Summary The incumbent serves as a human factors specialist and technical and research focal point for the Flight Technologies and Procedures Division. Responsibilities Initiates, organizes, and oversees major technical and scientific studies in safety-critical and controversial problem areas having national and international ramifications, such as the impact of flight display systems, advanced flight deck design, flight deck/crewmember interface, instrument procedure design, instrument procedure charting, and air traffic airspace designs on aircraft operations under all weather conditions within the NAS. Reviews design principles, operational procedures, and guidance for human-centered crew systems, including evaluation of innovative crew interface and interaction concepts in piloted and un-manned simulation to assess the benefits and liabilities of projected concepts. Identifies, develops, and may direct human factors criteria for advanced flight technologies and flight procedures. The incumbent applies in-depth technical expertise and a high level of specialized knowledge to conceptual and advanced flight deck design, aircraft operational standards, flight guidance and management systems, flight display and avionics systems, procedure design, human factor research and development initiatives, and operational approvals for flight procedures and technologies and air traffic operations and procedures. Applies experimental theories and new developments to problems not susceptible to treatment by traditional methods or precedents. As needed, acts as principal technical specialist, project/program manager, or team lead for complex work activities. Plans and accomplishes highly complex and challenging research based projects and other work activities applying technical and operational knowledge. Performs work independently, exercise independent judgment, exhibit a high degree of initiative and creativity, innovatively address operational problems having significant importance to the aviation community, and resolve controversial or sensitive issues prior to implementation with the manager and project team leads. Provides guidance to lower-level staff to solve difficult technical issues. Resolves all but unique technical problems without the intervention of management or a more experienced engineer. Adheres to organizational process and guidance and develops plans, techniques, and policies to address current or anticipated problems and issues. Works with senior management to solve problems. Coordinates with counterparts, subject matter experts, engineers, research pilots, air traffic control specialists, upper-level management, and contributes research, data and analysis to ensure that standards, criteria, regulations, and guidance may be expeditiously developed to permit the introduction of advanced and emerging technology at national and international levels. Serves as a human factors expert/investigator and represent Flight Standards at aviation rulemaking committees, technical working groups, human factors community of interest, industry stakeholders, agency engineers and investigatory organizations. Represents FAA as a senior technical point of contact on projects, programs, and other work activities. Communicates results to all levels internally and externally. Plays a lead role in drafting, reviewing, and editing reports or contractual documents for final approval prior to external distribution. Presents briefings to obtain consensus/approval on policies. Coordinates significant technical matters with representatives of external organizations. Maintains a high degree of professional expertise and technical knowledge in the human factors and scientific fields of endeavor through active participation in and continuing attendance at advanced applied human factors, aviation psychology, engineering psychology or similar organizational seminars and symposiums. Maintains knowledge of aircraft operations, usage of instrument approach charts, interface of navigation systems with instrument operations, air traffic operations and systems. Performs other duties as assigned. Requirements Conditions of Employment We are not accepting applications from noncitizens. Qualifications BASIC REQUIREMENT: Degree: Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree that included a major field of study or specific course requirements in Psychology. (Transcripts Required) AND IN ADDITION TO THE ABOVE BASIC REQUIREMENT: To qualify for this position at the FG-14 (FV-J) level, you must demonstrate in your application that you possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to FG-13 (FV-I) level. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position to be filled. Specialized experience includes: experience reviewing and analyzing regulations, standards, technical and operational concepts to provide recommendations on human factors criteria; experience solving unusual problems and applying experimental theories to solve problems; experience drafting, reviewing, and editing reports or contractual documents; experience with aircraft operations, air traffic operations, navigation systems, and instrument operations. Applicants should provide examples of specialized experience in their work history. 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. As a part of the Federal-Wide Hiring Reform Initiative (streamlining the hiring process), the FAA is committed to eliminating the use of the Knowledge, Skills and Ability (KSA) narratives from the initial application in the hiring process for all announcements. Therefore, as an applicant for this announcement, you are NOT required to provide a narrative response in the text box listed below each KSA.or more information. In lieu of providing a KSA narrative response in the text box listed below each KSA, 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. Eligible applicants meeting the minimum qualification requirements and selective factor(s), if applicable, may be further evaluated on the Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA) and Other Factors listed in the announcement. Based on this evaluation, applicants will be placed in one of the following categories: score order, category grouping, or alphabetical and referred to the selecting official for consideration. 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 person selected for this position may be required to file a financial disclosure statement within 30 days of entry on duty. FAA policy limits certain outside employment and financial investments in aviation-related companies. www.faa.gov/jobs/workinghere/financial-disclosure-requirements 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. 1) Interviews: 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. 2) All applicants MUST apply online to receive consideration for this vacancy announcement. Faxed, mailed or e-mailed applications cannot be accepted. 3) Please ensure you answer all questions and follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may impact your rating or may result in you not being considered for the job. 4) Additional information regarding living in Oklahoma can be found at www.abetterlifeokc.com 5) To confirm receipt of documents, please email sidney.r.snider@faa.gov. This is a bargaining unit position. This position is represented by PASS: Flight Standards Services. Links to Important Information: Locality Pay , COLA