
experience is defined as knowledge and experience of aerospace quality assurance systems in a
position of leadership having demonstrated the ability to make decisions independently, as it
relates to an aerospace manufacturing environment in the areas of assembly, test and final
inspection, and airworthiness determination as evidenced by practical experience working in this
environment. Specialized experience may have been acquired working in a production approval
environment having demonstrated working with 14 CFR Part 21 regulations, or FAA designee authorized
to perform manufacturing inspection functions on behalf of the FAA, such as a Designated
Manufacturing Inspection Representative, a Designated Airworthiness Representative, or unit member
of an Organization Designation Authorization.
Specialized experience for the FG-13 position must include:
(1) Demonstrated experience and working knowledge with FAA Production approval regulations and
working at an FAA Production Approval Holder or applicant for an FAA production approval (PC, PMA,
TSOA, APIS) in an aerospace quality control/quality assurance,
Manufacturing/Operations/Systems/Quality Engineering position working with less complex or limited
types of aviation products holding FAA design approvals and less autonomy.
(2) Resolve conventional manufacturing inspection issues in compliance with established FAA
regulations and established FAA certification procedures. Specialized experience may have been
acquired as an FAA designee authorized to perform manufacturing inspection functions on behalf of
the FAA, such as a Designated Manufacturing Inspection Representative, a Designated Airworthiness
Representative, or unit member
of an Organization Designation Authorization.

THE FULL PERFORMANCE POTENTIAL TO THE FG-13 GRADE LEVEL: IDENTIFICATION OF PROMOTION IN THE VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A COMMITMENT OR AN OBLIGATION ON THE PART OF MANAGEMENT TO PROMOTE THE EMPLOYEE SELECTED AT SOME FUTURE DATE. PROMOTION WILL DEPEND UPON THE SELECTEE MEETING ALL TRAINING, QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS, AND RECOMMENDATION BY THE SUPERVISOR.

Qualifications must be met by the closing date of this vacancy announcement.
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

No education substitution for qualifications for this position.
Preview Job Questionnaire
Make sure your resume includes detailed information to support your qualifications and answers to the job questionnaire.

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

Major Duties and Responsibilities Level 11: The ASI assists in the planning and implementation of a full range of manufacturing inspection, continued operational safety, certificate management activities, safety management system activities, and designee and/or delegation oversight, as well as provides input on regulatory development and type and production certification projects. The ASI makes technical decisions, performs work activities, and initiates corrective action as dictated by the applicable circumstances with moderate guidance provided by the Certificate Management Section Manager, Senior Aviation Safety Inspector (SASI), or other journeyman ASIs.
Under the guidance of a more experienced ASI, the ASI may review proposals for new or revised manufacturing processes and specifications and discuss approval with the principal ASI to determine compliance to applicable FAA policy and guidance. The ASI notifies the Certificate Management Section Manager and/or SASI when information becomes available which identifies malfunctions and defects of products and/or articles in production and in service. The ASI assists in ensuring all such reports are appropriately investigated to determine cause and are reported as required by FAA policy and guidance. The ASI participates in the investigation of violations, accidents, and incidents that may be attributable to manufacturing defects.
Major Duties and Responsibilities Level 12: ASI verifies assigned aerospace organizations comply with Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (14CFR) with respect to production, original airworthiness, and certification programs. Determines certificate management actions for audits of assigned aerospace organizations within personnel and budget limitations. Establishes certificate management actions in terms of kind and areas of audit, location, and frequency that will be most productive to assure adherence to the aerospace organization’s quality system. ASI conducts audits in accordance with FAA Orders 8120.22 Production Approval Procedures, 8120.23 Certificate Management of Production Approval Holders, and other established policies. Serves as manufacturing expert in the investigation of violations, accidents, incidents, and malfunctions/defects that may be attributable to items manufactured in assigned organizations. The ASI coaches/mentors and reviews the work of lower grade inspectors, and performs other duties as assigned.
Major Duties and Responsibilities Level 13: ASI verifies assigned aerospace organizations comply with Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (14CFR) with respect to production, original airworthiness, and certification programs. Determines certificate management actions for audit of assigned aerospace organizations. Establishes certificate management actions in terms of kind and areas of audit, location, and frequency that will be most productive to assure adherence to the aerospace organization’s quality system. Assures on a continuing basis that the quality systems, organization, production facilities, and aeronautical products of assigned aerospace organizations are in compliance with FAA approvals and Title 14 CFRs. Conducts audits in accordance with FAA Orders 8120.22 Production Approval Procedures, 8120.23 Certificate Management of Production Approval Holders, and other established policies. Serves as a manufacturing expert in the investigation of violations, accidents, incidents and malfunction/defects that may be attributable to items manufactured in assigned organizations. The ASI coaches/mentors and reviews the work of lower grade inspectors, and performs other duties as assigned.
Other duties as assigned.

MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS: Applicants must be physically able to perform the duties of the Aviation Safety Inspector position in a safe and efficient manner, and must meet all of the following requirements:

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