Full Job Description
About the Role:
The Air Force Test Center is looking for 2 Full-Time Supervisory General Engineers, NH-0801-03 to work at the 96th Test Wing, 96th Operations Group, 780th Test Squadron at Eglin Air Force Base. This advertisement will recruit the Guns and Missiles Flight Chief and Air-to-Surface Flight Chief for the 780th Test Squadron which serves as a first level supervisor, providing planning, directing, organizing, and exercising control over nonsupervisory employees assigned to the organization.
APPLY NOW! THIS JOB CAN CLOSE AT ANY TIME!
Location: Eglin Air Force Base
Typical 2026 salary range: $89,508 - $138,370 per year/per hour (includes locality)
"If your current basic salary is within the band, but above the stated VOP, your basic salary will not be reduced if you are selected for the position."
Telework Information: Eligible for situational telework only, including Emergency and Office of Personnel Management (OPM) prescribed "Unscheduled Telework"
Travel Requirements: Up to 25% travel possible
Incentives:
This position MAY be eligible for a recruitment/relocation incentive. Specifics will be discussed with the Selecting Official.
Direct Hire Authority: NO 6-MONTH WAIT! Recently retired and/or retiring from MILITARY service ARE eligible for immediate appointment for AFTC positions. The 180-day waiting period has been waived for AFTC to hire recently retired and/or retiring service members.
Must have requirements or may not be considered:
1. Advanced engineering expertise - Demonstrated knowledge of multidisciplinary engineering principles, methods, standards, and emerging technologies sufficient to solve complex, non-routine problems and lead significant engineering programs.
2. Supervisory leadership experience - Ability to plan and assign work, set priorities and schedules, evaluate performance, develop personnel, address employee issues, and improve team productivity and quality.
3. Test, evaluation, acquisition, and sustainment knowledge - Working knowledge of Department of War and Air Force organizations, systems acquisition and test processes, budgeting and financial constraints, and lifecycle sustainment considerations.
4. Ability to lead complex technical programs and teams - Proven ability to organize, direct, and adjust organizational operations; mentor and motivate personnel; and deliver program objectives within available resources.
5. Eligibility to hold and maintain a Top Secret clearance - The position is designated Critical-Sensitive/High Risk and requires access at the Top Secret level
Desired Skills:
- Guns/Missiles Flight Chief
o 2 years of experience in the test, evaluation, or development of gun systems, rocket motors, or guided surface-to-air/surface-to-surface missiles desired.
o Knowledge of explosives safety criteria, weapon -to-aircraft store integration, or ground/flight test safety footprints desired.
o Experience coordinating telemetry, tracking radars, and control-room operations on a test range desired.
- Air-to-Surface Flight Chief
o 2 years of experience in the test, evaluation, or integration of air-to-surface precision guided munitions (e.g., JDAM, SDB, JASSM) or general-purpose bombs desired.
o Experience with weapon -delivery software/hardware testing or seeker and guidance technology desired.
o Experience interfacing directly with weapon System Program Offices (SPO's), defense contractors, or external test range partners desired.
Major Duties:
• Exercises first-level supervisory personnel management responsibilities (at least 25% of the time), including planning work, setting priorities, assigning tasks, and evaluating performance.
• Recruits, develops, mentors, and retains quality engineering team members, identifying developmental needs and arranging appropriate training.
• Establishes, revises, or implements policies, procedures, and organizational structures to improve workflow and maximize resource efficiency.
• Serves as a senior engineering consultant, providing authoritative technical advice on the test, evaluation, and sustainment of advanced weapon systems.
• Manages and oversees complex technical projects and test programs, ensuring cost, schedule, performance, and supportability requirements are met.
• Assesses technical risks and establishes mitigation strategies to ensure operational safety, suitability, and effectiveness.
• Represents the flight on installation, agency, and inter-agency committees and working groups to align organizational goals and priorities.
Qualifications/Requirements:
1. A professional engineering degree at the bachelor's level from an ABET accredited institution is highly desired.
2. Work may occasionally require travel away from the normal duty station on military or commercial aircraft.
3. The work requires the incumbent to obtain and maintain appropriate security clearance.
4. This position may be designated as an acquisition position covered by the Acquisition Professional Development Program (APDP).
5. U.S. Citizenship
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.
(NOTE: Typically, the 1-year probationary period is for Competitive Jobs, and 2-year trail period is for Excepted Jobs.)
This is a designated Drug Testing Position
Must be able to obtain and maintain and "Top Secret" security clearance
ABET Accredited College or University degree required
Must be able to obtain and maintain the required level of Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) certification within 9 months of assigned duties.
Top 5-6 job related KSAs:
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 DoD, 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.
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.
Air Force Civilian Service Employment Benefits:
Paid Time Off:
11 Federal Holidays each year
13 sick leave days earned per year (accumulative)
Paid Vacation Time:
13-26 days per year based on length of employment
Health Insurance:
No waiting period to qualify for you and your family
Retirement:
Immediate coverage by the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS)
Basic Benefits Plan
Social Security:
Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), like a 401(k) (Automatically receive 1% agency contributions and up to 5% matching)
Health & Wellness:
Various Medical
Flexible Spending Account
Federal Long Term Care Insurance, and Life & Disability Insurance
Work/Life Balance:
Family and Medical Leave Act
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Flexible Work Arrangements (dependent on position)
Career Development:
Tuition Assistance & Professional Development opportunities
Career enhancement and promotion opportunities
To learn more about our benefits, please check out the AFTC Benefits Trifold at https://simplebooklet.com/260902aftcbenefitstrifold
Federal Resume Tips:
Resumes limited to two pages. Federal agencies now only accept resumes up to two pages in length.
Learn more about the new resume requirements at:
https://help.usajobs.gov/faq/application/documents/resume/what-to-include
https://afciviliancareers.com/PDF/FederalResumeWriting.pdf
Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Classification & Qualifications for Federal Government Employees:
https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/
Please visit the Air Force Test Center job board to view other career opportunities: https://www.aftc.af.mil/About-Us/Jobs/
