Director Engineering & Test Directorate

Clarification from the agency

The area of consideration for this position is all groups of qualified individuals within the civil service, Senior Executive Service (SES) reinstatement eligible, and SES Candidate Development Program certified graduates with noncompetitive eligibility. A person is considered to be in the civil service only if occupying a civil service position at the time of application.

The Director Engineering & Test Directorate:

• Manages and administers activities to include establishing objectives, developing short- and long-range plans and programs, setting priorities, and effecting changes in the focus of work to accommodate NASA program objectives. Initiate and/or act to provide the necessary resources for accomplishing the E&TD functions, including the responsibility for preparing and defending all resource requirements for the conduct of assigned programs through the budget cycle. Responsible for evaluation and review of results and impact of assigned programs.
• Develops and manages the ground propulsion systems engineering necessary to support technology development and increased systems reliability, components, system level and engine test requirements, including NASA, commercial, Department of Defense, and technology programs, i.e. diagnostic testing and components/systems for next-generation propulsion systems.
• Manages the activation, operation and maintenance of propulsion test facilities to ensure safe operations and customer satisfaction.
• Establishes requirements for new and/or modified test facilities based on knowledge of new program requirements. Conducts parallel and supporting technology for ongoing programs or conducts advance technology programs to develop systems.
• Manages applied science, technology, and rocket propulsion projects and tasks within assigned budgets and schedules to obtain required data and scientific results.
• Establishes plans and processes that assure long term viability and sustainability of SSC's propulsion test facilities and critical skills base. Establishes policies relative to programs and projects assigned to the E&TD by SSC, NASA Headquarters, and/or Agency program offices.
• Coordinates rocket propulsion activities with other agency Rocket Propulsion Test centers reducing overall costs and improve interagency cooperative activity. Supporting and maintaining partnerships to collaborate on common objectives to enable system solutions of technology.
• Manages the development/transfer/deployment of NASA-technologies, processes, product, and facilities, to Federal, State, university, and commercial elements. Maintaining technology development interfaces with other SSC organizations.
• Represents the Center's and Agency's position to engineering, public and private working groups, executive and senior NASA and other Federal Government agencies, Congress and staffs, representative of foreign countries and companies and media.

Conditions of employment

• The individual selected will be required to file an 'Executive Branch Personnel Financial Disclosure Report' (OGE-278e) within 30 days of appointment and annually from then on.
• Initial Senior Executive Service (SES) Career appointee is subject to a one-year probationary period.
• Successful completion of a background investigation commensurate with the risk and sensitivity level of the position.
• Successful completion of pre-employment and random drug testing may be required.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance as required by the position.
• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• Must meet qualifications requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
• Complete a Declaration for Federal Employment to determine your suitability for Federal employment, at the time requested by the agency.

Qualifications

As a basic requirement for entry into the Senior Executive Service (SES) under a career appointment, you must clearly articulate and describe within your 2-page resume that you possess the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) and Mandatory Technical Qualifications MTQ related to this position. If your 2-page resume does not reflect demonstrated evidence of the ECQs and MTQ, you may be disqualified. Any additional pages over the 2-page limit will not be reviewed.

Your resume should include evidence of progressively responsible supervisory, managerial, or professional experience which involved management of a program or organization of significant scope and complexity, normally obtained over several years by serving in positions at the GS-15 level or equivalent.

If you are (1) currently serving under a career SES appointment, (2) eligible for reinstatement into the SES (this means you were previously employed as a Career SES employee and you successfully completed a one-year probationary period), OR (3) have successfully completed a SES Candidate Development Program (CDP) and certified by OPM, you do not need to address the ECQs in your resume. However, your resume must clearly state that you are a current career SES, eligible for SES reinstatement, or SES CDP certified and year of certification.

Please DO NOT submit separate documents addressing the ECQs or MTQ. Only your 2-page resume will be accepted and considered. Any additional documents submitted will not be accepted.

EXECUTIVE CORE QUALIFICATIONS (ECQs)
For more information on the ECQs, please visit OPM's ECQ webpage.

ECQ 1 - Commitment to the Rule of Law and the Principles of the American Founding: This core qualification requires a demonstrated knowledge of the American system of government, commitment to uphold the Constitution and the rule of law, and commitment to serve the American people. Competencies: Knowledge of the American System of Government, Commitment to the Rule of Law, and Civic-Mindedness

ECQ 2 - Driving Efficiency: This core qualification involves the demonstrated ability to strategically and efficiently manage resources, budget effectively, cut wasteful spending, and pursue efficiency through process and technological upgrades. Competencies: Fiscal Responsibility, Managing Resources, Leveraging Technology

ECQ 3 - Merit and Competence: This core qualification involves the demonstrated knowledge, ability and technical competence to effectively and reliably produce work that is of exceptional quality. Competencies: Technical Skill, Problem Solving, Agility and Resilience

ECQ 4 - Leading People: This core qualification involves the demonstrated ability to lead and inspire a group toward meeting the organization's vision, mission, and goals, and to drive a high-performance, high-accountability culture. This includes, when necessary, the ability to lead people through change and to hold individuals accountable. Competencies: Accountability, Developing Others, Executive Judgment

ECQ 5 - Achieving Results - This core qualification involves the demonstrated ability to achieve both individual and organizational results, and to align results to stated goals from superiors. Competencies: Operational Mindset, Innovation, Strategic Thinking


MANDATORY TECHNICAL QUALIFICATION (MTQ):
Your resume must include accomplishments that address the MTQ.

MTQ: Demonstrated leadership in directing high performing organizations responsible for the full spectrum of engineering and test functions, spanning cryogenic systems design/operations, data and controls systems, program or project management, and test complex coordination or range operations.
Competencies: Technical Work and Team Management ; Research, Development or Flight Facility Planning

Your application package must be in your own words. 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. Please visit and review NASA's guidance on the use of super intelligence (SI) or SI-assisted tools during the application process.

How you will be evaluated

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

All qualifications requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement.

We will review your resume to ensure you meet the qualification requirements. If you meet the basic qualification requirements, your application will be referred to and evaluated by an executive panel. Highly Qualified applicants may undergo one or more interviews and/or be asked to provide a list of references or additional documents to confirm eligibility.

Upon selection, if the selectee does not have Qualifications Review Board (QRB) certification by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), he/she must undergo an ECQ based structured interview with OPM before being appointed to this position.

A complete application includes items described below. Please note that if you do not provide all required information, as specified in this announcement, you may be removed from consideration for this position (or may not receive the special consideration for which you may be eligible). Human Resources will not modify or change any part of your application.

RESUME: All applicants are required to submit a two (2) page resume showing all relevant experience. Applicants seeking initial career appointment to the SES must include evidence of the ECQs and MTQ(s) within their resume. Please see this guidance: What to include in your resume.

Note: if any of the following types of information are included on your resume, you may be disqualified:

• Classified or government sensitive information.
• Social Security Number (SSN)
• Photos of yourself
• Personal information, such as age, gender, religious affiliation, etc.
• Encrypted and digitally signed documents.

Next steps