Conduct flight tests evaluations for a multitude of aircraft and aviation system acquisition programs.

Conduct developmental flight tests that encompasses aircraft performance and flying qualities, aircraft systems performance and operational of new or modified military helicopter and airplanes.

Conduct aircraft systems tests that include weapons systems, electro-optical sensors, and threat countermeasure suites.

Create test plans and formal reports, rendering judgments regarding the value of the tested aircraft or system

Conditions of employment

Other Requirements: Click here for expanded definitions.

• Male applicants born after December 31, 1959 must complete a Pre-Employment Certification Statement for Selective Service Registration.
• You will be required to provide proof of U.S. Citizenship.
• One year trial/probationary period may be required.
• Direct Deposit of Pay is Required.
• Conditions of employment:
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a Secret Security Clearance.
• Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act Career Field Position.
• This is an Army Acquisition, Logistics and Technology Workforce position. Selectees must meet position requirements for certification at Level 3 in Acquisition Career Field Test and Evaluation within 24 months of entrance on duty.
• Possess a Current Commercial Pilot Certificate or appropriate military rating.
• Incumbent must be a graduate of the US Naval Test Pilot School, US Air Force Test Pilot School or foreign equivalent.
• Incumbent must have a specified number of flight hours (stated on questionnaire) and supply documentation to support claims.
• Incumbent must comply with Drug Abuse Testing Program requirements.
• Incumbent must possess at the time of appointment a Current First Class Medical Certificate in accordance with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations.
• Business travel is required up to 35-70% of the time.

Qualifications

In order to qualify, you must meet the education and/or experience requirements described below.  Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application.  Additional information about transcripts is in this document.

Experience required:

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).  You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

To qualify based on your experience, your resume must describe at least one year of experience which prepared you to do the work in this job.  Specialized experience is defined as: conduct developmental flight tests for effective, economical and accurate collection of test data for aircraft systems operational performance and flying qualities. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service at GS-13 grade level or equivalent.

Selective Placement Factors:

1. This position requires incumbent to possess a current Commercial Pilot Certificate or the appropriate military rating. 
2. This position requires the incumbent to be a graduate of a flight test course such as a military flight test school (US Naval Test Pilot School, US Air Force Test Pilot School or foreign equivalent) OR the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) flight test pilot course OR at least 1 year of experience either flight testing aircraft for engineering approval (civilian or military) or analyzing aircraft performance data.
3. This position requires the incumbent to have a specific number of flight hours: Total Flight Hours (1750); Pilot in Command Hours (1150); Night Flying (75); Flying Time, Last 12 months (100).

You will be evaluated on the basis of your level of competency (knowledge, skills, abilities) in the following areas:

• Knowledge of rotary-wing and/or fixed-wing performance test techniques
• Knowledge of the development of instrumentation requirements to collect test data
• Skill in developing flight test techniques for advanced aircraft and aircraft systems
• Ability to communicate test results.

MINIMUM ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Minimum eligibility requirements for positions in this occupation are based on possession of the appropriate Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) pilot certificates and/or appropriate military ratings, meeting the applicable flight hour requirements, and possession of the knowledge and skills required for the positions.

Certificates and Ratings:

For all grade levels and specializations, candidates must possess a current Commercial Pilot Certificate or the appropriate military rating; both meet the intent of the requirement. If an agency decides, for example, not to accept the military rating, the rationale for the decision should be based upon the requirements of the position and should be thoroughly described in agency operating material. For flight instructor positions, the FAA Flight Instructor Certificate or the military equivalent rating is also required. The pilot certificate must include the rating(s) appropriate to the work of the position to be filled. For example, a position that involves flying a multi-engine airplane to various destinations under instrument flight rules would require the Commercial Pilot Certificate with the airplane, multi-engine, and instrument ratings or appropriate U.S. military ratings. Positions that require flying or instructing in flying both airplanes and helicopters require a rating in both categories. Only those ratings necessary to perform the work are required.

Note: Candidates establishing eligibility based on military flight experience must provide official orders, forms, or logbooks showing their status as a rated military pilot, flight instructor, or flight examiner, as appropriate. Other certificates that meet or exceed the requirements of the Commercial Pilot Certificate are also acceptable, e.g., an Airline Transport Pilot Certificate.

Time in Grade Requirement: Applicants who have held a General Schedule (GS) position within the last 52 weeks must have 52 weeks of Federal service at the  GS-13 grade level (or equivalent).

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Your application package (resume, supporting documents, and responses to the questionnaire) will be used to determine your eligibility, qualifications, and quality ranking for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment.

It is the policy of the Government not to deny employment simply because an individual has been unemployed or has had financial difficulties that have arisen through no fault of the individual.  Information about an individual's employment experience will be used only to determine the person's qualifications and to assess his or her relative level of knowledge, skills, and abilities.  Although an individual's personal conduct may be relevant in any employment decision, including conduct during periods of unemployment or evidence of dishonesty in handling financial matters, financial difficulty that has arisen through no fault of the individual will generally not itself be the basis of an unfavorable suitability or fitness determination.

Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP).  If you are a Federal employee in the competitive service and your agency has notified you in writing that you are a displaced employee eligible for ICTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority.  See Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) for more information.  Additional information about the program is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website.