SELDP participants are identified using a rigorous nomination and selection process. Each year, NASA’s Chief Engineer distributes a call for nominations to all NASA centers. Center leadership identifies strong candidates for the program and submits the appropriate nomination forms, which are reviewed and processed by the SELDP selection committee.
NASA and the centers gain the greatest return on investment when nominees are selected as part of the center’s strategic mid- to long-term investment. This investment is only successful when a center’s systems engineering needs are met, which means that upon return, the participant is placed in a position where the learning experience they gained in the program is quickly applied to meeting essential center needs.
| Eligibility Criteria | Candidate Nomination | Selection Process | Application Materials |
SELDP Candidate Eligibility
SELDP Candidate Criteria
- Full–time, permanent GS-13 to GS-15 NASA employee or a senior systems engineer at JPL. (Learn more about the JPL-specific guidelines.)
- Bachelor’s degree in engineering or Specialties of Aerospace Technology (AST) equivalent.
- Be willing and available to leave their home center and take on an assignment at another NASA center for 6 to 12 months.
Experience Needed to Be Successful in SELDP
- The participant is an employee who understands and has exposure to a breadth of systems engineering (SE) competencies as defined by APPEL.
- The participant has experience applying SE principles on one or more projects or programs.
- The participant is at least APPEL Proficiency Level II.
- The participant has taken one of more of the recommended SE APPEL Training including: Foundations of Aerospace at NASA, Project Management and Systems Engineering, and Fundamentals of Systems Engineering, or equivalent courses.
Additional Candidate Considerations
Nominees for SELDP must be individuals who have the experience and opportunity to take advantage of a developmental assignment away from their home center for 6 to 12 months. Family obligations and current assignment requirements and timing should be taken into account to also determine the optimal window of participation in this program. Participants in SELDP engage in very demanding assignments and development activities. It is impossible for an individual to be successful in this program unless they are released completely from their home center obligations. There is a significant amount of preparation necessary for the participants to transition to their developmental assignments. Home supervisors can best ensure project continuity and support participant assignment transition by arranging early for the transfer of responsibilities from these participants to the individuals who will be acting for them while they are away. A minimum of two weeks is recommended.
Candidate Nomination
Before identifying candidates, centers should consider the systems engineering knowledge, skills, and abilities they need to successfully run their programs in the next 18 to 24 months. Center engineering leadership is encouraged to consider the following questions when selecting nominees for SELDP:
- Why are you nominating this person for SELDP at this time in their career?
- In your opinion, why is SELDP the best option for the candidate?
- What specific learning gaps does SELDP fill for this person?
- What unique learning and experience will this person gain from SELDP that will help them do a better job?
- What systems engineering challenges will your center be facing in the next 18 to 24 months?
- What knowledge, skill, and/or experience does this person need to bring back that will help support these challenges?
The competitive process ensures that:
- Participants have demonstrated the leadership behaviors and aptitude that NASA identifies as critical to becoming an expert systems engineer, along with demonstrated technical/discipline capabilities
- The most qualified nominees are selected for this opportunity when the learning will have the greatest impact on the employee and provide the greatest value to NASA.
- Participants have the experience and attitude to be successful in the program.
- There is an appropriate assignment available to meet the participant’s needs.
- Participants have top-level center engineering leadership support needed to be successful in the program,
- Participants are placed in a position that quickly applies their SELDP learning when they return their home center to ensure maximum transfer of learning and return on investment.
Agency Selection Process
Center engineering directors or their designees and members of the Safety and Mission Assurance community serve as the selection panel for SELDP participants. Participants are chosen using a four-part competitive selection process:
- Center competition, nomination, and endorsement by center engineering leadership and the center director.
- Rating and ranking of applications by the SELDP selection panel based on specific criteria to ensure applicant has met the program requirements and has the background to be successful in SELDP.
- Selection panel interview of qualified applicants ensure applicant has the demonstrated leadership behaviors and aptitudes of highly successful systems engineers.
- Advocate matching of selected applicants to available developmental assignments.
Application Materials
Below are the detailed program requirements, call for participants, nomination forms, and other pertinent materials to nominate candidates for SELDP. The call and application materials are scheduled for release every other year in June.
Program Requirements and Call Letter
- SELDP Program Requirements – Overview of program requirements, roles and responsibilities, and program goals.
- Current Call for Participants Letter – Letter from NASA’s Chief Engineer calling for SELDP participant nominations from across the agency.
Nomination Forms
- SELDP Nomination Form – Redirects to NASA’s Electronic Form system. Search for form 1781 and complete.
- Form NF 1781A: SELDP Assignment Summary – To be completed by the SELDP advocate.
- Form NF 1781B: SELDP Participant Summary – Checklist for the SELDP candidate and to be filled out by the candidate and supervisor.
Nomination Supplements
- Current Selection Criteria – Identifies the criteria used by the SELDP Selection Panel to rate and rank nominee applications.
- Current SELDP Supervisor and Engineering Directors Application Checklist – Identifies items for consideration throughout the participant nomination process to determine the best candidates for SELDP. This checklist should not be included in the final application package submitted to NASA Headquarters.
- Current Engineering Director and Center Director Nomination and Endorsement Template/Example – Sample Word document for participant endorsement and nomination. Please complete and return with nomination materials.
- Current SELDP Selection Schedule – Detailed selection schedule.
Please check with your Center Training Office for center-specific application requirements and schedule.