Skip to main content
U.S. flag
Back to results

TEST AND EVALUATION ENGINEER-DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY

Department of the Air Force
Air Force Materiel Command
This job announcement has closed

Summary

Veterans' preference does not apply to DHA recruitment.

Click on "Learn more about this agency" button below for more information.

The primary purpose of this position is to: Test and evaluate state-of-the-art weapon systems and cyber capabilities, provide quality installation and mission support, and serve as responsible stewards of our resources to deliver war-winning capabilities.

Overview

Help
Job canceled
Open & closing dates
04/21/2026 to 04/21/2026
Salary
$89,508 - $138,370 per year

Salary listed is Eglin AFB, if you are selected for a different location your salary is dependent upon that duty location.

Pay scale & grade
NH 3
Locations
Few vacancies in the following locations:
Edwards AFB, CA
Eglin AFB, FL
Holloman AFB, NM
Nellis AFB, NV
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
Occasional travel - 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
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Noncritical-Sensitive (NCS)/Moderate Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
Yes
Announcement number
20260414-0801-03-01
Control number
866026800

This job is open to

Help

Clarification from the agency

This public notice is to gather applications that may or may not result in selection.

Duties

Help

  • Serves as a ground and/or airborne test engineer for the 96OG as a test engineer the major responsibilities include test planning, conduct and reporting on various types of ground air-to-air and/or air-to-ground test programs.
  • Plans and carries out the collection and analysis of information, data, and standards used by the assigned organization to perform test engineering tasks.
  • Carries out special projects designed to facilitate full use of the incumbents training and development.
  • Keeps abreast of emerging technologies and professional developments to maintain currency in the field and for application to work assignments.

Requirements

Help

Conditions of employment

  • U.S. Citizenship is required
  • Males must be registered for Selective Service, see Legal and Regulatory Guidance
  • This posn is subject to provisions of the DoD Priority Placement Program
  • For more information on Acq Demo please go to DoD AcqDemo Homepage http://acqdemo.hci.mil/ and Fact Sheet http://acqdemo.hci.mil/faq.html
  • Selectee is expected to be granted with and/or maintain the appropriate security clearance required for the position.
  • Employee must maintain current certifications
  • This position may require drug testing, and the candidate may be subject to passing a drug test upon selection.
  • Employee may be required to work other than normal duty hours, to include evenings, weekends and/or holidays
  • Disclosure of Political Appointments
  • All federal employees are required to have direct deposit.
  • Relocation costs or other incentives may be available and considered by the organization.
  • This position may require travel.
  • Selectee may be required to serve a probationary or trail period.
  • Selectee may be required to travel by regularly scheduled commercial or military aircraft in accordance with Joint Travel Regulations may be required in performance of TDY approximately 20 days per year.
  • This position may require temporary duty away from home base may be required and incumbent may be required to fly as a passenger on military aircraft.
  • This position has been designated as an acquisition position and is covered by the Acquisition Professional Development Program (APDP).
  • Selectee must meet, or be capable of meeting Defense Acquisition Work Improvement Act (DA WIA) requirements applicable to the duties of the position
  • Selectee is expected to meet Continuing Acquisition Education requirements. The Acquisition Position Career Category (APCC) of the position is T - Test and Evaluation and the Acquisition Career Level required is 2 -Intermediate Level II.
  • This position may require the employee to drive a motor vehicle. An appropriate, valid driver's license may be required for the position.

Qualifications

Experience requirements are described in the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards for General Schedule Positions, Group Coverage Qualification Standard for Science and Engineering.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must have at least 1 year (52 weeks) of specialized experience at the next lower broadband NH--02, equivalent to the next lower grade GS-11 or equivalent in other pay systems. Specialized experience includes testing and evaluating weapon systems and cyber capabilities as well as providing installation and mission support. NOTE: Due to the use of 120-day rosters, this period of experience may be completed within 120 days of the closing date of this announcement.

IDEAL CANDIDATE: Must possess a strong background in an engineering discipline (mechanical, electrical, aerospace, etc.) A strong background in test and evaluation methodologies, munitions and weapon systems and excellent communication and collaboration skills is desired.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs): Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following areas:

1. Knowledge of test engineering concepts, principles, practices, standards, methods, techniques, materials, and equipment to effectively apply engineering theories, principles, and concepts to project development and execution.
2. Knowledge of aircraft ground systems, and support equipment sufficient to plan, design, test, troubleshoot, evaluate, and oversee the development and/or sustainment of highly complex weapons and/or aircraft systems.
3. Knowledge of the principles of planning and program management; standard acquisition regulations, practices, and procedures; and other engineering disciplines.
4. Skill in preparing design concepts, formulating working drawings, expressing proposals, and establishing requirements for technical objectives and characteristics.
5. Ability to communicate clearly, concisely, and technical accuracy, both orally and in writing as well as work in a professional manner with peers, management, contractors, academia, and other agencies.
6. Ability to prepare design concepts, convey ideas, and formulate working drawings using computer aided design and drafting programs, and/or project management/scheduling software programs.

PART-TIME OR UNPAID EXPERIENCE: Credit will be given for appropriate unpaid and or part-time work. You must clearly identify the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the total number of hours per week.

