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Terminal Air Traffic Controller

Department of the Air Force
United States Space Force Forces
30th Operations Support Squadron, Airfield Operations Flight

Summary

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Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
01/09/2026 to 01/19/2026
Salary
$81,290 to - $105,671 per year

Salary is dependent upon duty location, grade, step and locality pay.

Pay scale & grade
GS 10
Location
2 vacancies in the following location:
Vandenberg AFB, CA
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
25% or less - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
None
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Secret
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Noncritical-Sensitive (NCS)/Moderate Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
Yes
Announcement number
SF-Y26-6F-GS-2152-10-SPLASH
Control number
854041900

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Duties

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The United States Space Force (USSF) Space Systems Command (SSC) 30th Operations Support Squadron (30 OSS) at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California is searching for two Terminal Air Traffic Controllers (GS-2152-10).

Description:
The Air Traffic Control Specialist (Terminal) positions will serve as a Watch Supervisor-qualified Air Traffic Control Specialist in the Control Terminal facility at Vandenberg Space Force Base (VSFB), CA. Provide safe, orderly, and expeditious air traffic control support and services to aircraft transiting, originating, or terminating in the installation's delegated terminal airspace. Controls military and civilian aircraft under visual flight rules (VFR) in a control terminal environment. On a rotational basis, may perform duties as Watch Supervisor. Responsible for the overall operations of the facility when performing as the Watch Supervisor and maintains general situational awareness of air traffic. Observe and report airport advisories, critical weather information, and equipment outages. Coordinates Notice to Airman (NOTAMS) actions to advise all users of the status of airport facilitates. Provides instruction and assistance to air traffic control personnel. Provide basic journeyman training for personnel to meet certification requirements for upgrade and qualification in the Air Traffic Control (ATC) career field. Maintain certification requirements. Upon obtaining position and facility certification, recurring training is required to maintain proficiency in current air traffic control requirements, and to ensure continued proficiency in each certified operating position.

The ideal candidate will have prior experience as a certified active-duty or USAF or USSF Civilian Air Traffic Control Terminal Watch Supervisor. At least 5 years of ATC Terminal experience is highly desired. At least 10 years of ATC experience and expertise in the ATC career field within the last 3 years is highly desired.

Key Skills and Abilities:
1. Knowledge of the laws, rules, regulations and procedures governing the movement of air traffic.
2. Knowledge of Terminal Air Traffic Control (ATC) Procedures, including terminal procedures.
3. Knowledge of the functional/operational limitations of all ATC equipment, as well as approach lighting, airfield lighting, weather instructions, navigational aids (NAVAIDS), remote status indicators, arresting systems, landlines, and any other equipment pertaining to ATC services.
4. Knowledge of weather phenomena and localized effects.
5. Ability to make rapid and precise judgments in a real-time work situation, remain calm under conditions that are stressful, coordinate many different processes at once, and adjust rapidly to changes in the traffic pattern and tempo of work activity.
6. Ability to communicate effectively (rapidly, clearly, and distinctly) orally and in writing; to act decisively in emergency situations; and to provide appropriate reporting procedures as required.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • U.S. Citizenship Required
  • Must be able to obtain and maintain a Secret security clearance.
  • PCS is not authorized. Incentive is authorized.
  • Must possess valid air traffic controller certification and obtain/maintain currency of the same.
  • May be required to work an uncommon tour of duty, i.e., Saturdays, Sundays, Holidays, etc. May be required to work rotating shifts and overtime.
  • This position has been designated by the Air Force as a Testing Designated Position (TDP) under the Air Force Civilian Drug Demand Reduction Program.
  • May be required to respond to short notice recall supporting unscheduled emergency air traffic and/or contingencies/exercises to support the mission.
  • Work may occasionally require travel away from the normal duty station on military or commercial aircraft.
  • This is a Key Position, and the incumbent must be removed from the Ready Reserve and CAN NOT become a member of the Ready Reserve.
  • Must complete all training requirements within locally prescribed time limits to obtain and maintain a full facility rating in facility of assignment.
  • This position is subject to the special retirement provisions for Air Traffic Controllers under CSRS and FERS.
  • The position may require the employee to work under adverse environmental conditions and requires a physical.
  • At least 10 years of ATC experience and experience in the ATC career field within the last 3 years is highly desired.
  • The incumbent must accomplish local limited weather observer certification requirements administered by base weather flight.
  • This position will close after 5 business days or 75 applications, whichever comes first.

Qualifications

The 2152 series has an individual occupational requirement that must be met and can be viewed here. There is no Group Coverage Qualification Standard for this series.

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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