Summary These positions are located in the Spectrum Engineering Teams located in the Eastern Service Area under the Air Traffic Organization, Technical Operations Service Unit, Operations Support Directorate, Spectrum Engineering Services Group, AJW-19. Responsibilities The Spectrum Engineering Teams secure, manage, and protect all civil aviation radio frequency spectrum resources to ensure interference-free operation of all radio frequency-dependent communications, navigation, and surveillance (CNS) systems within the National Airspace System (NAS). The incumbent applies comprehensive knowledge of electromagnetic theory and experience in electronics engineering along with knowledge of federal and non-federal spectrum engineering and management policies and best practices to identify and resolve radio frequency assignment issues and to engineer frequencies for complex NAS systems and ensure that the government policy for frequency engineering is met. Conducts Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) analyses of transmitter construction proposals to ensure non-federal users do not cause interference to critical aeronautical facilities and to establish frequency protection criteria for new evolving technology. He/she is a principal technical specialist in solving Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) problems. He/she ensures frequencies are reviewed based, on frequency band, at the appropriate 5 or 10-year cycle and all frequency assignments and associated assignments meet the National Telecommunications Information Administration (NTIA) and FAA Spectrum Management Policies. Provides guidance and training to G-I band engineers and technicians. Applies experience and comprehensive knowledge of frequency management tools and databases to validate data sent to NTIA for frequency licensing and coordination of frequency usage of aviation frequencies by external entities. Uses test equipment such as spectrum analyzers, direction-finding equipment, and oscilloscopes to perform electromagnetic signal measurements to identify the highest probability locations of an RFI source. Maintains and monitors spectrum test equipment, RFI vehicles, and spectrum property to the extent that it should be in working order and if not effect repairs or remediation if possible and report any deficiencies to management. Analyzes and evaluates work requests for proper distribution; assures appropriate databases are up to date with the latest RFI incidents and actions, and provides coordination through completion of all projects under their purview. Coordinates significant technical matters with engineers from other teams within AJW-15. Develops plans, techniques, and policies to address current or anticipated problems and issues. Conducts trend analysis for the prevention of RFI incidents. Leads beta testing on spectrum software tools, documents, and reports software bugs, creates software testing reports, and coordinates retesting to ensure the software meets requirements. Develops software requirement documents for new software enhancements to create spectrum efficiencies. Reviews Spectrum Management Regulations and Procedures Order and based on their experience with EMC, frequency management, and RFI resolution, he/she rewrites or develops new policy chapters as needed to address issues/problems. Contacts are both internal and external to the Spectrum Engineering Services Group and include representatives from domestic civil aviation organizations and industries. Contacts also include other government agencies such as the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Department of Defense (DoD), the FCC, the NTIA, and foreign countries (e.g. Mexico, Guam, Virgin Islands, Turks and, Cacaos, Bermuda, etc.). Plays a lead role in drafting, reviewing, and editing reports RFI trip reports, and other reports as needed that receive wide distribution. Presents briefings to obtain consensus/approval on policies to include analysis of findings on frequency assignment issues to AJW-15 management and Service Area Frequency Management Officers (FMO). Requirements Conditions of Employment We are not accepting applications from noncitizens. Qualifications In addition to meeting the educational requirements specified below: You must demonstrate in your application that you possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the FV-I, FG/GS-13 level. This experience is typically related to the line of work of the position to be filled and which has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been at least equivalent to the next lower level in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized Experience is defined as: Experience identifying and resolving radio frequency assignment issues and engineer frequencies for National Airspace System (NAS) systems. and Experience conducting trend analyses for gathering data to assist in the prevention of radio frequency interference (RFI) incidents. You should include relevant examples of the specialized experience in your work history. Errors or omissions may impact your rating or may result in you not being considered. Answer all questions to the best of your ability. DO NOT ASSUME THAT BECAUSE YOU HOLD, OR HAVE HELD THIS POSITION, YOU WILL AUTOMATICALLY BE FOUND ELIGIBLE. You may be asked to provide evidence or documentation that you have this type of experience later in the selection process. Your responses are subject to verification through job interviews, or any other information obtained during the application process. Any exaggeration of your experience or any attempt to conceal information can result in disqualification. Eligible applicants meeting the minimum qualification requirements and/or selective placement factor(s) (SPF) may be further evaluated on the Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA) and/or Quality Ranking Factor (QRF) listed in the announcement. Based on this evaluation, applicants will be placed in one of the following categories: (1) score order; (2) category grouping; (3) alphabetical; or (4) priority grouping and referred to the selecting official for selection consideration. *Applicants who fail to demonstrate possession of any of the above criteria AND who do not provide the required documentation will receive no further consideration for this position. * Applicants may be asked to verify information on your application for employment with the FAA. **All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this vacancy announcement. ** NATCA (ENGINEERS & ARCHITECTS - 0062) INTERVIEW PROCESS: ARTICLE 42, SECTION 5. If the Agency decides to interview any qualified employee on the selection list, then all on the list who are qualified must be interviewed. If the selection list is shortened to a best-qualified list through a comparative process, then the best-qualified list shall be considered to be the selection list. If it is determined that interviews are required and telephone interviews are not utilized, travel expenses incidental to these interviews will be paid in accordance with the Agency’s travel regulations and this Agreement. Education This position has a positive education requirement: Applicants must submit a copy of their college or university transcripts(s) and certificates by the closing date of announcement to verify qualifications. If selected, an official transcript will be required prior to appointment. You may upload these documents with your application in USAJOBS or fax it to fax number provided in the announcement (please include