Department: Other Agencies and Independent Organizations
Location(s): Anywhere in the U.S. (remote job), United States
Salary Range: $52727 - $99404 Per Year
Job Summary: The incumbent will serve as an Air Safety Investigator, located in the Office of Aviation Safety, Regions, National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and is responsible for independently conducting investigations of aviation aircraft accidents and incidents. Recommends a probable cause of the accident and develops safety recommendations.
Major Duties:
Qualifications: To qualify for this position, you must meet all of the following Basic Requirements: Minimum Eligibility Requirements: Minimum eligibility requirements for these positions are based on possession of the appropriate Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) pilot certificates and/or appropriate military ratings, meeting the applicable flight hour requirements, meeting the appropriate education and/or experience requirements, and possession of the knowledge and skills required for the position. Certificates and Ratings: For all grades and specializations, applicants must possess a Commercial Pilot Certificate with instrument rating, the appropriate military rating, or other certificate that meets or exceeds the requirements of the Commercial Pilot Certificate, e.g., an Airline Transport Pilot Certificate. Minimum Flight Hour Requirements for All Applicants: Total Flight Time -- Flight time as pilot-in-command in aircraft of any weight or category is creditable for this requirement. Each 2 hours acquired as a copilot, an FAA certificated flight engineer on a commercial air carrier, or a military flight officer on a military air carrier may be substituted for 1 hour of flight time in meeting the minimum total flight time requirements. Pilot-in-Command -- Only flight hours acquired as pilot-in-command are creditable. Requirements Category Flight Hours GS-9 & GS-11 and above 1. Total Flight Time 1000 1500 2. Pilot-In-Command 500 1000 The following flight hour requirements apply only when the position requires the particular specialty: Multi-engine Airplane: heavy multi-engine airplanes, i.e., gross takeoff weight in excess of 12,500 pounds. Up to 250 hours flying time acquired in helicopters may be substituted. Helicopter: Up to 200 hours flying time acquired in heavy multi-engine airplanes may be substituted. Small Airplane: Airplane weighing 12,500 pounds or less gross takeoff weight. GS-9 & GS-11 and above Requirements Category Flight Hours 3. Multi-engine Airplane 100 500 4. Helicopter 100 200 5. Small Airplane 250 500 For in service placement actions, flight hours may be waived for candidates who demonstrate that they have the knowledge and skills needed to perform the duties of the position. Other Requirements: Valid State driver's license; Fluency in the English language; No chemical dependencies or drug abuse that could interfere with job performance; and High school graduate or equivalent. Education And Experience Requirements In addition to the minimum eligibility requirements stated above, the following table shows the amounts of experience required to qualify for positions covered by this standard. GS-9: 1 year experience equivalent to at least GS-7. The experience demonstrates a broad knowledge of one or more of the following: aircraft design, manufacture and maintenance operations, operational requirements, facilities, practices, and procedures related to aviation activities. GS-11: 1 year equivalent to at least GS-9. Experience includes assisting in examining/participating in the testing of aircraft systems or components; assisting in examining parametric data obtained from operating aircraft; and assisting in preparing written reports detailing the findings of aviation safety events. GS-12: 1 year equivalent to at least next lower grade level. Experience includes working as an aircraft accident investigator assisting with supporting on-scene civil aviation accident investigations. For more information see link: Air Safety Investigating Series 1815 NOTE: IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your resume must clearly show the specialized experience and competencies related to this position. Failure to demonstrate how you possess the education, specialized experience and/or competencies will result in an "Ineligible" rating.
How to Apply: Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply and be considered for this position, you must complete all required questionnaires, assessments and submit all required documentation as specified in the How to Apply and Required Documents section. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration. The application process is as follows: Click the Apply Online button. Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all necessary supporting documentation. Click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59 PM (ET) on the announcement closing date. If you are required to complete any USA Hire Assessments, you will be notified after submitting your application. The notification will be provided in your application submission screen and via email. The notification will include your unique assessment access link to the USA Hire system and the completion deadline. Additionally, in USAJOBS you can click "Track this application" to return to your assessment completion notice. Access USA Hire using your unique assessment link. Access is granted through your USAJOBS login credentials. Review all instructions prior to beginning your assessments. You will have the opportunity to request a testing accommodation before beginning the assessments should you have a disability covered under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended. Set aside about two (2) hours to take the USA Hire Assessments; however, most applicants complete the assessments in less time. If you need to stop the assessments and continue later, you can re-use your unique assessment link. Your responses to the USA Hire Assessments will be reused for one year (in most cases) from the date you complete an assessment. If future applications you submit require completion of the same assessments, your responses will be automatically reused. Visit the USA Hire Applicant Resource Center for practice assessments and assessment preparation resources at https://support-usahire.opm.gov/hc/en-us. To update your application, including supporting documentation: During the announcement open period, return to your USAJOBS account, find your application record, and click Edit my application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed. To view the announcement status or your application status: Visit https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/howto/application/status/. Your application status page is where you can view your application status, USA Hire assessment completion status, and review your notifications sent by the hiring agency regarding your application. NOTE: If you have any additional questions, comments or concerns prior to the closing date please send those emails to include the vacancy announcement number, position title and your reason for contacting us to recruitment@ntsb.gov at least 1 business day before the closing date.
Application Deadline: 2026-05-18