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

Aviation Security Watch Officer

Department of Transportation
Federal Aviation Administration
Security & Hazardous Materials Safety (ASH), Washington Operations Center Complex (AXE-100)

Summary

Position is within the FAA, Security and Hazardous Materials Safety (ASH), Office of National Security Programs and Incident Response, Washington Operations Center Complex (AXE-100).

Overview

Help
Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
05/17/2026 to 05/26/2026
Salary
$103,604 - $160,571 per year

The salary listed above includes a 33.94% locality payment for the Washington, DC metropolitan area.

Pay scale & grade
FV I
Location
2 vacancies in the following location:
Washington, DC
Telework eligible
Yes—Situational telework may be permitted in accordance with agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - The job may require travel from time-to-time, but not on a regular basis. The travel may be for training or other work-related duties.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Excepted
Promotion potential
NA
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Top Secret
Drug test
Yes
Announcement number
AWA-ASH-26-68707BR-98587
Control number
869183700

Duties

Help

The incumbent serves as a member of a watch standing 12-hour rotating shifts that operate on a 24-hour, 7-day per week basis. The Washington Operations Center Complex maintains situational awareness of the air domain community and provides information for mission and decision support. The incumbent will be responsible for collecting, analyzing and disseminating information on the status of operations in the National Airspace System (NAS), such as aircraft incident/accidents, facility outages, security incidents, severe weather, and all occurrences that may impact the operating status of aviation worldwide.

The incumbent will perform multiple, varying, and complex assignments under limited direction of the manager. Applies experience and advanced knowledge of the NAS as it pertains to safety, security, and regulatory operations of aircraft and Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) in the NAS.

Provide notifications and investigative support to accident investigators and law enforcement agencies investigating airmen or aircraft involved in accidents, security incidents, and transportation related threats.

As necessary, will compose summaries and provide verbal briefings delivered to the Secretary of Transportation, the Administrator/Deputy Administrator, key officials, and other national operations centers. In situations demanding immediate decision or action until communications can be established, provides or arranges for support required by the Office of Primary Responsibility. Maintains operational readiness of the facility. Serves as liaison with counterparts of other Federal agencies and departments, and national operations centers. Participates in the Continuity of Operations Exercises and augments the agency COOP cadre.

Applies technical expertise and advanced knowledge of complex systems and/or emerging technology such as Airspace Awareness &Detection System (AADS), Conference Management System, Incident Warning System (IWS) and Emergency Notifications/Network System. Knowledge of systems interrelationships and management of the National Airspace System (NAS).

Monitors and assesses reports of UAS demonstrated activities, sightings, incidents or post-event research and the implications to FAA interests, the NAS, national security, air domain, and industry partners.

Conducts trend analysis, operational support, and in-depth assessments on UAS threat concerns to maximize the FAA's situational awareness of UAS risks in the NAS and to inform reporting/messaging, mitigation planning, operational decision-making, and crisis management either proactively, during or following incidents/activity of concern.

Coordinates with federal/state/local/tribal, academic, global counterparts, and industry, to collaborate on and share information regarding UAS threats, risks, and vulnerabilities potentially affecting the air domain.

Defines, plans, and organizes available resources to accomplish projects and program activities.

Established policies/procedures provide guidance for most assignments, but allow considerable discretion for employee to select the most appropriate approach(es) or develop new approaches. Assignments regularly require interpretations of internal and external policies and extrapolations from precedents.

Resolves all but unique technical problems without intervention of management or more experienced technical specialist. Identifies and informs management of problems that require their attention. Develops and recommends techniques to address problem situations.

Work activities typically support and may be vital to the success of projects or activities, and may affect the objectives of the FAA. The work affects internal and external customers.

Requirements

Help

Conditions of employment

  • US Citizenship is required.
  • Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
  • Designated or Random Drug Testing required.
  • Travel Required: 10% (Domestic Only)

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, you must demonstrate in your application that you possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the FV-H, FG/GS-10-12 level. This experience is typically related to the line of work of the position to be filled and which has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been at least equivalent to the next lower level in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization.

Specialized Experience is defined as:

-Experience utilizing communications and information systems within the National Airspace System (NAS); collecting information from multiple sources simultaneously in order to validate and give context during critical incidents and national security emergencies.

AND

-Experience composing and delivering briefings to government and national security organizational partners internal and external to a federal agency.

You should include relevant examples of the specialized experience in your work history. Errors or omissions may impact your rating or may result in you not being considered.

