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Position Title
Aerospace Engineer (Structures)
Agency
National Transportation Safety Board
Announcement Number
AS-12715365-25-KAT Opens in new window
Open Period
Friday, March 21, 2025 to Friday, April 4, 2025
For preview purposes only. To apply, please return to the USAJOBS announcement and click the Apply button.
Eligibilities
1. Do you claim Veterans’ Preference? (limit characters)
2. Are you a veteran who separated from active duty under honorable conditions and you:
  • have a rating by the Department of Veterans Affairs showing a compensable service-connected disability of 30%or more OR
  • retired from active military service with a service-connected disability rating of 30% or more
If eligible, submit a copy of your latest Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, DD-214 (copy indicatingcharacter of service) or other proof of your service which includes character of service. Please also provide the disabilityletter from the Department of Veterans Affairs or Armed Service and the Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference,Standard Form 15.

For more information, review USAJOBS Veterans resources.
(limit characters)
3. Are you the spouse of a member of the Armed Forces who has been issued orders for a permanent change of station (PCS)? If yes, confirm that you are indicated on the PCS orders; and you
  • have been married to the military member on or prior to the date of your spouse's PCS orders
  • are relocating with your spouse to the new duty location AND
  • have not previously been appointed using this authority under these orders.
-OR-

Are you the spouse of a member of the Armed Forces who retired with a disability rating at the time of retirement of 100 percent or the spouse of a member of the Armed Forces who retired or separated from the Armed Forces and has a disability rating of 100 percent from the Department of Veterans Affairs?

-OR-

Are you the un-remarried widow or widower of a member of the Armed Forces killed while in active duty status?

For more information, review USAJOBS Veterans resources.
(limit characters)
4. Are you a current or former federal employee displaced from the agency hiring for this position? If yes, confirm:
you are located in the same local commuting area of the vacancy
your grade is equivalent to or below the grade level of the vacancy AND
your last performance rating of record is at least fully successful or the equivalent.

You will be required to submit supporting documentation to validate your claim of CTAP eligibility such as a Reduction in Force (RIF) separation notice or a Proposed Removal/Separation notice and a copy of your latest Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50.

For more information, review the USAJOBS Resource Center.
(limit characters)
5. Were you employed overseas as an Appropriated Fund employee AND did you
complete 52 weeks of creditable overseas service in an appropriated fund position(s) as a family member during the time you accompanied a sponsor officially assigned to an overseas area
receive a fully successful or better (or equivalent) performance rating AND
return to the United States to resume residence less than 3 years ago?
(limit characters)
6. Are you a current federal employee in the competitive service that holds a career or career-conditional position?

To verify eligibility, submit a copy of your current Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 or equivalent personnel action form reflecting your permanent and competitive status.
  • Your Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (or equivalent personnel action form) must reflect career or career-conditional (Tenure 1 or 2, box 24) and,
  • Your Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (or equivalent personnel action form) must reflect your status was in the competitive service (Position Occupied is 1, box 34) and,
  • Your Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (or equivalent personnel action form) must reflect your position title, series, grade, step and salary.
(limit characters)
7. Have you completed three years of substantially continuous service immediately before separation from an unlimited, career-type Foreign Service appointment that meets a requirement for career tenure?

-OR-

Have you had service that began with a non-temporary Foreign Service appointment counting towards the 3-year service requirement for career tenure and have been separated within the past 30 days from the career-type appointment in the Foreign Service?
(limit characters)
8. Are you a current or former federal employee displaced from a position in a federal agency other than the agency hiring for this position? If yes, confirm:
you are located in the same local commuting area of the vacancy
your grade is equivalent to or below the grade level of the vacancy and
your last performance rating of record is at least fully successful or the equivalent.

You will be required to submit supporting documentation to validate your claim of ICTAP eligibility such as a Reduction in Force (RIF) separation notice or a Proposed Removal/Separation notice and a copy of your latest Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50.

