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AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL SPECIALIST (TERMINAL)

Department of the Navy
U.S. Marine Corps

Summary

You will serve as a AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL SPECIALIST (TERMINAL) in the Air Field Operations Department of MARINE CORPS AIR STN CAMP PEN.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
02/09/2026 to 02/13/2026
This job will close when we have received 50 applications which may be sooner than the closing date. Learn more
Salary
$107,048 to - $139,166 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 12
Location
2 vacancies in the following location:
Camp Pendleton, CA
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
Not required
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
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
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
Yes
Announcement number
ST-12877954-26-DLC
Control number
856830200

Duties

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  • You will provide safe, orderly, and expeditious air traffic control support and services to aircraft transiting, originating, or terminating in the installation’s delegated terminal ensuring training airspace availability for aircraft operations.
  • You will perform radar control duties as defined and regulation in applicable DoD, Host nation, and local directives, orders, regulations.
  • You will provide instruction, training and assistance to the military, civilian, and contractor personnel and provide basic and advanced training for personnel to meet requirements for Air Traffic Control qualifications.
  • You will be responsible for the overall operations of eight position TRACON or the four position control tower and maintains awareness of air traffic, range operations, ground aircraft, and ground vehicle movement.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Must be a US Citizen.
  • Must be determined suitable for federal employment.
  • Must participate in the direct deposit pay program.
  • New employees to the Department of the Navy will be required to successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit e-verify.gov
  • Generally, current federal employees applying for GS jobs must serve at least one year at the next lower grade level. This requirement is called time-in-grade. Time-in-grade requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.
  • Candidates for ATC positions must not have reached their 36th birthday by date of appointment. Information on exceptions and waivers can be found: http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/corres/pdf/140025_vol331.pdf.
  • You will be required to successfully complete a pre-appointment physical examination and annual aviation physical examination.
  • Air traffic control specialists must possess the facility ratings required at the facility where the position is located. You will be required to maintain a valid Air Traffic Control Specialist and/or Control Tower Operator Certificate.
  • Within the Department of Defense (DoD), the appointment of retired military members within 180 days immediately following retirement date to a civilian position is subject to the provisions of 5 United States Code 3326.
  • Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service.
  • This is a Bargaining Unit position.
  • This position is considered Key/Emergency-Essential. You will be required to provide immediate and continuing support to ensure the success of combat operations or the availability of combat-essential systems.
  • Successful completion of a pre-employment drug test (including marijuana) is required. A tentative offer of employment will be rescinded if you fail to report to the drug test appointment or pass the test. You will be subject to random testing.
  • Minimum of three years experience as a certified Air Traffic Controller and hold a current Facility Rating at least the next lower GS grade.
  • This position requires rotating shift work.
  • See additional information field for additional Conditions of Employment.
  • You will be required to obtain and maintain an interim and/or final Secret security clearance prior to entrance on duty. Failure to obtain and maintain the required level of clearance may result in the withdrawal of a job offer or removal.

Qualifications

Your resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the (GS-11) grade level or pay band in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private or public sector. Specialized experience must demonstrate the following: Specialized experience must demonstrate the following: coordinating and directing the control of air traffic within assigned airspace and vehicular traffic operating on runways, taxiways and other designated movement areas of the airfield; AND issuing clearances and control instructions to provide separation between aircraft and vehicles; AND providing training to student air traffic controllers.

Additional qualification information can be found from the following Office of Personnel Management web site:
https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/2100/air-traffic-control-series-2152.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., professional, philanthropic, religious, spiritual, community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment.

Education

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Additional information

Additional condition of employment: You must possess a valid and current Federal Aviation Administration Air Traffic Control Specialist (ATCS) for Terminal (radar and non-radar) certification (a.k.a. Pink Card) OR possess an Air Traffic Control Specialist Certificate with Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON)/Combined En-Route Radar Approach (CERAP)/Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) rating.

This position is covered by the Department of Defense Priority Placement Program.

Additional vacancies may be filled by this announcement.

A tentative offer of employment will be rescinded if the selectee fails to meet the pre-employment requirements, including failure to report to any of the scheduled appointments.

During the application process you will have a the ability to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions in the local commuting area. Depending on the hiring organization and the position being filled, job requirements (e.g., security clearance, travel, drug testing, financial disclosure filing, bargaining unit status, etc.) may vary. Other hiring managers filling similar positions may offer relocation expense reimbursement and/or may offer recruitment incentives for new employees, depending on funding availability and in accordance with policy. If you opt-in and are referred on a certificate, your resume will be available to other hiring managers for 180-days from the date the job announcement closes. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.

Federal annuitant information: The selection of an annuitant is subject to the Department of Defense and Department of the Navy policy on the employment of annuitants. Policy information may be found at: http://www.secnav.navy.mil/donhr/Documents/CivilianJobs/FedCivAnnuitants.pdf

PPP applicants will be placed at the FPL, if determined Well Qualified (WQ). To receive priority consideration, the FPL must be the same grade level or equivalent of the retained grade or the grade held immediately prior to separation.

ICTAP Applicants: To be considered well-qualified and exercise selection priority as an ICTAP candidate, displaced Federal employees must satisfy all qualification requirements for the position and receive a rating in the highly qualified category (score 85) or higher. ICTAP candidates must provide copies of all of the following documentation at the time of application: 1) agency notice; 2) most recent performance appraisal; and 3) most recent SF-50 or notification of personnel action that includes position, grade level, and duty location. Applicants who do not provide this documentation will not receive consideration as an ICTAP candidate. For more information about ICTAP eligibility please review the following link: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/unique-hiring-paths/federal-employees/career-transition/

Military Spouse Preference applicants will be placed at the highest grade for which they have applied and are determined Best Qualified (BQ). A BQ military spouse possesses knowledge, skills, abilities, and competencies comparable to others who meet the competitive referral criteria for the specific position.

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.

In order to qualify for this position, your resume must provide sufficient experience and/or education, knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the duties of the specific position for which you are being considered. Your resume is the key means we have for evaluating your skills, knowledge, and abilities as they relate to this position. Therefore, we encourage you to be clear and specific when describing your experience.

When the application process is complete, we will review your resume to ensure you meet the hiring eligibility and qualification requirements listed in this announcement. You will be rated based on the information provided in your resume and application package.

This recruitment will utilize the following technical assessment tools: Structured Resume Review, Structured Interview.

You should list any relevant performance appraisals and incentive awards in your resume as that information may be taken into consideration during the selection process. If selected, you may be required to provide supporting documentation.

If after reviewing your resume and supporting documentation, a determination is made that you inflated your qualifications and/or experience, your score may be adjusted to more accurately reflect your abilities or you may be found ineligible/not qualified.

Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment.

All eligibility, qualifications, and time-in-grade requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

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