ASSISTANT/ ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR Job in Wright-Patterson AFB, OH

Vacancy No. AFMC-12610402-AFIT-9X-KDB Department Department of the Air Force - Agency Wide
Salary $73,302.00 to $204,000.00 Grade 22 to 23
Perm/Temp Temporary FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 11/15/2024 Close Date 1/15/2025
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
Wright-Patterson AFB, OH


Summary

This is a Tenure Track position. Academic tenure is based upon performance and approval of the faculty and may be considered after the initial or subsequent 3-year appointment period. Selectee may be offered initial appointment with tenure if their academic credentials warrant the action.

Performs Assistant/Associate Professor of Aerospace Engineering (Controls and/or Spacecraft Design and/or Astronautics) duties in the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics.

This job is open to

Clarification from the agency

Applications will be accepted from U.S. Citizens (U.S. citizenship required at time of application).

Duties

  • Teaches graduate-level courses in aerospace engineering in the areas of Spacecraft Attitude Controls, Spacecraft Design, Astronautics, or areas related to Space Warfighting, which form parts of accredited masters and doctoral degree programs, as well as parts of professional continuing education programs.
  • Teaching includes all activities by a faculty member within the formal academic degree programs of the Institute. Teaching contributes to the efforts of students to acquire intellectual skills, to extend knowledge and understanding, or to develop attitudes and habits that foster continuing growth.
  • The diversity of teaching activities includes classroom lectures, laboratory and project course supervision and teaching, program and course development, development of pedagogical materials, supervision of doctoral and master's students, and related activities outside the classroom.
  • Provides well-organized instruction to facilitate, assess, and continuously improve student learning. Counsels and evaluates assigned students, providing student assessment and motivation.
  • Plans and executes a program of research in aerospace engineering within the areas of Spacecraft Design, Attitude Control, Astronautics and/or Space Warfighting. Works directly with Air Force, Space Force, and Department of Defense (DoD) organizations to meet research needs. Collaborates and works well with colleagues to accomplish individual and organizational research goals.
  • Initiates and conducts a program of research in the field of specialization, which contributes to the body of knowledge. Pursues professional development through membership in professional societies and participation in conferences or other appropriate activities to maintain professional and academic currency in area of specialization.
  • Research is defined as inquiry undertaken to establish facts, develop principles, or illuminate or answer questions within an area of intellectual pursuit through the systematic collection of evidence that can be subjected to replication, verification, or critical evaluation by persons other than the original researcher.
  • Research activity is expected to result in peer-reviewed journal publications, invited or reviewed conference presentations and proceedings, research grants, review papers, monographs, and seminar and colloquium presentations. Faculty members are expected, over their careers, to establish and sustain sponsored research, to include funding sufficient to support their scholarly activities.
  • Service is defined as contributions and activities that promote the general welfare of the Institute, the academic discipline, the Department of Defense, and society at large. Graduate faculty members provide advice and counsel to improve the quality of educational programs. Faculty members serve internally through various departmental, School and Institute committees. They are active in School governance, assume administrative duties within the Department, and mentor junior faculty members.
  • Faculty serve their respective disciplines by refereeing journal articles, conference papers and grant proposals, organizing professional conferences or sessions, as members of editorial boards, as officers of professional societies, and as members of national and/or international review boards and committees. Faculty contribute to the overall mission of the U.S. Air Force and Department of Defense by providing expert consultation, serving on advisory boards, and facilitating technology transfer.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • U.S. Citizenship is required
  • Males must be registered for Selective Service, see www.sss.gov.
  • Employee may be required to work other than normal duty hours, to include evenings, weekends and/or holidays.
  • Shift work and emergency overtime may be required.
  • Employee must maintain current certifications.
  • Selectee may be subject to serve a one-year trial period.
  • Candidates are not required to have active-duty service or veterans' preference to be referred and considered. All qualified candidates who meet the recruitment assessment criteria will be referred to the selecting official.
  • The selected candidate will be subject to a security investigation leading to successful completion of a background investigation with a favorable adjudication. The selectee's failure to meet this requirement will be grounds for termination.
  • Essential qualities expected of every faculty member include the personal attributes of integrity, industry, cooperation, initiative, and breadth of intellectual interests.
  • Travel by military or commercial transportation to gather ideas for improving the curriculum, establish research contacts and agreements, conduct research, and present results of research may be required.
  • Initial appointment is under Schedule A appointing authority, Excepted Appointment Not-to-Exceed 3-years.
  • At the time of the expiration of the initial appointment an employee who adequately demonstrates professional competence can be extended in increments up to 3 years or for an indefinite period.
  • An initial appointment can be allowed to expire for an employee who does not adequately demonstrate professional competence.
  • The appointment cannot be converted to a permanent tenure in the competitive service.
  • Current Federal employees on a permanent or indefinite appointment will be required to have a minimum of 3-day break in service if selected.
  • This job is being filled by an alternative hiring process and is not in the competitive civil service. This is an Administratively Determined position in the excepted service.
  • Recruitment and/or retention incentives may or may not be used.
  • Permanent Change in Station (PCS) cost is not authorized.
  • This position may require drug testing and the candidate may be subject to passing a drug test upon selection.

