The Office of Aerospace Medicine (AAM) develops and manages medical programs in support of Aviation Safety. Incumbent serves as an Engineering Research Psychologist within the Aerospace Human Factors Research Division.
Duties
Performs a mixture of routine, multiple, and varying assignments under the limited direction of a manager, project/program manager, team leader, or more experienced technical specialist. Acts as an individual contributor and/or member of a team. May perform leadership functions for small projects/programs/teams. Applies experience and detailed technical knowledge of engineering psychology to plan and accomplish assignments.
Typical assignments include:
Serves as a Principal Investigator for conducting human factors research in aviation environments and with related occupations. Research studies address human factors issues in aviation such as 1) evaluating the impact of new technologies and procedures on air traffic controller or pilot performance, 2) identifying system risks and evaluating potential mitigations in the National Airspace System, and 3) assessing information display, integration, and systems used to perform job tasks.
Consults with FAA research sponsors to identify research requirements, objectives, and products; negotiates priorities, program activities and funding resources with division management prior to finalizing with sponsors and program managers to meet the research needs in a timely and cost-effective manner. Consults with the laboratory manager to identify and pursue options for additional support for projects such as contract support, grants to colleges and universities, and collaborations with private industry.
Develops experimental designs and other methods for collecting data relevant to the research problem such as experimental protocols, surveys, observation, and simulator scenarios. Conducts advanced statistical analyses, interprets results, and communicates the application of the results to the research objective or problem.
Participates in FAA work groups as a subject matter expert and collaborates in completing work group products. Consults with peers and advises FAA research sponsors on research and operational issues within ones area of expertise.
Delivers presentations to FAA research sponsors and program managers as well as scientific professional organizations. Writes reports consistent with generally accepted practices in the fields of Psychology and Human Factors for publication in technical reports, scientific journals, and conference proceedings.
Identifies requirements and writes contracts/statements of work for purchasing equipment or services; evaluates deliverables for acceptance by the government.
Education and experience guide the conduct of most technical work; research design and execution receive periodic review from the laboratory manager or senior engineering psychologist.
Established policies/procedures provide guidance for most assignments but allow some discretion to select the most appropriate approach. Typically receives guidance on selecting approach from a manager, project/program manager, team leader, or more experienced technical specialist. May provide recommendations to improve work processes.
Performs other duties as assigned.