General Engineer

This position is located in the Air Traffic Organization (ATO), Safety Service Unit, Policy & Performance Directorate, Safety Performance Group (AJl-3400). This group creates and manages safety performance metrics and incorporates human performance management programs, data, and efforts to maximize safety performance.

The General Engineer applies experience and comprehensive knowledge of several engineering disciplines such as Systems, Computer, and Safety engineering to evaluate and analyze National Airspace Systems (NAS) and equipment, including procedures and software, to develop safety performance metrics. Plans and accomplishes highly complex and challenging projects/programs and other work activities under the minimal direction of the team manager or more experienced engineer. This work directly affects the Safety Service Unit, the Air Traffic Organization (ATO), and the strategic goals of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Applies extensive experience and comprehensive knowledge of engineering principles, theories, and new technologies to study and evaluate NAS systems and equipment. Facilitates decision-making by analyzing trend data and simulations to identify safety risks. Solves complex engineering problems and improves engineering processes, metrics, and measurements.

Analyzes calculations and computations to evaluate safety performance targets. Conducts safety and performance assessments of NAS systems, operations and procedures, including communication systems, peripheral control systems and business architectures to develop safety data and to analyze information through the use of dashboards, advanced analytics, collaboration environments, visualizations, and briefings. Establishes data management and analysis methods to provide the components necessary for capturing, tracking, and learning from safety risk management efforts and to facilitate safety performance target monitoring for NAS systems and equipment.

As a principal technical specialist or as a project/program manager or team leader for large work activities, the engineer uses experience applying project/program management principles to support the Safety Management Tracking System (SMTS) by gathering and managing system requirements for SMTS. Leads teams in the analysis and assessment of safety data to identify trends, risks, and areas for improvement in safety measures. Develops detailed documentation of requirements to ensure configuration management and traceability. Interprets equipment performance data to provide advice and to recommend changes in the ATO Safety Management System (SMS) Manual and related policies.

Contacts are internal and external. The Engineer often represents the FAA as a senior technical point of contact on projects, programs and other work activities. Communicates results to all levels internally within AJI and externally.

Plays a lead role in drafting, reviewing, and editing reports for final approval prior to external distribution. Presents briefings to obtain consensus/approval on policies and coordinates significant technical matters with representatives of external organizations. Although broad policies and objectives provide general guidance for addressing issues, the Engineer is allowed considerable discretion to develop new and innovative approaches.

Provides guidance to lower-level staff to solve difficult technical issues and resolves all but unique technical problems without the intervention of the Team Manager or a more experienced engineer. The Team Manager rarely reviews work, typically though status reports and at project completion, to ensure technical compliance and alignment with the requirements of the project or other work activity.