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Airway Transportation Systems Specialist

Department of Transportation
Federal Aviation Administration
ATO, Technical Operations, Seattle District, Seattle ARTCC SOC, WWR21-ZSE

Summary

Airway Transportation System Specialist (ATSS) at this level is recognized as the principal expert in their field. They are also responsible for various auxiliary duties that contribute to providing reliable and safe FAA services to the flying public.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
12/17/2025 to 01/06/2026
Salary
$124,392 to - $192,843 per year

Salary shown includes 2025 locality pay of 31.57% for Auburn, WA.

Pay scale & grade
FV J
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Auburn, WA
Telework eligible
Yes—Situational telework may be permitted in accordance with agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - The job may require travel from time-to-time, but not on a regular basis. The travel may be for training or other work-related duties.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
Yes— - Fixed Rate PCS - Permanent Change of Station (Current Federal Employee) - In accordance with applicable FAA Travel regulations, a fixed relocation payment of $27,000 will be paid. Relocation expenses paid are subject to applicable taxes.
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Excepted
Promotion potential
NA
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
Yes
Bargaining unit status
Yes - This is a bargaining unit position, represented by the Professional Aviation Safety Specialists (http://www.passnational.org).
Announcement number
ANM-ATO-26-3634885-96502
Control number
852536100

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

Open only to current ATO, AML, and AMA-400 employees

Duties

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ATSS personnel install, evaluate, maintain, modify and certify facilities, services and equipment that support the National Airspace System (NAS).

As an ATSS (SOC NOM), the incumbent is recognized as the principal technical expert for development of workable solutions for any unanticipated situations adversely affecting operationally critical systems of the NAS. Serves as senior project manager or team leader for large, challenging and complex work activities. Represents the FAA as a senior technical authority for major agency activities, emerging technologies and customer concerns.

Responsible for establishing and managing program goals and objectives and formulating project plans; develops, interprets, recommends changes, and has broad discretion to ensure compliance with organizational objectives and policies; identifies, procures, distributes, and tracks resources needed to accomplish large work activities.

Works with customers at high internal and external organization levels to the FAA to resolve complex issues to ensure the integrity of the NAS. Coordinates with multiple air traffic entities to shut down and restore facilities, systems, and services to prevent activities from disrupting air traffic operations. Quickly resolves restoration problems with minimal impact to the NAS.

Performs work providing agency-wide leadership for highly complex and challenging technical activities. This may be accomplished using innovative concepts and approaches for problems that have resisted earlier efforts at resolution.

Maintains authority to commit the necessary resources to accomplish the agency's mission. Develops innovative approaches to attain organizational objectives and optimize the use of resources.

Works independently, monitors and evaluates trend data on a nationwide basis to develop workable solutions for sustaining the NAS.

Keeps abreast of changes in technology and the new systems coming on-line. Provides recommendations to senior level managers for enhancement of systems and air traffic operations.

Formulates Standard Operation Procedures (SOP) for local use, dealing with Emergency and Safety situations at assigned facilities.

Incumbent has the authoritative responsibility for timely upward reporting of NAS information that could have an impact to operations for purposes of Situation Awareness (i.e. NOTAM, EM/TAP Paging function). Understands the current state and dynamics of local operations and being able to anticipate future changes and developments.

Integrates Operational Risk Management (ORM) into restoration, schedule maintenance activities, and all planned projects, ensuring that all customers and users of services are included and involved in ORM implementation and planning.

Formulates and recommends organizational positions on major agency activities to senior managers. Technical decisions are considered authoritative in his/her area of expertise.

Is considered a technical expert within the FAA for an assigned system or specialty area. Work directly supports the objectives of the agency and the safe and continual operation of the NAS. Contacts are both internal and external. Formulates and recommends organizational positions on major agency activities to senior managers. Represents the FAA as a senior technical authority for major projects and programs.

Has broad discretion to ensure alignment with organizational objectives and policies. Develops innovative
approaches to attain organizational objectives and optimize the use of resources. Identifies and justifies the resources needed to accomplish large work activities. Provides expert guidance and instruction to address diverse, complex issues that often cross multiple projects, programs, or functional areas. Develops plans, techniques, and policies to address current or anticipated problems and issues.