Answer all questions to the best of your ability. DO NOT ASSUME THAT BECAUSE YOU HOLD, OR HAVE HELD THIS POSITION, YOU WILL AUTOMATICALLY BE FOUND ELIGIBLE. You may be asked to provide evidence or documentation that you have this type of experience later in the selection process. Your responses are subject to verification through job interviews, or any other information obtained during the application process. Any exaggeration of your experience or any attempt to conceal information can result in disqualification.

*Applicants who fail to demonstrate possession of any of the above criteria AND who do not provide the required documentation will receive no further consideration for this position.*

Applicants may be asked to verify information on your application for employment with the FAA.

**All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this vacancy announcement.**

Education

Education cannot be substituted for experience.

Preview job questionnaire

Make sure your resume includes detailed information to support your qualifications and answers to the job questionnaire.

Additional information

We may use this vacancy to fill other similar vacant positions.
Position may be subject to a background investigation.
A one-year probationary period may be required.

The person selected for this position may be required to file a financial disclosure statement within 30 days of entry on duty. FAA policy limits certain outside employment and financial investments in aviation-related companies. www.faa.gov/jobs/workinghere/financial-disclosure-requirements

This position is covered by the Department of Transportation's Drug and Alcohol Testing Program. Any applicant tentatively selected for this position will be subject to pre-employment or pre-appointment drug screening. Persons occupying a "testing designated position (TDP)" will be subject to random drug and/or alcohol testing.

*For ALL Core Comp positions:

This position is covered by the FAA Core Compensation plan. Additional information about Core Compensation is available at: https://www.faa.gov/jobs/working_here/benefits.

As a part of the Federal-Wide Hiring Reform Initiative (streamlining the hiring process), the FAA is committed to eliminating the use of Knowledge, Skills and Ability (KSA) narratives from the initial application in the hiring process for all announcements. Therefore, as an applicant, you are NOT required to provide a narrative response in the text box listed below each KSA.

In lieu of providing a KSA narrative response in the text box listed below each KSA section, in your work history, please include information that provides specific examples of how you meet the response level or answer you chose for each KSA. Your work history examples should be specific and clearly reflect the highest level of ability. Your KSA answers will be evaluated further to validate whether the level that you selected is appropriate based on the work history and experience you provided. Your answers may be adjusted by a human resource specialist as appropriate.

Eligible applicants meeting the minimum qualification requirements and/or selective placement factor(s) (SPF) may be further evaluated on the Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA) and/or Quality Ranking Factor (QRF) listed in the announcement. Based on this evaluation, applicants will be placed in one of the following categories: (1) score order; (2) category grouping; (3) alphabetical; or (4) priority grouping, and referred to the selecting official for selection consideration.

Some, all, or none of the applicants may be interviewed.

This Level 4 (Special Sensitive; TS/SCI) position requires favorable adjudication of a Single Scope Background Investigation (SSBI) background investigation prior to appointment, unless a waiver is obtained.

This announcement is also being advertised under VA #AWA-ASH-26-68707BR-98574. Please review both vacancy announcements before making application to determine your eligibility to apply.

This is not a bargaining unit position.

Links to Important Information: Locality Pay, COLA

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.



IMPORTANT: Applicants may be rated on the extent and quality of experience, education, and training relevant to the duties of the position(s). All answers provided in the on-line process must be substantiated. Ensure that your application package/resume supports your responses.

Federal Aviation Administration

At the FAA, the sky is not the limit—it is just the beginning. Exciting new opportunities are emerging in aviation and aerospace. Significant investments are advancing the research and development of autonomous vehicles, environmentally friendly electric aircraft, high-speed and long-endurance solar-powered aircraft, and new types of space vehicles. Success with these new technologies and vehicle types will introduce new ways to transport people and goods expanding aviation's footprint in transportation. People are our strength. We are a diverse workforce of over 44,000 located nationwide and spanning over 120 occupations to include air traffic control specialists, aviation safety inspectors, engineers, scientists, technicians, and business professionals. Join us in our mission to provide the safest, most efficient aerospace system in the world.

Agency contact information

Benigno Ruiz
Phone
1 (202) 267-4452
Fax
1 (202) 267-7032
Email
benigno.m.ruiz@faa.gov
Address
Federal Aviation Administration
Employment Services Division
800 Independence Ave, SW, Room 523
AHF-110
Washington, DC 20591
US

Visit our careers page

Learn more about what it's like to work at Federal Aviation Administration, what the agency does, and about the types of careers this agency offers.

http://www.faa.gov/jobs

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.