Demo

General Engineer.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration NHTSA
Princeton, NJ Full Time
POSTED ON 7/30/2026
AVAILABLE BEFORE 8/28/2026
Duties

As a General Engineer, You Will

  • Also serve as a human factors technical expert within the Office of Defects Investigation possessing a comprehensive and extensive knowledge of driving automation systems and technologies including advanced automotive technical and engineering principles and practices in vehicle control systems, Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), Automated Driving Systems (ADS), motor vehicle dynamics, crash avoidance technology, vehicle propulsion systems, and/or occupant protection systems.
  • Maintain trend analyses and results in the form of formal reports, charts, graphs, presentations, and incident management files, notices, and summaries.
  • Prepare and conduct special studies containing large volumes of data requiring statistical techniques to determine the scope and magnitude of defect problems and trends while providing guidance and feedback to the team on this concept.
  • Coordinate written reports of results of technical evaluations, summaries of meetings with manufacturers, market research on advanced and emerging technologies, proposals for rulemaking consideration, and white papers.
  • Communicate extensively with personnel and officials from other offices, for the purpose of gathering data and disseminating technical information concerning the results of safety defect trends and engineering analyses.

This position is perfect for seasoned professionals seeking a position that will provide an opportunity to utilize strong human factors technical expertise within a great Federal agency whose focus involves public safety. We are seeking highly qualified individuals who are willing to meet the fast-paced challenges of public service while supporting our mission to reduce the number of fatalities and injuries resulting from motor vehicle crashes. NHTSA desires someone who is a highly motivated self-starter who can effectively communicate both within the agency and with external stakeholders.

Requirements

Conditions of employment

  • Must meet specialized experience stated in Qualifications section
  • Submit application and resume online by 11:59 PM EST on the closing date
  • Required documents must be submitted by the closing date.

Conditions Of Employment

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, 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. 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 the 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.

  • SELECTIVE SERVICE: Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for the Selective Service.
  • GOVERNMENT TRAVEL CARD: This position involves travel. A government contractor-issued travel card will be issued and must be retained for official business only.
  • BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION: A background security investigation is required for all selected individuals. Appointment will be subject to the applicant’s successful completion of the security investigation and favorable adjudication. Failure to meet these requirements will be grounds for termination.
  • PROBATIONARY PERIOD: You must complete a one-year probationary period (unless already completed).
  • TIME-IN-GRADE: Federal applicants must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade in the competitive or excepted service in the executive branch to satisfy time-in-grade restrictions contained in 5 CFR 300, Subpart F.

Qualifications

To meet the minimum qualifications for this position, you must (1) meet the Education Requirement for the series, (2) provide a copy of transcripts for verification, AND (3) meet the specialized experience requirements.

To Qualify For The GS-14, You Must Have At Least One Year Of Experience Equal Or Equivalent To The GS-13, It Must Include

  • Experience communicating with stakeholders, both internal and external, working to reach agreement, providing critical feedback, and communicating recommendations to leadership for action.
  • Experience conducting analyses of incident and crash data, using both structured and unstructured fields, and using search and retrieval tools that stretch beyond simple structured text field lists, is necessary.
  • Experience applying statues, regulations, and policies governing the identification of potential safety related defects and analysis of data alleging safety defects and exemption programs for advanced technologies to improve safety.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs): Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following areas:

  • Program Management: Ability to plan, implement, and manage a vehicle safety program, producing results that further the organization’s mission by meeting organizational goals and objectives.
  • Technical: Experience with advanced vehicle safety technologies, and experience applying technical principles, theories, and scientific evaluation procedures to conduct vehicle safety programs.
  • Communications and Coordination: Ability in communications to explain, advocate, and express facts and ideas in a convincing manner and a demonstrated ability to coordinate
  • Technical Programs – Ability to work with individuals and groups and developing a professional network with other organizations.

Experience refers to 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.

For additional information about applying to Federal positions, please click on the following link: https://www.opm.gov/frequently-asked-questions/employment-faq/federal-hiring/how-do-i-apply-for-federal-jobs/

All applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Education

Mandatory Education Requirements

  • DEGREE: ENGINEERING --To be acceptable, the program must: (1) lead to a bachelor’s degree in a school of engineering with at least one program accredited by ABET; 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 of 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 or physics, such as optics, heat transfer, soil mechanics, or electronics. OR
  • 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:
  • 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.
  • Written Test -- Evidence of having successfully passed the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) 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.
  • 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.
  • 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). All applicants must meet the education requirements under A or B to qualify for applying to an engineering position. Transcripts are required for this position.

Additional information

This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if similar vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificate.

The Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act prohibits the Department of Transportation and its Operating Administrations from requesting an applicant's criminal history record before that individual receives a conditional offer of employment. In accordance with Applicants who believe they have been subjected to a violation of the Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act, may submit a written complaint to the Department of Transportation by email at,

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.

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.

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.

Salary.com Estimation for General Engineer. in Princeton, NJ
$75,629 to $90,438
If your compensation planning software is too rigid to deploy winning incentive strategies, it’s time to find an adaptable solution. Compensation Planning
Enhance your organization's compensation strategy with salary data sets that HR and team managers can use to pay your staff right. Surveys & Data Sets

What is the career path for a General Engineer.?

Sign up to receive alerts about other jobs on the General Engineer. career path by checking the boxes next to the positions that interest you.
Income Estimation: 
$45,318 - $58,926
Income Estimation: 
$54,606 - $74,206
Income Estimation: 
$87,529 - $100,509
Income Estimation: 
$90,372 - $103,622
Income Estimation: 
$61,825 - $80,560
Income Estimation: 
$90,032 - $105,965
Income Estimation: 
$85,996 - $102,718
Employees: Get a Salary Increase
View Core, Job Family, and Industry Job Skills and Competency Data for more than 15,000 Job Titles Skills Library

Job openings at National Highway Traffic Safety Administration NHTSA

  • National Highway Traffic Safety Administration NHTSA Washington, DC
  • Duties As a General Engineer, You Will Serve as one of the primary NHTSA resources for planning, coordinating, and integrating comprehensive programs for t... more
  • 1 Day Ago


Not the job you're looking for? Here are some other General Engineer. jobs in the Princeton, NJ area that may be a better fit.

  • NVA General Practice Princeton, NJ
  • An externship experience at an NVA hospital will give students the unique opportunity to understand the day-to-day operations of the practice, and to gain ... more
  • 3 Days Ago

  • NVA General Practice Hainesport, NJ
  • An externship experience at an NVA hospital will give students the unique opportunity to understand the day-to-day operations of the practice, and to gain ... more
  • 10 Days Ago

AI Assistant is available now!

Feel free to start your new journey!