Physicist, AST, Electronics of Materials

Duties

The selected candidate will be responsible for evaluating Electrical, Electronic, and Electromagnetic (EEE) parts lists for compliance with requirements, including project-specific hardware criticality and environments. This involves reviewing parts lists to ensure they meet the necessary standards and specifications.

• Evaluate EEE parts non-standard parts approval requests, waivers, deviations, and analyses. Specify and perform screening/testing requirements. Screen EEE parts types to assure a reliable supply of parts.
• Troubleshoot parts failures. Provide failure analysis and testing of EEE parts to determine failure mechanisms, probable causes, and root causes.
• Provide insight and evaluation on parts screening and parts failure analysis performed by outside sources.
• Develop EEE part management and control plans, qualification plans, project-specific screening requirements, and Non-Standard Part Approval Requests (NSPAR).
• Review military and industry EEE parts specifications, standards, and studies for application to NASA Projects and Programs.
• Perform EEE parts obsolescence analyses. Recommend replacement parts that meet flight requirements. Proactively manage obsolescence and End of Life challenges for assigned projects and lead strategic planning in these areas.
• 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 Conditions of Employment

• 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.
• This position may require a one-year probationary period.

Qualifications

In addition to the Basic Education Requirement, 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-11, you must have:

• You must have one year of directly related specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 level:
  • Applying engineering principles and practices in areas related to electrical, electronic, or electromechanical components or systems to support aerospace systems or aerospace hardware;
  • Assisting with Electrical, Electronic, and Electromagnetic (EEE) parts engineering, such as parts obsolescence management, part utilization, database creation, component analysis and evaluation, or usage for diverse component families, such as hybrids, microcircuits, semiconductors, oscillators, or passive devices;
  • Assisting with component selection, screening, qualification, or derating of EEE Parts for use in aerospace flight applications.
• OR
• Completed all requirements for a doctoral degree (i.e., Ph.D. or equivalent) in an appropriate field
• OR
• Completed 3 full academic years of graduate education in an appropriate field
• OR
• Have an equivalent combination of experience and graduate study as discussed in a), b), and c) above

To qualify for GS-12, you must have one year of directly related specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level:

• Applying engineering principles and practices in areas related to electrical, electronic, or electromechanical components or systems to support the development and operation of aerospace systems or aerospace hardware;
• Supporting Electrical, Electronic, and Electromagnetic (EEE) parts engineering, such as parts obsolescence management, part utilization, database creation, component analysis and evaluation, or usage for diverse component families, including hybrids, microcircuits, semiconductors, oscillators, or passive devices;
• Performing component selection, screening, qualification, or derating of EEE Parts for use in aerospace applications or providing technical support to design reviews, material review boards, part manufacturers, or similar.

To qualify for GS-13, you must have one year of directly related specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 level:

• Utilizing engineering principles and practices in areas related to electrical, electronic, and electromechanical components and systems to support the development and operation of critical aerospace systems or aerospace hardware;
• Conducting Electrical, Electronic, and Electromagnetic (EEE) parts engineering, including parts obsolescence management, part utilization, database creation, component analysis and evaluation, or usage for diverse component families, including hybrids, microcircuits, semiconductors, oscillators, or passive devices;
• Performing component selection, screening, qualification, and derating of EEE Parts for use in aerospace applications and providing technical support to design reviews, material review boards, part manufacturers, or similar.

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 tools 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:

• Engineering from a college or university that has ABET accredited engineering programs
• Physical Science, Mathematics, Life Science, or other field of Science
• 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.

Additional information

Additional selections may be made for similar positions across NASA within the local commuting area(s) of the location(s) identified in this announcement. By applying, you agree to have your application shared with interested selecting official(s) within NASA. CTAP/ICTAP will be cleared for any additional selection from this announcement.

If you have special priority selection rights under the Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP), you must:

• Indicate your eligibility when applying for a position. The questionnaire asks you to identify your ICTAP/CTAP eligibility.
• Meet the minimum qualifications requirements for the position
• Submit proof that you meet the requirements for CTAP/ICTAP as indicated in 'Required Documents'

For additional information about CTAP/ICTAP eligibility, click here - https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/#ictap.

This is a bargaining unit position. If additional selections are made, those positions may or may not be in a bargaining unit. To learn more about bargaining units at NASA please click here NASA Unions (Bargaining Units) | NASA.

Benefits

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time, or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Direct Hire Authority: These positions will be filled through the Office of Personnel Management's Direct Hire Authority. Category rating and veterans' preference will not be considered in evaluating applicants. For more information on Direct Hire Authority, please see: OPM Direct Hire Fact Sheet.

Veterans: Under the provisions of Direct Hire Authority, veterans' preference does not apply. However, applicants who are eligible for veterans' preference are encouraged to include that information in their application and submit supporting documentation (i.e., DD-214, or other substantiating documents). For more information, please see: Veterans' Preference information on the FedsHireVets website.

You will be evaluated for this position based on how well you meet the qualifications and eligibility requirements listed in this vacancy announcement. To determine your qualifications and referral status, we may review your resume and supporting documentation and compare it against your responses to the vacancy questionnaire. Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration.

You will be assessed on the following competencies:

• Electrical and Electronic Systems
• Technical Competence
• Planning and Evaluating
• Problem Solving

NASA considers paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

NASA will not ask you to disclose criminal history record information during the application process or before we make a conditional/tentative offer of employment. If you apply for this position and are selected, NASA will conduct a suitability/security background investigation after you accept a tentative job offer. If you feel you are asked to disclose your criminal history before you accept a tentative offer and wish to file a complaint within 30 days, please contact: Agency-FCCJ@NASA.gov.

---