As a Aerospace Engineer, AST - Structural Mechanics your work involves conducting structural analysis and tests on aircraft or aircraft equipment to ensure their structural integrity during flight operations. The work may also include conducting research on advanced structural concepts or monitoring government contractors engaged in this work.

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 an aerospace structures engineer in the design, development, analysis, test, and checkout of advanced flight equipment and aircraft. Performs aircraft structural and loads analysis per NASA guidelines and appropriate industry standards. Guides product design and verifies structural integrity by using analytical methods, finite element models/simulations and other analysis tools. Develops structural ground test and flight test plans, conducts risk and safety analysis, supports ground and flight test execution and analyzes/reports test results to validate and verify systems and components meet requirements and specifications. Serves as an advisor to manufacturers, engineers, management, related organizations, or contractor personnel in order to give advice relative to structural analysis, testing and evaluation. Serves as a technical specialist in conducting unique, leading edge, and advanced flight investigations and identifies structural loads measurements in relation to flight research objectives and flight safety considerations. Identifies and reports safety hazards, potentially hazardous situations, and close calls to supervisor. Supports in-service products by investigating failures and analyzing improvements. Formulates, develops, and/or modifies appropriate research techniques and utilizes the NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center Flight Loads Laboratory. Fosters a culture of engagement, diversity, inclusiveness, excellence and innovation. Champions 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.
• You must meet qualifications requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
• A one-year trial period may be required.

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 at the GS-11 level, you must have: a) You must have one year of directly related specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 level: Applying practical engineering concepts to evaluate airframe structural integrity; and Preforming structural loads and stress analysis under supervision; and Participating in structural ground test or flight test planning and execution. 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 at the GS-12 level, you must have one year of directly related specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level: Performing structural loads and stress analysis using hand calculation methods, finite element models/simulations and other analysis tools; and Designing and executing structural ground test to demonstrate structural integrity or to calibrate strain gages; and Identifying structural analysis or test requirements that are consistent organizational guidelines and standards. To qualify at the GS-13 level, you must have one year of directly related specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 level: Performing structural loads and stress analysis using hand calculation methods, finite element models/simulations and other analysis tools; and Reviewing, advising, and conducting analysis and development studies in support of organization programs; and Consulting with management and project personnel in preparing technical requirements and criteria for projects, or hardware. 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. Required college majors for applicants qualifying on the basis of graduate education only (GS-11 level only): Aeronautical Engineering, Aeronautics, Aerospace Engineering, Astronautical Engineering, Astronautics, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Materials Engineering, Materials Science, Applied Mechanics, Engineering Mechanics, Mechanical Engineering, Nuclear Engineering Physics, Physics, Applied Physics, Engineering Physics, Structural Engineering, Welding Engineering. Other majors will qualify if the major includes or is supplemented as follows: Ceramics or Ceramics Engineering (with 12 semester hours in refractory ceramics, cermets or protective coatings); Civil Engineering, Computer Science, or Geology (with 12 semester hours in strength of materials, structures, thermodynamics, and/or basic static and dynamics); Metallurgy or Metallurgical Engineering (with 12 semester hours in physical or adaptive metallurgy, high temperature metals and alloys, cermets); Mathematics or Nuclear Engineering (with nine semester hours in physics, structures, materials or other appropriate courses). Other appropriate physical science or engineering fields may qualify with appropriate supplemental courses.

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 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]