The Human Systems Integration Division (Code TH) within the Exploration Technology Directorate (Code T) at National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Ames Research Center is currently seeking interested applicants for the position of Computer Scientist. You will conduct research, develop, assess, and verify design criteria and engineering guidelines for aerospace computer systems through the use of Human-Computer Interaction methods.

Duties

Work directly with stakeholders to discover opportunities, gather requirements, and scope appropriate solutions that will address underlying Agency needs and aerospace problems. Lead analysis of task, user, and organizational requirements for software applications via human-computer interaction (HCI) methods. Understand complex engineering process flows and needs by conducting user research. Synthesize findings into actionable insights that can be efficiently shared amongst an interdisciplinary team and conveyed to program management. Present research findings and recommendations to program leadership. Estimate and share cost tradeoffs to inform agency decisions to support NASA’s objectives. Participate in a rigorous iterative design process grounded in human-computer interaction (HCI) methods. Interpret results of formative evaluations and modify the design based on the data. Manage project scope and schedule, coordinating with internal and external stakeholders to align on and document key decisions. Perform scope validation throughout project execution. Manage and oversee cross-functional teams (designers, developers, and testers) in the development and deployment of large-scale information systems for space flight missions. Collaborate with team members across various roles. Work with engineers/users, external development teams, and managers to deliver products on cost and on schedule. Responsible for leading new capabilities, managing software design and development work, meeting deployment schedules, and balancing of tasks and priorities across multiple customer space flight missions. Foster a culture of engagement, diversity, inclusiveness, excellence and innovation. Champion NASA's 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 investigation or higher level clearance. Investigation/Clearance may differ and be required based on the duties/location-NASA Center requirements.
• You must meet qualifications requirements by the closing date of this announcement
• Financial Disclosure, Drug Testing, and/or the Travel Requirements for this position may differ and be required based on the duty location/NASA Center requirements.
• This position may require a one-year trial period.
• The location will be determined upon selection but must be at one of the locations indicated within the announcement.

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-14, you must have one year of directly related specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 level: Conducting direct research with end-users of software applications to evaluate needs for potential improvements to workflows and technical systems; Creating design and technical specifications detailing updates and expected behavior of a software system based on quantitative and qualitative user research; Collaborating with cross-functional teams made up of various roles to deliver software products on cost and on schedule. 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://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

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

Contacts

• Address Ames Research Center Moffett Blvd Mountain View, CA 94035 US
• Name: NASA Shared Services Contact Center
• Phone: 1-877-677-2123
• Email: [email protected]