• Job Description

  Req#: 744078700
  As a Radio Frequency Telemetry Station (RFTS) Design and Operations Engineer with the Communications and Tracking Branch in the Explorations Systems and Operations Division, you will be responsible for the development of new requirements and design, performing analysis, overseeing the implementation, testing and troubleshooting of the Ground Station Radio Frequency (RF) Communications and Telemetry System (C&TS) interfaces with Launch Vehicles (LV) and Crew Vehicles (CV).
  
  Duties
  
  
  • Duties described below are at the full-performance level. Duties assigned at a lower grade level will be of more limited scope, performed with less independence and limited complexity; duties will be commensurate with the grade of selected employee.
  • Serves as a telecommunications engineer and participates in the planning, operations, maintenance and systems design related to a ground-based Radio Frequency (RF) communication/radar antenna array system.
  • Conducts component level valuations of RF, electronic, instrumentation and photonic devices, analyzes design specifications and drawings, and recommends changes to enable proper functioning of the system or equipment.
  • Participates in technical and contract negotiations and prepares project schedules, cost estimates, and equipment, system, or hardware quantity delivery requirements or the development of measurement and instrumentation systems.
  • Resolves technical difficulties that can be overcome by changes in approach, criteria, or requirements in areas such as flight systems or measurement and instrumentation systems.
  • Designs or directs the development of controversial or leading-edge technology, equipment, or systems to meet specific mission requirements.
  • Reviews and evaluates equipment design to define test and analysis requirements, test parameters, and verification methods.
  • Analyzes real-time and post-test Spacecraft/Launch Vehicle RF signals and evaluate Ethernet and Windows Server performance using standard industry tools.
  
  
  Requirements
  
  
  • This position is open to U.S. citizens, nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.
  • Position subject to pre-employment background security investigation.
  • You must meet qualifications requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
  • This position may require a one year trial period.
  
  
  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-11, you must have:
  a) You must have one year of directly related specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 level:
  • Applying engineering concepts, principles, and practices with emphasis in electrical engineering and Radio Frequency (RF) communication theory including signal processing concepts, antenna concepts, and/or modulation and coding techniques (such as Binary Phase Shift Keying, Quadrature Phase-Shift Keying);
  • Participating in the implementation of procedures for aerospace RF electronic hardware/software according to design standards; and
  • Assisting in the development of telecommunications projects.
  OR
  b) Completed all requirements for a doctoral degree (i.e., Ph.D. or equivalent) in an appropriate field
  OR
  c) Completed 3 full academic years of graduate education in an appropriate field
  OR
  d) 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:
  • Assisting in the research, design or development of an integrated ground station system in radio frequency engineering, microwave engineering, and/or digital communications;
  • Utilizing software (such as C++, Python, JAVA) to develop and modify applications used in a ground station test environment and using network packet capture tools to analyze internet protocol (IP) based RF telemetry; and
  • Utilizing electronics instrumentation systems or components to test Radio Frequency (RF) flight or ground hardware.
  
  To qualify for GS-13, you must have one year of directly related specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 level:
  • Leading development work involving the analysis and assessment, via modeling, simulation and/or test/measurement, of antenna/antenna metrology systems in an integrated ground station system;
  • Troubleshooting flight systems at the Radio Frequency (RF) and command/telemetry level, including encrypted and decrypted signals, to resolve issues; and
  • Implementing aerospace RF communication system procedures and recommending updates for continued system enhancements.
  
  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.
  
  
  Required college majors for applicants qualifying on the basis of graduate education only (GS-11 Only):
  
  Aeronautical Engineering, Aeronautics, Aerospace Engineering, Astronautical Engineering, Astronautics, Astronomy, Astrophysics, Chemical Engineering, Electrical Engineering (except power), Electronics Engineering, Applied Mechanics, Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Mechanics, Nuclear Engineering, Nuclear Engineering Physics, Oceanography, Optical Engineering. Other majors will qualify if the major includes or is supplemented as follows: Biomedical Engineering, Chemistry, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Mathematics (Pure or Applied), Physics, Applied Physics, Engineering Physics (or other related field), if includes or is supplemented by two courses in solid state physics, materials, optics, statics and dynamics, electricity and electronics, electron optics, kinetic theory of gases, electromagnetic propagation or radiation, semiconductors, vibration, high vacuum theory, information theory or heat transfer.

• About the company

  The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is an independent agency of the U.S. federal government responsible for the civilian space program, as well as aeronautics and space research.

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