About the opportunity
As a Quality Assurance Specialist (Aerospace) within the Aircraft Operations Division at the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, you will provide technical leadership for aircraft maintenance, quality, production, and support activities. You will coordinate maintenance planning, contractor oversight, technical compliance, risk management, and cross-functional efforts to ensure safe, reliable, and mission-ready NASA aircraft. Key responsibilities include serving as Back Shop Lead for structural repair, corrosion control, nondestructive inspection, avionics, electrical, and component repair; leading planning and coordination of back shop workload, personnel, equipment, and facilities; performing QA audits, Government Mandatory Inspection Points, and product inspections; and serving as a senior technical advisor on maintenance support operations and process improvements.
Salary and benefits
- Salary range of $122,749 to $159,575 per year (GS-13 pay scale)
- Comprehensive federal employee benefits package offered by NASA
Who can apply?
- Must have one year of directly related specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 level
- Experience leading aircraft maintenance support shop activities involving structural repair, corrosion control, nondestructive inspection, component repair, avionics, electrical, ground support equipment, or other specialized functions
- Experience planning and coordinating maintenance workloads, personnel, tooling, equipment, materials, facilities, and technical requirements
- Experience performing or leading quality assurance audits, Government Mandatory Inspection Points, process surveillance, product inspections, and technical compliance reviews
- Current federal employees at the GS-12 level or higher must meet applicable time-in-grade requirements (minimum 52 weeks in a position no more than 1 grade lower)
Required documents
- Resume (must not exceed two pages in length and must include dates associated with work experience)
- SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action) showing time-in-grade eligibility, title, series, and grade
- Completed vacancy announcement questionnaire
- DD214 (Certificate of Release from Active Duty) showing dates of service and discharge under honorable conditions, if claiming veterans' preference
- Proof of requirements for CTAP/ICTAP eligibility, if applicable
When to apply
- Opening date: October 26, 2026
- Closing date: October 30, 2026, at 11:59 PM (ET)
How to apply
- Log into your USAJOBS account or create one if you do not have an account
- Click the 'Apply' link on the vacancy announcement page
- Select or upload your resume (two pages or fewer) and required supporting documents
- Complete the application questions and vacancy questionnaire
- Review your application package and click 'Submit Application' prior to the closing deadline
Additional information
- Additional selections may be made for similar positions across NASA within the local commuting area of Houston, Texas
- A one-year probationary period may be required upon selection
- Classified or government sensitive information, social security numbers, photos, and personal information must be redacted from your resume
Our Take on This Opportunity
This section reflects Open Opportunities’ own analysis of the opportunity from an applicant’s perspective.
You may be a strong fit if…
- Ideal for experienced aerospace or aircraft maintenance professionals with a strong background in quality assurance, quality engineering, and back shop leadership.
- Well-suited for candidates with direct experience managing government mandatory inspection points, technical compliance reviews, and contractor oversight in aviation environments.
- A strong match for professionals seeking to advance within a federal career framework at a premier space flight center.
What should you think carefully about?
- The application window is very short, closing just days after opening on October 30, 2026.
- Resumes are strictly limited to a maximum of two pages, requiring concise and targeted professional history reporting.
- Current federal employees must verify and document time-in-grade requirements to avoid disqualification.
How could this fit your current goals and plans?
This full-time federal career opportunity provides an advanced technical leadership role within NASA's Aircraft Operations Division, allowing qualified aerospace professionals to apply and expand their expertise in quality assurance, risk management, and airworthiness compliance.
Our take
Experienced aerospace quality assurance professionals and federal employees meeting the GS-12 equivalent specialized experience requirement should review the announcement carefully and apply before the October 30, 2026 deadline. Candidates unable to meet the strict two-page resume limit or time-in-grade criteria will find this opportunity unsuitable.
Ready to apply?
Review the opportunity on the official website before applying.
Official-source verifiedSource: USAJOBS
