Aviation Safety Inspector (Airworthiness) (Assistant Principal Maintenance Inspector) Job in Essington, PA

Vacancy No. ASW-FS-25-EL211-95021 Department Federal Aviation Administration
Salary $116,123.00 to $150,962.00 Grade 13 to 13
Perm/Temp Temporary FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 4/30/2025 Close Date 5/21/2025
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Status Candidates
Locations:
Essington, PA


Summary

The Assistant Principal Inspector (Maintenance) General Aviation/Part 135 serves as a full assistant to a Principal Inspector (Maintenance) General Aviation/Part 135 performing the full range of certification, surveillance, and inspection duties for air carriers, air operators, air agencies, airmen, and designees.

This job is open to

Clarification from the agency

Open to current permanent AVS-Wide and AMA-200 employees

Duties

II. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Under the general direction of the Principal Inspector (Maintenance) or Supervisory Principal Inspector (Maintenance) accomplishes the following duties:

A. Technical Administration
Assures on a continuing basis that assigned organizations are properly and adequately organized, staffed, and equipped; have and conduct an adequate training program, including an acceptable recordkeeping system; and have facilities and procedures that meet all regulatory requirements. Chairs joint FAA-industry meetings;
maintains regular contact with organizations assigned; and coordinates with top management officials. Requires or directs correction of any deficiencies/discrepancies and refuses or withdraws approval if they cannot be resolved.

Maintenance Review Boards. Coordinates Minimum Equipment List (MEL)approvals with the principal operations inspector. Takes enforcement action in instances of noncompliance with the MEL.

Is responsible for the conduct of enforcement investigations and preparation of final reports and recommendations on disposition. Performs or supervises the emergency suspension of certificates or cancellation of operations specifications. Conducts or directs there examination of certificated airmen or recertification of an operator or agency.

Conducts investigations of public complaints, congressional inquiries, and aircraft incidents and accidents. Provides verbal and/or written technical assistance to legal counsel, testifies at court trials and formal hearings, and gives depositions.

Coordinates with geographic inspectors for the accomplishment of nonroutine air carrier surveillance.

B. Certification
Has responsibility for initial and ongoing certification of air carriers, aircraft, airmen, and agencies. Makes recommendations on the appointment of designees.

Evaluates requests to operate under conditions not previously specified in the maintenance portion of the operations specifications and approves or disapproves requests and provides additional conditions and limitations as needed.

Provides guidance to the assigned air carrier in the development of required maintenance manuals and record keeping systems. Reviews and determines adequacy of manuals associated with the air carrier's maintenance programs and revisions thereto. Assures that manuals and revisions comply with regulatory requirements, prescribe safe practices, and furnish clear and specific instructions governing maintenance programs. Approves operations specifications and amendments thereto.

Determines if the maintenance facilities being established or contract arrangements entered into by air carriers for purpose of overhaul work, major repairs, alterations, and other maintenance are
satisfactory. Reviews changes and negotiates with air carrier management to resolve problems.

Determines if overhaul and inspection time limitations warrant revision.

Evaluates an operator's proposed reliability programs for compliance with national policies. Advises operator of deficiencies and required changes. Approves/disapproves reliability programs.

Determines if the air carrier's training program meets the requirements of the FARs, is compatible with the maintenance program, is properly organized and effectively conducted, and results in trained and competent personnel.

Directs or participates in proving flight evaluations to determine compliance with the FARs. Recommends changes that will be required prior to approval.

C. Surveillance
Directs the inspection and surveillance of the air carrier's continuous airworthiness maintenance program. Monitors all phases of the air carrier's maintenance operation, including the following: maintenance, engineering, quality control, production control, training, and reliability programs. Analyzes trends to detect a deterioration in the maintenance program.

Is responsible for monitoring the activities of air operators, air agencies, airmen, and designees.

D. Other

Perform other assigned duties.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • US Citizenship is required.
  • Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
  • Must submit an SF50 (See Required Documents).
  • In-grade/Downgrade Applications will be accepted.
  • Temporary NTE 2 Years; may be extended, terminated, or made permanent without further competition.
  • Security Requirement: Moderate Risk (5). This position requires completion and favorable adjudication of a background investigation prior to appointment, unless a waiver is obtained. (Subject to a five-year period of reinvestigation).

