Serves as an Aerospace Engineer (Cabin Safety Specialist) in Aircraft Certification Service (AIR). Plans and accomplishes highly complex and challenging projects, programs and other work activities under minimal direction of a manager, project/program manager, team leader, or more experienced engineer.
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. In addition to the basic requirements, to qualify at the FV-J level candidates all applicants must demonstrate at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade (FV-I FG/GS-13) in the Federal government. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. Specialized experience must include but not limited to: Specialized Experience Include: Experience in the application or development of aircraft certification standards, policies, and procedures used in the design and certification of an aircraft or aircraft system (e.g., 14 CFR parts 21, 23, 25, 26, 27, 29, 33, 35; advisory circulars; policy memorandums). Also, to view the full Individual Occupational Requirements for entry into this occupation, visit the following OPM webpage: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0800/files/all-professional-engineering-positions-0800.pdf 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. Qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this vacancy announcement.
The incumbent serves as a technical specialist for cabin safety policy and standards, which involves applying experience and comprehensive knowledge of engineering principles, theories, and concepts applicable to solve complex problems, identify cabin safety issues, develop policy standards and to improve technical processes. Develops airworthiness standards and guidance material including special conditions, equivalent safety findings, exemptions, and other documents for aircraft designs. Provides policy, guidance and instruction to FAA personnel, aviation industry and others to resolve most technical issues without intervention from more experienced engineers or management. This involves providing guidance to lower-level staff to solve difficult technical issues and working with senior management to solve problems. Plans and accomplishes highly complex projects, programs, and other work activities with minimal direction. This may involve leading or participating on a team or working individually. Accomplishes organizational objectives within established schedules. Represents the FAA as a senior technical point of contact for cabin safety on projects, programs, and other work activities. Communicates results and issues within the FAA and externally as appropriate. Develops mutually rewarding relationships with fellow employees, industry, and stakeholders. Conducts activities to the highest ethical standards by communicating effectively, remaining flexible, respecting different opinions, and exercising patience in challenging situations. Applies systems thinking to resolve issues. Prepares technical presentations, documents, and reports to present to FAA personnel, management and aviation industry and others. Works with counterparts in foreign civil aviation authorities to develop policy, standards and procedures related to cabin safety to assure adequacy and uniformity of certification program issues globally. Develops strategies, implementation plans and responses to safety recommendations from the National Transportation Safety Board, individuals, or organizations within the FAA. Broad policies and objectives provide general guidance for addressing issues, but allow considerable discretion for the incumbent to develop new and innovative approaches. The technical specialist draws on engineering experience to solve unusual problems and may create new solutions and policy interpretations as the situation requires. 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. The work activities of this position impact directly on the objectives of one or more major subdivisions, LOB/SOs and has an impact on the objectives of the FAA. Other duties as required.