About this role
Job SummaryThis position is located in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), Office of Aviation Safety (OAS) in Washington, D.C.. OAS examines various areas relating to the accident aircraft including powerplants, structures, systems, & maintenance records. Aviation engineering investigators serve as group chairman in major aviation investigations & conduct an objective technical investigation of the accident in order to prepare reports used to develop the final report & safety recommendations.
QualificationsTo qualify for this position, you must meet both the Educational Requirements and the Specialized Experience as described below. You must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 in the federal service. Specialized experience is defined as: executing the engineering evaluation of aircraft propulsion systems (e.g. turbine and reciprocating engines, propellers, fuel systems, engine accessories, and auxiliary power units) for root cause failure analysis on propulsion malfunctions; and designing, overseeing, or executing comprehensive inspection techniques, functional tests, or hazard analyses to identify aircraft propulsion issues and authoring formal, technical engineering reports used to inform regulatory compliance, airworthiness certification, or industry-wide safety standards; and acting as a technical authority or organizational representative to communicate aerospace technical information with external stakeholders such as major aircraft manufacturers, national and international aviation organizations, or other federal agencies. For more information see link: Aerospace Engineering Series 0861 (opm.gov) NOTE: IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your resume must clearly show the specialized experience and competencies related to this position. Failure to demonstrate how you possess the education, specialized experience and/or competencies will result in an "Ineligible" rating.
Major DutiesAs a Aerospace Engineer (Propulsion) - Direct Hire, GS-0861-14, you will perform the following major duties: Support major team launches for national and international investigations. The incumbent serves as Propulsion Chairperson on incidents investigated by the Safety Board by providing authoritative engineering expertise on turbine and reciprocating engines, propellers, fuel systems, engine accessories, and auxiliary power units' design, manufacturing, certification, and maintenance. Participate in on-site investigations and initial analyses of aircraft propulsion evidence to develop requirements for post-accident examinations, test plans, and investigations to determine root cause. Coordinate and travel to follow-up examinations of components that may be critical to the accident cause or contributing factors. Lead examination and document observations in field notes. Collaborate with the Investigator-In-Charge (IIC) by providing factual notes that summarize the collection of findings from on-site investigation and follow-up testing throughout the investigation. Prepare factual and analysis reports for most accidents based upon facts, conditions, and circumstances derived from the investigation. Correlate these findings with those of other Group Chairpersons to assist in identifying the cause(s) of the accident. Develop safety recommendations for hazardous conditions and prepare comprehensive, factual conclusions for the Safety Board's accident report based on investigation findings. Physical Demands: Occasionally the aircraft wreckage may contain hazardous materials that may be burning by the time the investigator arrives on-the-scene. The incumbent may be exposed to a variety of weather conditions and other environmental discomforts such as remote, rugged, snow, rain, temperature extremes, swampy or mountainous areas and hostile settings. Investigators may have to wear a hardhat, safety shoes, goggles, gloves, and other protective equipment. Work Environment: The incumbent supports major go-team launches as well as significant international investigations. Major go-team launch teams commonly travel on the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) jet from Reagan National Airport within two hours after an accident notification is received. Timely arrival at the scene of a major accident allows for timely documentation of a wreckage; a delay in this effort can have significant impacts, such as impeding the re-opening of an airport. International travel by US Government employees frequently requires the issuance of a visa from the host country, which is most efficiently obtained at the embassies located in Washington, DC. Additionally, security concerns in many locations make it essential that the investigative team travel together.