Work is typically reviewed for success in achieving desired results.

Performs other duties as assigned.

Incumbent must possess a valid driver's license.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • US Citizenship is required.
  • Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
  • Must submit an SF50 (See Required Documents).
  • Designated or Random Drug Testing required.
  • Review the "Required Documents" Section

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, you must demonstrate in your application that you possess specialized experience equivalent to FV-I, FG/GS-13 in the Federal Service. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position.

Specialized Experience includes: Candidates must have experience that demonstrates the extensive knowledge of and experience in NAS system interrelationships and management of civilian or military automated aviation, navigation and electronics systems.

Generally, experience at the next lower level (Pay Band I/Level IV or equivalent), meets the minimum qualifications for this position as long as the experience supports the Demonstrated Abilities.

IAW the Promotion Criteria Guidance for the Airway Facilities (AF) specialized workforce dated 2012, the Demonstrated Abilities are mandatory.Failure to submit demonstrated abilities statements will prevent you from receiving further consideration. Answer all questions to the best of your ability. You may be asked to provide evidence or documentation that you possess this type of experience at a later stage in the selection process. Your responses are subject to verification through job interviews, or any other information obtained during the application process. Any exaggeration of your experience or any attempt to conceal information can result in disqualification.

Qualifications must be met by the closing date of this vacancy announcement.

Supervisor’s Endorsement: If your selection for this position would be considered a promotion, then a signed (wet, ink, or digital signature) and dated supervisory statement endorsing your candidacy is required by the closing date of this announcement. Applicants who fail to submit the required documentation with appropriate signatures will not be considered.

You MUST submit a copy of your most recent (non-award) SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, or equivalent document that verifies tenure (block 24, code 1 or 2). Failure to provide the required documentation by the closing date of this announcement will result in non-consideration for this position.

Education

There is no positive education requirement.

Preview job questionnaire

Make sure your resume includes detailed information to support your qualifications and answers to the job questionnaire.

Additional information

We may use this vacancy to fill other similar vacant positions.
Position may be subject to a background investigation.
A one-year probationary period may be required.

The person selected for this position may be required to file a financial disclosure statement within 30 days of entry on duty. FAA policy limits certain outside employment and financial investments in aviation-related companies. www.faa.gov/jobs/workinghere/financial-disclosure-requirements

This position is covered by the Department of Transportation's Drug and Alcohol Testing Program. Any applicant tentatively selected for this position will be subject to pre-employment or pre-appointment drug screening. Persons occupying a "testing designated position (TDP)" will be subject to random drug and/or alcohol testing.

As a part of the Federal-Wide Hiring Reform Initiative (streamlining the hiring process), the FAA is committed to eliminating the use of the Knowledge, Skills and Ability (KSA) narratives from the initial application in the hiring process for all announcements. Therefore, as an applicant for this announcement, you are NOT required to provide a narrative response in the text box listed below each Managerial Selection Factor (MSF).

In lieu of providing a narrative response in the text box listed below each MSF, in your work history, please include information that provides specific examples of how you meet the response level or answer you chose for each MSF. Your work history examples should be specific and clearly reflect the highest level of ability. Your MSF answers will be evaluated further to validate whether the level that you selected is appropriate based on the work history and experience you provided. Your answers may be adjusted by a Human Resource Specialist as appropriate.

Answer all questions to the best of your ability. You may be asked to provide evidence or documentation that you have had this type of experience at a later stage in the selection process. Your responses are subject to verification through job interviews, or any other information obtained during the application process. Any exaggeration of your experience or any attempt to conceal information can result in disqualification.

Security Requirement: This position requires completion and favorable adjudication of a Moderate Risk (5) Background Investigation (Tier 2) unless waiver is obtained.

You MUST submit a copy of your most recent (non-award) SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, or equivalent document that verifies tenure (block 24, code 1 or 2). Failure to provide the required documentation by the closing date of this announcement will result in non-consideration for this position.

Links to Important Information: Locality Pay, COLA

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.



IMPORTANT: Applicants may be rated on the extent and quality of experience, education, and training relevant to the duties of the position(s). All answers provided in the on-line process must be substantiated. Ensure that your application package/resume supports your responses.

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