Research Electrical Engineer, AST, Direct Energy Conversion

• Provide technical oversight to a diverse group of contractors and civil servants performing research and development of next generation electrolyzers, fuel cells and photonic devices, such as photovoltaics or photoelectrochemical cells.
• Formulate new proposed research and development opportunities in response to requests for proposals and maintain a core research and development program based on expertise in electrolysis, photoelectrolysis, fuel cells or photovoltaics.
• Oversee the development and execution of test plans, safety permits, and work with engineers to further develop laboratories and facilities dedicated to the testing of fuel cells, regenerative fuel cells, or photovoltaic devices.
• Perform testing to qualify technology developed in the areas of fuel cells, regenerative fuel cells, electrolyzers, photoelectrolysis or photovoltaics for aerospace flight missions in accordance with NASA policies and procedures.
• Engage in continual learning to improve knowledge and skills in a specific domain related to fuel cells, regenerative fuel cells, or photovoltaics such as attending and presenting at workshops, and publication of research results when appropriate.
• Formulate strategic plans and directions for the research teams in the branch including, but not limited to, fuel cells and photovoltaics.
• Strategic planning to include market research, potential funding sources, partners, long term planning of research projects and proposal development.
• Foster a culture of engagement, diversity, inclusiveness, excellence and innovation. Champion NASA’s commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility to create an environment that promotes a commitment to safety, integrity, and teamwork.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• This position is open to U.S. citizens, nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.
• Position subject to pre-employment background investigation.
• You must meet qualifications requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
• If selected, you will be required to complete a financial disclosure statement.
• This position may require a one-year probationary 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-13, you must have one year of directly related specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 level:

• Designing, developing, or testing a regenerative fuel cell, electrolyzer, fuel cell or photovoltaic cell for the aerospace sector;
• Formulating new proposed research in the areas of electrolysis, photoelectrolysis, fuel cells or photovoltaics;
• Designing or supporting high pressure systems or systems that contain high purity oxygen.

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. NASA prohibits the use of artificial intelligence (AI) or AI-assisted tool in drafting application and assessment responses. Please visit

to review NASA’s guidance on the use of AI tools during the application process.

Education

Basic Education Requirement: You must have successfully completed a bachelor’s degree with a major in one of the following:

a) Engineering from a college or university that has ABET accredited engineering programs

b) Physical Science, Mathematics, Life Science or other field of Science

c) Computer Science that included 30 semester hours or 45 quarter hours of course work in any combination of mathematics, statistics and computer science with at least half of those hours in mathematics and statistics courses that included differential and integral calculus; and that provided an in-depth knowledge of theoretical and practical applications of computer science, including digital computer system architecture and system software organization, the representation and transformation of information structures, and the theoretical models for such representations and transformations.

If you did not complete a qualifying bachelor’s degree, you may be eligible if you have obtained a graduate degree in an AST qualifying field, as listed above.

Degrees in engineering technology are not considered qualifying for this position.

Engineering degrees earned within the United States: Engineering degrees earned within the United States must be from a college or university that has at least one ABET accredited engineering program. To find out if a school has at least one ABET accredited program, please visit

Engineering degrees earned outside the United States: Engineering degrees earned outside the United States must be recognized by a Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA), often known as accords. These are non-governmental agreements among organizations that accredit academic degree programs. MRAs recognize the substantial equivalence of mature accreditation systems and programs accredited by signatory organizations within their jurisdictions. For a listing of Signatories, please visit,