announcement number on each page). Failure to do so will result in loss of consideration. Schools must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Accreditation may be verified at the following website: www.ed.gov/accreditation. Foreign education must be evaluated by a private professional organization specializing in interpretation of foreign education credentials or an accredited U.S. educational institution in terms of equivalence to a degree acquired at an American college or university. A copy of the evaluation results must be included, otherwise your foreign education will not be considered. Basic Requirements: A. Degree: Engineering. To be acceptable, the program must: (1) lead to a bachelor’s degree in a school of engineering with at least one program accredited by ABET; or (2) include differential and integral calculus and courses (more advanced than first-year physics and chemistry) in five of the following seven areas of engineering science or physics: (a) statics, dynamics; (b) strength of materials (stress-strain relationships); (c) fluid mechanics, hydraulics; (d) thermodynamics; (e) electrical fields and circuits; (f) nature and properties of materials (relating particle and aggregate structure to properties); and (g) any other comparable area of fundamental engineering science or physics, such as optics, heat transfer, soil mechanics, or electronics. OR B. Combination of education and experience -- college-level education, training, and/or technical experience that furnished (1) a thorough knowledge of the physical and mathematical sciences underlying engineering, and (2) a good understanding, both theoretical and practical, of the engineering sciences and techniques and their applications to one of the branches of engineering. The adequacy of such background must be demonstrated by one of the following: 1. Professional registration or licensure -- Current registration as an Engineer Intern (EI), Engineer in Training (EIT)1, or licensure as a Professional Engineer (PE) by any State, the District of Columbia, Guam, or Puerto Rico. Absent other means of qualifying under this standard, those applicants who achieved such registration by means other than written test (e.g., State grandfather or eminence provisions) are eligible only for positions that are within or closely related to the specialty field of their registration. For example, an applicant who attains registration through a State Board's eminence provision as a manufacturing engineer typically would be rated eligible only for manufacturing engineering positions. 2. Written Test -- Evidence of having successfully passed the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE)2 examination or any other written test required for professional registration by an engineering licensure board in the various States, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico. 3. Specified academic courses -- Successful completion of at least 60 semester hours of courses in the physical, mathematical, and engineering sciences and that included the courses specified in the basic requirements under paragraph A. The courses must be fully acceptable toward meeting the requirements of an engineering program as described in paragraph A. 4. Related curriculum -- Successful completion of a curriculum leading to a bachelor's degree in an appropriate scientific field, e.g., engineering technology, physics, chemistry, architecture, computer science, mathematics, hydrology, or geology, may be accepted in lieu of a bachelor’s degree in engineering, provided the applicant has had at least 1 year of professional engineering experience acquired under professional engineering supervision and guidance. Ordinarily there should be either an established plan of intensive training to develop professional engineering competence, or several years of prior professional engineering-type experience, e.g., in interdisciplinary positions. (The above examples of related curricula are not all-inclusive.) If you are a current or former Federal employee, and you currently hold or previously held a position classified in the 0800 occupational series, you are not required to submit a college transcript provided you upload a copy of the SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, verifying your classification in the 0800 occupational series. Applicants, who are not currently in the 0800 occupational series in the Federal Government and fail to provide a copy of an unofficial or official transcript will not receive further consideration for this vacancy. Upon selection, if not currently employed in the 0800 occupational series, you will be required to submit an official transcript prior to appointment. If you do not have an official transcript (original, with the raised seal), you should contact your school immediately to request it. Foreign Education: For additional information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html Additional Information We may use this vacancy to fill other similar vacant positions. Position may be subject to a background investigation. A one-year probationary period may be required. The U.S. Department of Transportation strives to ensure that equity, transparency, accountability, collaboration, and communication permeate all that we do for the betterment of the Department, the traveling public, and our nation. As such, DOT values a highly diverse workforce of persons who promote a culture of belonging by respecting the personal dignity and worth of each individual and fostering a positive environment where all feel safe and welcome. If these commitments coincide with your personal ideals and professional aspirations, please consider joining the DOT family. This position is covered by the Department of Transportation's Drug and Alcohol Testing Program. Any applicant tentatively selected for this position will be subject to pre-employment or pre-appointment drug screening. Persons occupying a "testing designated position (TDP)" will be subject to random drug and/or alcohol testing. NOTES: 1. This position is covered by the FAA Core Compensation plan. Additional information about Core Compensation is available at: https://www.faa.gov/jobs/working\_here/benefits. 2. As a part of the Federal-Wide Hiring Reform Initiative (streamlining the hiring process), the FAA is committed to eliminating the use of Knowledge, Skills, and Ability (KSA) narratives from the initial application in the hiring process for all announcements. Therefore, as an applicant, you are NOT required to provide a narrative response in the text box listed below each KSA. In place of providing a KSA narrative response in the text box listed below each KSA section, in your work history, please include information that provides specific examples of how you meet the response level or answer you chose for each KSA. Your work history examples should be specific and reflect the highest level of ability. Your KSA answers will be evaluated further to validate whether the level that you selected is appropriate based on the work history and experience you provided. Your answers may be adjusted by a human resource specialist as appropriate. 3. This Level 2 (Non-Critical Sensitive; Secret) position requires favorable adjudication of an Access National Agency Check and Inquiries (ANACI) background investigation before appointment unless a waiver is obtained. 4. Designated or Random Drug Testing required. 5. The position is eligible for true time and one half. Links to Important Information: Locality Pay, COLA