Aviation Safety Inspector (Manufacturing)

Clarification from the agency

All US Citizens

The Aviation Safety Inspector (ASI), when assigned as a Principal Inspector (PI), has certificate management responsibility for one or more aerospace organizations. The inspector is involved in the planning and implementation of a full range of manufacturing inspection, type, production, and airworthiness certification programs at one or more aerospace organizations within a Certificate Management Sections (CM), geographic area of responsibility.

Duties at the FG-12 grade level include but are not limited to the following:

• Verifies assigned aerospace organizations comply with Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (14CFR) with respect to production, original airworthiness, and certification programs. Determines certificate management actions for audits of assigned aerospace organizations within personnel and budget limitations.
• Establishes certificate management actions in terms of kind and areas of audit, location, and frequency that will be most productive to assure adherence to the aerospace organization's quality system and conducts audits in accordance with FAA Orders 8120.22 Production Approval Procedures, 8120.23 Certificate Management of Production Approval Holders, and other established policies.
• Serves as manufacturing expert in the investigation of violations, accidents, incidents, and malfunctions/defects that may be attributable to items manufactured in assigned organizations.

Duties at the FG-11 grade level include but are not limited to the following:

• Assists in the planning and implementation of a full range of manufacturing inspection, continued operational safety, certificate management activities, safety management system activities, and designee and/or delegation oversight, as well as provides input on regulatory development and type and production certification projects.
• Under the guidance of a more experienced ASI, may review proposals for new or revised manufacturing processes and specifications and discuss approval with the principle ASI to determine compliance to applicable FAA policy and guidance.  
• With moderate guidance provided by the CM Sections Manager, SASI, or other journeyman ASIs, the ASI determines if quality management systems implemented at aerospace organizations are adequate.

Conditions of employment

• US Citizenship is required.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.

Qualifications

All applicants must meet the following requirements:

1. Not more than 2 separate incidents involving Federal Aviation Regulations violations in the last 5 years;
2. Have a valid state driver's license;
3. Be fluent in the English language;
4. Have no chemical dependencies or drug abuse that could interfere with job performance; and
5. Be a high school graduate or equivalent.

MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS: Applicants must be physically able to perform the duties of the Aviation Safety Inspector position in a safe and efficient manner, and must meet all of the following requirements:

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

Applicants for Aviation Safety Inspector (Manufacturing) positions must meet one of the following requirements:

A. Experience in the area of quality systems, methods, and techniques in the manufacture of products and/or articles that demonstrates the ability to determine whether aircraft and related products meet the approved design criteria, or the design criteria on which approval is being sought and is in condition for safe operations; or

B. Experience involving either the actual issuance of airworthiness certificates or having responsibility for managing programs leading to the issuance of original airworthiness certificates or original export airworthiness approvals for products and/or articles; or

C. Experience involving a combination of paragraph A and paragraph B.

Acceptable specialized experience for paragraph A includes actual experience in a majority of the following areas:

1. First article, in process and final assembly inspection;
2. Quality assurance provisions of special processes (e.g. heat treating, brazing, welding, carburizing, plating, CAD-CAM, robotics, software quality control, etc.,)
3. Destructive and non-destructive inspection;
4. Manufacturing processes;
5. Airworthiness assurance;
6. Developing and implementing quality systems and procedures;
7. Testing procedures; and
8. Use of improved design data.

The experience in paragraph A or B is typically acquired in such positions as:

1. Quality engineer;
2. Quality systems supervisor/manager;
3. Quality systems auditor;
4. Service representative with technical quality experience;
5. FAA designee such as a designated manufacturing inspection representative (DMIR); or
6. Designated airworthiness representative (DAR) authorized to perform manufacturing inspection functions on behalf of the FAA.

Selective Placement Factors:

Experience should demonstrate at a minimum developmental experience, training, or progressively responsible involvement in the evaluation, certification, oversight, implementation, or operational integration of emerging aviation technologies and programs, with particular emphasis on Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) and/or Advanced Air Mobility (AAM). Experience may be gained through assignments, developmental opportunities, certification projects, operational activities, pilot programs, demonstrations, or other aviation-related work involving emerging technologies. 

