As a Radio Frequency Telemetry Station (RFTS) Design and Operations Engineer with the Communications and Tracking Branch in the Explorations Systems and Operations Division, you will be responsible for the development of new requirements and design, performing analysis, overseeing the implementation, testing and troubleshooting of the Ground Station Radio Frequency (RF) Communications and Telemetry System (C&TS) interfaces with Launch Vehicles (LV) and Crew Vehicles (CV).

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. Serves as a telecommunications engineer and participates in the planning, operations, maintenance and systems design related to a ground-based Radio Frequency (RF) communication/radar antenna array system. Conducts component level valuations of RF, electronic, instrumentation and photonic devices, analyzes design specifications and drawings, and recommends changes to enable proper functioning of the system or equipment. Participates in technical and contract negotiations and prepares project schedules, cost estimates, and equipment, system, or hardware quantity delivery requirements or the development of measurement and instrumentation systems. Resolves technical difficulties that can be overcome by changes in approach, criteria, or requirements in areas such as flight systems or measurement and instrumentation systems. Designs or directs the development of controversial or leading-edge technology, equipment, or systems to meet specific mission requirements. Reviews and evaluates equipment design to define test and analysis requirements, test parameters, and verification methods. Analyzes real-time and post-test Spacecraft/Launch Vehicle RF signals and evaluate Ethernet and Windows Server performance using standard industry tools.

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.
• This position may require a one year trial 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. To qualify for GS-11, you must have: a) You must have one year of directly related specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 level: Applying engineering concepts, principles, and practices with emphasis in electrical engineering and Radio Frequency (RF) communication theory including signal processing concepts, antenna concepts, and/or modulation and coding techniques (such as Binary Phase Shift Keying, Quadrature Phase-Shift Keying); Participating in the implementation of procedures for aerospace RF electronic hardware/software according to design standards; and Assisting in the development of telecommunications projects. OR b) Completed all requirements for a doctoral degree (i.e., Ph.D. or equivalent) in an appropriate field OR c) Completed 3 full academic years of graduate education in an appropriate field OR d) Have an equivalent combination of experience and graduate study as discussed in a), b) and c) above To qualify for GS-12, you must have one year of directly related specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level: Assisting in the research, design or development of an integrated ground station system in radio frequency engineering, microwave engineering, and/or digital communications; Utilizing software (such as C++, Python, JAVA) to develop and modify applications used in a ground station test environment and using network packet capture tools to analyze internet protocol (IP) based RF telemetry; and Utilizing electronics instrumentation systems or components to test Radio Frequency (RF) flight or ground hardware. To qualify for GS-13, you must have one year of directly related specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 level: Leading development work involving the analysis and assessment, via modeling, simulation and/or test/measurement, of antenna/antenna metrology systems in an integrated ground station system; Troubleshooting flight systems at the Radio Frequency (RF) and command/telemetry level, including encrypted and decrypted signals, to resolve issues; and Implementing aerospace RF communication system procedures and recommending updates for continued system enhancements. 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. Required college majors for applicants qualifying on the basis of graduate education only (GS-11 Only): Aeronautical Engineering, Aeronautics, Aerospace Engineering, Astronautical Engineering, Astronautics, Astronomy, Astrophysics, Chemical Engineering, Electrical Engineering (except power), Electronics Engineering, Applied Mechanics, Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Mechanics, Nuclear Engineering, Nuclear Engineering Physics, Oceanography, Optical Engineering. Other majors will qualify if the major includes or is supplemented as follows: Biomedical Engineering, Chemistry, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Mathematics (Pure or Applied), Physics, Applied Physics, Engineering Physics (or other related field), if includes or is supplemented by two courses in solid state physics, materials, optics, statics and dynamics, electricity and electronics, electron optics, kinetic theory of gases, electromagnetic propagation or radiation, semiconductors, vibration, high vacuum theory, information theory or heat transfer.

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]