Museum Specialist (Aeronautics)

Smithsonian Institution; Chantilly (VA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

The Smithsonian Institution, at the National Air and Space Museum’s Preservation & Restoration Unit, seeks a conservation professional to apply preservation and restoration techniques to aerospace artifacts. The role requires careful documentation and the ability to read manuals and technical data.

Qualifications include one year of specialized experience at GS-07 or two graduate years, with combination options.

Qualifications

• One year of specialized experience at GS-07 level or equivalent
• Applications of conservation, preservation or restoration techniques to aerospace equipment
• Ability to read and understand manuals and technical data
• Movement and rigging of aircraft, spacecraft, and aerospace artifacts
• Two years of graduate education or master’s degree related to the position; combinations allowed

Skills

Conservation techniques

Preservation techniques

Restoration techniques

Documentation

Reading manuals

Rigging aerospace artifacts

Education

Graduate education related to the position

Education and experience combination allowed

Job description

The Smithsonian Institution is the world’s largest museum, education, and research complex, with 21 museums and the National Zoo. This position is located in the National Air and Space Museum (NASM), Preservation & Restoration Unit (PRU). The PRU is responsible for protecting the National Collection of Aeronautics and Space Artifacts through proper and authentic preservation and restoration techniques.

More than one selection may be made from this announcement.

GS-9 Experience:

You qualify for this position if you have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-07 level in the Federal Service.

For this position, specialized experience is defined as:

• Application of conservation, preservation or restoration techniques to technical, industrial, and/or transportation machinery or aerospace equipment
• Documentation of project progress or completion summary
• Ability to read and understand manuals and technical data related to this field
• Movement and rigging of aircraft, spacecraft, and/or aerospace artifacts

Or Education:

2 full academic years of progressively higher level graduate educationor master's or equivalent graduate degree related to the position.

Special Instructions for Foreign Education: If you are qualifying by education and/or you have education completed in a foreign college/university described above, it is your responsibility to provide transcripts and proof of U.S. accreditation for foreign study. For instructions on where to fax these documents, see the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

Or a Combination:

Education and experience may be combined to meet the basic qualifications; For a full explanation of this option please see Qualification Standards. Special Instructions for Foreign Education: If you are qualifying by education and/or you have education completed in a foreign college/university described above, it is your responsibility to provide transcripts and proof of U.S. accreditation for foreign study. For instructions on where to fax these documents, see the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

GS-11 Experience:

You qualify for this position if you have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-09 level in the Federal Service.

For this position, specialized experience is defined as:

• Application of conservation, preservation or restoration techniques to industrial, and/or aerospace equipment
• Performing projects on an independent level, including resource planning (such as materials and time estimates)
• Movement and rigging of aircraft, spacecraft, and aerospace artifacts

Your resume must be no more than two (2) pages and should clearly demonstrate how your experience aligns with the responsibilities and specialized experience required for this position. Do not copy language directly from the vacancy announcement, as you will be deemed ineligible for consideration. Instead, provide detailed, descriptive information about your actual experience.

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.

Part-time and/or unpaid experience related to this position will be considered to determine the total number of years and months of experience. Be sure to note the number of paid or unpaid hours worked each week.