This is a Tenure Track position. Academic tenure is based upon performance and approval by faculty and may be considered after initial or subsequent 3-year appointment period. Selectee may be offered initial appointment with tenure if their academic credentials warrant the action.
Performs Assistant/Associate/Professor of Aerospace Engineering (Spacecraft Design and/or Controls) duties in the Department of Aeronautics & Astronautics in the Graduate School of Engineering & Management at AFIT.
Summary
This is a Tenure Track position. Academic tenure is based upon performance and approval by faculty and may be considered after initial or subsequent 3-year appointment period. Selectee may be offered initial appointment with tenure if their academic credentials warrant the action.
Performs Assistant/Associate/Professor of Aerospace Engineering (Spacecraft Design and/or Controls) duties in the Department of Aeronautics & Astronautics in the Graduate School of Engineering & Management at AFIT.
Teaches graduate-level courses in aerospace engineering in the areas of Spacecraft Design, Controls, or Astronautics, which form parts of accredited masters and doctoral degree programs, as well as parts of professional continuing education programs.
Develops courses and sequences of courses in aerospace engineering and solid mechanics for degree programs and continuing education, which meet the Air Force's dynamic educational needs.
Plans and executes a program of research in aerospace engineering within the areas of Spacecraft Design, Controls or Astronautics. Works directly with Air Force and Department of Defense (DoD) organizations to meet research needs. Collaborates and works well with colleagues to accomplish individual and organizational research goals. Regularly publishes research results in archival journals and technical conferences, Plans, directs, coordinates, and evaluates research programs of masters and doctoral students.
Provides authoritative consultation in one or more areas of aerospace engineering to Air Force and DoD organizations.
Serves on department and school administrative and academic committees. Contributes to curriculum, including the development of courses in Spacecraft Design, Controls, or Astronautics, and to the planning of student programs.
Mentors and manages the educational progress of MS and PhD students. Provides annual written feedback on MS and PhD students as prescribed by Air Force and AFIT Operating Instructions.
Males must be registered for Selective Service, see www.sss.gov.
This is a drug testing designated position. The incumbent is subject to random drug testing for drug use.
Employee may be required to work other than normal duty hours, to include evenings, weekends and/or holidays
Shift work and emergency overtime may be required.
Employee must maintain current certifications.
Incumbent may be required to serve a one-year trial period.
Candidates are not required to have active duty service or veterans? preference to be referred and considered. All qualified candidates who meet the recruitment assessment criteria will be referred to the selecting official.
The selected candidate will be subject to a security investigation leading to successful completion of a background investigation with a favorable adjudication. (1 of 2)
The selectee's failure to meet this requirement will be grounds for termination. This is a Top Secret position. (2 of 2)
Essential qualities expected of every Assistant/Associate/Professor of Aerospace Engineering (Spacecraft Design and/or Control) include the personal attributes of integrity, industry, cooperation, initiative, and breadth of intellectual interests.
Travel by military or commercial transportation to gather ideas for improving the curriculum, establish research contacts and agreements, conduct research, and present results of research may be required.
Initial appointment is under Schedule A appointing authority, Excepted Appointment Not-to-Exceed 3 years.
At the time of the expiration of the initial appointment an employee who adequately demonstrates professional competence can be extended in increments up to 3 years or for an indefinite period.
An initial appointment can be allowed to expire for an employee who does not adequately demonstrate professional competence.
The appointment cannot be converted to a permanent tenure in the competitive service.
This job is being filled by an alternative hiring process and is not in the competitive civil service. This is an Administratively Determined position in the excepted service.
All federal employees are required to have direct deposit.
Recruitment and/or retention incentives may or may not be used.
Doctoral degree (see Qualifications for required academic disciplines)
Qualifications
Conditions of Employment Continued Term Appointments: Appointment may be extended to the maximum period allowed by law without further competition. NOTE: Current federal civilian employees may apply for this position and if selected, a break in service of at least 3 days may be required prior to appointment to this position.
Qualifications
An earned Doctorate degree in Astronautical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Aeronautical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field is required, with emphasis in areas of Spacecraft Design and/or Controls.
Demonstrated professional knowledge of foundational and advanced topics associated with aerospace engineering. These areas include, but not limited to: all aspects of the design of satellites or other spacecraft; and controls for aircraft and spacecraft. Faculty in any of these areas will have at least a year of formal education and a year of research in these areas beyond the Masters of Science degree.
