As a Supervisory AST Physical Scientist (Assistant Branch Head) in the Nondestructive Evaluation Sciences Branch, you will be responsible for leading research in nondestructive evaluation, assisting the Branch Head to support employees through performance evaluation and professional development and supporting branch operations, including resource and facility management. You will support a team of highly skilled researchers and pursue opportunities to grow collaboration and advocate for funding.

Duties

Provides Nondestructive Evaluation technical and professional support to subordinate employees performing the work and functions of the organization. Recommends employee promotions and recognition; approves leave; implements performance modifications and takes corrective actions as appropriate. Assists with the coordination of Nondestructive Evaluation (NDE) efforts within NASA, coordination of NDE research with other government agencies, academia, and industry, and serves as a scientific and technical consultant on advanced NDE. Performs research addressing research problems in NDE measurement theory and experiments which are exceptionally difficult and represent significant advances when solved. Formulates near-and far-term plans and schedules, advocates for necessary facilities and resources. Determines and manages resource needs and ensures research objectives are obtained within allocated resources (funds, facilities, workforce). Assists in overseeing the research work in the Branch, providing overall resource and facility support to researchers, and directly supervising Physicists, Electrical, Electronic, Materials Engineers and scientists in various fields. Facilitates determination of research goals, assuring implementation through effective program and research efforts. Responds to requested studies by NASA and other customers, assuring that long-range goals and interfaces are evolved with specific customers. Performs a full range of supervisory duties which includes assigning and evaluating work; recommending personnel actions; taking disciplinary actions; and identifying training needs and developing employees. 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

• 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.
• A one-year supervisory probationary period may be required.
• If the individual selected is currently at the GS-15 grade level, they will be detailed at their current grade and step. If the individual is a current GS-14 they will be temporarily promoted to the GS-15 level.

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. To qualify for GS-15, you must have one year of directly related specialized experience equivalent to the GS-14 level. Leading a team of engineers to plan, develop, and execute major programs, projects, or activities for the agency, in the areas of nondestructive evaluation sciences or sensor technology; Providing oversight in engineering and scientific principles and techniques as applied to nondestructive evaluation (NDE) sciences, and measurement and sensor technology to complete major research and development programs; and Providing direction for NASA mission projects and external partners to advocate for funding support and advance the state of art in nondestructive evaluation. 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 Langley Research Center 1 NASA Dr Hampton, VA 23666 US
• Name: NASA Shared Services Contact Center
• Phone: 1-877-677-2123
• Email: [email protected]