Summary To find additional information on "What Is DHA" and to view and/or apply to current DHA opportunities listed on Air Force Civilian Service's "Direct Hire Job Board", please click here. The primary purpose of this position is to serve as a senior professional aerospace engineer in support of the acquisition, development, or sustainment of weapon systems, subsystems, and/or support equipment. Responsibilities For additional information on direct hire opportunities with the Air Force please click here. This position provides technical and/or administrative direction to one or more subordinates, but occupies less than the required minimum of the position's time; or is not performing the full range of supervisory duties for subordinate employees (i.e., performance ratings and discipline). Perform professional aerospace engineering work involved in the application of advanced theories, concepts, principles, and processes to the acquisition, development, or sustainment of weapon systems, subsystems, and/or support equipment. Function as the organization's technical specialist in design and development engineering for critical systems and subsystems. Performs complex and comprehensive analysis and uses systematic, disciplined, quantifiable approaches to implement, develop, and document projects. Serve as a consultant and technical expert to senior subject matter specialists, agency and/or Department of Defense (DoD) officials responsible for broad program operations. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications Experience requirements are described in the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards for General Schedule Positions, Professional Engineering Positions located here. BASIC REQUIREMENT OR INDIVIDUAL OCCUPATIONAL REQUIREMENT: A. Degree: Engineering. To be acceptable, the program must: (1) lead to a bachelor's degree in a school of engineering with at least one program accredited by ABET; or (2) include differential and integral calculus and courses (more advanced than first-year physics and chemistry) in five of the following seven areas of engineering science or physics: (a) statics, dynamics; (b) strength of materials (stress-strain relationships); (c) fluid mechanics, hydraulics; (d) thermodynamics; (e) electrical fields and circuits; (f) nature and properties of materials (relating particle and aggregate structure to properties); and (g) any other comparable area of fundamental engineering science or physics, such as optics, heat transfer, soil mechanics, or electronics. OR B. Combination of education and experience -- college-level education, training, and/or technical experience that furnished (1) a thorough knowledge of the physical and mathematical sciences underlying engineering, and (2) a good understanding, both theoretical and practical, of the engineering sciences and techniques and their applications to one of the branches of engineering. The adequacy of such background must be demonstrated by one of the following: 1. Professional registration or licensure -- Current registration as an Engineer Intern (EI), Engineer in Training (EIT)1 , or licensure as a Professional Engineer (PE) by any State, the District of Columbia, Guam, or Puerto Rico. Absent other means of qualifying under this standard, those applicants who achieved such registration by means other than written test (e.g., State grandfather or eminence provisions) are eligible only for positions that are within or closely related to the specialty field of their registration. For example, an applicant who attains registration through a State Board's eminence provision as a manufacturing engineer typically would be rated eligible only for manufacturing engineering positions. 2. Written Test -Evidence of having successfully passed the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE)2 examination or any other written test required for professional registration by an engineering licensure board in the various States, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico. 3. Specified academic courses -- Successful completion of at least 60 semester hours of courses in the physical, mathematical, and engineering sciences and that included the courses specified in the basic requirements under paragraph A. The courses must be fully acceptable toward meeting the requirements of an engineering program as described in paragraph A. 4. Related curriculum -- Successful completion of a curriculum leading to a bachelor's degree in an appropriate scientific field, e.g., engineering technology, physics, chemistry, architecture, computer science, mathematics, hydrology, or geology, may be accepted in lieu of a bachelor's degree in engineering, provided the applicant has had at least 1 year of professional engineering experience acquired under professional engineering supervision and guidance. Ordinarily there should be either an established plan of intensive training to develop professional engineering competence, or several years of prior professional engineering-type experience, e.g., in interdisciplinary positions. (The above examples of related curricula are not all inclusive.) In addition to meeting the basic requirement above, to qualify for this position you must also meet the qualification requirements listed below: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must have at least 1 year (52 weeks) of specialized experience at the next lower broadband NH-02, equivalent to the next lower grade GS-11 or equivalent in other pay systems. Specialized experience includes work related to the integration of the aeronautics and astronautics sciences within the broad arena of aviation and space exploration. Plan, organize, direct, and coordinate significant and complex projects in (functional area) which represent critical segments of major operating programs in the field of aeronautics and astronautics, such as adapting aerodynamics, computational fluid dynamics, fluid mechanics, flight dynamics, flight structures, propulsion, thermodynamics, and energy conversion/utilization to aerospace vehicles and related equipment. Apply experimental theories, new applications or developments to improve operations and/or resolve unique or complex/controversial problems, conditions, or issues. Administer the resources required to execute projects, and may readjust funding, schedules, and work based on project reviews. KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs): Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following areas: Knowledge of professional aerospace engineering concepts, principles, practices, standards, methods, techniques, materials, and equipment to effectively apply advanced engineering theories, principles, and concepts to project development, execution, and advisory services. Knowledge of development testing and evaluation sufficient to apply experimental theories and new applications to issues and provide technical advice and direction in support of weapon systems, subsystems, and/or support equipment. Knowledge of integrated air-vehicles, ground systems, and support equipment sufficient to plan, design, test, troubleshoot, evaluate, and oversee the development and/or sustainment of aerospace vehicles, systems, equipment, and components. Knowledge of other engineering disciplines and standard acquisition regulations, practices, and procedures. Ability to devise and evaluate criteria, parameters, characteristics, and interrelationships for design approaches, and to assess the impact of new technology on current systems and processes. Ability to communicate clearly, concisely, and with technical accuracy, both orally and in writing, as well as work in a professional manner with peers, management, contractors, academia, and other agencies. PART-TIME OR UNPAID EXPERIENCE: Credit will be given for appropriate unpaid and or part-time work. You must clearly identify the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the total number of hours per week. VOLUNTEER WORK EXPERIENCE: Refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service Programs (i.e., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student and social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge and skills that can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Desired Skills: Required to handle and safeguard sensitive and/or classified information in accordance with regulations to reduce potential compromise. Position requires a professional engineering degree at the bachelor's level from an ABET accredited institution is required. Advanced degrees are preferred. Desired 5+ years' experience in test and evaluation and/or 5+ years' experience in leading teams. May be required to work overtime on an unscheduled or emergency basis. Education ARE YOU USING YOUR EDUCATION TO QUALIFY? If position has a positive degree requirement or education forms the basis for qualifications, you MUST submit transcripts with the application. Official transcripts are not required at the time of application; however, if position has a positive degree requirement, qualifying based on education alone or in combination with experience; transcripts must be verified prior to appointment. An accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education must accredit education. Click here to check accreditation. FOREIGN EDUCATION: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the requirements. You must show proof the education credentials have been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education program. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying. Additional Information 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. Air Force Civilian Service Employment Benefits: Paid Time Off: 11 Federal Holidays off per year Vacation time (Annual Leave) accumulates based on length of employment. Starts at 13 days (104 hours) per year and up to 26 days (208 hours) per year 13 sick days per year (104 hours) Retirement: Pension: Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) 401K: Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) available with up to 5% agency matching Health & Wellness: Various Medical, Dental & Vision packages to choose from for entire family 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/230809aftcbenefitstrifold\_v5\_.