This position is in the office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (USD(R&E)). The Director of Systems Engineering Modernization is the primary authority within the Department for system engineering modernization in the context of systems acquisition. This role provides essential staff advice to leaders at all levels concerning systems engineering.
Basic Requirement: A. 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, as well as courses (more advanced than first-year physics and chemistry) in five of the following seven areas of engineering science or physics: (a) statics and dynamics; (b) strength of materials (stress-strain relationships); (c) fluid mechanics and hydraulics; (d) thermodynamics; (e) electrical fields and circuits; (f) the 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. 'OR' B. Combination of education and experience - college-level education, training, and/or technical experience that provided (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), 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 a 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 would typically 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 allinclusive.) Time in Grade: For entry at the NH-IV (GS-14/15 equivalent) level, status applicants must have served 52 weeks as a NH-III (GS-13 equivalent) or higher grade in the Federal Service or equivelant. Specialized Experience: For the NH-IV (GS-14/15 equivalent), you must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent in level of difficulty and responsibility to NH-III (GS-13 equivalent) grade level in the Federal service, or comparable in difficulty and responsibility to NH-IV (GS-14/15 equivalent) if outside the Federal service. Specialized experience is defined as: Experience leading the development and implementation of strategic recommendations to modernize engineering processes for defense systems. This includes experience directing the integration of emerging technologies into assigned systems, conducting rigorous analyses of the effectiveness of new practices, and demonstrating measurable improvements in engineering performance, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness aligned with organizational goals. Additionally, the ideal candidate will have a proven track record of resolving complex, multi-disciplinary technical problems and leading large, diverse engineering study teams resulting in impactful system-wide solutions. In addition to meeting the specialized experience requirements, qualified applicants must also possess the quality of experience as it relates to how closely or to what extent an applicant's background, recency of experience, education, and training are relevant to the duties and responsibilities of the announced position. Candidates must clearly demonstrate the possession of competencies necessary to successfully perform the work of the position at the appropriate level to be qualified for the position. Applicants must describe how their experience meets the competencies within the body of the resume. No separate statements addressing competencies are required. Competencies: Communication Critical Thinking Research and Data Analysis Technical Competence Qualification and time-in-grade requirements must be met at the closing date of this announcement.
Incumbent typical work assignments may include the following: Develop and coordinate recommendations for modernizing systems engineering practices for major systems, including the enhancement of the eight technical processes and eight technical management processes within the discipline. Evaluates the effectiveness of new practices and their impact on defense systems acquisition and broader DoD engineering goals, to include developing metrics and performance indicators to measure the impact of Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA), such as cost savings, accelerated capability delivery, and improved operational flexibility. Review and assess current engineering modernization efforts across military services, defense agencies, industry, and academia. Lead and facilitate a community of interest around systems engineering within the DoD, ensuring effective communication of modernization efforts and the application of new engineering methods and processes across the department. Spearheads development and application efforts. Responsibilities include articulating and championing a strategic vision and implementation roadmap for MOSA that aligns with existing DoD strategies and priorities, providing guidance and policy recommendations to influence the architecture and deployment of various systems, including system of systems, software, and weapons. Engage with military services, defense agencies, international allies, and the industrial base to promote interoperable open standards and architectures that enhance coalition operations.