Aerospace Engineer, AST, Research Pilot (Direct Hire)

About the role

The Armstrong Flight Research Center (AFRC) is seeking a highly skilled and innovative Research Pilot to support aeronautics flight research and Earth science missions. The incumbent will conduct experimental and developmental flight tests, support complex airborne science operations, and contribute to NASA's mission to advance aerospace technology and scientific discovery flying a wide range of aircraft, including upcoming flight research on Boeing 737 and 777 aircraft.

Responsibilities

• Help Serve as a Research Pilot in the Flight Operations Branch, which is responsible for the execution of multiple aeronautics and airborne science research projects.
• Collaborate with engineers, project managers, and technical teams to plan and execute flight research missions and assist in the accomplishment of mission objectives by active participation as a test pilot.
• Operate aircraft carrying scientific payloads, remote sensing systems, and specialized research instrumentation while ensuring mission safety and data quality.
• Work closely with Airborne Science project scientists to understand data requirements, optimize flight lines, and adjust real-time mission profiles.
• Maintain proficiency in multiple aircraft and demonstrate expertise in handling all types of in-flight and on-ground emergencies.

Requirements

• Conditions of employment: This position is open to U.S. citizens, nationals, or those who owe allegiance to the U.S. This position may require a one-year probationary period. If selected, the requirement to serve such period will be determined by Title 5 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 11.
• Specialized experience: To qualify for GS-14, you must have one year of directly related specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 level, including inflight experience executing flight test techniques for performance and flying qualities testing; performing pilot in command experience in transport or bomber type aircraft; performing flight research, flight test, or airborne test bed aircraft operations.
• 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.
• 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. Be well qualified for this position to receive consideration. Candidates rated in the 'Best Qualified' category are considered well-qualified. Please see 'How You Will Be Evaluated' for more information. 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.

Qualifications

• Certificate and Rating: A current Federal Aviation Administration commercial pilot's license with an instrument rating OR a pilot and instrument rating from the armed services.
• Flight Hours: 1,500 hours of pilot-in-command (or first pilot) flight time that included at least 500 hours in jet aircraft having at least 3,000 pounds of thrust per engine.

Benefits

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. Be well qualified for this position to receive consideration. Candidates rated in the 'Best Qualified' category are considered well-qualified. Please see 'How You Will Be Evaluated' for more information. 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.

Pay

Pay information is not specified in the job posting.

Schedule

Schedule information is not specified in the job posting.