Qualifications

OPM General Schedule Qualification Standards for Aviation Safety Series, 1825

General Requirements for All Positions:

  1. Not more than two separate incidents involving Federal aviation regulations violations in the last 5 years;
  2. Valid State driver's license;
  3. Fluency in the English language;
  4. No chemical dependencies or drug abuse that could interfere with job performance; and
  5. High school diploma or equivalent

Medical Requirements for All positions:

Applicants must be physically able to perform the duties of the Aviation Safety Inspector position in a safe and efficient manner, with or without a reasonable accommodation. The minimum medical requirements include the following requirements:

  1. Have good distant vision in each eye and be able to read, without strain, printed materials the size of typewritten characters (glasses and contact lenses permitted);
  2. Have the ability to hear the conversational voice (hearing aid permitted); and
  3. Not have any physical condition that would cause them to be a hazard to themselves or others that would interfere with their ability to fly as passengers in a variety of aircraft.

When the predominant work involves general aviation maintenance, applicants for Aviation Safety Inspector (Airworthiness) positions must meet all of the following requirements:

  1. Experience involving the maintenance and repair of airframes, power plants, and aircraft systems with responsibility for certifying airworthiness.
  2. Maintenance experience with aircraft 12,500 pounds or less maximum certificated takeoff weight.
  3. Aircraft maintenance experience in a repair station; air carrier or airline repair facility; military repair facility; or local, state or Federal governmental agency.
  4. Aircraft maintenance work experience within the last 3 years.
  5. FAA Mechanic Certificate with airframe and power plant ratings.

Note: Recency of specialized experience is waived for current and former FAA employees in the 1825 series.

Certificate and Ratings:

This position requires a certificate and ratings for minimum qualification in the following specialty: General Aviation Maintenance; a copy of the certificate and ratings are required for ALL candidates newly appointed to the FAA in the 1825 specialty of General Aviation Maintenance.

Certificate and ratings must be submitted from current FAA employees applying for internal vacancies if they have never held this position with the FAA.

Certificate and ratings are not required from current FAA employees who are currently occupying (or previously held) General Aviation Maintenance 1825 series position.

Specialized Experience: To qualify for this position you must demonstrate in your application that you possess at least one year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the (FV-H, FG/GS-12) level. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. Specialized experience includes: experience assisting, conducting, or performing various technical functions related to certification, surveillance, investigation, and enforcement activities. Additional experience may be in investigating and reporting on accidents, incidents, and violations.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS MUST BE MET BY THE CLOSING DATE OF THIS VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT.

As a part of the Federal-Wide Hiring Reform Initiative (streamlining the hiring process), the FAA is committed to eliminating the use of the Knowledge, Skills and Ability (KSA) narratives from the initial application in the hiring process for all announcements. Therefore, as an applicant for this announcement, you are NOT required to provide a narrative response in the text box listed below each KSA.

In lieu of providing a KSA narrative response in the text box listed below each KSA, in your work history, please include information that provides specific examples of how you meet the response level or answer you chose for each KSA. Your work history examples should be specific and clearly reflect the highest level of ability. Your KSA answers will be evaluated further to validate whether the level that you selected is appropriate based on the work history and experience you provided. Your answers may be adjusted by a Human Resource Specialist as appropriate. Based on this evaluation, applicants will be placed in one of the following categories: score order, category grouping, or alphabetical and referred to the selecting official for consideration.

Education

Not Applicable.

Preview Job Questionnaire

Make sure your resume includes detailed information to support your qualifications and answers to the job questionnaire.

Additional information

We may use this vacancy to fill other similar vacant positions.
Position may be subject to a background investigation.
A one-year probationary period may be required.

The person selected for this position may be required to file a financial disclosure statement within 30 days of entry on duty. FAA policy limits certain outside employment and financial investments in aviation-related companies. www.faa.gov/jobs/workinghere/financial-disclosure-requirements

For Lateral Movements Between 1825 Specialties: To assist in determining qualification requirements, applicants transferring between specialties at the same grade level are strongly encouraged to complete the appropriate Qualifications Assessment Tool (QAT) check sheet and upload it along with their resume. Check sheets are contained in Order 3410.26, Flight Standards Service Air Carrier and General Aviation Qualifications Assessment Tool for AFS Aviation Safety Inspectors. This order is located at: https://www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/media/Order/3410.26.pdf

Background Investigation: This moderate risk public trust (Level 5) position requires a Minimum Background Investigation (MBI) for Moderate Risk.

