Public Notice - Computer Engineer, AST, Software Systems (Direct Hire)

Summary

You will serve as a Computer Engineer in the Independent Verification and Validation (IV&V) Program performing or leading technical efforts on safety and mission critical flight/ground systems and software or technology-based products. Work includes IV&V-related analyses, and development and test of software, applications, simulation(s), digital twins and artificial intelligence-based solutions that advance technical capabilities, products and services of the IV&V Program.

Duties



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• 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.
• Plans and performs technical analyses of systems/software requirements, design, code, and tests to verify and validate system/software adequacy and resiliency.
• Plans and performs software simulations, tests, and related technical analyses to verify systems/software behavior and implementation.
• Plans and performs software engineering activities, develops lifecycle-related work products (requirements, design, code and test) and integrates work products into software systems, digital twins, or IT-based systems.
• Plans, designs, develops, and integrates artificial intelligence-based solutions, including agentic, to enhance software development or assurance capabilities, products and services.
• Plans and performs technical analyses of lifecycle work products, such as requirements, design, code, and test products, to assess cybersecurity protection control implementation and system resiliency.
• For supervisory positions, you will perform a full range of supervisory duties which includes assigning and evaluating work; recommending personnel actions; taking disciplinary actions; and identifying training needs and developing employees.
  
  

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/trial 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.
• A one-year supervisory probationary period may be required.
• To be considered for employment, you must submit your complete application by 11:59 PM ET on June 29, 2026.
  
  

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-07, you must have:

• One year of directly related specialized experience equivalent to the GS-05 level:
• Assisting in performing basic software engineering activities such as analysis, software development, simulation and test, assurance, cybersecurity or artificial intelligence-related efforts.
  
  

OR

• Completed 1 full academic year of graduate study in an appropriate field
  
  

OR

• Any combination of experience and graduate study in an appropriate field
  
  

OR

• You may also qualify at the GS-07 level by meeting one of these Special Provisions:
• Are in the upper third of your class, based on completed college work at the time of filing an application.
• Have an average of 2.9 or better on a 4.0 scale for either all completed college work at the time of application, or all college courses completed during the last 2 years of the undergraduate curriculum.
• Achieved a grade average of B (3.5 on a 4.0 scale) or better in the major field of study where such field is fully qualifying. This is either the average of all completed college work in the major field of study at the time of application or the average of all college courses completed in the major field of study during the last 2 years of the undergraduate curriculum.
• Elected to membership in one of the national honorary scholastic societies meeting the minimum requirements of the Association of College Honor Societies (other than freshman honor societies). These honor societies are listed at ACHS.
• Completed 12 months of student trainee experience that includes at least one work period equivalent to the GS-5, or at least 15 months of appropriate student trainee experience which includes one work period equivalent to the GS-04 level. One work period is 2 months or 320 hours.
• For engineering positions, successfully completed a 5-year program of study, or at least 160 semester hours, leading to a bachelor's degree.
• For engineering positions, have a professional engineering degree, and up to 12 months of experience gained as a technician or technologist equivalent to the GS-5 or higher level.
• Successfully completed all requirements for two bachelor's degrees, one in an appropriate field of science or engineering.
• Have six months of directly related/specialized experience or training, including 3 months gained after the junior year of college. This experience may have been obtained on a part-time or intermittent basis and may have been paid or unpaid.
• Received honors or elective positions indicating superior leadership outside of your academic setting. Additionally, your academic standing must have been in the upper half of the graduating class.
• Have pattern of completing courses that include unusual preparatory value or direct relation to the particular aerospace specialty for which you are being considered.
• Have creative research aptitude or special talent for NASA scientific or engineering work. This must be shown by evidence obtained and documented by NASA in certifications from college professors or officials, or standardized questionnaires, or similar techniques.
  
  

To qualify for GS-09, you must have:

• One year of directly related specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 level:
• Performing software engineering activities such as basic analysis, software development, simulation and test, assurance, cybersecurity or artificial intelligence-related efforts.
  