For more information, review the USAJOBS Resource Center.
(limit characters)
9. Are you a current Excepted Service employee of a Federal Agency that has a valid interchange agreement with the Office of Personnel Management?

For more information, review Interchange Agreements with Other Merit Systems.

To verify your eligibility, you must submit a copy of your Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form (SF-50) reflecting your status.
(limit characters)
10. Are you a Land Management Eligible under the Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act? (limit characters)
11. Are you a former Peace Corps volunteer or VISTA member who has completed your service within the past twelve months?

-OR-

Are you a former Peace Corps volunteer or VISTA member who has completed your service within the past 36 months and is requesting an extension of your non-competitive eligibility due to your military service, status as a full-time student or other experience related to this position?

-OR-

Are you a current or former Peace Corps employee who has completed at least 36 months of continuous service and has been separated from the Peace Corps for less than three years? If yes, submit a copy of your description of service or other proof of non-competitive eligibility. If you are a former Peace Corps volunteer or VISTA member who is requesting an extension of your non-competitive eligibility, please also provide the necessary documentation to support your request. 
(limit characters)
12. Non-Competitive Current or Former Federal Employee:

Do you meet any of the following eligibilities?

I am currently at a higher grade level than the full performance level of the position being announced; or
I have competed for and am currently at the same grade level as the full performance level of the position being announced;or
I am currently serving in a position with full performance level equivalent to or higher than the full performance level of the position being announced;or
I am a former Federal civilian employee that served on a permanent competitive career appointment AND have held the same grade level as this position or higher with the same or higher promotion potential; or
I have obtained career-conditional status (within 3 years of the date of separation or am a preference eligible) AND have held the same grade level as this position or higher with the same or higher promotion potential.

To verify your eligibility, you must submit supporting documentation as outlined in the Job Opportunity Announcement.
(limit characters)
13. Do you have a severe physical, psychiatric or mental disability that qualifies you for Schedule A Disability appointments?

If eligible, provide proof of disability with appropriate medical documentation, i.e., a letter signed by a licensed medicalprofessional or licensed vocational rehabilitation specialist stating your condition and restrictions.

For more information, review USAJOBS Individuals with Disabilities resources.
(limit characters)
14. Were you formerly employed as a federal civilian on a permanent competitive appointment but are not currently a permanent competitive federal employee?

If eligible, submit a copy of your separation Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 or equivalent personnelaction form reflecting your permanent, competitive status.
  • Your separation Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (or equivalent personnel action form) mustreflect career or career-conditional (Tenure 1 or 2) AND
  • Your separation Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (or equivalent personnel action form) mustreflect your status was in the competitive service (Position Occupied is 1).
(limit characters)
15. Are you a veteran whose latest discharge was under honorable conditions and you:
  • served three or more years of continuous active duty service in the military (NOTE: if released shortly beforecompleting a 3-year tour, you are considered to meet the eligibility) OR
  • are entitled to veterans' preference
If eligible, submit a copy of your latest Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, DD-214 (copy indicatingcharacter of service) or other proof of your service which includes character of service.

