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COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS MANUFACTURING ENGINEER - DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY

Department of the Air Force
Department of the Air Force - Agency Wide
Air Force Research Laboratory

Summary

The Air Force Research Laboratory's Functional Systems Manufacturing Branch seeks a professional to lead the development and execution of manufacturing research programs to deliver enhanced capabilities and reduce the cost of critical AF comm systems.

To learn more about this opportunity and submit your application, please visit: https://airforcestem.recsolu.com/external/requisitions/CgKnfYrinZedyEy22E_h7Q

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
05/01/2026 to 05/11/2026
Salary
$75,484 - $147,224 per year

DR-02: $75,484 - $118,528 DR-03: $104,180 - $147,224

Pay scale & grade
DR 2 - 3
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Wright-Patterson AFB, OH
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
Sensitive Compartmented Information
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Special-Sensitive (SS)/High Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
Yes
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
AFMC-12951573-LMG-FLYER
Control number
867541400

Duties

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For additional information on direct hire opportunities with the Air Force please click here.

Position duties include, but are not limited to:

  • Identifies, develops, and executes projects and multi-year roadmaps to mature and advance manufacturing technologies and processes that will reduce the acquisition and supportability costs of weapon systems.
  • Identifies and addresses manufacturing process improvements at the substrate, device, subcomponent, subsystem and/or system levels.
  • Coordinates within/across Department of the Air Force and other Services/Agencies to identify and understand high priority customer requirements and overall Department of Defense modernization priorities.
  • Establishes and maintains cooperative efforts across AFRL, Air Force Lifecycle Management Center (AFLCMC), and other Services/Agencies to optimize manufacturing efforts.
  • Develops and applies technical knowledge to assist with identifying and solving the Department's most critical production barriers.
  • Leads Interagency teams and fosters government/industry/academic partnerships to advance manufacturing needs.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • U.S. Citizenship Required
  • Ability to obtain and maintain a Top Secret/SCI Security Clearance.
  • Locations are not negotiable. The actual duty location is Wright Patterson AFB, OH
  • This is a Drug Testing designated position. The incumbent will be subject to random testing.
  • For additional information on direct hire opportunities with the Air Force please go to https://afciviliancareers.com/find-a-job/
  • Depending on the type of position (competitive/excepted) you are selected for, you will be required to serve a 1, 2, or 3-year probationary OR trial period.
  • Upon completion of your probationary/trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.
  • Direct Deposit: All federal employees are required to have direct deposit.
  • Recruitment incentives may be authorized (may require a service agreement)
  • Student Loan Repayment Program (SLRP) may be offered for eligible candidates (may require a service agreement)
  • Possess a professional science or engineering degree, in a relevant technical field, from an accredited (or ABET accredited for engineering) academic institution
  • At least one (1) year of specialized experience at the next lower grade (DR-01/GS-11 for DR-02) (DR-02/GS-12/13 for DR-03), or equivalent experience in other pay systems.
  • This position may be filled under multiple occupational series. Applicants are required to meet all OPM Qualification Standard requirements for the applicable occupational series and grade.
  • This position has been designated as an acquisition position and is covered by the Acquisition Professional Development Program (APDP).
  • The successful candidate must have the ability to attain the level of Practitioner in APDP Engineering and Technical Management (N). Applicants for this position must list any acquisition certifications in resume.
  • Must file an OGE Form 450, Confidential Financial Disclosure Report, upon appointment and will be required to file annually.
  • This position is eligible for situational telework; as determined by agency policy.

Qualifications

For additional information on direct hire opportunities with the Air Force please click here.

Experience requirements are described in the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards for Electronics Engineering Series 0855 IOR, SG-800 IOR for Professional Engineering Series, and the Group Coverage Qualification Standard for Professional and Scientific Positions

Required Qualifications:

  • US Citizenship.
  • Possess a professional science or engineering degree, in a relevant technical field, from an accredited (or ABET accredited for engineering) academic institution.
  • At least one (1) year of specialized experience at the next lower grade (DR-01/GS-11 for DR-02) (DR-02/GS-12/13 for DR-03), or equivalent experience in other pay systems.
  • This position may be filled under multiple occupational series. Applicants are required to meet all OPM Qualification Standard requirements for the applicable occupational series and grade.
  • Ability to obtain and maintain a Top Secret/SCI Security Clearance. This is a Drug Testing designated position. The incumbent will be subject to random testing.
  • This position has been designated as an acquisition position and is covered by the Acquisition Professional Development Program (APDP). The successful candidate must have the ability to attain the level of Practitioner in APDP Engineering and Technical Management (N). Applicants for this position must list any acquisition certifications in resume.
  • Must file an OGE Form 450, Confidential Financial Disclosure Report, upon appointment and will be required to file annually.
Desired Qualifications:
  • Advanced technical degree in electrical engineering, physics, or related field.
  • Understanding, familiarity, and experience with the challenges and opportunities in manufacturing electronics for defense applications, including but not limited to, manufacturing processes at the substrate, device, and subcomponent levels.
  • Understanding, familiarity, and/or experience with current state-of-art and manufacturing challenges of communication systems for exquisite and/or attrition-tolerant platforms.
  • Experience managing or working on government contracts.
  • Experience building and executing technical and/or manufacturing roadmaps.
  • Practical engineering experience with tactical datalinks, LOS/BLOS communications, hybrid SATCOM, or PNT/alt-PNT for Air Force systems.
  • Understanding, familiarity, and experience with the challenges of manufacturing multi-function AESAs for exquisite and/or attrition-tolerant platforms.
  • Strong verbal and written communication skills.
  • Self-starter who thrives in a challenging, but rewarding environment.

Education

If position has a positive degree requirement or education forms the basis for qualifications, you MUST submit transcriptswith the application. Official transcripts are not required at the time of application; however, if position has a positive degree requirement, qualifying based on education alone or in combination with experience, transcripts must be verified prior to appointment. An accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education must accredit education. Click here to check accreditation.

FOREIGN EDUCATION: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the requirements. You must show proof the education credentials have been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education program. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying.

Education requirements are described in the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards for Electronics Engineering Series 0855 IOR, SG-800 IOR for Professional Engineering Series, and the Group Coverage Qualification Standard for Professional and Scientific Positions

Additional information

Please note: Positions in this field/series may or may not be available, depending on current manning. For the most up-to-date notifications on available positions, we recommend candidates subscribe and complete their profile here, indicating their position and location preferences.

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.

For additional information on direct hire opportunities with the Air Force please click here.

Department of the Air Force - Agency Wide

IMPORTANT INFORMATION: This Job Opportunity Announcement (JOA) will be used to form a pool of qualified applicants who will be considered for direct hire vacancies as they become available.

The Air Force Research Laboratory's Functional Systems Manufacturing Branch seeks a professional to lead the development and execution of manufacturing research programs to deliver enhanced capabilities and reduce the cost of critical AF comm systems.

Agency contact information

Amanda Madsen
Email
amanda.madsen@us.af.mil
Address
EHA DHA
550 C Street West
JBSA Randolph AFB, TX 78150
US

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Learn more about what it's like to work at Department of the Air Force - Agency Wide, what the agency does, and about the types of careers this agency offers.

https://afciviliancareers.com/

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