The Flight Crew Branch at NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center is currently seeking a Research Pilot. The duties include piloting modified aircraft conducting airborne science research, and participation in the development, testing, evaluation, certification and reporting for new, advanced aircraft concepts and modified aircraft systems.

Duties

Serves as a Research Pilot in the Flight Operations Branch, which is responsible for the execution of multiple aeronautics and airborne science research projects. Assigned to flight research programs involving objectives, hardware, and instrumentation for which few, if any, previous policies or precedents have been established and often involve state of-the-art equipment and/or take place in remote areas. Advises the Director for Flight Operations and the Chief Pilot on all phases of aircraft and science data gathering activities, flight instructional techniques, air traffic control procedures, and regulations. Performs flight prototype research and development of aircraft. Flies a wide variety of missions with occasional extended domestic or overseas deployment. Maintains proficiency in multiple aircraft and demonstrates expertise in handling all types of in-flight and on-ground emergencies. Evaluates operational compatibility, technical feasibility, and economic viability of structural and instrumentation modifications to research aircraft. Determines the effect various aircraft modifications and flight profiles have on safety-of-flight, aircraft performance and handling characteristics, and overall aircraft flight readiness. Fosters a culture of engagement, diversity, inclusiveness, excellence and innovation. Champions NASAs commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility to create an environment that promotes a commitment to safety, integrity, and teamwork.

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.
• At the time of initial appointment, you must possess a current FAA first class medical certificate or a military pilot flight physical; or you must obtain a NASA flight medical certification.
• If selected, you will be required to complete a financial disclosure statement.
• 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. 1. Certificate and Rating: A current Federal Aviation Administration commercial pilot's license with an instrument rating or a pilot and instrument rating from the armed services. 2. Flight Hours: 1,500 hours of pilot-in-command (or first pilot) flight time that included at least 500 hours in jet aircraft having at least 3,000 pounds of thrust per engine. 3. Specialized experience: To qualify for GS-14, you must have one year of directly related specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 level. Pilot in command in U-2/ER-2; Performing flight research, flight test, or flying airborne test bed aircraft; Participating in design and/or evaluation of aircraft modifications. To receive proper consideration, you must: 1. submit a copy of your license with your application 2. ensure that your flight hours are indicated in your resume. NOTE: Candidates establishing eligibility based on military flight experience must provide official orders, forms, or logbooks showing their status as a rated military pilot when requested. 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. NASA prohibits the use of artificial intelligence (AI) or AI-assisted tool in drafting application and assessment responses. Please visit https://www.nasa.gov/careers/how-to-apply/#Artificial-Intelligence to review NASA's guidance on the use of AI tools during the application process.

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; and that provided an in-depth knowledge of theoretical and practical applications of computer science, including digital computer system architecture and system software organization, the representation and transformation of information structures, and the theoretical models for such representations and transformations.

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 Armstrong Flight Research Center 4800 Lilly Ave Edwards, CA 93523 US
• Name: NASA Shared Services Contact Center
• Phone: 1-877-677-2123
• Email: [email protected]