Possess the ability to communicate clearly and expertly (in English) in both verbal and written forms concerning academic, administrative, and technical subject matters.
At the Assistant Professor Rank: For an initial appointment to the academic rank of Assistant Professor, applicants should have a strong potential for both teaching and research at the graduate level. Applicants should have a distinguished academic record and the background, commitment, and desire to teach graduate classes, conduct research, and publish.
At the Associate Professor Rank: In addition to the criteria for an Assistant Professor, an initial appointment to the academic rank of Associate Professor must be based on convincing evidence that the individual has demonstrated excellence in teaching, scholarship, and service. The candidate must have 5 years of significant professional experience after having earned the doctoral degree. This will normally include no fewer than 3 years of full-time, university-level teaching at the Assistant Professor rank or higher. Alternatively, for those with fewer than 3 years of teaching experience, the requirement is 6 years of significant professional experience with research credentials normally expected of a full Professor.
At the Full Professor Rank: In addition to the criteria for an Associate Professor, an initial appointment to the academic rank of Professor must be based on convincing evidence that the faculty member has a sustained record of excellence in teaching, has produced a significant body of scholarship that is recognized nationally or internationally, and has demonstrated leadership in service to the discipline. The candidate must have a minimum of 10 years of significant professional experience after having earned the doctoral degree. This will normally include no fewer than 6 years of full-time, university-level teaching with a minimum of 3 years at the Associate Professor rank or higher. Alternatively, for those with fewer than 6 years of teaching experience, the requirement is 10 years of significant professional experience with research credentials substantially more than those normally expected of a full Professor.
Applicants will be assessed based on education, evidence of teaching effectiveness, quality of scholarship, and demonstrated service to educational institutions and the discipline commensurate with years in the discipline.
PART-TIME OR UNPAID EXPERIENCE: Credit will be given for appropriate unpaid and or part-time work. You must clearly identify the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the total number of hours per week.
VOLUNTEER WORK EXPERIENCE: Refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service Programs (i.e., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student and social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge and skills that can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
Education
You MUST provide legible photocopies of ALL OFFICIAL transcripts for degrees being pursued or obtained (or letter of degree completion if an OFFICIAL transcript is not available due to recent graduation) to support your educational claims as stated in your curriculum vitae. Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Legible photocopies of OFFICIAL transcripts are acceptable for initial application submission. However, if selected, you will be required to provide (original) copies of your OFFICIAL transcripts. For a transcript to be considered OFFICIAL, it should be printed on university letterhead and the registrar's official seal/signature must appear on the transcript. Your transcripts must also reflect the degree awarded/conferred date. Transcripts labeled UNOFFICIAL will not be accepted.
Note: Ensure you include ALL transcripts to support your educational claims as stated in your curriculum vitae (resume) even if not required for this position.
FOREIGN EDUCATION:
Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the educational requirements. However, you must show proof that the education credentials have been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in a conventional U.S. education program. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying in the form of an "official" statement of U.S. equivalency from a Department of Education approved (non-federal) agency (i.e. AICE, NACES), who will complete a U.S. Standard of Education Conversion.
Additional information
This job is being filled by an alternative hiring process and is not in the competitive civil service. Late applications from veterans will not be accepted for faculty positions. Late applications for veterans only apply when filling positions in the competitive service.
Individuals who are eligible for Schedule A, 213.3102(u) appointments cannot be referred under the Air Force Selective Placement Program process for faculty positions. Schedule A applicants must email a completed application package to the address specified in the "How to Apply" section and it must be received by the closing date of the announcement. Late or incomplete application packages will not be considered.
Benefits
A career with the U.S. Government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time, or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
Employed Annuitants (Reemployed Annuitants): Applicants in receipt of an annuity based on civilian employment in the Federal Service are subject to the DoD Policy on The Employment of Annuitants. Click here for more information.
AFIT is an Equal Opportunity Employer and provides reasonable accommodation to qualified applicants with disabilities. The Air Force believes that diversity is essential to accomplishing its mission. AFIT highly values individuals who have a demonstrated ability to work successfully with and help develop individuals of diverse backgrounds and perspectives. For the Air Force, diversity encompasses: personal life experiences, geographic background, socioeconomic background, cultural knowledge, educational background, work background, language abilities, physical abilities, philosophical/spiritual perspectives, age, race, ethnicity, and gender.
