The Engineering and Technology Directorate, Mission Engineering and Systems Analysis Division, Navigation and Mission Design Branch is seeking a subject matter expert who will guide the design and development of state-of-the-art optical navigation software to support national strategic interests for lunar exploration and beyond.

Duties

Duties described below are at the full-performance level. Duties assigned at a lower grade level will be of more limited scope, performed with less independence and limited complexity; duties will be commensurate with the grade of selected employee. Oversee the design, development, and deployment of the Goddard Image Analysis and Navigation Tool (GIANT) and cFS (core Flight Software) GIANT code bases. Handle all NPR 7150.2 compliance items in conjunction with the branch Software Systems Engineer. Provide consultation and direction on the use of optical navigation in cislunar space, planetary applications, and encounters with small solar system bodies. Incorporate innovative new optical navigation techniques and measurement types into the product plan. Serve as the established technical expert in the definition, design, and development of prototype digital flight control systems for advanced orbital spacecraft navigation concepts. Formulate and implement simulation models of small bodies within the solar system, terrain of planets and moons, and the estimation of the position and velocity of an orbital vehicle with respect to them. Define and develop specific mathematical models and computer logic formulation associated with optical navigation, image processing and image registration. Coordinate and integrate the planning, programming, development, oversight, scheduling, and overall management of resources for multi-phase projects, ensuring that a progress schedule is maintained. Keep abreast of optical efforts across GSFC specifically focusing on new technologies (i.e., modulation transfer functions (MTFs) v. point-spread functions, photon sieves, Fourier optics) to support furthering optical navigation capabilities.

Requirements

• Current Federal employees must meet qualifications, time in grade, and 90 days after competitive appointment requirements by the closing date of the announcement.
• If selected, you will be required to complete a financial disclosure statement.

Qualifications

In addition to the Basic Education Requirement (in the Education section below), to qualify for this position you must meet the requirements below and have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade, which has equipped you with the particular competencies needed to successfully perform the duties of the position described above. 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. GS-14: To qualify at the GS-14 level, you must have one year of directly related specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 level: Performing analysis and design, development, simulation, integration and/or testing for optical navigation tools; Conducting analytical investigations of feature identification, image processing, and/or image registration for planetary bodies and surfaces (e.g., small bodies, planetary terrain, the lunar surface) to support optical navigation in various atmospheric, planetary, and space environments or spaceflight regimes; Leading studies, analysis, and teams to assess optical navigation tool feasibility for various mission concepts. 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 Goddard Space Flight Center 8800 Greenbelt Rd Greenbelt, MD 20771 US
• Name: NASA Shared Services Contact Center
• Phone: 1-877-677-2123
• Email: [email protected]