VOLUNTEER WORK EXPERIENCE: Refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service Programs (i.e., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student and social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge and skills that can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Education

Basic Qualification Requirement: You must meet one of the following qualification requirements by the closing date and provide documentation to support your qualifications (If you are using education to qualify, failure to submit the required documentation will result in you being rated ineligible. See sections on "College Transcripts" and "Foreign Education" below for required documentation.):

A. Degree: Have a Bachelor's Degree in professional engineering from a curriculum (1) in a school of engineering with at least one curriculum accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) as a professional engineer curriculum; or (2) include differential and integral calculus and courses (beyond first-year physics and chemistry) in five of the following seven areas of engineering science or physics; (a) statics, dynamics; (b) strength of materials (stress-strain relationships); (c) fluid mechanics, hydraulics; (d) thermodynamics; (e) electrical fields and circuits; (f) nature and properties of materials (relating particle and aggregate structure to properties); and (g) any other comparable area of fundamental engineering science or physics, such as optics, heat transfer, soil mechanics, or electronics.

OR

B. Education/Experience: Have a combination of education and experience--college level education, training, and/or technical experience that furnished (1) a thorough knowledge of the physical and mathematical sciences underlying professional engineering, and (2) a good understanding, both theoretical and practical, of the engineering sciences, and techniques and their applications to one of the branches of engineering. The adequacy of such background must be demonstrated by one of the following:

1. Professional Registration. Have current registration as a professional engineer.

2. Written Test. Have evidence of successfully passing the written test required for professional registration or have successfully passed the Engineer-in-Training (EIT) examination and have completed all the requirements for either (a) a Bachelor's Degree in Engineering Technology (BET) from an accredited college or university that included 60 semester or 90 quarter hours of courses in the physical, mathematical, and engineering sciences, or (b) a BET from a program accredited by ABET.

3. Specified Academic Courses. Have successfully completed at least 60 semester or 90 quarter hours of courses in the Physical, Mathematical, and Engineering sciences and in Engineering that included the courses specified in "A" above.

4. Related Curriculum. Successful completion of a curriculum leading to a bachelor's degree in engineering technology or in an appropriate professional field, e.g., physics, chemistry, architecture, computer science, mathematics, hydrology, or geology, may be accepted in lieu of a degree in engineering, provided the applicant has had at least 1 year of professional engineering experience acquired under professional engineering supervision and guidance. Ordinarily there should be either an established plan of intensive training to develop professional engineering competence, or several years of prior professional engineering-type experience, e.g., in interdisciplinary positions. (The above examples of related curricula are not all-inclusive.)

Basic Qualification Supporting Documentation. This position has a specific education requirement. You must submit the appropriate documentation in accordance with the response selected in the assessments:
Copy of college transcripts

  • If you are a current federal employee in the GS-800 series as an engineer, you may submit your most recent SF-50 in lieu of college transcripts
  • Complete college course list*
  • Professional engineer license
  • Training plan, performance appraisal and/or letter from Professional Engineer Supervisor - Ordinarily there should be either an established plan of intensive training to develop professional engineering competence, or several years of prior professional engineering type experience. If you are using a related curriculum to qualify, failure to submit the following documentation will result in you being rated ineligible. You must submit a legible copy of your training plan, performance appraisal and/or a letter from your Professional Engineer Supervisor.

Failure to provide the appropriate documentation will result in an ineligible rating.

If selected, you will be required to provide an original/official copy of your documentation before entering on duty.

*Complete list of all college courses must identify: college or university attended, course title/number taken, semester or quarter hours earned, grade and grade-point received. Transcripts must reflect receipt of degree and date degree was awarded, if applicable. To receive credit for foreign education, you must provide proof that the education has been evaluated by an organization specializing in interpretation of foreign educational credentials and has been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education programs.

Additional information

This public notice is to gather applications that may or may not result in selection.

This job announcement may close at any time - apply now!


This is an acquisition demonstration project position NH-03 equivalent to a GS-12 to GS-13.

Direct Deposit: All federal employees are required to have direct deposit.

If you have questions regarding this announcement and have hearing or speech difficulties 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.

Your application package (resume, supporting documents, and responses to the questionnaire) will be used to determine your eligibility, qualifications, and quality ranking for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment.

Your responses to the questionnaire may be compared to the documents you submit. The documents you submit must support your responses to the online questionnaire. If your application contradicts or does not support your questionnaire responses, you will receive a rating of "not qualified" or "insufficient information" and you will not receive further consideration for this job.

Applicants who disqualify themselves will not be evaluated further.

APPRAISALS/AWARDS: Hiring Managers use objective methods and consider previous performance appraisals and awards in the selection process. Current Federal Civilian employees should list any relevant performance related rating and/or awards in your resume.

Air Force Materiel Command

The mission of the United States Air Force is: To fly, fight, and win ... Airpower anytime, anywhere. To achieve that mission, the Air Force has a vision of Global Vigilance, Global Reach and Global Power. That vision orbits around three core competencies: Developing Airmen, Technology-to-Warfighting and Integrating Operations. Core competencies and distinctive capabilities are based on a shared commitment to three core values -- integrity first, service before self, and excellence in all we do.

Click here to view the AF Civilian Employment Eligibility Guide:

  • US Citizen

Agency contact information

Air Force Test Center Recruitment
Email
AFTC.Enterprise.Recruiting@us.af.mil
Address
AF Test Center
6437 6th Street
Bldg 430, Rm 119
Hill AFB, UT 84056
US

Your session is about to expire!

Your USAJOBS session will expire due to inactivity in 8 minutes. Any unsaved data will be lost if you allow the session to expire. Click the button below to continue your session.