Summary
This position is located in the Vehicle Recorder Division, Office of Research and Engineering. The incumbent serves as a Interdisciplinary Engineer/Computer Scientist whose primary duties are in the readout and analysis of various recording devices recovered from vehicles involved in incidents or accidents.
This job is open to
- Recent graduates
Individuals who have graduated from an accredited educational institute or certificate program within the last 2 years or 6 years for Veterans.
Clarification from the agency
Pathways Recent College Graduates
Duties
IDEAL CANDIDATE STATEMENT: The ideal candidate is an aerospace, computer, electronics, or mechanical engineer or computer scientist interested in improving safety of the traveling public in a meaningful way through the challenges of working in a laboratory extracting data from a variety of vehicle recorders and other devices, documenting the results, and occasionally launching to accident sites to handle critical on-scene recorder recoveries.
As a Interdisiciplinary Engineer/Computer Scientist (Recorder Specialist)- Recent Graduate, GS-0801/0830/0854/0855/0861/1550-7, you will perform the following major duties:
- Recover data from various recording devices (also known as “black boxes”) recovered from vehicles involved in transportation accidents.
- Participates in technical meetings and conferences, through papers, speeches, and committee memberships.
At the GS-9 grade level, in addition to the duties at the lower grade level, typical duties include:
- Perform vehicle recorder investigations as a Group Chairperson in a technically competent and thorough manner.
- Assist in developing and testing new methods and technologies for use in the laboratory.
- Provide engineering advice to other investigative staff to aid in the recovery, analysis, or interpretation of data with supervision and mentoring from more senior staff.
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
- U.S. Citizenship
- Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered for Selective Service
- Resume’ and supporting documents (see “How to Apply” section)
- Suitability for Federal Employment
- Financial interest in transportation enterprises will be evaluated on a case by case basis.
- Bargaining Unit Position: YES – Bargaining unit represented by NTSB-AFGE Local 2211.
- Direct Deposit is required.
- A trial period may be required.
- You may be required to complete a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report, OGE-450, upon entering the position and annually.
- Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement.
- Non -Veterans must have completed, within the previous 2 years, a qualifying degree.
- Veterans must have completed, within the previous 6 years, a qualifying degree.
- If selection is made below the full performance level, promotion up to the full performance level may be made without further competition. However, promotions are not automatic or guaranteed and will depend on the performance and supervisor approval.
- Appointees must sign a Participant Agreement that sets forth expectations of the Pathways Program.
Qualifications
To receive consideration for vacancies, applicants must submit complete applications prior to the established cut-off date(s). An initial cut-off will take place August 14, 2023to begin initial applicant consideration. Applications received after the initial cut-off date will be considered upon receipt of the next cut-off date of August 28, 2023.
Eligibility: To be eligible for the Pathways Recent Graduates Program, you must:
Be a recent graduate who has completed, within the last two years, a qualifying associate, bachelors, masters, professional, doctorate, vocational or technical degree or certificate from a qualifying educational institution.
A veteran unable to apply within two years of receiving their degree, due to military service obligations, have up to six years after degree completion to apply.
For more information on the Pathways Recent Graduate Program, please see link: https://www.opm.gov/about-us/careers-at-opm/students-recent-graduates/
To qualify for this position, you must meet both the Educational Requirements and the Specialized Experience as described below.
For the GS-7 grade level: One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-5 grade level in the Federal Service. Specialized experience is applying industry-accepted principles, techniques and practices of engineering or computer science to conduct analyses of recorded data, audio, or video; and ability to extract recorded data.
OR
1 year of graduate-level education
OR
combination of both experience and education.
For the GS-9 grade level: One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-7 grade level. Specialized Experience is experience applying industry accepted principles, techniques and practices of engineering or computer science to conduct complex analyses of recorded data, audio, or video; Demonstrates mastery of engineering theories and methods sufficient to develop new procedures to address complex investigation scenarios.
OR
2 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a master’s degree or master’s or equivalent graduate degree.
OR
combination of both experience and education.
