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Launch Weather Officer, SLD 45

Department of the Air Force
Space Systems Command
United States Space Force / Space Systems Command / Space Launch Delta 45

Summary

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Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
02/09/2026 to 02/16/2026
Salary
$90,173 to - $139,398 per year

Salary is dependent upon duty location, grade, step, and locality pay. GS-12/13 Equivalent.

Pay scale & grade
NH 3
Location
2 vacancies in the following location:
Cape Canaveral AFS, FL
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
Secret
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Noncritical-Sensitive (NCS)/Moderate Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
SF-FY26-6S-NH-1340-3-SPLSH
Control number
857003500

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Duties

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The United States Space Force (USSF) The 45th Weather Squadron at Cape Canaveral SFS, Florida is seeking to hire a Launch Weather Officer in support of Space Launch Delta 45. (NH-1340-03, GS-12/13 Equivalent)

Description:
Why work for Space Launch Delta 45? Space Launch Delta 45 is the World's Premier Gateway to Space, delivering assured space launch and combat capabilities for the nation. As part of Space Launch Delta 45, the 45th Weather Squadron exploits the weather to assure access to air and space. The 45th Weather Squadron is responsible for providing tailored forecasts and resource protection for the Eastern Range, spanning over 15 million square miles. Comprised of Active Duty Air Force and Space Force Civilian Personnel, the squadron supports various operations, ranging from aviation forecasting to prescribed burns and ground transports to rocket launches. We're seeking an experienced and operationally focused Meteorologist to fill the position of Launch Weather Officer.

As a Launch Weather Officer, you will play a mission-critical role in the success and safety of space launch operations. You will be the subject matter expert on all atmospheric and space weather conditions, relied upon by Launch Service Providers to guide their operational decision making from generation phase activities through launch. On day-of-launch, you will evaluate weather conditions against a pre-set suite of rules and thresholds called Launch Commit Criteria, in which you will provide GO/NO-GO calls for launch. When not directly supporting day-of-launch events, you will produce tailored weather forecasts and provide weather briefings on a routine basis for various operations occurring across the Range. Come join a team of high functioning Meteorologists impacting the future of space operations!


Desired Skills/Expertise:
1. Bachelor's degree or higher in meteorology (preferred), atmospheric science, or other natural science. IAW with OPM Guidance on the 1340 Job Series: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/1300/meteorology-series-1340/
2. Knowledge of professional meteorological concepts, principles, techniques, and practices, including weather observation, forecasting, communications, and support procedures to serve as the Launch Weather Officer responsible for the entire spectrum of weather services provided to launch operations.
3. Knowledge of advanced meteorological theories, concepts, principles, and processes to develop and validate new requirements, technical approaches, product proposals, etc.
4. Knowledge of current and emerging weather technology, to include instrumentation, equipment, systems, and numerical weather prediction models.
5. Skill in weather radar interrogation and familiarization with Gibson Ridge radar software.
6. Knowledge of tropical weather forecasting techniques and the ability to properly message impacts of tropical storms and hurricanes to a wide audience.
7. Ability to set priorities and make high-quality decisions in a fast-paced, high-stress, teamwork-oriented operational environment governed by rapidly changing deadlines and shifting work schedules with the expectation of superior coordination and collaboration with launch service providers, scientists and technicians, and other professionals (DoW, other federal agencies, contractors, academia, etc.).
8. Ability to teach/mentor and communicate clearly, concisely, and with technical accuracy, both orally and in writing.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Must be a U.S Citizen.
  • Must be able to obtain and maintain a 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.
  • Employee must obtain and maintain the Specialized Technical Certification required by AF and/or unit guidance prior to assuming unsupervised LWO duties
  • Subject to Temporary Duty Assignment (TDY): 15 days a year.
  • This position has been designated for drug testing. Incumbent is subject to random urinalysis testing as a condition of employment.
  • This is a Key position. Incumbents must be removed from their military recall status if alternatives for filling the position during an emergency are not available.
  • This is a Mission Essential position performing a Mission Critical Function which must continue uninterrupted after the occurrence of an emergency and continued through full resumption of all functions.

Qualifications

The 1340 series does not have 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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