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Project Development Engineer, 2 STS

Department of the Air Force
Space Systems Command
United States Space Force / Space Systems Command / Mission Delta 2

Summary

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For additional information on other USSF direct hire opportunities visit the
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Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
02/05/2026 to 02/12/2026
Salary
$102,415 to - $158,322 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:
Dahlgren, VA
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
No
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
Yes
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
SF-FY26-6S-NH-0801-3-SPLSH
Control number
856776000

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Duties

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The United States Space Force (USSF) in Dahlgren, VA is searching for a Project Development Engineer to support 2 STS (NH-0801-03, GS-12/13 equivalent).

Description:
Are you ready to be the engineering cornerstone for the next generation of America's space warfighting capabilities? We are looking for a visionary General Engineer to serve as the technical quarterback for critical acquisition programs. You will be at the heart of the mission, shepherding advanced systems from initial concept all the way through to sustainment. This isn't just a job; it's a chance to drive the development and delivery of technologies that defend the nation and its allies, ensuring our dominance in the contested space domain. On a daily basis, you will be the driving force behind the program's technical success. You'll apply your deep systems engineering and program management expertise to manage contracts, shape acquisition strategies, and solve complex integration challenges. You will serve as the key technical liaison, collaborating with partners across the DoD, from AFRL and DARPA to the NRO, to ensure your programs stay on the cutting edge. If you are an engineer who thrives on seeing the big picture, enjoys managing the technical details that lead to mission success, wants the freedom to derive, plan, and execute without daily oversight, and wants to deliver real-world capabilities to the warfighter, then this is the role you've been looking for.

Ideal Candidate:
Must have a bachelor's degree with a background in technical engineering topics. Employee must have a basic understanding of military space operations and have experience interfacing with military personnel. Employee must be able to obtain and maintain a Top-Secret clearance.


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.
  • Must be able to obtain and maintain a Top-Secret security clearance.
  • Safeguards classified or sensitive budget-related information and/or files.
  • May be required to work overtime on an unscheduled or emergency basis.
  • Eligible for situational telework only, including Emergency and OPM prescribed “Unscheduled Telework”.
  • This position will close after 5 business days or 75 applications, whichever comes first.
  • Employee may be required to perform travel by military or commercial passenger aircraft in the performance of temporary duty assignments.
  • PCS / Relocation funding is not authorized.
  • This position is designated as a Testing Designated Position (TDP) under the Air Force Civilian Drug Testing Program.
  • This position has been designated as an acquisition position and is covered by the Acquisition Professional Development Program (APDP).
  • A professional engineering degree at the bachelor’s level from an ABET accredited institution is required.
  • Employee must within 30-days of assuming this position and annually thereafter, file an OGE-450, “Confidential Financial Disclosure Report.” Employee is required to attend annual ethics and procurement integrity training.
  • Subject to Temporary Duty Assignment (TDY): 15 days a year.

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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