You will serve as an experimental Astrophysicist, telescope, and normal incidence optics subject matter expert in the Science Research and Projects Division, Science and Technology Office at Marshall Space Flight Center. You will provide expertise in telescope optical systems and systems design, optical coatings, detectors, and wavefront error budgeting to address optical physics, science, and engineering challenges enabling next generation space telescopes for use in Astrophysics research.

Duties

Lead Center Ultraviolet/Optical Infrared experimental Astrophysics science research and technology development, including management of complex Optics projects within the Center, Agency, and broader user community. Provide technical expertise, advice, and direction to Astrophysics project/program managers, grant personnel, and contractor professionals about mirror technology and normal incidence optics in astrophysics including peer review studies. Develop and evaluate research proposals in astrophysics, space sciences, and associated space telescope technologies. Lead and conduct feasibility studies, trade studies, testing, analysis, recommendations, and advance technology maturation in Normal Incidence optics to support Astrophysics Decadal Survey science objectives. Provide technical expertise for optical testing and performance characterization/certification of one meter or larger space mirrors and telescopes for application to future astrophysics missions. Manage Center technology efforts and involvement in the Small Business Innovation Research program and participate on the Great Observatory technology Maturation Project Working Group for Facilities Test and Mirror Technologies.

Requirements

• This position is open to U.S. citizens, nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.
• Position subject to pre-employment background security investigation
• You must meet qualifications requirements by the closing date of this announcement
• If selected, you will be required to complete a financial disclosure statement
• This position may require a one year probationary period

Qualifications

In addition to the Basic Education Requirement (in the Education section below), to qualify for this position you must meet the requirements below. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the particular ability, skill, and knowledge to successfully perform the duties of this position and is typically in or related to this line of work. NASA utilizes OPM-approved qualification and rating requirements specific for Aerospace Technology (AST) positions which recognizes NASA's unique aerospace work. The specific qualifications and minimum education requirements are further described below and within the education section of the job announcement. Vacant research positions may be filled at one of several grade levels depending upon the scientific impact of the person selected. A review may be required to determine the appropriate grade level of the position and supplemental materials may be required from the selectee. Please keep this in mind when indicating the lowest grade, you will accept. To qualify for GS-14, you must have one year of directly related specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 level Conducting Astrophysics research, developing and submitting astrophysics research or technology development proposals, and publishing research; Testing to characterize optical systems specifications for integrated meter class and larger space telescopes (e.g. prescription, surface figure and roughness of meter class and larger space mirrors, and wavefronts); Leading astrophysics or optical research projects or teams (e.g., developing and evaluating technology proposals, conducting trade studies, providing technical guidance to team members); Using optical physics, optical systems engineering, and integration to advance space telescope technologies (e.g., optical design, optical coatings, optical detectors, geometric optics, and wavefront error budgeting). Your resume must include a clear and detailed narrative description, in your own words, of how you meet the required specialized experience. 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.

Education

Basic Education Requirement: You must have successfully completed a bachelor's degree with a major in one of the following:
a) Engineering from a college or university that has ABET accredited engineering programs
b) Physical Science, Mathematics, Life Science or other field of Science
c) Computer Science that included 30 semester hours or 45 quarter hours of course work in any combination of mathematics, statistics and computer science with at least half of those hours in mathematics and statistics courses that included differential and integral calculus.

If you did not complete a qualifying bachelor's degree, you may be eligible if you have obtained a graduate degree in an AST qualifying field, as listed above.

Degrees in engineering technology are not considered qualifying for this position.

Engineering degrees earned within the United States: Engineering degrees earned within the United States must be from a college or university that has at least one ABET accredited engineering program. To find out if a school has at least one ABET accredited program, please visit http://www.abet.org.

Engineering degrees earned outside the United States: Engineering degrees earned outside the United States must be recognized by a Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA), often known as accords. These are non-governmental agreements among organizations that accredit academic degree programs. MRAs recognize the substantial equivalence of mature accreditation systems and programs accredited by signatory organizations within their jurisdictions. For a listing of Signatories, please visit, https://www.abet.org/global-presence/mutual-recognition-agreements/is-your-program-recognized/.

Science and other related degrees earned within the United States: Science and other related degrees must have been awarded from colleges or universities that are accredited by recognized accrediting organizations. For a list of schools that meet this criteria, go to http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/.

Science and other related degrees earned outside the United States: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs. These education credentials must be 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.

All degrees must have been received in the year of, or any year subsequent to the original date of accreditation.

Contacts

• Address Marshall Space Flight Center Marshall Space Flight Ctr Huntsville, AL 35811 US
• Name: NASA Shared Services Contact Center
• Phone: 1-877-677-2123
• Email: [email protected]