Summary The incumbent serves as a Flight Test Engineer in the Flight Test Section, responsible for the standard application of Federal Aviation Regulations, programs, policies, and procedures pertaining to the type certification and continued operational safety of aircraft. Incumbent supports all aspects of flight testing related to certification programs, development programs, designee programs and continued operational safety. Responsibilities 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 and flight crew interfaces. Identifies and informs management of problems that require their attention. Often develops and recommends techniques to address problem situations. In addition, the incumbent is responsible for supporting the risk assessment of the safety review board for the FAA flight tests during certification programs, both for domestic and for foreign validation projects. The incumbent is considered to have advanced knowledge in the field of flight test analysis and/or human factors. To fulfill the responsibilities of this position, the incumbent must be current in evaluating state-of-the-art technological changes that could affect the proper flight testing of aircraft flight characteristics, aircraft performance, aircraft system operations and flight crew interfaces. Incumbent, as a crew member, will be 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 a current first, second or third class medical and is subject to drug testing as testing designated safety critical position. Reviews flight test related documentation and participates on test teams as a key technical point of contact for flight testing. Provides guidance and oversight in the certification process to applicants. Participates in select critical aspects of aircraft performance, controllability, stability, and/or human factors (HF) test activities. Participates as directed in the work of national and international groups, industry groups, and other government agencies. Provides technical guidance on matters related to performance, controllability, stability, and/or HF aspects of aircraft certification. Requirements Conditions of Employment We are not accepting applications from noncitizens. Qualifications Basic Requirements: Successful completion of a full four-year professional engineering curriculum leading to a bachelor's or higher degree in engineering in an accredited college or university. To be acceptable the curriculum must: (1) be in a school of engineering with at least one curriculum accredited by the ABET as a professional engineering curriculum; or (2) include differential and integral calculus and courses (more advanced than first-year physics and chemistry) in five of the following seven areas of engineering science or physics: (a) statics, dynamics; (b)strength of materials (stress-strain relationships); (c) fluid mechanics, hydraulics; (d) thermodynamics; (e) electrical fields and circuits; (f) nature and properties of materials (relating particle and aggregate structure to properties); (g) any other comparable area of fundamental engineering science or physics, such as optics, heat transfer, soil mechanics, or electronics; OR, ALTERNATIVE REQUIREMENTS: Combination of education and experience -- college-level education, training, and/or technical experience that furnished (1) a thorough knowledge of the physical and mathematical sciences underlying professional engineering, and (2) a good understanding, both theoretical and practical, of the engineering sciences and techniques and their applications to one of the branches of engineering. The adequacy of such background must be demonstrated by one of the following: Professional registration: Current registration as a professional engineer by any State, the District of Columbia, Guam, or Puerto Rico; Written Test: Evidence of having successfully passed the Engineer-in-Training (EIT) examination, or the written test required for professional registration, which is administered by the Boards of Engineering Examiners in the various States, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico; Specified academic courses: Successful completion of at least 60 semester hours of courses in the physical, mathematical, and engineering sciences and in engineering that included the courses specified in the basic requirements. The courses must be fully acceptable toward meeting the requirements of a professional engineering curriculum as described in paragraph A; Related curriculum: - Successful completion of a curriculum leading to a bachelor's degree in engineering technology or in an appropriate professional field, e.g., physics, chemistry, architecture, computer science, mathematics, hydrology, or geology, may be accepted in lieu of a degree in engineering, provided the applicant has had at least 1 year of professional engineering experience acquired under professional engineering supervision and guidance. For more information on the alternate methods, please refer to the OPM Qualification Standards for Engineering at: http://main.opm.gov/qualifications/Standards/IORs/gs0800/0800.htm, Specialized Experience for I-Band: In addition to the basic/alternative qualification requirements identified above, all applicants must demonstrate one year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade (FV-H or FG/GS-11). 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, but not limited to: Experience in field of engineering flight test data analysis, performance, stability and control, or human factors testing of aircraft or rotorcraft and related systems, to determine compliance with aviation certification standards (or military equivalent airworthiness requirements). Experience in applying aviation regulations (or military equivalent airworthiness requirements), policies and procedures pertaining to the type of certification and continued operational safety of aircraft. Experience working Flight Test issues, Flying Qualities, Mechanical Systems, Avionics/Electrical Systems, and Propulsion Flight Test. 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. Eligible applicants meeting the minimum qualification requirements and selective factor(s), if applicable, may be further evaluated on the 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. 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: www.ed.gov/accreditation. 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. 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 U.S. Department of Transportation strives to ensure that equity, transparency, accountability, collaboration, and communication permeate all that we do for the betterment of the Department, the traveling public, and our nation. As such, DOT values a highly diverse workforce of persons who promote a culture of belonging by respecting the personal dignity and worth of each individual and fostering a positive environment where all feel safe and welcome. If these commitments coincide with your personal ideals and professional aspirations, please consider joining the DOT family. 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. Applications will be accepted from any U.S. citizen. On-the-Spot will be used to fill this position. The 'Rule of Three', Veterans Preference and traditional rating and ranking of applicants does not apply to this vacancy. This announcement may be used to fill future vacancies in any other of the AIR offices in the advertised Duty Locations. Duty station will determine locality pay. Applicants must apply on-line to receive consideration for this vacancy announcement. Faxed, mailed or emailed applications cannot be accepted. This position has a positive education requirement. Please ensure you answer all questions and follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may result in you not being considered for the job. Security Requirement: Selection and placement are contingent upon waiver or completion of satisfactory security requirements. Moderate Risk (5). The position requires completion and favorable adjudication of a background investigation prior to appointment, unless a waiver is obtained. Subject to a 5-year periodic reinvestigation. Links to Important Information: Locality Pay, COLA