The Exploration Systems and Development Office of the Exploration Research and Technology Programs Directorate at the Kennedy Space Center is seeking an experienced chemical researcher to support the Applied Chemistry Laboratory for Research and Lab Management at NASA Kennedy Space Center (KSC), FL. Position supports laboratory management as well as exploration-focused research and technology related to in-situ resource utilization.

Duties

Reviews, approves, and manages highly specialized laboratory including access, training records, hazard mitigation and inventory documentation, industrial hygiene assessments and evaluations, and pressure vessel system certifications. Supports management of contractor laboratory support for baseline laboratory operations including maintenance and inspections. Supports the Kennedy Space Center Safety Health and Review Board for laboratory safety and operation assessment, as well as informing laboratory members of safety processes and procedures for safe laboratory access and operation. Directs day to day operation of the Applied Chemistry Laboratory locations and provides laboratory maintenance and service guidance to customers internal to KSC and NASA as well as external to the Agency. Supports office research including building and testing bench-scale prototype chemical systems and hardware such as reactors, catalysts, thermochemical processing systems, and other chemical and chemical engineering laboratory techniques. Maintains knowledge of chemical research methods and techniques to conduct analytical investigations, applied chemical research on low and high temperatures, as well as low and high operational pressures, processing chambers and electrochemistry. Coordinates and maintains quality control and surveillance of waste materials with contractor support for proper laboratory waste stream management. Conducts research and technology development studies involving several engineering and scientific disciplines that result in new system designs that have the potential for profound effect on funding Programs.

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 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.

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. To qualify for GS-13, you must have one year of directly related specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 level in the federal sector: Working with chemistry applications pertaining to at least one of the following: vacuum systems, chemical synthesis, thermochemical processes at high and low temperature, low and high-pressure chemical reaction systems, aerospace oxidizers and fuels, and/or electrochemical applications; Interpreting analytical instrument data used to test and evaluate hardware performance; Supporting the development, review, and approval of personnel training, lab certification, and safety documentation for a research laboratory. 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 Kennedy Space Center Space Commerce Way Titusville, FL 32899 US
• Name: NASA Shared Services Contact Center
• Phone: 1-877-677-2123
• Email: [email protected]