OR
Superior Academic Achievement
For more information see links: General Engineering Series 0801 (opm.gov); Mechanical Engineering Series 0830 (opm.gov); Computer Engineering Series 0854 (opm.gov) ; Electronics Engineering Series 0855 (opm.gov) ; Aerospace Engineering Series 0861 (opm.gov) ; Computer Science Series 1550 (opm.gov)
Superior Academic Achievement: In order to be eligible for the Superior Academic Achievement (SAA), you must meet the following criteria:
1. Class Standing: Applicants must be in the upper third of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision, such as the College of Liberal Arts or the School of Business Administration, based on completed courses.
2. Grade-point average (GPA): Applicants must have a grade-point average of:3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 (“B” or better) as recorded on their official transcript, or as computed based on 4 years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum; or 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 (“B+” or better) based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field or the required courses in the major field completed during the final 2years of the curriculum.
3. Honor Society Membership: Applicants can be considered eligible based on membership in one of the national scholastic honor societies recognized by the Association of College Honor Societies.
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.
For additional information about applying to Federal Pathways Internship Positions, please click on the following link: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/#url=GS-PIP
Applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the start of the internship.
Education
A. EDUCATION: A 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor’s degree in professional engineering. To be acceptable, the curriculum must: (1) be in a school of engineering with at least one curriculum accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) as a professional engineering curriculum; 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 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 and 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.)
OR
Bachelor’s degree in computer science or bachelor’s degree with 30 semester hours in a combination of mathematics, statistics, and computer science. At least 15 of the 30 semester hours must have included any combination of statistics and mathematics that included differential and integral calculus.
You MUST provide transcripts or other documentation to support your educational claims. Unless otherwise stated: (1) official or unofficial transcripts are acceptable, or (2) you may submit a list with all your courses, grades, semester, year, and credit for the course. All materials must be submitted by the closing date of the announcement.
GENERAL EDUCATION: All academic degrees and coursework must be completed at an institution that has obtained accreditation or pre-accreditation status from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education for it to be credited towards qualifications. For a list of schools that meet these criteria, see https://www.ed.gov/accreditation?src=rn. Applications submitted without the required supporting documents will not be accepted. An unofficial transcript; statement from the institution’s registrar, dean, or other appropriate official; or equivalent documentation is acceptable at the time of application. Education submitted must be appropriately accredited by an accredited body recognized by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education. For additional information, refer to the U.S. Department of Education web site at: http://www.ed.gov
FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been 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: https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html
Additional information
This is an Excepted Service Appointment.
Graduate Applicants must meet all eligibility and qualification requirements by the closing date of the announcement.
Recent Graduates may be converted to a permanent position (or, in some limited circumstances, a term appointment lasting 1-4 years) in the competitive service. To be eligible for conversion, Recent Graduates must have:
- Successfully completed at least 1-year of continuous service in addition to all requirements of the Program.
- Demonstrated successful job performance.
- Met the qualifications for the position to which the Recent Graduate will be converted.
Please note conversion to a permanent position or term appointment in the competitive service is not mandatory.
This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if similar vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificate.
- Benefits
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
How You Will Be Evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
We will review your resume and supporting documentation to determine your qualifications. Experience must be clearly reflected in your resume. Applicants must first meet any mandatory education and/or licensure requirements before experience is evaluated. Failure to meet any mandatory requirement as outlined in the qualifications section will disqualify you from further consideration. If education and/or licensure requirements are met, your application will be further evaluated based on training, experience and other factors critical to successful job performance such as:
- Technical Competence
- Written Communication
- Technical Credibility
- Teamwork
- Leadership
If you are found to be among the top qualified candidates, you will be referred to the selecting official for employment consideration.
- Benefits
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
- Required Documents
As a new or existing federal employee, you and your family may have access to a range of benefits. Your benefits depend on the type of position you have – whether you’re a permanent, part-time, temporary or an intermittent employee. You may be eligible for the following benefits, however, check with your agency to make sure you’re eligible under their policies.
