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Chief Engineer

Department of the Air Force
Space Systems Command
Systems Delta 831

Summary

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Overview

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Accepting applications
Location
1 vacancy in the following 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
$146,632 - $197,200 per year
Pay scale & grade
NH 4
Promotion potential
None
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
Yes
Federal service type
This job is in the Competitive Service
Represented by a union
No
Drug test
Yes
Security clearance
Top Secret
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-F26-6S-NH0801-04-SPLASH1
Control number
879284400

Videos

Duties

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The United States Space Force (USSF) Space Systems Command (SSC) Systems Delta 831 (SYD 831) at Los Angeles Air Force Base, California is searching for a Chief Engineer (NH-0801-04, GS 14/15 equivalent).

Description:
As the Systems Engineering, Integration, and Test and Evaluation director for the GPS Systems Delta 831, you will join a dynamic leadership team dedicated to delivering critical Position, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) capabilities to our warfighters, civil agencies, and allied partners. In this dual-hatted role requiring deep acquisition and test expertise, you will serve as the PNT Chief Developmental Tester across the program portfolio to ensure strategic alignment, while simultaneously leading the Delta's systems engineering, integration, safety, and test and evaluation efforts across the PNT Enterprise in strict compliance with DOT&E, DTE&A, DoT, SAF, and OSD guidelines. Operating with a high degree of independence, you will oversee, organize, and coordinate complex test campaigns across various Department of War (DoW), civil, and Intelligence Community engineering teams for the GPS Integrated Test Team, requiring you to analyze, negotiate, and resolve intricate technical challenges while fostering strong working relationships. Furthermore, you will directly shape the future of the enterprise by managing and developing the civilian workforce, steering their performance and career progression, which demands exceptional oral and written communication skills to synchronize efforts, deliver technically accurate dialogue, and unify government and contractor organizations.

The ideal candidate for this critical leadership role is an exceptional, self-driven leader and strategic collaborator who possesses at least five years of substantial space acquisition and test experience, preferably with direct exposure to GPS systems. They hold a minimum of a Bachelor of Science in Engineering-with a Master's degree preferred-alongside a Level 2-Practitioner Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) certification in Systems Engineering and/or Test & Evaluation. This individual excels as an independent executor, critical thinker, and meticulous organizer who can plan and coordinate complex efforts with rigorous attention to detail while building, teaching, and mentoring a high-performing civilian workforce. Known for their outstanding communication skills, they translate intricate concepts into clear, concise dialogue to synchronize diverse government, contractor, and multi-agency teams, leveraging previous supervisory experience to resolve complex issues and champion a collaborative, mission-focused culture across the enterprise.

Key Skills and Abilities:
1. Knowledge of a wide range of advanced multidisciplinary professional engineering concepts, principles, practices, standards, methods, and techniques to apply experimental theories and new developments to problems not susceptible to treatment by accepted methods, and to plan and execute specialized programs of marked difficulty, responsibility, and significance.
2. Knowledge of the mission, roles, functions, organizational structure, and operation of the DoW, Air Force, and organizations that govern, interface with, and/or influence systems acquisition, development, and/or sustainment, and knowledge of planning, programming, and budgeting cycles, financial systems, and restrictions on expenditure of funds.
3. Knowledge of and skill in evaluating state-of-the-art and advancements in theory, application, technology, and policy affecting systems being developed, and in planning, organizing, and directing the functions and staff in critical aspects of development, production, and/or support of systems, subsystems, or equipment.
4. Knowledge of safety, security, personnel management, and EEO regulations, practices, and procedures.
5. Skill in establishing and maintaining effective relationships, building consensus and coalitions, negotiating, and resolving conflicts with a variety of individuals and organizations as well as communicating effectively, both orally and in writing.
6. Ability to plan, organize, and direct the functions of an organization, and mentor, motivate, and appraise the staff through subordinate supervisors as well as analyze, plan, and adjust work operations of one or more organizational segments to meet program requirements and objectives within available resources.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • U.S. Citizenship Required
  • Must be able to obtain and maintain a Top-Secret security clearance.
  • This position has been designated for drug testing. Incumbent is subject to random urinalysis testing as a condition of employment.
  • A professional engineering degree at the bachelor’s level from an ABET accredited institution is required.
  • Work may occasionally require travel away from the normal duty station on military or commercial aircraft.
  • Employee must within 30-days of assuming this position and by 31 October annually thereafter, file an OGE-450, “Confidential Financial Disclosure Report.
  • This is a Critical Acquisition Position (CAP).
  • This position is designated a CRITICAL APDP position.
  • This is a Key position.
  • If authorized, PCS will be paid IAW JTR and AF Regulations. If receiving an authorized PCS, you may be subject to completing/signing a CONUS agreement. More information on PCS requirements, may be found at: https://afciviliancareers.com/regulatory/.
  • Depending on the type of position (competitive/excepted) you are selected for, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period OR 2-year 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.
  • Subject to Temporary Duty Assignment (TDY): Approximately 15 days per year.
  • Eligible for situational telework only, including Emergency and OPM prescribed “Unscheduled Telework”.
  • Incentive is not authorized.
  • This position will close after 5 business days or 75 applications (whichever comes first).

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

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