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Aircraft Mechanic

Department of the Army
U.S. Army, Pacific
US Army Japan, 17th Area Support Group, Aviation Detachment
This job announcement has closed

Summary

About the Position:
Performs a wide variety of work involving aviation maintenance and repair tasks of rotary wing aircraft. Duties include disassembly, repair, overhaul, and modification of helicopters to include their major assemblies, sub-assemblies, components and related systems.

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
01/30/2026 to 02/10/2026
Salary
$30.07 to - $35.07 per hour
Pay scale & grade
WG 10
Location
Zama, Camp Zama, Japan
1 vacancy
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
Occasional travel - The business travel requirement is approximately 10%.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
Yes—Relocation costs may be paid if the selecting official determines the relocation is in the best interests of the government. Click to clear Relocation Description
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
None
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
IPFC-26-12874476-MP
Control number
855841500

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Duties

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  • Performs a wide variety of work involving aviation maintenance and repair tasks.
  • Duties include disassembly, repair, overhaul, and modification of helicopters to include their major assemblies, sub-assemblies, components and related systems.
  • Conducts inspections on rotary wing aircrafts, diagnoses malfunctions and troubleshoots to determine cause.
  • Maintains records of work performed and verifies the work was performed satisfactorily.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Must be able to satisfy the requirements of the 26JUL12 DODI 1400.25 V1230, DoD Civilian Personnel Management System: Employment in Foreign Areas and Employee Return Rights.
  • Appointment may be subject to a suitability or fitness determination, as determined by a completed background investigation.
  • A two year trial/probationary period may be required.
  • Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must complete a Pre-Employment Certification Statement for Selective Service Registration.
  • You will be required to provide proof of U.S. Citizenship.
  • Direct Deposit of Pay is required.
  • Applicants must comply with the Exceptional Family Member Program requirements as outlined in the DoD Instruction 1315.19 at http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/corres/pdf/131519p.pdf.
  • Pursuant to EO 14043, all Federal employees, regardless of duty location or work arrangement, must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 before entrance on duty, subject to exceptions as required by law.
  • If selected, the agency will provide information regarding what documentation is needed and how to request any legally required exceptions from this requirement.
  • Proof of vaccination will be required. To ensure compliance with this mandate, review the vaccination requirements, to include timelines for receiving required doses, at the following: https://www.saferfederalworkforce.gov/faq/vaccinations/
  • A pre-employment physical is required.
  • This is an Emergency Essential position. This is an Emergency Essential position. Emergency-Essential designation takes precedence over any transportation agreement or military recall status.
  • This Position has designated as Drug Testing subject to initial and random drug testing.
  • This position may require incumbent to report to work in inclement weather.
  • May be required to work irregular hours, holidays, and weekends.
  • Requires a valid US and government issued driver's license.
  • This position requires approximately 10% of your duty to be performed in Temporary Duty Away (TDY) from your place of work status.

Qualifications

Who May Apply: Only applicants who meet one of the employment authority categories below are eligible to apply for this job. You will be asked to identify which category or categories you meet, and to provide documents which prove you meet the category or categories you selected. See Proof of Eligibility for an extensive list of document requirements for all employment authorities.

If you are currently stationed in the overseas area, all of your overseas time will be credited toward your current overseas tour end date. Your overseas time served will not reset upon accepting this assignment.

If you have returned from OCONUS within the past 2 years or less, your time previously served in the OCONUS area will be credited to your 5 year overseas rotation upon accepting this assignment.


  • Current Department of Army Civilian Employees Applying to OCONUS Positions
  • Current Department of Defense (DOD) Civilian Employee (non-Army)
  • Domestic Defense Industrial Base/Major Range and Test Facilities Base Civilian Personnel Workforce
  • Excepted Service Overseas Family Member Appointment
  • Family Member Preference (FMP) for Overseas Employment
  • Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan
  • Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act
  • Military Spouse Preference (MSP) for Overseas Employment
  • Non-Department of Defense (DoD) Transfer
  • Priority Placement Program, DoD Military Reserve (MR) and National Guard (NG) Technician Eligible
  • Priority Placement Program, DoD MR and NG Preference Eligible Tech Receiving Disability Retirement
  • Priority Placement Program, DoD Retained Grade Preference Eligible
  • Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA) of 1998



Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student; social). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

There is no specific length of training or experience required. However, you must be able to demonstrate, through experience shown in your written application materials that you possess the sufficient knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the work of this position without more than normal supervision.

Minimum Qualifications (Screen Out Element): Ability to do the work of an Aircraft Mechanic without more than normal supervision. I have the ability to perform common Aircraft mechanic duties to include assisting a journey worker in preparing UH-60 work area by getting tools and supplies, carrying materials, and lifting and holding material in place during installation. I have cleared UH-60 work area of debris and kept tools clean and lubricated. I work under close supervision of a work leader or journey-level employee who observes tasks in progress and upon completion to make sure they are properly performed. Failure to meet this Screen-Out Element will result in an ineligible rating.