Application materials become the property of AFIT and WILL NOT be returned.
Applications submitted under this announcement will be considered ONLY for this vacancy.
If you are unable to apply online, view the following link for information regarding Alternate Application. The Vacancy ID is 11680895
To ensure compliance with an applicable preliminary nationwide injunction, which may be supplemented, modified, or vacated, depending on the course of ongoing litigation, the Federal Government will take no action to implement or enforce the COVID-19 vaccination requirement pursuant to Executive Order 14043 on Requiring Coronavirus Disease 2019 Vaccination for Federal Employees. Therefore, to the extent a Federal job announcement includes the requirement that applicants must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 pursuant to Executive Order 14043, that requirement does not currently apply. Federal agencies may request information regarding the vaccination status of selected applicants for the purposes of implementing other workplace safety protocols, such as protocols related to masking, physical distancing, testing, travel, and restriction from the workplace.
If you have questions regarding this announcement and have hearing or speech difficulties click here.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
How you will be evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
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.
Applicants possessing the required qualifications as contained within this announcement will be evaluated and ranked by a Faculty-Rating Panel based on the extent to which their experience and education relate to the requirements of the position. A personal interview and presentation to the faculty may be required of the top applicants.
Applicants will be assessed based on their teaching credentials, scholarship, service, and education. Your application package (curriculum vitae, OFFICIAL transcripts, supporting documents, etc.) will be used to determine your eligibility, qualifications, and quality ranking for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully. An incomplete package will result in non-consideration of your application.
AFIT is dedicated to the goal of building a pluralistic faculty committed to a multicultural environment that enriches the educational experience of our students. Hence, we are especially interested in candidates whose teaching, life experience and/or research interests contribute to a climate that values and uses diversity in all its forms. Interested persons should submit a curriculum vitae and a statement of interest that addresses the ways in which the applicant's qualifications meet the requirements of the ad to include evidence of teaching excellence, promise of research productivity, and commitment to diversity/inclusion. Additional documents are required to comp0lete your application package, please reference the "How to Apply" and "Required Documents" section for more information.
Applicants who disqualify themselves will not be evaluated further.
Background checks and security clearance Security clearance:
Top Secret Drug test required
Yes
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
The following documents are required and must be received by AFIT/MSC by the closing date of the announcement.
Letter of application (cover letter)
Curriculum vitae (resume)-If your curriculum vitae/resume includes a photograph or other inappropriate material or content, you will not be considered for this vacancy. Your resume may be submitted in any format. For qualifications determinations your resume must contain hours worked per week and the dates of employment (i.e., hour per week and month/year to month/year or month/year to present). Resumes that do not contain this information may be marked as insufficient and applicants may not receive consideration for this position.
Separate Mandatory Qualifications statement (statement addressing how the applicant meets all of the required qualifications)
Separate Desired Qualifications statement (statement addressing how the applicant meets the desired qualifications)
Transcripts - You MUST provide legible photocopies of ALL OFFICIAL transcripts. A Doctoral/Master's/Bachelor's degree is required, but ALL OFFICIAL transcripts must be provided for ALL degrees being pursued or obtained (or letter of degree completion if an OFFICIAL transcript is not available due to recent graduation) to support your educational claims as stated in your curriculum vitae. Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Legible photocopies of OFFICIAL transcripts are acceptable for initial application submission. However, if selected, you will be required to provide (original) copies of your OFFICIAL transcripts. For a transcript to be considered OFFICIAL, it should be printed on university letterhead and the registrar's official seal/signature must appear on the transcript. Your transcripts must also reflect the degree awarded/conferred date. Transcripts labeled UNOFFICIAL will not be accepted.
U.S. Equivalency from a Department of Education approved (non-federal) credentialing agency (i.e. AICE, NACES), who will complete a U.S. Standard of Education Conversion for education completed in foreign colleges or universities.
List of three professional references (to include name, complete mailing address, phone number and email)
Three letters of recommendation from individuals familiar with your professional work is highly desired.
Veterans' preference documents, if applicable (i.e. DD-214, SF-15, Veterans Affairs letter for federal employment)
Statement of Teaching
Statement of Research interests
An incomplete package will result in non-consideration of your application.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
The complete Application Package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 1/2/2023.
