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General Engineer, AST, Technical Management (Direct Hire)

NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Washington, DC Part Time
POSTED ON 4/20/2026
AVAILABLE BEFORE 5/19/2026
Summary

Supports the Booster Element Office (BEO) with build-up & integration of Aft Skirt and Forward Assemblies at the Booster Fabrication Facilities (BFF) & overall Booster assembly build-up at the Rotation, Processing & Surge Facility (RPSF) & Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB). Encompasses all aspects of flight vehicle systems design, production & operation. Includes management & integration of all technical, schedule, safety, financial, & legal aspects in support of Program requirements & milestones.

Duties



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  • Serves as a recognized expert/technical advisor to Project/Program management and industry partners with respect to large structures, pyrotechnic/electrical systems, along with protective coatings and Thermal Protection Systems (TPS).
  • Leads ad-hoc teams consisting of technicians, engineers, Safety and Mission Assurance (SMA), and support contractors in the design, development, production, integration, test, evaluation, and operations of Booster Structures and Assemblies.
  • Ensures engineering design and specifications are adhered to within resource and risk allocations.
  • Provides cross-program leadership, enabling resolution of issues concerning design, manufacture, integration and testing of Booster structures and the integration of mechanical, electrical, ordnance and TPS systems into ground/flight systems.
  • Serves as primary contact for program reviews to discuss Integrated Assembly and subsystem status, including cost, schedule, and technical performance.
  • Provides authoritative prime contractor oversight regarding the prime contractor’s overall ability to successfully execute their contracted responsibilities.
  • Serves as project authority to develop, review, and recommend proposed project requirements, expected results, and budgetary estimates related to Integrated Hardware/Systems. Analyzes and consolidates project approaches and resource requirements.
  • Provides expert guidance to management for strategic planning and program development on integrated hardware, assemblies and interfaces.
  • Provides authoritative insight to the Contracting Officer on contractor progress, proposed contract modifications, validity of claims, analysis of proposals, and assessment of contract time extensions.

Requirements



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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. **See Additional Information section**
  • You must meet qualifications requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
  • Position subject to pre-employment background investigation or higher-level clearance. Investigation/Clearance may differ and be required based on the duty location/NASA Center requirements.
  • Financial Disclosure, Drug Testing, and/or the Travel Requirements for this position may differ and be required based on the duty location/NASA Center requirements.
  • The location will be determined upon selection but must be at one of the locations indicated within the announcement.
  • If selected for Huntsville location, extensive travel may be required to Kennedy Space Center.

Qualifications

In addition to the Basic Education Requirement (in the Education section below), to qualify for this position you must meet the requirements below. 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.

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-14, you must have one year of directly related specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 level:

  • Effectively leading or managing a diverse workforce of technicians, engineers, managers, and/or contractor personnel to track delivery of engineering services and work products;
  • Providing technical expertise and recommendations on complex issues related to large-scale structures/facilities and transportation/support equipment or assemblies, and the physical integration of mechanical components, electrical/cabling boxes, ordnance systems, coatings, or Thermal Protection Systems (TPS);
  • Evaluating and integrating pyrotechnic systems and engineering requirements, as applicable to installation, testing, and checkouts;
  • Working with range control in managing ordnance (Flight Termination Systems) handling, delivery, testing, or integration.



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 https://www.nasa.gov/careers/how-to-apply/#Artificial-Intelligence 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:

  • 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.

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 http://www.abet.org.

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, https://www.abet.org/global-presence/mutual-recognition-agreements/is-your-program-recognized/.

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 http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/.

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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.



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 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

Per Executive Order 14251, this position is not part of a bargaining unit.

Probationary/Trial Period

You may be required to serve a 1-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.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.



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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.

Review our 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.

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