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

Acquisition Program Engineer, SBST

Department of the Air Force
Space Systems Command
United States Space Force / Space Systems Command / Space Based Sensing and Targeting

Summary

Do not email applications. To submit your resume for this Direct Hire opportunity click here.

For additional information on other USSF direct hire opportunities visit the
Air Force Civilian Careers Space Force website and follow USSF on LinkedIn.

Overview

Help
Accepting applications
Posted yesterday · Apply by 06/03/26
Due by 11:59 p.m. ET on June 3, 2026
Location
Work site options
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Remote job
No
Relocation expenses reimbursed
Yes—You may qualify for reimbursement of relocation expenses in accordance with agency policy.
Salary
$102,415 - $158,322 per year
Pay scale & grade
NH 3
Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.
Work schedule
Full-time
Travel Required
25% or less - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Appointment type
Permanent
Occupations and job series
Supervisory status
No
Federal service type
This job is in the Competitive Service
Represented by a union
No
Drug test
Yes
Security clearance
Sensitive Compartmented Information
Position sensitivity and risk
Critical-Sensitive (CS)/High Risk
Jobs require a background check and some require a security clearance. The type depends on the job.
Background check type
Financial disclosure required
Yes
Some jobs require financial disclosure to identify conflicts of interests.
Announcement number
SF-FY26-6S-NH-0801-3-SPLASH
Control number
870714300

Videos

Duties

Help

The United States Space Force (USSF) in Chantilly, VA is searching for an Acquisition Program Engineer, SBST at JB Anacostia-Bolling (NH-0801-03, GS-12/13 Equivalent).

Description:
Bring your forward-thinking engineering to the U.S. Space Force to develop and sustain critical, cutting-edge space capabilities. In this dynamic role, you will manage the full lifecycle of advanced aerospace and electronic sensor programs, with a heavy focus on AMTI sensing architectures. Your daily mission will involve leading projects from concept to completion, defining system requirements, solving complex integration challenges, and collaborating with key stakeholders to ensure our nation's space systems remain resilient, reliable, and mission-ready. If you are ready to apply your technical expertise to a mission of national importance, this is the job for you!

Ideal Candidate:
The ideal candidate is an innovative self-starter and a U.S. citizen eligible for a Top Secret/SCI clearance, holding an ABET-accredited engineering bachelor's degree (advanced degree preferred). They possess a strong background in multidisciplinary engineering (aerospace, electronics, systems) and the full lifecycle management of advanced sensor systems, specifically AMTI (Airborne/Space Moving Target Indication). They excel in program management, strategic planning, and risk mitigation, with the leadership and communication skills necessary to translate complex technical requirements for senior leadership and collaborate seamlessly across diverse teams.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:
1. Knowledge of processes and procedures related to program management and strategic planning activities needed to execute engineering projects and studies within established financial and time constraints, specifically regarding advanced sensor acquisition.
2. Ability to encourage new ideas and innovations; manage human, financial, and information resources strategically and build coalitions to achieve common goals in a complex system-of-systems environment.
3. Skill in working with customers to assess technical needs, provide assistance, resolve complex integration problems, and satisfy operational expectations for AMTI and targeting capabilities.
4. Ability to persuade others to accept technical recommendations, work toward agreement, and negotiate mutually acceptable solutions among diverse engineering and program stakeholders.
5. Ability to develop and maintain effective relationships and to communicate highly technical engineering concepts effectively, both orally and in writing, to senior leadership and cross-functional teams.
6. Ability to organize work, set priorities, and determine resource requirements; determine goals and strategies to achieve them; coordinate with other organizations; monitor progress, and evaluate outcomes.
7. Ability to identify complex technical problems and use sound judgment and engineering decisions to generate and evaluate alternatives and make recommendations.

Requirements

Help

Conditions of employment

  • Must be a U.S Citizen.
  • Must be able to obtain and maintain a Top-Secret /SCI security clearance.
  • Safeguards classified or sensitive and/or classified information and/or files.
  • This position is designated as a Testing Designated Position (TDP) under the Air Force Civilian Drug Testing Program.
  • 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.
  • May be required to perform travel by military or commercial passenger aircraft in the performance of temporary duty assignments.
  • PCS / relocation funding is authorized.
  • Subject to Temporary Duty Assignment (TDY): 15 days a year.
  • May be required to work overtime on an unscheduled or emergency basis.
  • This position is part of the Acquisition Professional Development Program (APDP).
  • The employee must meet the Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) requirements applicable to the duties of the position.
  • Position requires a professional engineering degree at the bachelor's level from an ABET accredited institution is required. Advanced degrees are preferred.
  • Employee must within 30-days of assuming this position and annually thereafter, file an OGE-450, “Confidential Financial Disclosure Report.

Qualifications

The 0801 series has an individual occupational requirement that must be met and can be viewed here. In addition to the above requirements you can view the experience level requirements here. Please scroll down to the 4th section titled Professional and Scientific Positions.

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.

Space Systems Command

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.

To learn more about the United States Space Force Mission click here

Agency contact information

US Space Force Enterprise Talent Management
Email
HQ.USSF.TalentAcquisition@spaceforce.mil
Address
USSF - Space Systems Command
1670 Space Force Pentagon
Washington, DC 20330
US

Visit our careers page

Learn more about what it's like to work at Space Systems Command, what the agency does, and about the types of careers this agency offers.

https://spaceforce.com

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.