Interviews: If the agency decides to interview any qualified employee on the selection list, then all on the list who are qualified must be interviewed.

Salary: Salary iscovered by the PASS/AVS Bargaining Contract.

INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS: Please ensure you answer all questions and follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may impact your rating or may result in you not being considered for the job.

Links to Important Information: Locality Pay, COLA

Benefits

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.

Review our 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.



IMPORTANT: Applicants may be rated on the extent and quality of experience, education, and training relevant to the duties of the position(s). All answers provided in the on-line process must be substantiated. Ensure that your application package/resume supports your responses.

Required Documents

Current or Former Federal employee (including a current FAA employee): You MUST submit a copy of your most recent (non-award) SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, or equivalent document that verifies tenure (block 24, code 1 or 2). Failure to provide the required documentation by the closing date of this announcement will result in non-consideration for this position.

Applicants are reminded that Form SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action) is required and NOT Form SF-52 (Request for Personnel Action).



If you are an FAA employee, you MUST provide a copy of your SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action) containing information in Blocks 15, 17, 18, 19, 22, and 24 so it can be used to verify your position title, series, grade, tenure, and organization of record by the closing date of the announcement. You may fax your SF-50 or upload it into the on-line application. If faxing the SF-50, please ensure you include the vacancy announcement number on the faxed copy.

If you are an FAA employee, you can access and print your SF-50 from the eOPF system https://eopf.opm.gov/dot/.

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

You must apply online to receive consideration. Your application must be submitted by 11:59 PM Eastern Time on the Close Date for it to be accepted. If you are applying for positions associated with FAA registers, your application must be submitted at the time a referral list is created in order to receive consideration for positions associated with a register.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR WORK EXPERIENCE AND/OR EDUCATION, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE OR EDUCATION.

We strongly encourage applicants to utilize the USAJOBS resume builder in the creation of resumes.

Please ensure EACH work history includes ALL of the following information:

  • Job Title (include series and grade if Federal Job)

  • Duties (be specific in describing your duties)

  • Employer's name and address

  • Supervisor name and phone number

  • Start and end dates including month and year (e.g. June 2007 to April 2008)

  • Full-time or part-time status (include hours worked per week)

  • Salary (optional)


Determining length of General or Specialized Experience is dependent on the above information and failure to provide ALL of this information may result in a finding of ineligible.

You may upload completed documents to your USAJOBS Account. This will provide you the opportunity to utilize the uploaded information again when applying for future vacancies. Please see this guide, Document Upload Guide, for more information on uploading and re-using the documents in your applications.

Agency contact information

Eric Larson, HR Specialist
Phone
1 (817) 222-4457
Fax
1 (817) 222-5852
Email
eric.r.larson@faa.gov
Address
Federal Aviation Administration
ASW Regional HR Services Branch
10101 Hillwood Parkway
AHF-S410
Fort Worth, TX 76177
US

Next steps

Once we receive your complete application, the Human Resources Office will conduct an evaluation of your qualifications. Eligible and qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager for consideration. You will be contacted directly if selected for an interview.

For instructions on how to check the status of your application, please go to: USAJOBS Help Guide.

Important - If you make any changes to your application, you must resubmit it. If you make changes to your application and do not resubmit it, your changes will not be considered part of your application package, and only your previously submitted application will be evaluated.

All qualified applicants will be considered regardless of political affiliation, race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, age, disability, or other non-merit factors. DOT provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the agency contact listed in the Agency Contact Information section of this announcement or the hiring manager. An employee with a disability must notify the decision-maker of the accommodation request. Job applicants and employees are required to follow up oral requests in writing. Decisions on granting reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. Additional information on reasonable accommodations procedures or on EEO Programs is available on Office of Civil Rights (ACR) or by contacting the local FAA Civil Rights Office.


Note: We cannot accept applications on behalf of Federal Agencies. Application instructions are listed within the Job Description.


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