Computer Scientist

Job Title

Serve as a computer scientist for work involving application, testing, maintenance, and development of surveillance analysis software tools.

Apply computer sciences and principles and disciplines to the building of software systems and analysis tools. Develop software tools necessary for surveillance testing and support the accreditation process of such tools. Analyze current and proposed computer system hardware and software configurations used for surveillance data collection, data reduction, and analysis to determine their ability to meet project requirements. Confer with systems analysts, engineers, programmers, and others to obtain information on hardware and software limitations and capabilities, performance requirements, and interfaces, to design new software and modify existing software. Recommend software design configurations that will improve the effectiveness of proposed test configurations. Investigate the suitability of commercially available hardware/software to fulfill unique surveillance test requirements.

Conduct surveillance data analysis, data collection and data reduction. Ensure data analysis is performed completely and accurately, and the test report contains clear/concise conclusions and recommendations.

As a member of test team, participate in the development of surveillance test plans, procedures, and reports, which delineate the methods and results, used to verify/validate NAS system/subsystem level requirements. Develop comprehensive test requirements, plans, and procedures for the conduct of surveillance testing. Develop test traceability matrices and test schedules for completing assigned tasks. Analyze surveillance test results, identify and recommend solutions to problems encountered during testing. Revise test methods as warranted. Evaluate collected data to determine adequacy of the tested system to meet project requirements. Document test results and prepare comprehensive technical reports based upon the technical analysis of actual field or laboratory data.

Coordinate with and provide testing and technical recommendations to technical leads. Participate in interdisciplinary team of technical experts to research, develop, test, acquire, and/or implement surveillance systems that impact the NAS. Participate in procurement activities, prepare/review specifications, reviews bids, and proposal evaluations.

Contacts are internal and external. May act as a key technical point of contact for assigned activities. Contributes to the preparation of management/technical reports or contractual documents and may communicate the overall results of a project or work activity to FAA management, the aviation and aerospace industries, and other external parties.

Provides guidance to lower-level technical staff on how to solve difficult technical issues. Resolves all but unique technical problems without the intervention of management or a more experienced technical specialist. Identifies and informs management of problems that require their attention. Often develops and recommends techniques to address problem situations.

Work activities typically support and may be vital to the success of projects or activities of one or more organizational units, subdivisions, and LOB's/SO's. In some areas, the work may affect the safety and security of customers.