Job Description

Summary Johnson Space Center is seeking interested applicants for the position of Spacecraft Navigation Discipline Expert. You will serve as an expert within the Aeroscience and Flight Mechanics Division for spacecraft navigation design, development, implementation, and testing. You will also serve various programs and projects as necessary. Responsibilities Duties 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. Serves as technical expert for spacecraft navigation for the Aeroscience and Flight Mechanics Division (AFMD). Mentors and provides technical oversight to younger engineers in the discipline of spacecraft navigation development and testing. Advances state of the art for the spacecraft navigation domain area through technology development projects and the pursuit of new innovative approaches. Builds partnerships and new business opportunities with academia and industry to advance the state of the art in spacecraft navigation. Benchmarks industry best practices relevant to spacecraft navigation. Provides support and participates in agency level activities and initiatives, technical teams, and represents the JSC Engineering Directorate during relevant interactions with other NASA Centers and agency officials. Shares spacecraft navigation knowledge across AFMD program customers to provide cross-program integration. Supports the Absolute Navigation and Relative Navigation Technical Discipline Lead with overseeing spacecraft navigation across AFMD, resolving key issues, and mitigating risks for AFMD program customers. Develops and maintains spacecraft navigation algorithms and sensors for major flight programs such as Orion, Gateway, and HLS. This involves design, development, implementation, and testing. Fosters a culture of engagement, diversity, inclusiveness, excellence and innovation. Champion NASA's commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility to create an environment that promotes a commitment to safety, integrity, and teamwork. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications In addition to the Basic Education Requirement (in the Education section below), to qualify for this position you must meet the requirements below and have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade, which has equipped you with the particular competencies needed to successfully perform the duties of the position described above. 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-13, you must have one year of directly related specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 level: Developing and testing spacecraft navigation algorithms to meet project goals and deadlines; Performing analysis to ensure spacecraft navigation algorithms meet mission requirements; Reviewing data, providing results and findings, and making recommendations to senior leaders and stakeholders. To qualify for GS-14, you must have one year of directly related specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 level: Leading a team to conduct spacecraft navigation development and testing for programs or projects; Designing, developing, testing, and implementing novel and unique spacecraft navigation algorithms to meet mission objectives; Coordinating, collaborating, and advocating across the industry and in academia to drive advancements in spacecraft navigation. 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. NASA prohibits the use of artificial intelligence (AI) or AI-assisted tool in drafting application and assessment responses. Please visit to review NASA's guidance on the use of AI tools during the application process. Education Basic Education Requirement: You must have successfully completed a bachelor's degree with a major in one of the following: a) Engineering from a college or university that has ABET accredited engineering programs b) Physical Science, Mathematics, Life Science or other field of Science c) 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. If you did not complete a qualifying bachelor's degree, you may be eligible if you have obtained a graduate degree in an AST qualifying field, as listed above. Degrees in engineering technology are not considered qualifying for this position. Engineering degrees earned within the United States: Engineering degrees earned within the United States must be from a college or university that has at least one ABET accredited engineering program. To find out if a school has at least one ABET accredited program, please visit Engineering degrees earned outside the United States: Engineering degrees earned outside the United States must be recognized by a Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA), often known as accords. These are non-governmental agreements among organizations that accredit academic degree programs. MRAs recognize the substantial equivalence of mature accreditation systems and programs accredited by signatory organizations within their jurisdictions. For a listing of Signatories, please visit, Science and other related degrees earned within the United States: Science and other related degrees must have been awarded from colleges or universities that are accredited by recognized accrediting organizations. For a list of schools that meet this criteria, go to Science and other related degrees earned outside the United States: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs. These education credentials must be deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: All degrees must have been received in the year of, or any year subsequent to the original date of accreditation. 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 are applying and are a current federal employee, you must meet applicable time-in-grade requirements to be considered eligible for this position. To be eligible, you must have completed a minimum of 52 weeks in a position no more than 1 grade lower than the advertised position. (Please submit your SF-50 that shows Time-in-Grade eligibility and reflects your title, series, and grade. If your eligibility for both merit promotion and/or time-in-grade cannot be determined, your application will be rated ineligible). Note: Time-in-grade requirements also apply to applicants who have held a non-temporary, competitive service GS position in the past year. 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 - Qualified NASA term employees who have term conversion eligibility (Term Appointments | NASA) under the NASA Flexibility Act of 2004 will be referred and considered equally with other NASA permanent employees under internal competitive placement procedures. This is a bargaining unit position. If additional selections are made, those positions may or may not be in a bargaining unit. To learn more about bargaining units at NASA please click here NASA Unions (Bargaining Units) | NASA. Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center

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