  

OR

• Completed all requirements for a master's or equivalent graduate degree in an appropriate field
  
  

OR

• Completed 2 full academic years of graduate education in an appropriate field
  
  

OR

• Have an equivalent combination of experience and graduate study as discussed in a), b) and c) above
  
  

To qualify for GS-11, you must have:

• You must have one year of directly related specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 level:
• Performing software engineering activities such as analysis, software development, simulation and test, assurance, cybersecurity or artificial intelligence-related efforts;
• Producing associated technical work products and results; and
• Applying professional engineering judgment with supervision.
  
  

OR

• Completed all requirements for a doctoral degree (i.e., Ph.D. or equivalent) in an appropriate field
  
  

OR

• Completed 3 full academic years of graduate education in an appropriate field
  
  

OR

• Have an equivalent combination of experience and graduate study as discussed in a), b) and c) above
  
  

To qualify for GS-12, you must have one year of directly related specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level:

• Performing software engineering activities such as analysis, systems/software development, simulation and test, assurance, cybersecurity/mission protection or artificial intelligence-related efforts;
• Producing associated technical work products and results; and
• Applying professional engineering judgment with limited supervision.
  
  

To qualify for GS-13, you must have one year of directly related specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 level:

• Performing complex software engineering tasks such as analysis, systems/software development, simulation and test, assurance, cybersecurity/mission protection or artificial intelligence-related activities;
• Producing or integrating associated technical work products and results; and
• Applying professional engineering judgment with little to no supervision.
  
  

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

• Planning, performing and leading software engineering activities such as complex systems/software analysis, systems/software development, simulation and test, assurance, cybersecurity/mission protection or artificial intelligence-related initiatives for aerospace flight or ground based systems;
• Serving as an expert in systems/software engineering, software assurance, simulation and test, cybersecurity/mission protection or artificial intelligence discipline(s); and
• Producing or integrating systems/software engineering technical work products and results.
  
  
  
  
  
  

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.

Promotion Potential

The full performance level (FPL) will vary based on the position in which the selectee is placed and does not default to the highest grade advertised.

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.

Required college majors for applicants qualifying on the basis of undergraduate or graduate education only:

Computer Engineering. Other majors will qualify if the major includes or is supplemented as follows:

• Computer Science and Pure Mathematics are fully qualifying for Data Analysis, Modeling and Theoretical Simulation Techniques positions without further course requirements. For Data Systems, Hardware Systems and Software Systems positions, Computer Science and Pure Mathematics are qualifying if the major includes or is supplemented by 12 semester hours (or the equivalent) in appropriate Physical Science or Engineering courses and includes or is supplemented by at least two courses shown under "b.2."
• Applied Mathematics is qualifying if includes or is supplemented by at least two of the following courses: 1. For Data Analysis, Modeling and Theoretical Simulation Techniques: numerical methods (or numerical analysis); linear algebra, theory of equations, differential equations, mathematical statistics (if six semester hour course), operating systems, theory of computation, computer networks, programming languages, data structures, data base management, computer graphics, compiler construction, computer architecture, software engineering. 2. For Data Systems, Hardware Systems and Software Systems: electronics, electrical networks, solid-state physics (for transistors, tapes, etc.), optics (for simulation), electricity and magnetism, computer organization, logic design, control systems, communication theory.
• Other appropriate physical science and engineering majors are qualifying if the major includes or is supplemented by six semester hours (or the equivalent) in Mathematics beyond Basic Calculus and includes or is supplemented by at least two courses shown above under "b."
  
  

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

Any applicant that received a Voluntary Separation Incentive Payment (VSIP) from the federal governmentwithin 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.

Supervisory probationary periods are not subject to the above process. If a standard probationary period is required, you are subject to the conditions of both a standard probationary period and the supervisory probationary period.

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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