Aviation Safety Inspector (UAS Operations)

Federal Aviation Administration •

Washington DC, District of Columbia, United States

Position Type: Contractor

Job Description:

Serves as operations technical expert and advisor on assigned manufactured or modified Unmanned Aircraft, Advanced Air Mobility, Urban Air Mobility, Optionally Piloted Aircraft, and associated systems.

Provides expert consultation in support of accident or incident investigations, analysis, and implementation of corrective actions related to Unmanned Aircraft, Advanced Air Mobility, Urban Air Mobility, and Optionally Piloted Aircraft and associated systems.

Duties

Responsible for applying expert knowledge of and experience with Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) for the development and implementation of standards, programs, and procedures for FAA field personnel and the public governing all matters to unmanned aircraft, advanced air mobility, urban air mobility and optionally piloted aircraft safety issues.

Provides operations representation in all phases of developmental work involved during and prior to certification and subsequent to placing such unmanned aircraft, advanced air mobility, urban air mobility, and optionally piloted aircraft and associated systems into service. The work of this position has considerable impact on the level of safety for industry operation of these aircraft.

Serves as Operations consultant with respect to technical matters pertaining to airborne operational and performance requirements, equipment, maintenance, and standards used within area of responsibility. Reviews and evaluates the operational suitability of equipment used in assigned aircraft and associated systems. This involves the review and analysis of aircraft and equipment and because of the analysis, takes appropriate action. Such action may result in recommendations for operational procedures. Participates in Type Certification Board in making decisions related to the operational suitability of aircraft produced by aircraft manufacturers. Serves as member on Flight Standards Boards (FSB) and Flight Operations Evaluation Boards (FOEB) evaluating and presenting Operational considerations/ impact or requirements. Evaluates the abilities of the unmanned aircraft, advanced air mobility, urban air mobility, and optionally piloted aircraft and associated processes, manuals, and documents to ensure they perform as expected.

Provides technical advisory service relative to unique and unusually complex operational needs and regulatory requirements. Participates in the development and establishment of national and international standards, procedures and airworthiness criteria tailored especially to meet the requirements and conditions considered necessary to assure effectiveness of the design for assigned aircraft. Manages team efforts with respect to the development of operational criteria. Relates the assigned aircraft manufacturers operational requirements for unmanned aircraft, advanced air mobility, urban air mobility, and optionally piloted aircraft and associated systems to the aviation industry with particular emphasis on assuring realistic, economically feasible, and technically practical programs which may be applied by the industry.

Familiarizes and applies knowledge of operating rules under development but not yet written by Flight Standards. Engages frequently with internal FAA policy groups to ensure that type certificated unmanned aircraft, advanced air mobility, urban air mobility, optionally piloted aircraft and associated systems will be able to operate in the NAS with the need for limited exemptions as rule making continues. This prevents the scenario where an unmanned aircraft, advanced air mobility, urban air mobility, optionally piloted aircraft and associated systems are type-certificated and found not to be operationally suitable under current applicable regulations.

Contacts involve industry representatives including pilots, operators and/or personnel in charge of flight-testing for aircraft manufacturers. Contacts are also with foreign government aviation officials and manufacturers on an international basis.

Develops and implements special operations projects as required to accomplish program objectives. Recommends technical program or policy changes as appropriate. Provides technical assistance with respect to the initial development and approval of aircraft flight manuals for unmanned aircraft, advanced air mobility, urban air mobility, and optionally piloted aircraft utilized by the aviation industry.

Performs other duties as assigned.

Job Requirements:
Requirements Conditions of Employment

US Citizenship is required.
Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
Must submit an SF50 (See Required Documents)
Designated or Random Drug Testing required.
Participates in the flight program as an aircrew member and must meet the medical
and flight currency requirements in accordance with FAA policies and guidelines.