To qualify for this position at the FG/GS-12 level -All candidates must demonstrate one year (52 weeks) of
specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade (FG/GS-11). Specialized experience is defined as knowledge and experience of aerospace quality assurance systems in a position of leadership, or having the ability to make decisions independently, as it relates to an aerospace manufacturing environment in the areas of assembly, test and final inspection, and airworthiness determination as evidenced by practical experience working in this environment - such as work as a Supervisory Quality Inspector, Organization Designation Authorization Unit Member, or Manager of an aircraft or aerospace article manufacturing facility.

To qualify for this position at the FG/GS-11 level -All candidates must demonstrate one year (52 weeks) of
specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade (FG/GS-09). Specialized experience is defined as knowledge and experience of aerospace quality assurance systems, and having the ability to make decisions independently, as it relates to an aerospace manufacturing environment in the areas of assembly, test and final inspection, and airworthiness determination as evidenced by practical experience working in this environment. 

Specialized Experience Statement:  Required in addition to above

Experience or developmental exposure to UAS operations and integration; AAM/eVTOL aircraft and operations; certification, conformity, testing, or operational approval activities; pilot, demonstration, or partnership programs; and emerging aviation technology policy and regulatory frameworks. Experience may be demonstrated through progressively responsible assignments, formal training, developmental details, special projects, or direct participation in FAA or industry programs involving emerging aviation technologies.

THE FULL PERFORMANCE POTENTIAL TO THE FG-13 GRADE LEVEL: Identification of promotion in the vacancy announcement does not constitute a commitment or an obligation on the part of management to promote the employee selected at some future date. Promotion will depend upon the selectee meeting all training, qualification requirements, and recommendation by the supervisor.

Qualifications must be met by the closing date of this vacancy announcement.

In addition to the minimum qualifications, the following has been determined to be a selective factor for this position. This means possession of this criterion is part of the minimum qualifications and is essential to perform the duties and responsibilities of this position. Applicants who do not possess this criterion are ineligible for further consideration.

• My resume reflects clear experience or developmental exposure regarding UAS operations and integration; AAM/eVTOL aircraft and operations; certification, conformity, testing, or operational approval activities; pilot, demonstration, or partnership programs; and emerging aviation technology policy and regulatory frameworks.

IMPORTANT: Ensure that your work experience supports your Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA), and Technical Requirements answers. Your answers and associated work experience will be evaluated further to validate whether the answers that you selected are appropriate.

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.

Detailed two page resume with clear job duty descriptions related UAS operation and integration, the manufacture of products and/or articles that demonstrates the ability to determine whether aircraft and related products meet the approved design criteria aircraft airworthiness, or the actual issuance of airworthiness certificates or the original export airworthiness approvals for products and/or articles.

All Veterans: If you are claiming veterans' preference, you must submit either a DD Form 214 Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (Member 4 Copy or equivalent), or a document from the armed forces certifying that within 120 days you are expected to be discharged or released from active duty service under honorable conditions. If you are claiming 10 point preference, you must also submit a completed SF-15, Application for 10-Point Veteran's Preference, and supporting documents outlined on the SF-15. Documents must be uploaded or faxed to the Servicing Human Resource Management Office listed in this announcement and all documents must be received by the closing date of the announcement. If you fail to submit documentation, you will be assessed as a non-veteran.

If you are claiming 10 point preference but fail to submit the supporting documents outlined on the SF-15, you will be tentatively assessed as a 5 point preference eligible provided your DD Form 214 reflects that you have the service required to qualify for preference. Documents must be uploaded or faxed to the Servicing Human Resource Management Office listed in this announcement and all documents must be received by the closing date of the announcement. If you fail to submit documentation, you will be assessed as a non-veteran.

Veterans currently on active duty claiming veterans' preference: You will be granted tentative preference if you submit a document from the armed forces certifying that within 120 days you are expected to be discharged or released from active duty service under honorable conditions and your application shows that you have the required service. Prior to being appointed, you must provide to the Servicing Human Resource Management Office a DD Form 214 documenting discharge/release and showing that the service was honorable or general. If you are on terminal leave, you must provide documentation certifying authorized terminal leave.

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