Aerospace engineering Jobs in Alexandria, VA

Summary

The closing date will be extended to June 12, 2025.

This position is located in the Office of Aviation Safety (OAS), Aviation Engineering Division (AED) in Washington, D.C. Participates, investigates, and directs engineering aspects of general aviation and air carrier accidents involving safety issues associated with aircraft flight control, hydraulic, electrical, avionic and pneumatic systems including design, manufacturing, certification and maintenance conditions.

This job is open to

• The public

U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

Federal employees whose job, agency or department was eliminated and are eligible for priority over other applicants.

Clarification from the agency

U.S. Citizens

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Duties

As a Aerospace Engineer (Helicopters), GS-0861-14, you will perform the following major duties

At theGS-14, typical duties may include :

Serves as Group Chairman on accidents and incidents investigated by the Safety Board. Specific areas of responsibility for the investigation will be designated by the Aviation Engineering Division Chief, Team Leader, or the Investigator-in-Charge (IIC).

Prepares group factual field notes that summarize the findings of the assigned investigative group(s) at on-site investigations and during follow up testing or examination.

Identifies and develops requirements for post-accident / incident examinations and investigations. Develops appropriate test plans and leads investigative groups assigned such duties.

Demonstrates an awareness of proper safety precautions on-site and provides safety guidance to all assigned investigation group members.

Attends scheduled progress meetings and presents progress reports of group activities as requested by the IIC or Board Member during on-scene investigations. After returning from the on-scene phase of the investigation conducts briefings of supervisors, other staff, and Board Members, as required, regarding the findings of the investigation.

Makes presentations and responds to Member's questions at Board meetings following the conclusion of major investigations or projects.

Physical Demands : Occasionally the aircraft wreckage may contain hazardous materials that may be burning by the time the investigator arrives on-the-scene. The incumbent may be exposed to a variety of weather conditions and other environmental discomforts such as remote, rugged, snow, rain, temperature extremes, swampy or mountainous areas and hostile settings. Investigators may have to wear a hardhat, safety shoes, goggles, gloves, and other protective equipment.

Work Environment : The incumbent supports major regional go-team launches. Major go-team launch teams commonly travel on the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) jet from Reagan National Airport within two hours after an accident notification is received. Timely arrival at the scene of a major accident allows for timely documentation of a wreckage; a delay in this effort can have significant impacts, such as impeding the re-opening of an airport.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

Qualifications

You must meet the Education Requirements and the Specialized Experience to qualify for this position as described below.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS :

GS-14 : You MUST have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-13 grade level in the Federal service (experience may have been gained in the private sector), performing the following types of specialized experience defined as :

Collecting and analyzing information regarding engineering and aviation safety to conduct helicopter crash or helicopter-related infrastructure failure investigations. Utilizing inspection techniques to interpret engineering schematics, build and installation instructions, maintenance and repair records, and other technical documentation related to helicopter design and airworthiness. Developing test plans and requirements for post-accident examinations and investigative activities related to helicopter structures, control systems, dynamic components, and powerplants. Identifying issues and proposing safety recommendations related to helicopters and aviation safety. Writing factual and analytical investigation reports. Exchanging information concerning helicopter aviation safety with other stakeholders such as other federal agencies, industry, labor, manufacturers, national and professional organizations, associations.

For more information see link : https : / / www.opm.gov / policy-data-oversight / classification-qualifications / general-schedule-qualification-standards / 0800 / aerospace-engineering-series-0861 / .

NOTE : IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your resume must clearly show the specialized experience and competencies related to this position. Failure to demonstrate how you possess the education, specialized experience and / or competencies will result in an Ineligible rating.

Education

This position has a positive education requirement :

Applicants must submit a copy of their college or university transcripts(s) and certificates by the closing date of announcement to verify qualifications. If selected, an official transcript will be required prior to appointment.

BASIC EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS :

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 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); and (g) any other comparable area of fundamental engineering science or physics, such as optics, heat transfer, soil mechanics, or electronics.

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 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 :

1. Professional registration or licensure Current registration as an Engineer Intern (EI), Engineer in Training (EIT)1, 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 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 typically would be rated eligible only for manufacturing engineering positions.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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 all-inclusive.)

You MUST provide transcripts or other documentation to support your educational claims. Unless otherwise stated : (1) official or unofficial transcripts are acceptable, or (2) you may submit a list with all your courses, grades, semester, year, and credit for the course. All materials must be submitted by the closing date of the announcement.

