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Chief Engineer, Space-based Weather Systems Branch, SYD 810/ETW

Department of the Air Force
Space Systems Command
United States Space Force / Space Systems Command / SYD 810/ETW
This job announcement has closed

Summary

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Overview

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Job closed
Open & closing dates
11/14/2025 to 11/21/2025
Salary
$103,316 to - $159,716 per year

Salary is dependent upon duty location, grade, step, and locality pay. GS-12/13 Equivalent.

Pay scale & grade
NH 3
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Los Angeles County, CA
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
25% or less - 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
Sensitive Compartmented Information
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Critical-Sensitive (CS)/High Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
Yes
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
AF-FY26-6S-NH-0801-3-SPLASH
Control number
850147700

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Duties

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The United States Space Force (USSF) Space Systems Command (SSC) System Delta 810 (SYD 810) at Los Angeles Air Force Base is searching for a Chief Engineer, Space-based Weather Systems Branch (NH-0801-03, GS12/13 equivalent).

Description:
Space-based Weather Systems branch oversees the development and fielding of two Acquisition Category One (ACAT-I) level Research and Development (R&D) programs; a $950+ million Weather System Follow-on Microwave (WSF-M) and a $958M Electro/Optical and Infrared (EO/IR) Weather System (EWS) to develop and field next generation of space-based environmental sensing capabilities to 2030s.

Responsible for leading systems engineering oversight of two ACAT-I level programs to develop and field next generation Space-based Environmental Monitoring (SBEM) satellites to address top priority DoD weather requirements. Directs systems planning activity associated with design, development, manufacturing, sustainment and modification of the microwave operational system, as well as EO/IR prototype systems to enable Government program managers' success. Provides technical advice & expertise to Government program managers on all EWS and WSF-related projects, while also producing necessary documentation/briefings as requested by the Government program managers. Support each project team in preparing, evaluating and implementing methods, processes and techniques that support system design to improve performance, reliability and maintainability for systems development and modifications. Participate in developing branch level program documentation and progress assessments for all phases of the acquisition within WSF and EWS, interfacing across multiple organizations in SYD 810 and other external to SSC organizations. If this sounds exciting to you, come join us! Space starts here.

The ideal candidate would possess high degree of knowledge base with space satellite systems engineering processes, current Department of Defense (DoD), United States Space Force (USSF), Space Systems Command (SSC) engineering regulations/technical standards, as well as some knowledge of the Join Capabilities Integration and Development System (JCIDS) processes and Middle Tier Acquisitions.
Candidate must have a Bachelor's degree in Engineering at the minimum, with Masters in Engineering highly desired. Degree(s) must be from an ABET accredited school.

Training requirement to have Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) level III certification in Systems Engineering, and capable of advising the leadership on latest technical standards/guidance and instructions, generating comprehensive technical reports per DoD and Congressional requirements, such as SEP, TEMP and cyber security, and consolidating various contractor technical data to produce comprehensive technical progress reports on behalf of the materiel leader.

This position requires the Guardian to be a highly motivated self starter, with specialties in DoD space acquisition systems engineering processes, as well as high technical skills in assessing contractor progresses towards system build/integration and test completions. In addition, this position requires the Guardian to be highly collaborative in dealing with directorate engineering staff and the prime contractors technical team. The Guardian will be expected to be highly capable in drafting high-level technical documents on behalf of the branch chief/materiel leader.

Key Skills and Abilities:
1. Knowledge of processes and procedures related to program management and strategic planning activities needed to execute projects and/or studies within established financial and time constraints.
2. Ability to encourage new ideas and innovations; manage human, financial and information resources strategically and build coalitions to achieve common goals.
3. Skill in working with customers to assess needs, provide assistance, resolve problems, and satisfy expectations
4. Ability to persuade others to accept recommendations, work toward an agreement, and negotiate mutually acceptable solutions.
5. Ability to develop and maintain effective relationships and to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
6. Ability to organize work, set priorities, and determine resource requirements; determine goals and strategies to achieve them; coordinate with other organizations; monitor progress, and evaluate outcomes.
7. Ability to identify problems and use sound judgment and decisions to generate and evaluate alternatives and make recommendations

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Must be a U.S. Citizen.
  • Employee must be able to obtain and maintain a Top-Secret w/SCI clearance.
  • Required to handle and safeguard sensitive and/or classified information in accordance with regulations to reduce potential compromise; must obtain and maintain the appropriate security clearance for the position.
  • A professional engineering degree at the bachelor’s level from an ABET accredited institution is required.
  • Employee may be required to work extended or other than normal duty hours to include evenings and weekends and may be subject to recall.
  • This position is designated a CRITICAL APDP position. Category: N - Engineering and Technical Management: Level: 2 – Practitioner.
  • Testing Designated Position Statement: This position has been designated for drug testing. Incumbent is subject to random urinalysis testing as a condition of employment.
  • May be required to travel by military or commercial aircraft in the performance of Temporary Duty (TDY) assignments. Subject to TDY: Approximately 15 days per year.
  • This position is on-site and eligible for situational telework only, including Emergency and OPM prescribed "unscheduled telework".
  • Relocation and Incentive funding is available.
  • Resumes are to be limited to no more than 2 pages. Position will be closed after 5 business days or after 75 applications are received, whichever comes first.
  • Employee must within 30-days of assuming this position and by 31 October annually thereafter, file an OGE-450, “Confidential Financial Disclosure Report.

Qualifications

The 0801 series has an individual occupational requirement that must be met and can be viewed here.

In addition to the above requirements you can view the experience level requirements here. Please scroll down to the 4th section titled Professional and Scientific Positions.

Additional information

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.

Disabled veteran leave is available to a Federal employee hired on/after 5 Nov 2016, who is a veteran with a service-connected disability rating of 30% or more. For more information, click here.

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.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs): Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies as related to the series and grade of the position being filled. Final qualifications determinations will be assessed based on OPM's General Schedule Qualifications Standards found here:

Interviews: You will be contacted by e-mail and/or telephone if your application is identified as qualifying for a position being filled. An interview may be conducted. If interviewed, you will be asked to address the same knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies used to initially qualify your application for the position.

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