  • Ability to Interpret Instructions, Specification, etc. (includes blueprint reading)
  • Ability To Use and Maintain Tools and Equipment
  • Knowledge of Equipment Assembly, Installation, Repair, etc.
  • Technical Practices (theoretical, precise, artistic)
  • Trouble Shooting
  • Use of Measuring Instruments
  • PHYSICAL EFFORT: Repairs are made from ground, elevated work stands, or aircraft work decks. Parts are in hard to reach places. Climbing, standing, stooping, lying, bending, stretching and working in tiring and uncomfortable positions are required. Moderately heavy physical effort is required in the frequent use of tiring work positions while handling tools and in the handling and lifting of heavy objects. Incumbent frequently lifts and carries parts and equipment that weigh up to 20 pounds. Most heavy lifting is accomplished through the use of mechanical devices, although occasionally incumbent may lift and carry items that weigh up to 50 pounds.
  • WORKING CONDITIONS: Work is dirty, greasy, and unpleasantly noisy. Work is performed both inside and outside. Inside work is performed on concrete floors where areas are drafty and occasionally damp and where fumes are present. Outside areas are unprotected from elements such as wind, rain, snow, and wide temperature variations. Operating helicopters create strong downwash winds, which result in blowing dust and dirt, as well as high noise levels. Rigging, alignment, tracking, adjusting and operational checks in this environment necessitate the use of eye and hearing protections. The noise hazards require annual audiometric evaluation. Use of hand tools, safety wire and electrical equipment presents possibility of cuts, punctures, strains, burns, shocks and similar injury. Working on elevated surfaces and work platforms and ladders presents possibility of falling and injuries such as broken bones and sprains. Incumbent occasionally works outside under field conditions when involved in onsite repair or evacuation of aircraft forced down by mechanical malfunctions. Inherent dangers of toxic chemicals, unstable working positions, moving rotor blades are always present.
Failure to meet this Screen Out Element will result in an ineligible rating.


Separated Military Members: Resumes will be accepted from members of the Armed Forces who indicate in their applications that they are available for appointment within 120 days of the closing date of this announcement. Military members may be appointed while on terminal/transitional leave, before the effective date of their military retirement/separation.

Military Retirees: Within the DoD (Department of Defense), including non-appropriated fund positions, the appointment of retired military members within 180 days immediately following the retirement date to a civilian position is subject to the provisions of 5 United States Code 3326 or 5 U.S.C. 5305.

Selecting officials may select or not select from a certificate of best-qualified candidates OR from a list of applicants eligible for noncompetitive placement (5 CFR 335).

Education

Some federal jobs allow you to substitute your education for the required experience in order to qualify. For this job, you must meet the qualification requirement using experience alone--no substitution of education for experience is permitted.

Additional information

  • This is a Career Program (CP)17 - Material Maintenance Management position.
  • U.S. citizens overseas under ordinarily resident status are not eligible for appointment under the Status of Forces Agreement.
  • Locality pay does not apply in the overseas area.
  • If an employee brings a child to an overseas location and that child is entitled to attend a DoD school on a space-required basis in accordance with DoDEA Regulation 1342.13, the DoDEA and the Military Department responsible for providing related services will ensure that the child, if eligible for special education, receives a free appropriate public education, including related services pursuant to DoDI 1342.12 and DoDM 1342.12.
  • If an employee brings an infant or toddler (up to 3 years of age) to an overseas location, and that infant or toddler, but for the child's age, is entitled to attend the DoDEA on a space-required basis in accordance with DoDEA Regulation 1342.13, then the Military Department responsible for EIS will provide the infant or toddler with the required EIS in accordance with the eligibility criteria consistent with DoDI 1342.12 and DoDM 1342.12.
  • Employees (and family members) who require medical or dental care in the overseas location will be responsible for obtaining and paying for such care. Access for civilian employees and their families to military medical and dental treatment facilities is on a space-available and reimbursable basis only.
  • Pay retention may be offered to selected applicants for positions at overseas locations. Pay retention will not be offered as an incentive for employees moving between overseas positions.
  • Selectees may receive certain foreign area benefits such as: Living Quarters Allowance (LQA) or government quarters, home leave, etc. Selectees will have their eligibility for foreign area benefits determined at the time of hire in accordance with Department of State Standardized Regulation (DSSR) and DoDI 1400.25 volume 1250.
  • For positions in a foreign country, that country's laws or international agreements may have a direct impact on the ability of an employee's same sex domestic partner or spouse to accompany the employee and receive certain benefits. If you believe you may be affected by these laws and agreements, you should familiarize yourself with relevant information and direct questions concerning a specific country (Foreign Duty Location) to the appropriate Army Human Resources point of contact prior to the acceptance of employment and your entrance on duty.
  • The initial length of this overseas tour is 36 months.
  • Defense National Relocation Program will not be authorized.
  • 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 https://www.dfas.mil/civilianemployees/civrelo/Civilian-Moving-Expenses-Tax-Deduction/ for more information.
  • If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application.
  • Payment of Permanent Change of Station (PCS) costs is authorized, subject to the provisions of the Joint Travel Regulations.
  • Separate Maintenance Allowance (SMA) will not be granted for accompanied tour area.
  • Recruitment, Relocation, or Retention incentives maybe authorized for eligible candidates.
  • Student Loan Repayment /Advanced Leave Accrual is not authorized.

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.

Once the announcement has closed, a review of your application package (resume, supporting documents, and responses to the questionnaire) will be used to determine whether you meet the qualification requirements listed on this announcement. Please follow all instructions carefully when applying, errors or omissions may affect your eligibility.

If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and/or experience, you may lose consideration for this position.

Selection is subject to restrictions resulting from Department of Defense referral system for displaced employees.

If you have retired from federal service and you are interested in employment as a reemployed annuitant, see the information in the Reemployed Annuitant information sheet.

You may claim Military Spouse preference.

You may claim Priority Placement Program (PPP) preference.

Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP). If you are a Federal employee in the competitive service and your agency has notified you in writing that you are a displaced employee eligible for ICTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority for this position. To receive selection priority, you must: (1) meet ICTAP eligibility criteria (2) be rated well-qualified for the position and; (3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your ICTAP eligibility. To be considered well-qualified and receive selection priority applicants must satisfy all qualification requirements for the position and receive a score of 90 or above. Additional information about the program is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website.

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