Full Job Description
About the Role:
The Air Force Test Center is looking for a Full-Time Test Engineer (NH-0861-02T03) to work at the 412th Test Wing, 412th Test Engineering Group, 773rd Test Squadron, Reliability and Maintainability Flight (773 TS/ENFR) at Edwards Air Force Base.
The 773rd Test Squadron is the Air Force's center of expertise for flight sciences test and evaluation, conducting leading edge developmental flight test to deliver high-quality data and analysis on new and modified aircraft.
APPLY NOW! THIS JOB CAN CLOSE AT ANY TIME!
Location: Edwards Air Force Base, CA
Typical 2026 salary range: $47,490 - $161,313 per year (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."
"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:
Information Assurance (IA) Certification may be a condition of employment. Per DoD 8570.01-M, the incumbent of position must attain the appropriate IA certification
within six months of assignment of these duties.
Desired Skills:
- 0-3 years engineering experience
- Understanding of basic R&M concepts such as failure modes, reliability metrics, maintainability analysis, and life-cycle support
- Basic understanding of systems engineering, probability & statistics, and test & evaluation
- Ability to collect, organize, and analyze technical data to identify trends, assess system performance, and support engineering recommendations
Major Duties:
- Performs a wide variety of professional engineering duties associated with administering test and evaluation (T&E) efforts for a specialized area within assigned projects/programs.
- Plans and executes duties to provide a T&E program which efficiently acquires decision quality test item performance data.
- Ensures the T&E strategy is aligned with and supports the approved acquisition strategy, so that adequate, risk-reducing information is provided to support decisions.
- Utilizes diverse engineering practices and techniques to anticipate project needs, modify priorities, and administer a structured testing process.
- The work involves complex design and engineering problems encountered in development and test of state-of-the-art systems or major modifications of existing systems.
- Plans and carries out assignments for test and evaluation projects which entail a variety of complicating factors, interaction with other engineering specializations, and consideration of the lifecycle of items/systems.
- Studies and interprets requirements, specifications, and characteristics for the system to determine the specific factors to be considered, the type of tests to be conducted, and data to be obtained.
- Develops plans for conducting tests (or a series of tests) to evaluate system design and capability to meet established performance requirements, and coordinates the various phases of the test and evaluation process with other functional disciplines.
- Applies emerging technology and business practices to develop and implement a course of action; validates and directs resources required to meet cost, schedule, performance, and supportability criteria; and integrates logistics and/or acquisition functions to implement plans.
Qualifications/Requirements:
U.S. Citizenship (Required)
PROBATIONARY PERIOD STATEMENT: (Required) - For All Positions
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.)
Drug Testing: (if applicable)
This is a designated Drug Testing Position.
Security Clearance: (Required)
Must be able to obtain and maintain a "Top Secret" security clearance.
Education Requirements: (if applicable)
Position requires a professional engineering degree at the bachelor's level from an ABET accredited institution. Advanced degrees are preferred.
Certifications/Licensure: (if applicable)
N/A
DAWIA Certification: (if applicable)
Must be able to obtain and maintain the required level of Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) certification within 3 years of assigned duties.
Knowledge of professional engineering concepts, principles, practices, standards, methods, materials, and equipment to effectively apply multidisciplinary engineering theories, procedures, and techniques to test and evaluation activities.
Knowledge to perform the requirements planning, coordination, test direction, data collection, analysis, and reporting of results for a wide variety of test projects.
Knowledge of state-of-the-art in development of test techniques, procedures, and processes to provide credible and precise technical inputs during test and evaluation.
Skill in planning and organizing test activities, analyzing test data to verify item/system meets established performance requirements, and in providing thorough and precise information to management.
Ability to plan and organize test activities and use computer applications in support of planning, designing, analysis, and reporting.
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/
