Experience requirements are described in the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards for General Schedule Positions, General Engineering.
BASIC REQUIREMENT OR INDIVIDUAL OCCUPATIONAL REQUIREMENT:
A. 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.
OR
B. 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: (Click here for detailed explanation of each of these items)
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.)
Note: An applicant who meets the basic requirements as specified in A or B above, except as noted under B.1., may qualify for positions in any branch of engineering unless selective factors indicate otherwise.
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must have at least 1 year (52 weeks) of specialized experience at the next lower broadband NH-02, equivalent to the next lower grade GS-11 or equivalent in other pay systems. Specialized experience is experience includes the ability to: Instructs students on a variety of space and/or flight test and supporting topics throughout the curriculum, with a primary emphasis in Astronautical Sciences. Instructs students in a classroom setting, in small groups, and individually. Teaches academic courses, simulator and lab events, and control room test conduct. Provides on-console instruction in astronautical sciences, space operations, or mission systems test areas emphasizing test principles, test execution, and test conduct. Position may also provide airborne instruction in performance, flying qualities, and/or mission systems test areas emphasizing fundamental test principles, test execution, and test conduct and performs an active role in curriculum development.
NOTE: Due to the use of 120-day rosters, this period of experience may be completed within 120 days of the closing date of this announcement.
Ideal Candidate (statement is placed within the announcement): The Instructional Engineer will serve as a key educator within the Astronautical Sciences department, working closely with the Dean of Faculty staff as a curriculum developer and Master's degree educator. Successful candidates will excel in educational roles, effectively lead small teams, and be effective at communicating with students and school leadership.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs): Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following areas:
1. Comprehensive knowledge of regulations, policies, guidelines, and procedures relating to USAF TPS and
space/flight test operations at Edwards AFB and/or the National Space Test and Training Complex.
2. Knowledge of advanced concepts, theories, principles, practices, methods, and techniques of space test and/or flight test, including practical application of aerospace and/or electrical engineering theory, sufficient to analyze, evaluate, explain and demonstrate to others ground, space and/or flight test theory and techniques on
experimental, developmental, or operational aerospace systems.
3. Knowledge of laboratory, ground, air vehicle, and/or space system test conduct including modeling &
simulation, test & safety planning, risk mitigation, test technique determination, data analysis, report writing, and presentation methods.
4. Skill at developing academic lesson plans and teaching in a classroom environment.
5. Ability to multi-task, plan ahead, organize, and manage a fast-paced, multi-dimensional test project.
6. Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, and to use modern computer software
applications in support of communications and presentations.
PART-TIME OR UNPAID EXPERIENCE: Credit will be given for appropriate unpaid and or part-time work. You must clearly identify the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the total number of hours per week.
VANDOLUNTEER WORK EXPERIENCE: Refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service Programs (i.e., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student and social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge and skills that can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.