TEST AND EVALUATION ENGINEER

Description:

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The primary purpose of this position is to serve as a flight test analyst/engineer for the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) directed Force Development Evaluation (FDE) program at Vandenberg AFB, providing accuracy/reliability factors, continuity, technical oversight, program management, and managing nonsupervisory employees assigned to the 576th Flight Test Squadron (FLTS).

Requirements:

In order to qualify, you must meet the specialized experience requirements described in the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards for General Schedule Positions, Group Coverage Qualification Standard for Professional and Scientific Positions. Series 0801

BASIC REQUIREMENT: Degree: Engineering. To be acceptable, the program must: (1) lead to a bachelor's degree in a school of engineering with at least one program accredited by ABET; 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); and (g) any other comparable area of fundamental engineering science or physics, such as optics, heat transfer, soil mechanics, or electronics. NOTE: YOU MUST SUBMIT COPIES OF YOUR TRANSCRIPTS.

OR

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 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 or licensure -- Current registration as an Engineer Intern (EI), Engineer in Training (EIT)1 , or licensure as a Professional Engineer (PE) by any State, the District of Columbia, Guam, or Puerto Rico. Absent other means of qualifying under this standard, those applicants who achieved such registration by means other than written test (e.g., State grandfather or eminence provisions) are eligible only for positions that are within or closely related to the specialty field of their registration. For example, an applicant who attains registration through a State Board's eminence provision as a manufacturing engineer typically would be rated eligible only for manufacturing engineering positions. Written Test -- Evidence of having successfully passed the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE)2 examination or any other written test required for professional registration by an engineering licensure board 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 that included the courses specified in the basic requirements under paragraph A. The courses must be fully acceptable toward meeting the requirements of an engineering program as described in paragraph A. Related curriculum -- Successful completion of a curriculum leading to a bachelor's degree in an appropriate scientific field, e.g., engineering technology, physics, chemistry, architecture, computer science, mathematics, hydrology, or geology, may be accepted in lieu of a bachelor's degree in engineering, provided the applicant has had at least 1 year of professional engineering experience acquired under professional engineering supervision and guidance. Ordinarily there should be either an established plan of intensive training to develop professional engineering competence, or several years of prior professional engineering-type experience, e.g., in interdisciplinary positions. (The above examples of related curricula are not all inclusive.) NOTE: YOU MUST SUBMIT COPIES OF YOUR TRANSCRIPTS. In addition to meeting the basic requirement above, to qualify for this position you must also meet the qualification requirements listed below:
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must have at least one (1) year of specialized experience at the next lower grade GS-12, or equivalent in other pay systems. Examples of specialized experience includes comprehensive knowledge of VAFB's mission, organization, program goals, and objectives in order to understand the working relationships which requires a detailed analysis of complex functions. Expert knowledge of diversified, fundamental scientific and engineering concepts, phenomena and relationships, and ability to apply such knowledge to theoretical and practical engineering problems with versatility, judgment and perception. Mastery knowledge of and ability to identify significant variables, determine their underlying relationships, and be able to perform sound analyses. Knowledge of and ability to research requirements, develop approaches, obtain information in the conduct of flight test analyses. Ability through study to keep abreast of changes in scientific knowledge and engineering technology and to utilize information gained thereby in the solution of theoretical or practical engineering problems. Skill in organizing, preparing, and delivering briefings on test results and anomalies to senior leaders.

FEDERAL TIME-IN-GRADE (TIG) REQUIREMENT FOR GENERAL SCHEDULE (GS) POSITIONS: Merit promotion applicants must meet applicable time-in-grade requirements to be considered eligible. One year at the GS-12 level is required to meet the time-in-grade requirements for the GS-13 level. TIG applies if you are in a current GS position or held a GS position within the previous 52 weeks. NOTE: Applicants applying as VEOA candidates who are current GS civil service employees or are prior GS civil service employees within the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs): Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following areas:

1. Knowledge of multi-disciplinary professional engineering concepts, principles, and practices to include electrical, computer, mechanical, civil, and aeronautical and knowledge of advanced mathematical techniques, such as those gained through study of calculus and differential equations.

2. Knowledge of safety and security regulations, practices, and procedures.

3. Ability to plan, organize, and direct the functions and staff of a small to medium sized organization; manage test teams and originate new ideas, projects, and methodologies.

4. Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing; negotiate complex test issues; and maintain good working relations.

5. Ability to apply quantitative techniques and develop, adapt, modify, and apply tests to solve problems or define and clarify alternative management solutions.

6. Expert knowledge of computer hardware and software associated with ICBM FDE testing; skill to negotiate and/or defend ICBM test results and support equipment concepts.

PART-TIME OR UNPAID EXPERIENCE: Credit will be given for appropriate unpaid and or part-time work. You must clearly identify the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the total number of hours per week.

VOLUNTEER WORK EXPERIENCE: Refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service Programs (i.e., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student and social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge and skills that can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.