Summary Serves as a General Engineer in the Operations Engineering Support Group organization under the minimal direction of a manager or more experienced engineer. Plans and accomplishes highly complex and challenging projects/programs and other work activities. May act as a principal technical specialist or as a project/program manager or team leader for large work activities. Responsibilities Applies experience and comprehensive knowledge of engineering principles, theories, and concepts applicable to his/her discipline, as well as an understanding of new technologies and methodologies, to solve complex problems and to develop improved technical processes for the organization. Provides in-depth technical expertise to engineers and specialists serving as key point of contact. Leads testing, restoring, evaluation of operational equipment, and analyzes collected data for optimizing NAS facilities. Assignments frequently require knowledge and experience working across functional and/or organizational lines. Allocates resources to accomplish large work activities within established schedules. Researches and provides in-depth analysis of technical problems and their solutions. Oversees analysis of NAS performance trends and formulation of solutions. Provides effective on-site engineering support for analysis, troubleshooting, and restoration of problematic facilities or services within the assigned areas of responsibility. Applies advanced knowledge of electronics engineering and specific knowledge of one or more complex NAS systems (RADAR, Instrument Landing Localizer, Glide Slope, Weather and Communications). Identifies and resolves National Airspace System (NAS) operational problems within their specialized area. Analyzes impacts of obstruction Evaluation/Airport Airspace Analysis (OE/AAA) and Non Rulemaking Activity (NRA) on NAS Operations. Communicates Internal and external concerns and recommends alternatives. Reviews National Change Proposal and provides input. Provides comprehensive, professional and technical guidance and direction to the Technical Support Centers (TSCs) and System Support Centers (SSCs) who maintain the equipment. Such work includes, but is not limited to, conducting studies of NAS systems operation to evaluate the performance and effectiveness of equipment and systems. The incumbent investigates and identifies the cause of any facility outage. Work is to be accomplished in a thorough and comprehensive manner with targeted efforts toward those activities that have the greatest priority. Responsible for maintaining in-depth knowledge of ongoing issues and activities within the assigned area(s) of responsibility, and uses that knowledge to recognize emerging priorities. Contacts are internal and external. Often represents FAA as a senior technical point of contact on projects, programs and other work activities. Communicates results to all levels internally (within an LOB/SO or across LOB's/SO's) and externally. Communicates issues to management, and recommends appropriate course(s) of action to address issues. The incumbent minimizes the impacts to operations resulting from such things as new requirements, technologies, and budget constraints/changes using innovative, cost-effective maintenance approaches. Oversees risk mitigation strategies for maintenance and project activities within the region and insures that all stakeholders have input on issues associated with operations. Incumbent may be responsible for analyzing requests for flight inspection waivers, and has authority to grant flight inspection waivers. Handles difficult situations that are compounded by outside factors such as weather, politics, policy, etc. Broad policies and objectives provide general guidance for addressing issues, but allow considerable discretion to develop new and innovative approaches. Provides policy guidance and instruction to others, both internally and externally. Work is reviewed rarely, typically though status reports and at project completion, to ensure technical compliance and alignment with the requirements of the project or other work activity. Work activities impact directly on the objectives of one or more major subdivisions and/or LOB's/SO's and may impact on the objectives of the FAA. 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, collecting and analyzing data to optimize equipment maintenance programs. Experience with using engineering software, data visualization and data analytics software to address system problems. 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. ** 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. 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 lieu 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 clearly 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. This position is covered by the FAA Core Compensation plan. Additional information about core compensation is available on the following website: http://jobs.faa.gov/FAACoreCompensation.htm. This Level 6 (High Risk; Public Trust) position requires favorable adjudication of a Background Investigation (BI) background investigation prior to appointment, unless a waiver is obtained. The selectee will be required to relocate to one of the listed duty stations: Bethany, Oklahoma: 16.82% locality Oklahoma City, Oklahoma: 16.82% locality Fort Worth, Texas: 26.91% locality Des Plaines, Illinois: 30.41% locality Lenexa, Kansas: 18.65% locality Some, all, or none of the applicants may be interviewed. Links to Important Information: Locality Pay, COLA