Museum Specialist

Description:

OVERVIEW

The Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum (NASM) is one of over 21 units that comprise the Smithsonian Institution - including museums, libraries, research centers, publications, web presence and the national zoo - and is dedicated to the increase and diffusion of knowledge to enlighten, inspire, and engage individuals of all ages. NASM collects, preserves, studies, and exhibits artifacts, archival materials, and works of art related to the history, culture, and science of aviation and spaceflight and the study of the universe. Its research and outreach activities serve all audiences, within and beyond its walls.

Learning at the National Air and Space Museum sparks curiosity and empowers learners to imagine the possibilities of our future. The Museum commemorates the past and is committed to educating and inspiring audiences to foster an appreciation for the importance of flight to humanity.

NASM is administered as one Museum in the virtual space as well as at multiple physical locations: the National Mall building; the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia; and the Garber Facility in Suitland, Maryland. NASM provides access to the nation’s aviation and space flight history to an average of between 7-9 million onsite visitors from around the world annually, making it one of the most visited museums in the world. In addition, NASM draws tens of millions of learners to its virtual programming.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Performs tasks of a highly technical nature in support of NASM’s preservation/restoration program, primarily but not exclusively, preparing the large artifacts in the aeronautics and space history collections for movements to and from exhibit and/or artifact storage.
• Determines what supplies, special equipment and tools are required for each specific project. Selects and uses appropriate cleaning solvents, paint removers and corrosion removal chemicals that will not adversely affect the artifacts to which they are applied.
• Maintains a clear, concise and detailed report of each restoration project, often with daily entries.
• Takes photographs and videos of the restoration process for shop and technical files, working weekly with a professional photographer to record accurately all phases of the restoration.
• Determines what tasks are necessary to ensure the preservation of complete aircraft and spacecraft that have been subjected to outdoor exposure, and storage environments that have been less than museum standards.
• Designs and constructs forms, jigs, cradles, dollies and slings as needed to safely handle the artifacts during the restoration process and in preparation for the movement of the artifacts to be rigged into locations for exhibit.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
You qualify for this position if you have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 grade level in the Federal Service or comparable pay band system. Specialized experience is defined as Applying 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; and movement and rigging of aircraft, spacecraft, and/or large aerospace artifacts.