To begin the process, click the Apply Online button to create an account or log in to your existing USAJOBS account. Follow the prompts to complete the application questionnaire. Please ensure you click the Submit My Application button at the end of the process.
A complete application package will include a letter of application (cover letter), curriculum vitae, legible copies of ALL OFFICIAL transcripts. A Doctoral/Master's/Bachelor's degree is required, but ALL OFFICIAL transcripts must be provided for ALL degrees being pursued or obtained as stated in your curriculum vitae, and a list of three professional references (to include names, complete mailing addresses, telephone numbers and emails) are required. Three letters of recommendation from individuals familiar with your professional work is highly desired.
An incomplete package will result in non-consideration of your application.
Your curriculum vitae may include detailed information in the following areas, as appropriate (if applicable):
Teaching accomplishments: Include teaching experience and teaching awards
Professional Accomplishments: Include research, consultations, publications, and awards.
Service Accomplishments: Include membership, leadership roles, nature of service and contribution in collegial and/or professional organizations, societies, etc.
NOTICE OF VETERANS' PREFERENCE: There is no formal rating system for applying veterans' preference to administratively determined appointments in the excepted service; however, the Department of Defense considers veterans' preference eligibility a positive factor for hiring. Applicants eligible for veterans' preference must include that information in their cover letter or resume and attach supporting documentation to their submissions.
Although the point-preference system is not used, applicants eligible to claim Veterans Preference must submit VOW certification memo or copy of the official DD Form 214, which must include the character of service, and a Standard Form (SF) 15, "Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference," and supporting documentation required for the specific type of preference claimed. (SF 15, which lists the types of 10-point preference and the required supporting documents, is available from the Office of Personnel Management Website at www.opm.gov.)
NOTE: Applicants for this appointments do not require veterans' preference in order to be eligible for consideration.
If you are claiming veterans' preference, please provide basic eligibility information in your cover letter. Also include in your application a copy of your DD-214 (Member Copy 4) and, if disabled, a completed SF-15 (Application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference), along with a letter for federal employment from the Department of Veterans Affairs indicating your service-connected disability rating.
IF APPLICABLE: An active duty military member's statement of service/certification letter will be accepted in lieu of a DD-214. The statement/certification letter can be obtained from your servicing military personnel office and must be signed by, or by direction of, the adjutant, personnel officer, or commander of your unit or higher headquarters and must indicate your rank, dates of active duty service, and type of discharge/character of service (i.e. honorable). Your preference and/or appointment eligibility will be verified prior to appointment. Military members may be appointed before the effective date of their military separation, if member is on terminal leave, and if applicable, with the appropriate 180-day approved waiver.
PLEASE NOTE: It is the applicant's responsibility to verify that information entered and/or uploaded, (i.e., resume) is received, accurate, and submitted by the closing date. You may verify your documents have been processed with your application package successfully. You can access your USAJOBS account to do so by clicking here. Uploaded documents may take up to one hour to clear the virus scan.
Human Resources WILL NOT modify or change any answers submitted by an applicant.
Faxed, mailed or incomplete applications WILL NOT be accepted or considered -NO EXCEPTIONS.
Upon vacancy closeout, applicants will be notified via e-mail acknowledging receipt of their application package and advised of the anticipated selection date.
Upon candidate selection, all applicants will be notified via e-mail of their selection/non-selection status.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
The following documents are required and must be received by AFIT/MSC by the closing date of the announcement.
Letter of application (cover letter)
Curriculum vitae (resume)-If your curriculum vitae/resume includes a photograph or other inappropriate material or content, you will not be considered for this vacancy. Your resume may be submitted in any format. For qualifications determinations your resume must contain hours worked per week and the dates of employment (i.e., hour per week and month/year to month/year or month/year to present). Resumes that do not contain this information may be marked as insufficient and applicants may not receive consideration for this position.
Separate Mandatory Qualifications statement (statement addressing how the applicant meets all of the required qualifications)
Separate Desired Qualifications statement (statement addressing how the applicant meets the desired qualifications)
Transcripts - You MUST provide legible photocopies of ALL OFFICIAL transcripts. A Doctoral/Master's/Bachelor's degree is required, but ALL OFFICIAL transcripts must be provided for ALL degrees being pursued or obtained (or letter of degree completion if an OFFICIAL transcript is not available due to recent graduation) to support your educational claims as stated in your curriculum vitae. Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Legible photocopies of OFFICIAL transcripts are acceptable for initial application submission. However, if selected, you will be required to provide (original) copies of your OFFICIAL transcripts. For a transcript to be considered OFFICIAL, it should be printed on university letterhead and the registrar's official seal/signature must appear on the transcript. Your transcripts must also reflect the degree awarded/conferred date. Transcripts labeled UNOFFICIAL will not be accepted.