You are encouraged to apply online. Applying online will allow you to review and track the status of your application. You are required to provide documentation that supports the eligibility and qualification claims made in your resume and assessment questionnaire. You must submit the applicable documents listed here and those listed with the eligibilities you select in the announcement questionnaire with your application package. Applicants who do not provide supporting documentation that fully support their claims will not be referred to the hiring manager. Cover letter is optional. The following documents are required for a COMPLETE APPLICATION PACKAGE:
- A Complete Resume is required: Your resume must show relevant experience, job title, duties and accomplishments. Your resume must show complete information for each job entry to support minimum qualifications. The following information should be provided in your resume: employer’s name, starting and end dates (Mo/Yr), hours per week, and pay plan, series and grade level (e.g. GS-0201-09) for relevant federal experience. Please see OPM’s video on Resume Writing Tips: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YX7o1PBoF
- Responses to the questionnaire.
- College transcripts (Unofficial or Official), if qualifying based on education or as a basic requirement.
- DD-214 (member copy 4), SF-15 Form and VA letter, or certification of expected discharge or release from active duty from Veterans for consideration under Veteran hiring authorities.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
- How to Apply
- To apply for this position, you must provide a complete application package (see the required documents section).The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on the closing date of the announcement.
- To begin the process, click the Apply Online button to create an account or log in to your existing USAJOBS account. Follow the prompts to complete the occupational questionnaire. Please ensure you click the Submit My Answers button at the end of the process.
- To view or print occupational questionnaire click here https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/11950495.
- To check the status of your application or return to a previous or incomplete application log into your USAJOBS account, select Application Status, and click on the More Information link under the application status for this position.
NOTE: If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Applications: https://help.usastaffing.gov/Apply/index.php?title=Alternate_Application_Information at least 1 business day before the closing date.
Agency contact information
Human Resources Division
Email
humanresourcesdivision@ntsb.gov
Address
Office of Research and Engineering 490 L’Enfant Plaza East SW Washington, DC 20594 US
Next steps
Once the announcement has closed, your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine if you meet the qualifications listed in the announcement. After the evaluation is complete, you will receive another notification regarding the status of your application.
- Fair and Transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
- Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy
- Reasonable accommodation policy
- Financial suitability
- Selective Service
- New employee probationary period
- Signature and false statements
- Privacy Act
- Social security number request
Required Documents
You are encouraged to apply online. Applying online will allow you to review and track the status of your application. You are required to provide documentation that supports the eligibility and qualification claims made in your resume and assessment questionnaire. You must submit the applicable documents listed here and those listed with the eligibilities you select in the announcement questionnaire with your application package. Applicants who do not provide supporting documentation that fully support their claims will not be referred to the hiring manager. Cover letter is optional. The following documents are required for a COMPLETE APPLICATION PACKAGE:
- A Complete Resume is required: Your resume must show relevant experience, job title, duties and accomplishments. Your resume must show complete information for each job entry to support minimum qualifications. The following information should be provided in your resume: employer’s name, starting and end dates (Mo/Yr), hours per week, and pay plan, series and grade level (e.g. GS-0201-09) for relevant federal experience. Please see OPM’s video on Resume Writing Tips: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YX7o1PBoF
- Responses to the questionnaire.
- College transcripts (Unofficial or Official), if qualifying based on education or as a basic requirement.
- DD-214 (member copy 4), SF-15 Form and VA letter, or certification of expected discharge or release from active duty from Veterans for consideration under Veteran hiring authorities.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
How to Apply
- To apply for this position, you must provide a complete application package (see the required documents section).The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on the closing date of the announcement.
- To begin the process, click the Apply Online button to create an account or log in to your existing USAJOBS account. Follow the prompts to complete the occupational questionnaire. Please ensure you click the Submit My Answers button at the end of the process.
- To view or print occupational questionnaire click here https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/11950495.
- To check the status of your application or return to a previous or incomplete application log into your USAJOBS account, select Application Status, and click on the More Information link under the application status for this position.
NOTE: If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Applications: https://help.usastaffing.gov/Apply/index.php?title=Alternate_Application_Information at least 1 business day before the closing date.
Agency contact information
Human Resources Division
humanresourcesdivision@ntsb.gov
Address
Office of Research and Engineering 490 L’Enfant Plaza East SW Washington, DC 20594 US
Next steps
Once the announcement has closed, your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine if you meet the qualifications listed in the announcement. After the evaluation is complete, you will receive another notification regarding the status of your application.
Fair & Transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
- Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy
- Reasonable accommodation policy
- Financial suitability
- Selective Service
- New employee probationary period
- Signature and false statements
- Privacy Act
- Social security number request