GENERAL EDUCATION : All academic degrees and coursework must be completed at an institution that has obtained accreditation or pre-accreditation status from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education for it to be credited towards qualifications. For a list of schools that meet these criteria, see https : / / www.ed.gov / accreditation?src=rn. Applications submitted without the required supporting documents will not be accepted. An unofficial transcript; statement from the institution's registrar, dean, or other appropriate official; or equivalent documentation is acceptable at the time of application. Education submitted must be appropriately accredited by an accredited body recognized by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education. For additional information, refer to the U.S. Department of Education web site at : http : / / www.ed.gov

FOREIGN EDUCATION : If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit : https : / / www2.ed.gov / about / offices / list / ous / international / usnei / us / edlite-visitus-forrecog.html

Additional information

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Applicants will be rated using the Category Rating System. Your resume and supporting documentation will be compared to your responses to the Screening Questions / Occupational Questionnaire for consistency. Applicants must first meet any mandatory education / licensure / certification requirements before experience is evaluated. Failure to meet any mandatory requirement as outlined in the qualifications section will disqualify you from further consideration. Based on the extent and quality of your experience, education, and training in relation to these competencies, you will be placed into one of the following three categories :

The Category Rating Method does not add Veterans' preference points or apply the rule of three, but protects the rights of veterans by placing them ahead of non-preference eligibles within each category. Documented preference eligibles who meet minimum qualification / eligibility requirements and who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10% will be listed in the highest quality category, except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-9 grade level or higher.

We will review your resume and supporting documentation to determine your eligibility and qualifications. E xperience must be clearly reflected in your resume . If mandatory education / licensure / certification requirements are met, your application will be further evaluated based on training, experience and other factors critical to successful job performance such as :

If a determination is made that you have rated yourself higher than is supported by your resume, you will be assigned a rating commensurate to your described experience or your application may be removed from further consideration.

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

As a new or existing federal employee, you and your family may have access to a range of benefits. Your benefits depend on the type of position you have - whether you're a permanent, part-time, temporary or an intermittent employee. You may be eligible for the following benefits, however, check with your agency to make sure you're eligible under their policies.

You are required to provide documentation that supports the eligibility and qualification claims made in your resume and assessment questionnaire . You must submit the applicable documents listed here and those listed with the eligibilities you select in the announcement questionnaire with your application package. Applicants who do not provide supporting documentation that fully support their claims will not be referred to the hiring manager. Cover letter is optional.

The following documents are required for a COMPLETE APPLICATION PACKAGE :

A Complete Resume is required : Your resume must show relevant experience, job title, duties and accomplishments. Your resume must show complete information for each job entry to support minimum qualifications. The following information should be provided in your resume : employer's name, starting and end dates (Mo / Yr), hours per week, and pay plan, series and grade level (e.g. GS-0201-09) for relevant federal experience. Please see OPM's video on Resume Writing Tips : http : / / www.youtube.com / watch?v=8YX7o1PBoFk

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements :

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and / or degrees from

schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete application package (see the required documents section).The complete application package must be submitted by 11 : 59 PM (EST) on 06 / 12 / 2025.

NOTE : If you cannot apply online, please send an e-mail which includes the vacancy announcement number, position title and the reason you are not able to apply on-line to [email protected] at least 1 business day before the closing date.

Agency contact information

Human Resources Division

Email

[email protected]

Address

AS Aviation Safety

490 L'Enfant Plaza East SW

Washington, DC 20594

Next steps

Once the announcement has closed, your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine if you meet the qualifications listed in the announcement.

The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.

Criminal history inquiries

Required Documents

You are required to provide documentation that supports the eligibility and qualification claims made in your resume and assessment questionnaire . You must submit the applicable documents listed here and those listed with the eligibilities you select in the announcement questionnaire with your application package. Applicants who do not provide supporting documentation that fully support their claims will not be referred to the hiring manager. Cover letter is optional.

The following documents are required for a COMPLETE APPLICATION PACKAGE :

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements :

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and / or degrees from

schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

How to Apply

NOTE : If you cannot apply online, please send an e-mail which includes the vacancy announcement number, position title and the reason you are not able to apply on-line to [email protected] at least 1 business day before the closing date.

Agency contact information

Human Resources Division

Email

[email protected]

Address

AS Aviation Safety

490 L'Enfant Plaza East SW

Washington, DC 20594

Next steps

Once the announcement has closed, your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine if you meet the qualifications listed in the announcement.

Fair & Transparent

The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.