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GENERAL ENGINEER-Direct Hire Authority

Department of the Air Force
Air Force Materiel Command
This job announcement has closed

Summary

Veterans preference does not apply to DHA recruitment.

"Click on "Learn more about this agency" button below for more information.

The primary purpose of this position is to serve as the United States Air Force (USAF) Test Pilot School's (TPS) nationally/internationally recognized technical expert in one of the four major phases of the curriculum: Flight Sciences, Mission Systems, Space Sciences, or Test Foundations.

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
08/21/2025 to 09/25/2025
Salary
$145,180 to - $221,998 per year
Pay scale & grade
NH 4
Location
Few vacancies in the following location:
Edwards AFB, CA
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
Yes—You may qualify for reimbursement of relocation expenses in accordance with agency policy.
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
None
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Top Secret
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Critical-Sensitive (CS)/High Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
AFMC-080104-2-12783030-SJB
Control number
843972500

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

This public notice is to gather applications that may or may not result in selection.

Duties

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  • Senior Advisor: Serves as the top education advisor and senior technical consultant to the Commandant and the Technical Director of the USAF TPS in one of the four major phases of instruction.
  • Curriculum Developer: Defines, integrates, and implements curriculum development for a graduate-level educational program.
  • Master's Degree Educator: As a technical matter expert, educates students on how to conduct evaluation of new or critically modified aerospace vehicles; gathers, analyzes, and reports on data; identifies and characterizes deficiencies; and recommends corrective actions through teaching academic courses, leading simulator and/or laboratory sessions, and conducting control room and in-flight instruction.
  • National/International Technical Expert: Represents TPS and AFTC as a recognized test technical expert at national and
    international symposia and conferences including, but not limited to, those sponsored by the Society of Experimental Test Pilots, the Society of Flight Test Engineers, the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, the Space Foundation, the International Test and Evaluation Association, and the Flight Test Safety Committee.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • U.S. Citizenship is required
  • Males must be registered for Selective Service, see Legal and Regulatory Guidance
  • If authorized, PCS will be paid IAW JTR and AF Regulations. If receiving an authorized PCS, you may be subject to completing/signing a CONUS agreement. More information on PCS requirements, may be found at: https://afciviliancareers.com/regulatory/
  • This posn is subject to provisions of the DoD Priority Placement Program
  • For more information on Acq Demo please go to DoD AcqDemo Homepage http://acqdemo.hci.mil/ and Fact Sheet http://acqdemo.hci.mil/faq.html
  • Relocation costs or other incentives may be available and considered by the organization.
  • Selectee may be required to serve a probationary or trial period.
  • Employee must maintain current certifications
  • This position may require drug testing and the candidate may be subject to passing a drug test upon selection.
  • 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
  • Selectee is expected to be granted with and/or maintain the appropriate security clearance required for the position.
  • Disclosure of Political Appointments
  • All federal employees are required to have direct deposit.
  • This announcement may result in a 120-day register that may be used to fill like vacancies for 120 days after the closing date. Applicants may be referred for consideration as vacancies occur.
  • It is highly desirable for the incumbent to have an PhD in Aero Engineering, Astro Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or Electrical Engineering.
  • MS in Aero Engineering, Astro Engineering, Flight Test Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or Electrical Engineering is highly desired and/or be a graduate of a military test pilot school.
  • In addition, they need to have at least five years of flight or space test experience as a military or civilian test pilot, space operator, combat system operator, or test engineer.
  • Fifteen years of test experience can be substituted for an advanced engineering degree. Prior teaching and/or simulator experience is highly desired.
  • Incumbent must pass and maintain a Class 3 aviation Service Code (ASC) 9D flight physical or higher as directed by AFI 11-402 (paragraphs 1.52 and 2.12.
  • Flight Physical Required (N/A Space Sciences) Flying Duties require exposure to a dynamic and physically demanding flight environment and may be required to perform certain flying duties associated with the teaching of the various courses.

Qualifications

Experience requirements are described in the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards for General Schedule Positions, Professional Engineering Positions, 800 series, HERE.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must have at least 1 year (52 weeks) of specialized experience at the next lower broadband NH-04, equivalent to the next lower grade GS-15 or equivalent in other pay systems. Specialized experience includes experience in areas of instructional systems design, curriculum development and execution, organization and staffing, resourcing, training operations and management, and student programming and administration. Must possess strong knowledge of Flight Sciences, Mission Systems, Space Sciences, or Test Foundations.

NOTE: Due to the use of 120-day rosters, this period of experience may be completed within 120 days of the closing date of this announcement.

OR
EDUCATION:
NOTE: You must submit a copy of your transcripts.

OR
COMBINATION OF EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION:
NOTE: You must submit a copy of your transcripts.

Ideal Candidate: The Technical Expert will serve as a Senior Advisor to school leadership, as a senior curriculum developer, as a Master's degree educator, and as a National/International Technical Expert in test & evaluation. Successful candidates will bring significant RDT&E experience, excel in a technical leadership and educational roles, effectively lead small and large teams, and be effective at communicating at all levels of the Department of Defense.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs): Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following areas:
1. Advanced knowledge of professional instructional systems design principles, techniques, practices, and procedures.
2. Expert professional knowledge of learning theory and psychology of learning including application of learning theories as it relates to systematic design, development, and validation of instructional programs.
3. Expert knowledge of advanced technical concepts, principles, and techniques across multiple interrelated and integrated technical and test engineering disciplines.
4. Expert knowledge, skill, and ability to conduct ground and live-flight instruction of technical theory, modeling and simulation, test planning, test conduct, coordination and supervision, data analysis and evaluation, technical reporting, and administrative aspects of test programs. This includes classroom lectures, simulator sessions, laboratory exercises, test briefings/debriefings, and airborne/live-fly instruction.
5. Strong ability to plan and organize work, coordinate between various electronic/aerospace/mechanical engineering and test disciplines, and coordinate with Air Force, Space Force, DoD, and other domestic and foreign government agencies.
6. Ability to flexibly adapt to changing requirements due to internal and external influences. Ability to communicate effectively, clearly, concisely, and with technical accuracy both orally and in writing.

