This position is located in the Office of Aviation Safety (AVS), Flight Standards Service, Flight Technologies and Procedures Division, Flight Research and Analysis Branch (AFS-430). The incumbent is the technical expert for the development of technical and scientific standards, programs, policies, procedures, and flight deck criteria pertaining to all aspects of 14 CFR Part 121 flight operations and advanced technologies in transport and non-transport category aircraft.
Plans and accomplishes highly complex and challenging flight research projects and other work activities applying technical and operational knowledge. Initiates, organizes, and oversees major technical and scientific studies in safety critical and controversial problem areas having national and international ramifications.
Areas such as the impact of flight display systems, advanced flight deck design, flight deck crewmember interface, instrument procedure design, instrument procedure charting, and air traffic airspace designs on aircraft operations under all weather conditions within the National Airspace System (NAS).
Supports and aids in the development of special flight technical concepts, policies, standards, criteria, procedures, guidance and rules and recommends final approval or disapproval of operators, aircraft, and equipment for these operations. Determines the need for Federal Aviation requirements pertaining to navigation systems, flight procedures, and flight operations.
Additionally, recommends research and development requirements for new or revised navigation systems, operational procedures and aircraft equipment and develops policy and criteria for use of these systems. Provides aviation safety oversight and surveillance work relative to flight operations and procedures in the NAS.
Implements emerging CNS technology including new operational concepts, systems, equipment, and procedures for new aircraft, earth/space-based navigation and communications systems, airspace systems, or airport facilities and equipment, works to develop national procedures and policy.
Uses in-depth technical expertise and high-level specialized knowledge to conceptual and advanced aircraft operational standards, flight guidance and management systems, flight display and avionics systems, procedure design, development initiatives, and operational approvals for flight procedures and technologies. Creates experimental theories and new developments to problems not susceptible to treatment by traditional methods or precedents.
Reviews and validates design principles, operational procedures, and guidance for flight crew systems, including evaluation of innovative crew interface and interaction concepts in piloted simulation to assess the benefits and liabilities of projected concepts. Identifies, develops, directs, and may conduct training for advanced flight technologies and flight procedures.
Serves as a simulator project pilot assigned to critical, Agency-level research projects requiring intense system and pilot knowledge of Boeing and/or Airbus aircraft. Applies in-depth technical expertise related to FAA NextGen air traffic and flight operations applications. Reviews flight parameters through statistical applications in consideration of flight track data to determine individual and collective effect of measurable factors.
Maintains knowledge of aircraft operations, usage of instrument approach charts, and interface of navigation systems with instrument operations. Possesses a high degree of competence using sophisticated research facilities, such as piloted aircraft simulators, in order to evaluate operational and procedural performance elements.
Maintains knowledge of current government and industry research and development programs with emphasis on those pertaining to new aviation applications, procedures, and technologies. Performs other duties as assigned.
Education is not qualifying for this position and may not be substituted for experience. As a part of the Federal-Wide Hiring Reform Initiative (streamlining the hiring process), the FAA is committed to eliminating the use of the Knowledge, Skills and Ability (KSA) narratives from the initial application in the hiring process for all announcements.
Therefore, as an applicant for this announcement, you are NOT required to provide a narrative response in the text box listed below each KSA. In lieu of providing a KSA narrative response in the text box listed below each KSA, in your work history, please include information that provides specific examples of how you meet the response level or answer you chose for each KSA. Your work history examples should be specific and clearly reflect the highest level of ability.
Your KSA answers will be evaluated further to validate whether the level that you selected is appropriate based on the work history and experience you provided. Your answers may be adjusted by a Human Resource Specialist as appropriate. Eligible applicants meeting the minimum qualification requirements may be further evaluated on the Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs) listed in the announcement.
Based on this evaluation, applicants will be placed in one of the following categories: score order, category grouping, or alphabetical and referred to the selecting official for consideration.
laura.g.whitlock@faa.gov · 1 (404) 305-5336
This position is with Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Transportation.
The posted pay range is $125776 – $163514/yr.
This position is eligible for telework.
This position requires a Other security clearance.
Applications close on 2026-10-23.
This position is open under the 'Public' hiring path.
Source: USAJOBS.gov — U.S. Federal Government · Retrieved 2026-10-14 · Not affiliated with or endorsed by OPM or USAJOBS.gov
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