Explosives Safety Specialist

Full Job Description

As an Explosives Safety Specialist at the Kennedy Space Center, you will be responsible for providing oversight of explosives, propellants, and pyrotechnic use and make recommendations on siting of new and existing facilities, programs, and projects.

You will support the Explosive Safety Officer ensuring execution of explosives, propellants, and the pyrotechnics safety program to protect personnel and property from the hazards of explosives and energetic materials.

Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the particular ability, skill, and knowledge to successfully perform the duties of this position and is typically in or related to this line of work.

To qualify for GS-12, you must have one year of directly related specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level: Assisting in the review of operational plans, technical studies, or program requirements to ensure alignment with explosives safety criteria, requirements, and policies; Applying established safety regulations and standards to the storage, handling, transportation, and use of explosives, propellants, or pyrotechnics; Supporting the analysis of explosive hazards, such as hazard classifications, effects, and/or basic risk mitigation measures, to help prevent or reduce mishaps in programs or facilities.

Your resume must include a clear and detailed narrative description, in your own words, of how you meet the required specialized experience.

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:

• Works with managers at Patrick and Vandenberg Space Force Bases to ensure commonality of requirements at Kennedy Space Center (KSC). Maintains contact with other government entities to remain current on developments in explosive safety policy.
• Supports the Explosive Safety Officer (ESO) managing the KSC Explosives Safety Program. Advises and resolves technical matters with explosives safety requirements. Proposes explosives requirements and criteria for complex or high value projects.
• Supports the Center Explosives Safety Committee. Reviews all operating procedures for compliance to handle, store and transport explosives, propellants and pyrotechnics. Provides explosives subject matter expertise in mishap investigations.
• Works closely with and utilizes information formulated by engineers and scientists to render explosive safety advice and assistance. Strives to help mitigate or eliminate explosives safety hazards in new or existing programs or projects.
• Advises Center managers as a back up to the ESO on technical issues related to safety and the health of the explosives, propellants, and pyrotechnic safety program. Helps develop explosive safety policy for local and Agency ordnance applications.
• Calculates explosive quantity distances for multiple hazard classes. Performs qualitative analysis of existing structures to determine the safe explosive capacity and recommends repairs or alternations.
• Serves as subject matter expert for explosive licenses and site plans. Evaluates requests for deviations/waivers and reports to ESO. Supports annual explosive safety inspection program including field surveys to ensure compliance with requirements.
• Participates in technical interchange meetings and provides explosives safety information on program/project requirements. Evaluates operational plans and study results, and provides technical data, findings, and guidance. Recommends design changes.