Safety Compliance Engineer (Open to both U.S. Citizens and Federal Employees)

Safety Compliance Engineer (Open to both U.S. Citizens and Federal Employees)

Department: Department of Transportation

Location(s): Washington, District of Columbia

Salary Range: $102415 - $187093 Per Year

Job Summary: You will serve as a General Engineer/Safety Compliance Engineer in the Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance (OVSC) in the Equipment Division. You will be responsible for helping to enforce one or more federal standards pertaining to motor vehicle equipment and/or motor vehicles. In addition, you will be responsible for conducting business in a manner that complies with NHTSA's internal business processes and policies.

Major Duties:

• The primary duties of the engineer in the Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance fall into the following three overall categories: 1. Compliance Test Program 2. Investigations 3. Support of other Agency offices In addition, you will also be responsible for performing numerous tasks associated with, and in support of these categories, to effectively enforce your assigned FMVSSs, including: Write and maintain detailed test procedures. Assure target test dates are met, test reports are timely, accurate, and in the proper format, and that all elements of the test program are of sufficient quality to be used for compliance investigations. Present investigation plans that are tailored to test failures or other indications of noncompliance. Provide technical and administrative support to facilitate the contracting and execution of complex engineering programs at contract test laboratories. Conduct relevant engineering analyses, using computer tools, film analysis, statistical methods, and other analytical tools deemed useful for the investigation. Make presentations to upper management, presenting all the assembled data and making recommendations about how to proceed. Act as Enforcement's representative on teams that conduct research and/or rulemaking to amend existing standards and promulgate new FMVSS and Regulations. The ideal candidate for this position is highly self-motivated, possesses sound engineering judgment, demonstrated knowledge and expertise in engineering, and significant expertise working in a testing environment, preferably in the automotive field or field of child passenger safety. The candidate should be capable of working cooperatively with other divisions within NHTSA and with organizations within the motor vehicle industry to accomplish the agency's goal of improved safety. The candidate should be detail-oriented, well organized, and have strong writing skills. As part of their daily responsibilities, the candidate should be willing to complete intensive paperwork, occasionally handle stressful situations involving highly visible matters with significant public interest, and manage conflict situations tactfully.

Qualifications: To meet the minimum qualifications for this position, you must (1) meet the Education Requirement for the series, (2) provide a copy of transcripts for verification, AND (3) meet the specialized experience requirements. To qualify for the GS-12, you must have at least one year of experience, equal or equivalent to the GS-11, it must include: Experience planning, initiating, and working on mechanical, electrical, and/or engineering programs. Experience conducting reviews, examinations and testing of motor vehicles and equipment or other mechanical systems, and evaluating and reporting of test results, including writing and editing engineering test reports and test procedures. Experience conducting investigations, performing root cause analysis, and using problem-solving techniques. To qualify for the GS-13, you must have at least one year of experience equal to or equivalent to the GS-12, it must include: Experience planning, initiating, and working on mechanical, electrical, and/or engineering programs, including providing cradle-to-grave contractual support to enable execution of technical programs/projects. Experience conducting reviews, examinations, and testing of motor vehicles or motor vehicle equipment, evaluating and reporting of test results, including writing and editing engineering test reports and test procedures. Experience using problem-solving techniques to conduct investigations of motor vehicles or motor vehicle equipment, including performing root cause analysis of a system, product, or process which failed to meet the established criteria. To qualify for the GS-14, you must have at least one year of experience equal or equivalent to the GS-13, it must include: Experience applying engineering principles, contracting oversight, and project management concepts to plan, implement, manage and report on testing of and investigations into Federal motor vehicle safety standards (FMVSS) related to motor vehicle equipment, and setting priorities, establishing and meeting deadlines. Experience applying NHTSA's statutes, regulations, and authorities, as well as developing test procedures to evaluate, analyze, and present technical information pertaining to enforcement of FMVSS. Experience communicating technical ideas orally and in writing, including the ability to write and edit technical documents in an effective, clear, and concise manner, and performing oral presentations to audiences of technical and non-technical backgrounds. KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs): Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following areas: Demonstrated knowledge and experience conducting reviews, examinations or testing of motor vehicles and equipment: or the testing of other complex electrical/mechanical systems and the evaluation and reporting of test results. Ability to plan, implement, manage and report on engineering test programs. Ability to express technical ideas orally and in writing, including the ability to write and edit engineering test reports and test procedures. Ability to set priorities, establish and meet deadlines. Knowledge of motor vehicles and motor vehicle equipment with a special emphasis on Federal standards.Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional, philanthropic, religious, spiritual, community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. For additional information about applying to Federal positions, please click on the following link: https://www.opm.gov/frequently-asked-questions/employment-faq/federal-hiring/how-do-i-apply-for-federal-jobs/ All applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

How to Apply: You must submit a complete application package (including resume, vacancy questions and supporting documents) no later than 11:59 (EST) on the closing date of the announcement. To begin, click the "Apply Online" button on the job announcement posting. Follow the directions to register, submit all required documents and complete the assessment questionnaire. You may review your saved application(s) at https://help.usajobs.gov/ If you are having difficulty applying online, please contact the DOT Automated Staffing Office via email at: Transjobs@dot.gov

Application Deadline: 2026-05-21