Engineering Psychologist

Initiates, organizes, and oversees major technical and scientific studies in safety-critical and controversial problem areas having national and international ramifications, such as the impact of flight display systems, advanced flight deck design, flight deck/crewmember interface, instrument procedure design, instrument procedure charting, and air traffic airspace designs on aircraft operations under all weather conditions within the NAS.
Reviews design principles, operational procedures, and guidance for human-centered crew systems, including evaluation of innovative crew interface and interaction concepts in piloted and un-manned simulation to assess the benefits and liabilities of projected concepts. Identifies, develops, and may direct human factors criteria for advanced flight technologies and flight procedures.
The incumbent applies in-depth technical expertise and a high level of specialized knowledge to conceptual and advanced flight deck design, aircraft operational standards, flight guidance and management systems, flight display and avionics systems, procedure design, human factor research and development initiatives, and operational approvals for flight procedures and technologies and air traffic operations and procedures. Applies experimental theories and new developments to problems not susceptible to treatment by traditional methods or precedents.
As needed, acts as principal technical specialist, project/program manager, or team lead for complex work activities. Plans and accomplishes highly complex and challenging research based projects and other work activities applying technical and operational knowledge.
Performs work independently, exercise independent judgment, exhibit a high degree of initiative and creativity, innovatively address operational problems having significant importance to the aviation community, and resolve controversial or sensitive issues prior to implementation with the manager and project team leads. Provides guidance to lower-level staff to solve difficult technical issues. Resolves all but unique technical problems without the intervention of management or a more experienced engineer. Adheres to organizational process and guidance
and develops plans, techniques, and policies to address current or anticipated problems and issues. Works with senior management to solve problems.
Coordinates with counterparts, subject matter experts, engineers, research pilots, air traffic control specialists, upper-level management, and contributes research, data and analysis to ensure that standards, criteria, regulations, and guidance may be expeditiously developed to permit the introduction of advanced and emerging technology at national and international levels.
Serves as a human factors expert/investigator and represent Flight Standards at aviation rulemaking committees, technical working groups, human factors community of interest, industry stakeholders, agency engineers and investigatory organizations.
Represents FAA as a senior technical point of contact on projects, programs, and other work activities. Communicates results to all levels internally and externally. Plays a lead role in drafting, reviewing, and editing reports or contractual documents for final approval prior to external distribution. Presents briefings to obtain consensus/approval on policies. Coordinates significant technical matters with representatives of external organizations.
Maintains a high degree of professional expertise and technical knowledge in the human factors and scientific fields of endeavor through active participation in and continuing attendance at advanced applied human factors, aviation psychology, engineering psychology or similar organizational seminars and symposiums. Maintains knowledge of aircraft operations, usage of instrument approach charts, interface of navigation systems with instrument operations, air traffic operations and systems.
Performs other duties as assigned.