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Air Traffic Control Specialist

Department of Transportation
Federal Aviation Administration
ATO, Flight Service, Safety and Operations Policy Group, AJR-B100

Summary

Position is located in the Air Traffic Organization (ATO), within the System Operations Service in Flight Service Direcorate.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Posted today · Apply by 06/29/26
Due by 11:59 p.m. ET on June 29, 2026
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Work site options
Telework eligible
Yes—Situational telework may be permitted in accordance with agency policy.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Salary
$127,898 - $198,281 per year

The salary listed includes the locality rate of 33.94% for the Washington DC Metropolitan Area.

Pay scale & grade
FV J
Promotion potential
NA
Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.
Work schedule
Full-time
Travel Required
25% or less - The job may require up to 25% travel.
Appointment type
Permanent
Occupations and job series
Supervisory status
No
Federal service type
This job is in the Excepted Service
Represented by a union
Yes - This position is represented by AFSCME Local 1653.
Drug test
Yes
Security clearance
Secret
Announcement number
AWA-AJR-26-0813CM-99165
Control number
873008700

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

Open to current permanent FAA employees -- AJR-WIDE

Duties

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The incumbent reports to the Manager of Safety and Operations Policy Group. Flight Service manages program objectives, strategies and plans for providing flight planning, advisory, operations, and search and rescue coordination services. The Flight Service Directorate also provides oversight of flight services performance, costs and customer satisfaction within the National Airspace System (NAS).

Recommends organizational positions on major programs and issues to agency management at the Service Area and/or national level from the Flight Service staff function.

Serves as a subject matter expert on behalf of FAA¿s major projects and programs within Flight Service that affect the general aviation component of the aviation industry and other external users, and performs external compliance verifications and pilot briefing certifications.

Uses experience and knowledge to change proposals using FAA policies to analyze operational impact, feasibility and Handbook compliance. Assesses potential safety issues through reviews of reports and data analysis to propose Service Area or field facility preventive action for actively meeting mandatory occurrence report criteria. Prepares and reviews reports or FAA policies drawing on experience and knowledge of air traffic control procedures and operations gained in the Flight Service air traffic control specialty for internal and external users. Develops briefings to convey policies to internal and external customers.

Performs highly complex, specialized air traffic assignments using automation expertise and/or previous air traffic control experience to support FAA contracts or acquisitions.

Applies experience and comprehensive knowledge of air traffic control procedures and operations as well as FAA programs, regulations, and missions. Applies comprehensive knowledge of staff programs (e.g., procedures, traffic management, quality assurance, training, automation) to carry out regional or national programs. Applies full performance level experience gained in an air traffic control facility. Work contributes directly to the accomplishment of air traffic and other FAA objectives and the efficiency and effectiveness of air traffic operations.

Contacts are internal and external to the agency. Often represents the organization as a senior point of contact on projects/programs.

Employee is considered an authority in assigned specialty. Most work is performed independently but may be subject to review by program officials to ensure assignments integrate with organizational objectives and policies and in achieving planned results.

Broad policies and objectives provide general guidance for completing work objectives but allow considerable discretion to develop new or innovative approaches. Draws on experience and knowledge to solve unusual problems.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • US Citizenship is required.
  • Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
  • Must submit an SF50 (See Required Documents).
  • Designated or Random Drug Testing required.
  • In accordance with HRPM EMP 1.29/1.29a, this position MAY be a Career Enhancement Program/Career Progression assignment. The selectee(s) may be eligible for pay retention.
  • Career Diversity is not enhanced when an employee is assigned to a staff or supervisory position in which they previously held on a permanent basis. CEP/CP selectees will be required to certify eligibility. Pay retention is not guaranteed.
  • This position is not covered by PL 92-267 for early retirement purposes, and is therefore, not eligible for "good time" credit. Position is ineligible for true time and one half.

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-I, FG/GS-13 level. This experience is typically related to the line of work of the position to be filled, 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 at the next lower level, FV-I:

--Experience correlating information to conduct analyses, present findings, and recommend solutions to complex problems.

--Experience creating solutions to organizational positions on programs and issues to management; and experience preparing technical reports and policies.


Experience in a military or civilian air traffic facility that demonstrates possession of the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform the level of work of the specialization for which application is made. This experience must have provided a comprehensive knowledge of appropriate air traffic control laws, rules, and regulations.

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

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.

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.

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.

Applicants may be asked to verify information they have provided on their application for employment with the FAA.

Please ensure that you answer all questions and follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may impact your rating or may result in you not being considered for the job.

Management may choose to interview all, some, or none of the referred candidates.

This position is covered by the FAA Core Compensation Plan. Additional information about core compensation is available on the website: https://www.faa.gov/jobs/working_here/benefits

This is a Level 2 (Non-Critical; Secret) position requires favorable adjudication of an Access National Agency Check and Inquiries (ANACI) background investigation prior to appointment, unless a waiver is obtained.

AFSCME Interview Criteria: Article 42, Section 13 states: If the selecting official decides to interview any employee on the selection list for a vacancy, then all who remain under consideration for the position at that point in the process must be interviewed. If the selection list is shortened to a best qualified list through a comparative process, then the best qualified list shall be considered to be the selection list. If it is determined that interviews are required and telephone interviews are not utilized, travel expenses incidental to these interviews will be paid in accordance with the Agency's travel regulations and this Agreement.

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

Christine McNeil
Phone
1 (202) 267-3722
Fax
1 (202) 267-7032
Email
christine.mcneil@faa.gov
Address
Federal Aviation Administration
HQ Employment Services Branch
800 Independence Ave, SW, Room 523
AHF-110
Washington, DC 20591
US

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