Director Engineering Directorate

Full Job Description

The Director, Engineering Directorate (ED) at NASA's Langley Research Center is responsible for providing systems engineering and discipline engineering capabilities to the Center.

The incumbent provides technical leadership and systems management to engineers, technicians, and business personnel required to deliver and/or compete effectively for, and meet commitments on, engineering and technology development work that support the research, science, and technology needs of the Center.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Candidates will not be hired based on their race, sex, color, religion, or national origin.

As a basic requirement for entry into the Senior Executive Service (SES) under a career appointment, you must clearly articulate and describe within your 2-page resume that you possess the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) and Mandatory Technical Qualifications MTQ(s) related to this position.

If your 2-page resume does not reflect demonstrated evidence of the ECQs and MTQ(s), you may be disqualified. Any additional pages over the 2-page limit will not be reviewed.

Your resume should include evidence of progressively responsible supervisory, managerial, or professional experience which involved management of a program or organization of significant scope and complexity, normally obtained over several years by serving in positions at the GS-15 level or equivalent.

If you are (1) currently serving under a career SES appointment, (2) eligible for reinstatement into the SES (this means you were previously employed as a Career SES employee and you successfully completed a one-year probationary period), OR (3) have successfully completed a SES Candidate Development Program (CDP) and certified by OPM, you do not need to address the ECQs in your resume.

However, your resume must clearly state that you are a current career SES, eligible for SES reinstatement, or SES CDP certified and year of certification.

Please DO NOT submit separate documents addressing the ECQs or MTQ. Only your 2-page resume will be accepted and considered. Any additional documents submitted will not be accepted.

EXECUTIVE CORE QUALIFICATIONS (ECQs) ECQ 1 - Commitment to the Rule of Law and the Principles of the American Founding: This core qualification requires a demonstrated knowledge of the American system of government, commitment to uphold the Constitution and the rule of law, and commitment to serve the American people.

Competencies: Knowledge of the American System of Government, Commitment to the Rule of Law, and Civic-Mindedness ECQ 2 - Driving Efficiency: This core qualification involves the demonstrated ability to strategically and efficiently manage resources, budget effectively, cut wasteful spending, and pursue efficiency through process and technological upgrades.

Competencies: Fiscal Responsibility, Managing Resources, Leveraging Technology ECQ 3 - Merit and Competence: This core qualification involves the demonstrated knowledge, ability and technical competence to effectively and reliably produce work that is of exceptional quality.

Competencies: Technical Skill, Problem Solving, Agility and Resilience ECQ 4 - Leading People: This core qualification involves the demonstrated ability to lead and inspire a group toward meeting the organization's vision, mission, and goals, and to drive a high-performance, high-accountability culture.

This includes, when necessary, the ability to lead people through change and to hold individuals accountable.

Competencies: Accountability, Developing Others, Executive Judgment ECQ 5 - Achieving Results - This core qualification involves the demonstrated ability to achieve both individual and organizational results, and to align results to stated goals from superiors.

Competencies: Operational Mindset, Innovation, Strategic Thinking MANDATORY TECHNICAL QUALIFICATION (MTQ): Your resume should demonstrate accomplishments that would address the MTQ(s).

MTQ 1 - Demonstrated experience in the leadership and management of systems engineering and discipline engineering in the design, development, fabrication, and integration (such as performing physical system integration, functional and environmental testing, and preparation of the system for shipment) of hardware for research, science, and technology.

Competencies: Systems Engineering and Technical Work and Team Management. Your application package must be in your own words.

Experience statements copied from a position description, vacancy announcement, or other reference material constitutes plagiarism and may result in disqualification and losing consideration for the job.

NASA prohibits the use of artificial intelligence (AI) or AI-assisted tool in drafting application and assessment responses.

Please visit https://www.nasa.gov/careers/how-to-apply/#Artificial-Intelligence to review NASA's guidance on the use of AI tools during the application process. Major Duties:

The Director Engineering Directorate is responsible for: Infusing a systems engineering approach across the Center's space flight development and technology development activities, such as developing high-quality systems engineering and discipline engineering specialist skills and cost-effective product development processes needed to create concepts.

Conducting trade studies and designing, developing, fabricating, and integrating hardware for research systems for Langley-assigned efforts.

This includes performing physical system integration, functional and environmental testing, and preparation of the system for shipment.

Serving as a member of the Center Leadership Team and working closely with other Center organizations to ensure that all Center plans and work are consistent and well-integrated within the overall Center strategy and operating plan.

Defining long range goals and measures for the Engineering Directorate and ensuring development of strategically selected capabilities (people and facilities) needed to support programs and build future capabilities, programs, and elements that are aligned with NASA mission needs.

Executing funded program/project elements; identifying ED user and funder needs; and establishes the desired balance of concept, technology, and hardware development work.

Also, strengthens existing partnerships and establishes new partnerships critical for success. Maintaining and building market intelligence, technical intelligence, and competitive intelligence.

Developing, maintaining, and promoting the use of a lessons-learned knowledge capture system.

Collaborating and negotiating with other organizational Directors to supply resources to meet Center commitments and develop future systems engineering capabilities.

Cultivating and nurturing a relationship with the Systems Analysis and Concepts Directorate and the Research Directorate to jointly provide concept-to-flight services for Langley deliverables.