Qualifications

General Requirements for All Positions:

Not more than two separate incidents involving Federal aviation regulations violations in the last 5 years;
Valid State driver's license;
Fluency in the English language;
No chemical dependencies or drug abuse that could interfere with job performance; and
High school diploma or equivalent

Medical Requirements for All Positions:

Applicants must be physically able to perform the duties of the Aviation Safety Inspector position in a safe and efficient manner, with or without a reasonable accommodation. The minimum medical requirements include the following requirements:

Have good distant vision in each eye and be able to read, without strain, printed materials the size of typewritten characters (glasses and contact lenses permitted);
Have the ability to hear the conversational voice (hearing aid permitted); and
Not have any physical condition that would cause them to be a hazard to themselves or others that would interfere with their ability to fly as passengers in a variety of aircraft.

In addition, applicants for positions that require participation in the operation of the aircraft must:

Possess a valid second – class medical certificate in accordance with FAA regulations; and
Pass recurrent medical examinations as prescribed by the FAA.

Applicants not requiring valid second-class medical certificates who are tentatively selected will be required to:

Provide documentation from a board-certified physician certifying that they meet the minimal medical requirements; or
Individuals who do not meet the minimum medical requirements but who are otherwise qualified will receive an individualized assessment to determine whether they can perform the essential functions of the position.

When the predominant work involves general aviation operations, applicants for Aviation Safety Inspector (Operations) positions must meet all of the following requirements.

Valid, unexpired Flight Instructor Certificate with single and multi-engine airplane and instrument airplane ratings. Must have given a minimum of 200 hours of flight instruction in an aircraft.
Professional flying skill as demonstrated in a flight check to Commercial Pilot Certificate with an instrument rating;
Possession of Airline Transport Pilot Certificate or Commercial Pilot Certificate with instrument airplane rating.
Minimum of 100 flight hours within the last 3 years.
Minimum of 1,500 total flight hours.
Possession of single and multi-engine land airplane ratings.
Not more than 2 flying accidents in the last 5 years in which the applicant's pilot error was involved.
Possession of a valid second-class FAA medical certificate.

To qualify for this position, you must demonstrate in your application that you possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to FV-I, FG/GS-13 level. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. Specialized experience includes Mastery of, and skill in applying, laws and regulations related to inspection, investigation, enforcement, and/or compliance work. Developing new techniques, legal processes and approaches. Mastery of advanced principles and concepts of aviation safety, Federal laws, regulations, and policies affecting aviation. Ability to develop agency-wide policies, procedures, and strategies. Ability to provide expert technical advice, guidance, and recommendations to agency management and other senior agents, officers, or inspectors on critical operations. Ability to collect and analyze operational and strategic intelligence from wide-ranging sources including Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies, military departments, foreign governments, financial institutions, and technology companies. Ability to develop new approaches in response to identified weaknesses and vulnerabilities of ongoing operations; or solve problems demanding technologically advanced methods and innovative approaches.

For Lateral Movements Between 1825 Specialties:

To assist in determining qualification requirements, applicants transferring between specialties at the same grade level are strongly encouraged to complete the appropriate Qualifications Assessment Tool (QAT) check sheet and upload it along with their resume. Check sheets are contained in Order 3410.26, Flight Standards Service Air Carrier and General Aviation Qualifications Assessment Tool for AFS Aviation Safety Inspectors. This order is located at: https://www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/media/Order/3410.26.pdf.

In-grade/downgrade applications will be accepted.

Qualifications must be met by the closing date of this vacancy announcement.

Education

High School Diploma

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IMPORTANT: Applicants may be rated on the extent and quality of experience, education, and training relevant to the duties of the position(s). All answers provided in the on-line process must be substantiated. Ensure that your application package/resume supports your responses.

Required Documents

Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50) must be submitted.

If you are an FAA employee, you MUST provide a copy of your SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action) containing information in Blocks 15, 17, 18, 19, 22, and 24 so it can be used to verify your position title, series, grade, tenure, and organization of record by the closing date of the announcement. You may fax your SF-50 or upload it into the on-line application. If faxing the SF-50, please ensure you include the vacancy announcement number on the faxed copy.

If you are an FAA employee, you can access and print your SF-50 from the eOPF system https://eopf.opm.gov/dot/.

Forms:

FAA-3330-473 : 2181/1825 Supplemental Qualifications Statement

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

Salary Range: $122,198 - $191,900

Job Ident #: 790354300

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Aviation Safety Inspector (UAS Operations)

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