About this role
Job SummaryAs a Safety and Mission Assurance Engineer in the Safety and Mission Assurance Directorate at Kennedy Space Center, you will conduct technical assessments of launch vehicles and associated systems, including safety- and quality-related products. You will advise on, coordinate, assess, and perform mission assurance activities involving launch vehicle hardware and related ground support equipment supporting multiple programs and missions.
QualificationsIn 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-11, you must have: a) You must have one year of directly related specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 level: Assisting with technical evaluations of aerospace hardware or processes to determine acceptability for use; communicating technical findings through oral briefings or written reports; and applying aerospace industry processes or standards related to safety, risk, quality, certification, testing, or anomaly resolution. 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 for GS-12, you must have one year of directly related specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level: Performing technical evaluations of aerospace hardware or processes to determine acceptability for use; communicating technical findings through oral briefings or written reports; and applying aerospace industry processes or standards related to safety, risk, quality, certification, testing, or anomaly resolution. To qualify for GS-13, you must have one year of directly related specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 level: Performing or leading technical evaluations of launch vehicle, spacecraft, or associated ground support hardware; communicating technical findings through oral briefings or written reports; and applying launch vehicle systems, processes, or operations related to flight systems, ground support equipment, manufacturing, or launch operations. 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. Please visit https://www.nasa.gov/careers/how-to-apply/#Artificial-Intelligence to review NASA's guidance on the use of artificial intelligent (AI) or AI-assisted tools during the application process. In determining the NASA AST specific position title to which you are appointed, you may be required to have one of the following majors (this list is not inclusive): Aeronautical Engineering, Aeronautics, Aerospace Engineering, Astronautical Engineering, Astronautics, Biomedical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Materials Engineering, Materials Science, Applied Mechanics, Engineering Mechanics, Mechanical Engineering, Metallurgical Engineering, Metallurgy, Nuclear 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: Ceramic Engineering, Ceramics, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering, Mathematics (Pure or Applied) (or other related field), if it includes or is supplemented by nine semester hours (or the equivalent) in machine design, mechanics, hydraulics, dynamics, thermodynamics, mechanical design or mechanical measurement. Promotion Potential The full performance level (FPL) will vary based on the position in which the selectee is placed and does not default to the highest grade advertised.
Major DutiesDuties described below are at the highest grade advertised. Duties assigned at lower grade levels will be of more limited scope, performed with less independence and limited complexity; duties will be commensurate with the grade of selected employee.Conducts and/or leads technically detailed, cross-disciplinary Safety and Mission Assurance assessments of launch vehicles and spacecraft supporting Launch Services Program missions.Provides technical and programmatic consultation to KSC and Agency stakeholders to ensure technical and programmatic concerns are assessed and residual risk is identified and evaluated.Provides mentorship and technical guidance to engineers on aerospace engineering concepts, launch vehicle systems, spacecraft processing, and Safety and Mission Assurance processes and principles.Communicates and presents complex technical information, findings, and recommendations at boards and reviews to technical stakeholders and all levels of management.Leads multidisciplinary teams during launch operations to assess concerns involving launch vehicle hardware and provides go/no-go recommendations to Safety and Mission Assurance management.