The United States Space Force (USSF) at Schriever SFB, Colorado Springs, CO is searching for a Ground & Payload Engineer to support 53 SOPS (NH-0855-03, GS 12/13 equivalent).
Description:
Are you ready to advance next-generation military space communications and apply your RF expertise to mission-critical systems? As our Senior SATCOM Electronics Engineer, you will serve as a lead technical specialist guiding comprehensive on-orbit and ground-segment test campaigns for cutting-edge satellite constellations while actively contributing to the evolution of military standards. On any given day, you will evaluate advanced user terminals and modems for compliance and high-fidelity link modeling, design custom instrumentation to evaluate spacecraft performance under operational loading, resolve complex RF anomalies, mentor team members, and present substantiated findings to senior defense acquisition leaders to clear new space capabilities for the field. If you thrive on technical curiosity, enjoy solving multidisciplinary engineering puzzles that connect space hardware with operational effects, and want your work to make a tangible national impact, this is the team for you.
Ideal Candidate:
Background: The ideal candidate is a recognized subject matter expert with a multidisciplinary background integrating satellite radio frequency (RF) link engineering, space and ground segment systems, and cross-functional defense program leadership.
Education: The candidate holds an ABET-accredited Bachelor of Science in Electrical, Electronics, or Aerospace Engineering, with an advanced degree (M.S. or Ph.D.) in RF/Microwave Systems or Satellite Communications strongly preferred.
Training: The candidate possesses formalized technical training in satellite link budget analysis, RF instrumentation, and military standards compliance.
Experience: The candidate brings extensive, progressively responsible engineering experience taking initiative to lead on-orbit and ground-segment test and evaluation campaigns, conceiving novel instrumentation solutions, and authoring rigorous, evidence-based technical reports supporting major defense acquisition programs.
Key Skills and Abilities:
1. Expert knowledge of the principles and practices involved in the variety of professional, technical, and specialty fields based on professional training in electronics engineering and extensive experience in research and development. For education to be acceptable, the program must lead to a Bachelor's degree from a school of engineering accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET).
2. Expert technical knowledge of advanced concepts, principles, and practices of electronics engineering that enables the incumbent to serve as an expert in satellite Radio Frequency (RF) and in the test and evaluation and research and development of evaluation programs for emerging constellations.
3. Experience in testing and evaluation in electronics engineering to make recommendations which result in significant changes to important areas of the test and evaluation programs.
4. Skill in applying advanced electronic engineering concepts, so as to be able to serve as an expert to resolve difficult/novel engineering problems and issues, and plan, design, monitor and evaluate complex engineering programs and projects.
5. Ability to ensure the latest and most desirable developments in RF electronics and related engineering fields, technology, and threats are applied to support testing and training.
6. Ability to develop and maintain effective relationships and to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
7. 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.
8. Ability to identify problems and use sound judgment and decisions to generate and evaluate alternatives and make recommendations.
Must be able to obtain and maintain a Top-Secret / SCI security clearance.
PCS / Incentive funding is authorized and may be made available.
Required to handle and safeguard sensitive and/or classified information in accordance with regulations to reduce potential compromise.
May be required to travel by military or commercial aircraft in the performance of temporary duty assignments.
May be required to work overtime on an unscheduled or emergency basis.
Eligible for situational telework only, including Emergency and OPM prescribed “Unscheduled Telework”.
Subject to Temporary Duty Assignment (TDY): Approximately 65 days per year.
This position will close after 5 business days or 75 applications, whichever comes first.
Position requires a professional engineering degree at the bachelor's level from an ABET accredited institution is required. Advanced degrees are preferred.
This position is designated as a Testing Designated Position (TDP) under the Air Force Civilian Drug Testing Program.
Qualifications
The 0855 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.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
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.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
Resume:You must submit a resume that may NOT exceed two pages, and the font size should not be smaller than 10 pts. You will not be considered for this vacancy if your resume exceeds two pages or is illegible/unreadable. Do NOT include photographs, inappropriate material, inappropriate content, nor personal information such as age, gender, religion, social security number, etc., on your resume. If the resume you submit contains such information you will not be considered for this vacancy. Your resume must provide:
Personal information - your full name, email and mailing addresses, phone number
Education information - the name of the school and the dates you attended
Work experience - paid and unpaid work with the following information:
Job title
Detailed duties and accomplishments
Employer's name and address
Supervisor's name and phone number
Starting and ending dates (If actual dates are not known, provide your best-estimated timeframes.)
Hours per week
Salary, if applicable
Other qualifications - skills, certifications/licenses, honors, awards, special accomplishments, and job-related training courses
College Transcripts (if applicable): Please see the Education section of this announcement for detailed information about transcripts.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
Do not email applications. To submit your resume for this Direct Hire opportunity click here.
PLEASE NOTE: It is the applicant's responsibility to verify that information entered and/or uploaded, (i.e., resume) is received, accurate, and submitted by the closing date. You may verify your documents have been processed with your application package successfully. You can access your USAJOBS account to do so by clicking here. Uploaded documents may take up to one hour to clear the virus scan.
Resume:You must submit a resume that may NOT exceed two pages, and the font size should not be smaller than 10 pts. You will not be considered for this vacancy if your resume exceeds two pages or is illegible/unreadable. Do NOT include photographs, inappropriate material, inappropriate content, nor personal information such as age, gender, religion, social security number, etc., on your resume. If the resume you submit contains such information you will not be considered for this vacancy. Your resume must provide:
Personal information - your full name, email and mailing addresses, phone number
Education information - the name of the school and the dates you attended
Work experience - paid and unpaid work with the following information:
Job title
Detailed duties and accomplishments
Employer's name and address
Supervisor's name and phone number
Starting and ending dates (If actual dates are not known, provide your best-estimated timeframes.)
Hours per week
Salary, if applicable
Other qualifications - skills, certifications/licenses, honors, awards, special accomplishments, and job-related training courses
College Transcripts (if applicable): Please see the Education section of this announcement for detailed information about transcripts.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
Do not email applications. To submit your resume for this Direct Hire opportunity click here.
PLEASE NOTE: It is the applicant's responsibility to verify that information entered and/or uploaded, (i.e., resume) is received, accurate, and submitted by the closing date. You may verify your documents have been processed with your application package successfully. You can access your USAJOBS account to do so by clicking here. Uploaded documents may take up to one hour to clear the virus scan.