For more information, review USAJOBS Veterans resources.
(limit characters)
Assessment 1
Thank you for your interest in the Aerospace Engineer (Structures), GS-0861-14 position with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). Please choose the statement from the list below that best describes your education and experience. We will evaluate your resume and responses to questions below to determine if you meet the basic qualifications for this position. Your responses are subject to verification and must be supported by your resume and supporting documents. (limit characters)
1. Please select one response that best describes how you meet the basic education requirement for the GS-0861, Aerospace Engineer (Structures) Series.
(limit characters)
2. Please select one response that best describes how you meet the specialized experience for the Aerospace Engineer (Structures), GS-0861-14 position.
(limit characters)
Select “Yes” or “No” to the following question(s). (limit characters)
3. The incumbent supports major go-team launches within the United States and Internationally and is required to obtain a visa from the international host county and travel with the go-team via a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) jet from Ronald Reagan National Airport in Arlington, Virginia within two hours after notification of an accident. Are you willing to travel with the go-team in the United States and Internationally via a FAA jet from Ronald Reagan National Airport in Arlington, Virginia within two hours after notification of an accident and obtain an international visa provided by the host county? (limit characters)
4. Investigative assignments may be given on short notice and may involve work at unusual times and for long hours at accidents sites. The incumbent may be exposed to a variety of weather conditions and other environmental discomforts such as remote, rugged, snow, rain, temperature extremes, swampy or mountainous areas and hostile settings. The incumbent usually will be required to wear a hardhat, safety shoes, goggles, gloves, and other protective equipment. Occasionally the aircraft wreckage may contain hazardous materials that still can be burning by the time the investigators arrive on-the? scene. Are you willing to work on-scene during an accident investigation that may expose you to a variety of weather conditions, hazards, and hazardous materials?
(limit characters)
Select the one statement for each question that most accurately describes your training and experience as an Aerospace Engineer (Systems). (limit characters)
Select the one statement that most accurately describes your training and experience carrying out each task using the scale provided. (limit characters)
5. Uses knowledge of aircraft/airframe structural design philosophy and configuration (both in composite and metal construction) gained from designing, certificating, operating, troubleshooting, investigating failures of, and/or maintaining such systems and their components.
(limit characters)
6. Uses knowledge of aircraft structures validation and testing criteria gained from designing, certificating, operating, troubleshooting, investigating failures of, and/or maintaining such systems and their components.
(limit characters)
7. Uses knowledge of aircraft structures under tensile, compressive, shear and combined loads with fasteners, joints, fittings, and lugs gained from designing, certificating, operating, troubleshooting, investigating failures of, and/or maintaining such systems and their components.
(limit characters)
8. Uses FAA regulations (as well as manufacturers criteria) such as Part 23 Airworthiness standards for normal category aircraft, Part 25 Airworthiness standards for transport category aircraft, and part 43 maintenance, preventive maintenance, rebuilding, inspection and alteration standards.
(limit characters)
9. Conducts aircraft structures related investigations, including disassembly, examination, and testing.
(limit characters)
10. Leads a group of experienced investigators and/or engineers in aircraft structures related failure investigations.
(limit characters)
11. Leads and manage complex technical projects.
(limit characters)
12. Writes and develop formal aircraft structures related accident investigation factual and analytical reports.
(limit characters)
13. Develops Safety Recommendations to support aircraft structures related investigation findings and conclusions.
(limit characters)
14. Applies root cause analysis techniques to develop the root cause and related causal factors of aircraft structures related failures.
(limit characters)
15. Organizes and manage the on-scene fact-finding phase of the investigation and all related activities to determine the underlying causes of an aircraft structures related failure.
(limit characters)
16. Builds and manage effective investigation teams by encouraging cooperation, trust, and consensus building by resolving conflicts and collaborating with others using team problem solving methodologies and tools.
(limit characters)
17. Promotes collaboration between multiple parties to share information and achieve results.
(limit characters)
18. Establishes and maintain effective working relationships with representatives of other Federal agencies and/or private entities.
(limit characters)
19. Provides leadership and expertise in effectively managing and coordinating accident and incident investigations with diverse parties.
(limit characters)
20. Prepares and deliver formal oral presentations on the findings of aircraft structures related failure investigations.
(limit characters)
21. Explains or defend complex aircraft structures related failure investigations with other federal agencies, the public, and industry.
(limit characters)
Select “Yes” or “No” to the following question(s). (limit characters)
22. I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, all of the information included in this questionnaire is true, correct, and provided in good faith. I understand that if I make an intentional false statement, or commit deception or fraud in this application and its supporting materials, or in any document or interview associated with the examination process, that my eligibilities may be cancelled, I may be denied an appointment, I may be removed and debarred from Federal service (5 CFR part 731), or I may be fined or imprisoned (18 U.S.C. 1001), I understand that any information I give may be investigated.
(limit characters)