Quality Assurance Specialist (Aerospace) (Direct Hire)

Summary

You will serve as a Quality Assurance Specialist for the Armstrong Flight Research Center in Mechanical, Avionics, back-shop, and/or product quality assurance for one or more NASA projects, missions, experiments and research facilities. As a technical authority, you will plan, develop, organize, administer, evaluate, and coordinate a comprehensive aerospace quality assurance program.

Duties

• 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.
• Performs as senior Quality Assurance (QA) Specialist with final authority on QA matters for new or replacement procurements and major supplies, and systems acquisition of aircraft parts purchased in order to maintain consistency throughout the Center
• Evaluates contractor's quality systems to determine if delivery of major procurement acquisitions will meet contract criteria. Conducts on-site assessments of suppliers capabilities and evaluates potential supplier for compliance with NASA quality.
• Develops Government Inspection requirements and quality surveillance plans, and verifies effectiveness and determines root causes of product defects to ensure adequacy of compliance with the appropriate requirements.
• Tracks product deficiencies. Mitigates risk and ensures compliance with AS9100 requirements. Reviews written quality or inspection procedures for adequacy, and evaluates the implementation and effectiveness of quality systems.
• Verifies by test or inspection, using sampling inspection or intensive product inspection techniques, that products comply with requirements prior to acceptance by identifying inadequacies and requesting corrective action.
• Investigates customer complaints and deficiency reports. Works with other agencies and external customers for specific courses of action appropriate to the deficiencies.
• Reads, interprets, and applies technical data such as blueprints, engineering drawings, product specifications, or technical manuals.
• Reviews and evaluates contractor operations and procedures through periodic audits and surveillance inspections by working with the Federal Acquisition Regulation, Federal Aviation Administration, and Center processes.

Qualifications

Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the particular ability, skill, and knowledge to successfully perform the duties of this position and is typically in or related to this line of work. To qualify for GS-12, you must have one year of directly related specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level: Monitoring, controlling, or maintaining the quality of products or services in quality assurance, modification of aircraft, inspection, or related areas; Reviewing written quality or inspection procedures for adequacy and evaluating the implementation and effectiveness of quality/inspection systems; and Verifying by test or inspection that products comply with requirements prior to acceptance. To qualify for GS-13, you must have one year of directly related specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 level: Leading or providing technical advice and assistance to personnel supporting critical/complex aerospace/science programs; Overseeing or implementing manufacturing and quality assurance processes and systems that have direct impact on the quality of aircraft products and/or services; and Conducting quality assurance audits/surveillances related to aircraft systems, equipment, materials or processes. 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. Please visit https://www.nasa.gov/careers/how-to-apply/#Artificial-Intelligence to review NASA's guidance on the use of artificial intelligent (AI) or AI-assisted tools during the application process.

How You Will Be Evaluated

Direct Hire Authority: These positions will be filled through the Office of Personnel Management's Direct Hire Authority. Category rating and veterans' preference will not be considered in evaluating applicants. For more information on Direct Hire Authority, please see: OPM Direct Hire Fact Sheet. Veterans: Under the provisions of Direct Hire Authority, veterans' preference does not apply. However, applicants who are eligible for veterans' preference are encouraged to include that information in their application and submit supporting documentation (i.e. DD-214, or other substantiating documents). For more information please see: Veterans' Preference information on the FedsHireVets website. You will be evaluated for this position based on how well you meet the qualifications and eligibility requirements listed in this vacancy announcement. To determine your qualifications and referral status, we may review your resume and supporting documentation and compare it against your responses to the assessment questionnaire. Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or assessment questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. You will be assessed on the following competencies: Mission Assurance Quality Engineering and Assurance Contracting/Procurement Quality Assurance Quality Management To preview the application questionnaire, click on the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13039807 NASA considers paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. NASA will not ask you to disclose criminal history record information during the application process or before we make a conditional/tentative offer of employment. If you apply for this position and are selected, NASA will conduct a suitability/security background investigation after you accept a tentative job offer. If you feel you are asked to disclose your criminal history before you accept a tentative offer and wish to file a complaint within 30 days, please contact: [email protected]. Other 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. - Meet the minimum qualifications requirements for the position - 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. Any applicant that received a Voluntary Separation Incentive Payment (VSIP) from the federal government within the last five years based of the closing date of this announcement, if selected, may be required to repay the full amount prior to establishing a start date. For additional information on the VSIP repayment requirement, click here - https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/voluntary-separation-incentive-payments/. Per Executive Order 14343, this position is not part of a bargaining unit. Probationary Period You may be required to serve a one-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. If selected, the requirement to serve such period will be determined by Title 5 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 11. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.