INTERDISCIPLINARY ENGINEER / SCIENTIST

MD-ABERDEENATC
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Eligibility Requirements

US Citizenship

Career Category

Engineer

Sciences (Physical/Natural)

Job Summary

The mission of the US Army Aberdeen Test Center (ATC) is to provide test and test support services for authorized customers, within DoD and outside DoD, including government and non-government organizations, domestic and foreign. Provide comprehensive test and training both real and simulated; provide expert knowledge and technical services including instrumentation application, facility operations, manufacturing and fabrication; exploit emerging technologies; and develop leading edge instrumentation and test methodologies.

 

 

Job Responsibilities

1. Serves as a senior evaluator/test officer for the Aberdeen Test Center (ATC) wherein the assigned mission is to conduct test and evaluation of broad Army equipment categories (i.e., one or more of the following: soldier systems, artillery, small arms, armor, automotive, mines, countermines, demolition, recoilless rifles, mortars, non-lethal weapon systems, and ammunition) to determine whether such materiel is qualified for production and whether US Army standards of quality are being maintained. As such, the incumbent is responsible for independently planning, coordinating and conducting (1) complex research and development test projects requiring substantial modification or adaptation of, or compromise with standard techniques, methods and criteria, and conventional test procedures or (2) other difficult test projects which include several, and, on occasion, many varied complex features requiring unusual planning, scheduling, coordination, and/or negotiation. In both situations, the duties and responsibilities of the position involve difficult test projects requiring substantive analysis and evaluation of testing alternatives and ultimately, the selection of those as appropriate, as well as the determination of findings and conclusions.

 

a. Receives the overall assignment, reviews design and user specifications, evaluation plans, and reviews and/or develops material performance criteria. Defines requirements for instrumentation, test duration, environmental, safety and security measures, and a number of prototypes/components/bulk materials, personnel, and support equipment. Determines the methods and procedures required to effectively test for technical performance, properties, design characteristics, reliability, and maintainability of systems/materiel and major sub-systems to assure that items meet military or other requirements.

 

b. Develops cost estimates, test plans, schedules, coordinates support requirements, executes the test, and analyzes data accumulated. The assigned test project is concerned with major items of considerable complexity; they require significant modification of standard practices or involve conventional testing practices but include several complex features or special considerations of planning, scheduling, coordination, and/or negotiation involving controversial or conflicting problems.

 

c. Prepares schedules for tests and coordinates support requirements with test scheduling office and supporting organizational elements. Oversees the conduct of assigned tests, and personally observes test conduct as required. Exercises technical direction over subordinate engineering, technical test support, and other supporting personnel in the conduct of tests in the field, or under simulated conditions. Assigns tasks to personnel, provides instructions and reviews work.

 

d. Receives laboratory and field performance data and analytical information from supporting organizations. Reviews the data collected for completeness, accuracy, and validity; and determines whether additional tests are required to satisfy test objectives. Analyzes test data in terms of operating conditions, environmental factors, and operational/user requirements, etc. Prepares final test report outlining problem areas and develops recommendations and conclusions as to the suitability of the material being tested. Due to the complexity of the test project, the incumbent is required to prepare an intricate, detailed, and interpretative analysis of the test results.

 

e. Interacts during the test process with a variety of personnel located at the installation (e.g., within Aberdeen Test Center, Army Research Laboratory, Army Evaluation Center, and Army Test and Evaluation Command), as well as engineering personnel from other ATEC test centers, Program Sponsors, DA, private industry representatives, and representatives of foreign governments.

 

f. Represents ATC and attends meetings and conferences (e.g., chartered test integration working group committees and configuration control boards) which relate to assigned area of responsibility. Participates in the isolation and resolution of controversial and novel problems regarding items being developed and tested which are often of such a unique nature that test planning is required at the same time the item is being developed.

 

g. Serves as test team leader when test programs require the simultaneous effort of several test officers at ATC. During the course of these tests, the incumbent directs the activities of engineers and technicians assigned to the test team. Monitors the subtests being performed either directly or through a subordinate, to ensure compliance with the approved plan of the test. Integrates the results of the various subtests performed into the final formal report on the project.

 

h. Reviews preliminary drafts of user requirement statements, coordinated test plans, Test Operating Procedures (TOP), and plans of other agencies to develop technical documents, preliminary test plans, and cost estimates for testing which will be conducted by ATC in the future.

Job Qualification

In order to qualify, you must meet the general minimum requirements described below. 
 
 
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). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. If qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application. 
 
To be eligible, you must have, and your resume must describe, at least one year of specialized experience at the next lower grade (NH-02/GS-11) level, which includes: 1) Planning and directing test and data collection strategies for military equipment; 2) Authoring reports on testing procedures and findings; and 3) Managing complex projects and programs (cost/schedule/performance).  There is no education substitution at this level.

HOW YOU WILL BE EVALUATED. You will be evaluated based on your level of competency in the following areas:

You will be evaluated based on your level of competency in the following areas:

1. Technical Competence

2. Leadership

3. Problem Solving

4. Oral/Written Communication

Conditions of Employment

1. This position requires temporary duty (TDY) travel up to 25% of the time.

2. If assigned duties require a Top Secret security clearance, then this is a testing designated position. Personnel must pass drug screening prior to hiring and will be subject to periodic and random drug testing thereafter, in accordance with AR 600-85 and Department of Defense Directive 2010.9.

3. Based on assigned duties, Position may be subject to Lautenberg/Domestic Violence Misdemeanor Amendment covered by the 1996 Lautenberg Amendment to the Gun Control Act of 1968. Persons convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence are not eligible for the position.

4. A Pre-Employment Physical and Hearing Test may be required for this position.

Travel Requirements

Greater than 20% Travel