Engineering Psychologist - Transportation Security Administration - Arlington, Virginia - EXPIRED

This Engineering Psychologist position is located in the Checkpoint Solutions and Integration Division within the Office of Security Capabilities (OSC), Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Department of Homeland Security (DHS). If selected, you will serve as a human factors subject matter expert in the Threat Assessment Capabilities Branch.

Duties include, but are not limited to:

• Planning and carrying out complex scientific, engineering, and technological inquiries and analyses and developing experimental designs for behavior detection pilot programs
• Designing and executing experimental plans to conduct research for operating environments and completing in depth analytical evaluations of human behavior research.
• Leading panels, focus groups, committees, and task forces concerning human factors considerations and requirements for systems and technology under development, to optimize user performance and the passenger experience.
• Coordinating with external organizations and academic institutions to acquire additional research support and build relationships to further behavior detection research. Translating complex research in behavioral sciences in an applied environment and critiquing research to the SPOT/Optimization program and behavior detection in general.
• Providing Human Factors expertise in developing Concept of Operations (CONOPS) and requirements for Operational Requirements Documents (ORD) and Functional Requirements Documents (FRD) that are for the equipment used by the TSOs and the systems and environment within which they function.
• Reviewing new policies to ensure they are consistent with the scientific thought process and in line with current behavioral detection and human factors engineering psychological research.

The major duties described above reflect the full performance level of this position. Typically, the lower pay band (H Band) performs the same duties but will receive more guidance and training; and/or projects/work assignments may be less complex.

BASIC REQUIREMENT: You must have a degree with a major or equivalent in Psychology for this position. You must attach copies of your transcripts to this application to verify your degree(s). These can be unofficial copies.

To qualify for the SV-H Pay Band (equivalent to GS-11/12), you must meet one of the qualification requirements (A, B, OR C) outlined below.

A. Experience: For those qualifying using experience, your application must clearly outline one year of specialized experience at the SV-G Pay Band or GS-9 in Federal service or equivalent experience in the private sector. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of this position. Such experience is defined as applying knowledge of the principles psychology, human performance, and user needs analysis to conduct statistical analyses in behavioral sciences (e.g., data collecting and analysis, process flowcharting, and evaluation of graphic data displays) in order to assist in human factors solution development.

OR

B. Education: Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 years of progressively higher education in a related field from an accredited college or university or LL.M., if related.

OR

C. Combination of Education and Experience: Combinations of successfully completed post-graduate education (beyond the second year) and experience may be used to meet total qualification requirements, and may be computed by first determining the total qualifying experience as a percentage of the experience required for the position; then determining the education as a percentage of the education required for the position; and then adding the two percentages. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify for the position.

GRADUATE EDUCATION: Education at the graduate level in an accredited college or university in the amounts indicated above meets the requirements for this position. Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. One (1) year of full-time graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent 1 year of full-time study. If that information cannot be obtained from the school, 18 semester hours should be considered as satisfying the 1 year of full-time study requirement.

NOTE: If you are attempting to qualify based on education, in whole or in part, you MUST submit a copy of your transcript(s) from an accredited college or university (for each school attended) to establish qualifications based upon education. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable at the time of application. Official transcripts may be required at a later date.

To qualify for the SV-I Pay Band (equivalent to GS-13), you must have one year of specialized experience at the SV-H Pay Band or GS-12 in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private sector. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. Such experience is defined as applying knowledge of the principles psychology, human performance, and user needs analysis to conduct statistical analyses in behavioral sciences (e.g., data collecting and analysis, process flowcharting, and evaluation of graphic data displays) in order to complete human factors solution development; and applying knowledge and experience to the design, development, testing, and/or evaluation of systems.

NOTE: Credit for experience is given based on a 40-hour workweek. Part-time experience is credited on a part-time ratio, i.e., working 20 hours per week for two months equals one month of experience. No additional credit is given for overtime. You must meet the qualification requirements for this position no later than the closing date of the vacancy announcement.