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

BASIC REQUIREMENT OR INDIVIDUAL OCCUPATIONAL REQUIREMENT:

A. Degree: Have a Bachelor's Degree in professional engineering from a curriculum (1) in a school of engineering with at least one curriculum accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) as a professional engineer curriculum; or (2) include differential and integral calculus and courses (beyond first-year physics and chemistry) in five of the following seven areas of engineering science or physics; (a) statics, dynamics; (b) strength of materials (stress-strain relationships); (c) fluid mechanics, hydraulics; (d) thermodynamics; (e) electrical fields and circuits; (f) nature and properties of materials (relating particle and aggregate structure to properties); and (g) any other comparable area of fundamental engineering science or physics, such as optics, heat transfer, soil mechanics, or electronics.

OR

B. Education/Experience: Have a combination of education and experience--college level education, training, and/or technical experience that furnished (1) a thorough knowledge of the physical and mathematical sciences underlying professional engineering, and (2) a good understanding, both theoretical and practical, of the engineering sciences, and techniques and their applications to one of the branches of engineering. The adequacy of such background must be demonstrated by one of the following:

1. Professional Registration. Have current registration as a professional engineer.

2. Written Test. Have evidence of successfully passing the written test required for professional registration or have successfully passed the Engineer-in-Training (EIT) examination and have completed all the requirements for either (a) a Bachelor's Degree in Engineering Technology (BET) from an accredited college or university that included 60 semester or 90 quarter hours of courses in the physical, mathematical, and engineering sciences, or (b) a BET from a program accredited by ABET.

3. Specified Academic Courses. Have successfully completed at least 60 semester or 90 quarter hours of courses in the Physical, Mathematical, and Engineering sciences and in Engineering that included the courses specified in "A" above.

4. Related Curriculum. Have successfully completed a curriculum leading to a Bachelor's Degree in engineering technology or in an appropriate professional field (e.g., physics, chemistry, architecture, computer science, mathematics, hydrology, or geology) and have 1 year of professional engineering experience under the guidance and supervision of a professional engineer. Ordinarily there should be either an established plan of intensive training to develop professional engineering competence, or several years of prior professional engineering type experience. If you are using a related curriculum to qualify, failure to submit the following documentation will result in you being rated ineligible. You must submit a legible copy of your training plan, performance appraisal and/or a letter from your Professional Engineer Supervisor. The letter must reflect the individuals Professional Engineer License Number. [Note: Your education/experience will be thoroughly evaluated under this provision. To ensure you receive maximum consideration, you should provide detailed descriptions of professional engineering duties performed under the guidance and supervision of a professional engineer; continuing education/training received; evidence of acceptance in the professional engineering field (i.e., patents, associations, published articles, etc.), and any other relevant factors.]

To view qualifying educational requirements and/or combination of education and specialized experience click on the following link:
https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/#url=GS-PROF

To view basic qualification requirements click on the following link:
https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0800/files/all-professional-engineering-positions-0800.pd


ARE YOU USING YOUR EDUCATION TO QUALIFY? If position has a positive degree requirement or education forms the basis for qualifications, you MUST submit transcriptswith the application. Official transcripts are not required at the time of application; however, if position has a positive degree requirement, qualifying based on education alone or in combination with experience; transcripts must be verified prior to appointment. An accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education must accredit education. Click here to check accreditation.


FOREIGN EDUCATION: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the requirements. You must show proof the education credentials have been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education program. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying.

Additional information

This public notice is to gather applications that may or may not result in selection.

This is an acquisition demonstration project position NH-4 equivalent to a GS-14 to GS-15.

Flight Physical Required (N/A Space Sciences): Flying duties require exposure to a dynamic and physically demanding flight environment. Incumbent must pass and maintain a Class 3 aviation Service Code (ASC) 9D flight physical (or higher) as directed by AFI 11-402 (paragraphs 1.52 and 2.12).
Incumbent must be able to obtain and maintain a TOP SECRET level security clearance (Space Science Technical Experts must also maintain eligibility for SCI and SAP access).

If you have questions regarding this announcement and have hearing or speech difficulties click here.

Tax Law Impact for PCS:
On 22-Dec-2017, Public Law 115-97 - the "Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017" suspended qualified moving expense deductions along with the exclusion for employer reimbursements and payments of moving expenses effective 01-Jan-2018 for tax years 2018 through 2025. When you perform a Civilian Permanent Change of Station (PCS) with the government, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) considers the majority of your entitlements to be taxable. Visit GSA Bulletin FTR 20-04 here for additional information.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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.

Your responses to the questionnaire may be compared to the documents you submit. The documents you submit must support your responses to the online questionnaire. If your application contradicts or does not support your questionnaire responses, you will receive a rating of "not qualified" or "insufficient information" and you will not receive further consideration for this job.

Applicants who disqualify themselves will not be evaluated further.

APPRAISALS/AWARDS: Hiring Managers use objective methods and consider previous performance appraisals and awards in the selection process. Current Federal Civilian employees should list any relevant performance related rating and/or awards in your resume.

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