U.S. Equivalency from a Department of Education approved (non-federal) credentialing agency (i.e. AICE, NACES), who will complete a U.S. Standard of Education Conversion for education completed in foreign colleges or universities.
List of three professional references (to include name, complete mailing address, phone number and email)
Three letters of recommendation from individuals familiar with your professional work is highly desired.
Veterans' preference documents, if applicable (i.e. DD-214, SF-15, Veterans Affairs letter for federal employment)
Statement of Teaching
Statement of Research interests
An incomplete package will result in non-consideration of your application.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
The complete Application Package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 1/2/2023.
To begin the process, click the Apply Online button to create an account or log in to your existing USAJOBS account. Follow the prompts to complete the application questionnaire. Please ensure you click the Submit My Application button at the end of the process.
A complete application package will include a letter of application (cover letter), curriculum vitae, legible copies of ALL OFFICIAL transcripts. A Doctoral/Master's/Bachelor's degree is required, but ALL OFFICIAL transcripts must be provided for ALL degrees being pursued or obtained as stated in your curriculum vitae, and a list of three professional references (to include names, complete mailing addresses, telephone numbers and emails) are required. Three letters of recommendation from individuals familiar with your professional work is highly desired.
An incomplete package will result in non-consideration of your application.
Your curriculum vitae may include detailed information in the following areas, as appropriate (if applicable):
Teaching accomplishments: Include teaching experience and teaching awards
Professional Accomplishments: Include research, consultations, publications, and awards.
Service Accomplishments: Include membership, leadership roles, nature of service and contribution in collegial and/or professional organizations, societies, etc.
NOTICE OF VETERANS' PREFERENCE: There is no formal rating system for applying veterans' preference to administratively determined appointments in the excepted service; however, the Department of Defense considers veterans' preference eligibility a positive factor for hiring. Applicants eligible for veterans' preference must include that information in their cover letter or resume and attach supporting documentation to their submissions.
Although the point-preference system is not used, applicants eligible to claim Veterans Preference must submit VOW certification memo or copy of the official DD Form 214, which must include the character of service, and a Standard Form (SF) 15, "Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference," and supporting documentation required for the specific type of preference claimed. (SF 15, which lists the types of 10-point preference and the required supporting documents, is available from the Office of Personnel Management Website at www.opm.gov.)
NOTE: Applicants for this appointments do not require veterans' preference in order to be eligible for consideration.
If you are claiming veterans' preference, please provide basic eligibility information in your cover letter. Also include in your application a copy of your DD-214 (Member Copy 4) and, if disabled, a completed SF-15 (Application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference), along with a letter for federal employment from the Department of Veterans Affairs indicating your service-connected disability rating.
IF APPLICABLE: An active duty military member's statement of service/certification letter will be accepted in lieu of a DD-214. The statement/certification letter can be obtained from your servicing military personnel office and must be signed by, or by direction of, the adjutant, personnel officer, or commander of your unit or higher headquarters and must indicate your rank, dates of active duty service, and type of discharge/character of service (i.e. honorable). Your preference and/or appointment eligibility will be verified prior to appointment. Military members may be appointed before the effective date of their military separation, if member is on terminal leave, and if applicable, with the appropriate 180-day approved waiver.
PLEASE NOTE: It is the applicant's responsibility to verify that information entered and/or uploaded, (i.e., resume) is received, accurate, and submitted by the closing date. You may verify your documents have been processed with your application package successfully. You can access your USAJOBS account to do so by clicking here. Uploaded documents may take up to one hour to clear the virus scan.
Human Resources WILL NOT modify or change any answers submitted by an applicant.
Faxed, mailed or incomplete applications WILL NOT be accepted or considered -NO EXCEPTIONS.
Upon vacancy closeout, applicants will be notified via e-mail acknowledging receipt of their application package and advised of the anticipated selection date.
Upon candidate selection, all applicants will be notified via e-mail of their selection/non-selection status.
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
