Supervisory Aerospace Engineer

Full Job Description

Serves a Division Manager for the Safety Authorization Division within the Office of Commercial Space Transportation.

The division carries out AST's responsibility to ensure public health and safety by licensing commercial space launches and reentries and operation of commercial (non-federal) launch and reentry sites.

IN ADDITION TO MEETING THE BASIC EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS BELOW: To qualify for this position, you must demonstrate in your application that you possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the FV-J, FG/GS-14 level.

This experience is typically related to the line of work of the position to be filled and which has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position.

To be creditable, specialized experience must have been at least equivalent to the next lower level in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE STATEMENT: Experience with launch vehicles, launch sites, and launch operations, and the ability to define and resolve sensitive issues and complex problems affecting the regulation and licensing of commercial space transportation activities.

Experience with advanced principles, concepts, methods, and techniques utilized in environmental, safety, or regulatory analysis in order to evaluate commercial launch activities with particular emphasis on processes and systems that primarily affect public health and safety.

You should include relevant examples of the specialized experience in your work history. Errors or omissions may impact your rating or may result in you not being considered.

Answer all questions to the best of your ability. DO NOT ASSUME THAT BECAUSE YOU HOLD, OR HAVE HELD THIS POSITION, YOU WILL AUTOMATICALLY BE FOUND ELIGIBLE.

You may be asked to provide evidence or documentation that you have this type of experience later in the selection process.

Your responses are subject to verification through job interviews, or any other information obtained during the application process.

Any exaggeration of your experience or any attempt to conceal information can result in disqualification.

*Applicants who fail to demonstrate possession of any of the above criteria AND who do not provide the required documentation will receive no further consideration for this position.* Applicants may be asked to verify information on your application for employment with the FAA.

**All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this vacancy announcement.** Eligible applicants meeting the minimum qualification requirements and/or selective placement factor(s) (SPF) may be further evaluated on the Leadership & Management Dimensions and/or Technical Requirements listed in the announcement.

Based on this evaluation, applicants will be placed in one of the following categories: (1) score order; (2) category grouping; or (3) alphabetical; or (4) priority grouping referred to the selecting official for selection consideration.

Major Duties:

In support of the license review and issuance, the division is responsible for conducting and coordinating the various components required which includes the environmental compliance documents in accordance with NEPA; airspace integration issues; policy and payload reviews, and coordination with the other divisions in ASA to assure completion of the safety analysis needed for the license issuance and operational use.

This division also issues experimental permits for developmental reusable suborbital rockets and safety approvals for launch vehicles, reentry vehicles, safety systems, processes, services, and/or components for commercial launch operations and personnel performing functions related to licensed/permitted launch activities.

Typically directs the work of subordinate employees and/or managers for more than one organizational unit/project/program within a major subdivision.

Work usually includes a mixture of routine and complex projects/programs based on the objectives of the major subdivision/LOB/SO.

Managerial duties typically affect employees and managers in more than one organizational unit/project/program, and include: planning; communicating the organization's vision and objectives; setting priorities; assigning tasks and responsibilities; monitoring and evaluating performance; coaching and developing employee capabilities; approving leave; and taking, recommending or approving corrective/disciplinary actions as appropriate.

Contacts are primarily within the organizational unit, major subdivision and the LOB/SO with subordinates, peers, and higher level managers to discuss the status of projects/programs and to plan for the future.

Has authority to make commitments for subordinate organizational units, within guidelines.

Maintains effective communication with all stakeholders and builds cooperative, ongoing working relationships with them to achieve organizational objectives.

The incumbent will collaborate with all levels of management, including senior level executives and program sponsors/owners to solicit and provide input, coordinate approvals, measure and report progress, and facilitate stakeholder involvement.

Defines, plans, and organizes assigned budget, staff, and other resources to accomplish objectives for more than one organizational unit/project/program.

Applies an advanced knowledge of the technical aspects of the appropriate specialization as well as expert knowledge of FAA programs and missions, the commercial space transportation industry, the general principles of launch/reentry safety, and Federal laws, regulations, and policies governing launch/reentry safety.

Evaluates new and emerging technologies to ensure public safety.

Applies an advanced knowledge of budget, human resource, and other administrative policies and procedures, and an advanced understanding of the objectives of the major subdivision.

Work is typically governed by established policies, procedures, and organizational objectives that frequently leave room for discretion.

Resolves all but unique problems without the intervention of higher level management.

Regularly called upon to identify problem areas and to develop and recommend new policies and procedures for resolution.

Individual and organizational performance is typically reviewed periodically by higher level management, usually through status reports and organizational performance measures.

Has discretion to ensure the alignment of projects/programs with the tactical (short-term) objectives of the major subdivision.

Work activities typically impact directly on project/program objectives for more than one organizational unit and for the major subdivision.

Work frequently affects the major subdivision's internal and external customers.