Qualifications

Conditions of Employment Continued
  • Incumbent may be required to travel by commercial or military conveyance (or other means of travel) to perform temporary duty.
  • Additional duties supporting the academic and administrative aspects of a military school can be assigned by school and/or university leaders.
  • This civilian faculty duty period is normally 12 months, however a shorter duty period with a corresponding pro-rated salary (e.g., 10/12 of an annual salary for a 10-month duty period) may be required.

Qualifications
  • Anticipated completion of an earned Doctorate degree in Astronautical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field, with emphasis in areas of Controls and/or Spacecraft Design and/or Astronautics and/or Space Warfighting is required before employment begins.
  • Demonstrated professional knowledge of foundational and one or more advanced topics associated with Aerospace Engineering. These areas include, but are not limited to: control systems for spacecraft, all aspects of the design of satellites and/or other spacecraft, modeling and simulation of space operations, and orbital dynamics, to include multi-body systems and proximity operations. Successful candidates in any of these areas should have at least a year of formal education and a year of research in these areas beyond the Master of Science degree. Candidates with strong experience in specialty areas of aerospace outside of these are encouraged to apply
  • Applicants must exhibit potential for maintaining a strong publication and funding effort commensurate with each academic rank.
  • Applicants must possess the ability to communicate clearly and expertly (in English) in both verbal and written forms concerning academic, administrative, and technical subject matters.
At the Assistant Professor Rank: For an initial appointment to the academic rank of Assistant Professor, applicants should have a strong potential for both teaching and research at the graduate level. Applicants should have a distinguished academic record and the background, commitment, and desire to teach graduate classes, conduct research, and publish.

At the Associate Professor Rank: In addition to the criteria for an Assistant Professor, an initial appointment to the academic rank of Associate Professor must be based on convincing evidence that the individual has demonstrated excellence in teaching, scholarship, and service. The candidate must have 5 years of significant professional experience after having earned the doctoral degree. This will normally include no fewer than 3 years of full-time, university-level teaching at the Assistant Professor rank or higher. Alternatively, for those with fewer than 3 years of teaching experience, the requirement is 6 years of significant professional experience with research credentials normally expected of a full Professor.

Applicants will be assessed based on education, evidence of teaching effectiveness, quality of scholarship, and demonstrated service to educational institutions and the discipline commensurate with years in the discipline.

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.

Education

This 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

This job is being filled by an alternative hiring process and is not in the competitive civil service. Late applications from veterans will not be accepted for faculty positions. Late applications for veterans only apply when filling positions in the competitive service.

As a condition of employment, male applicants born after December 31, 1959 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service. For additional information click here.

Direct Deposit: All federal employees are required by PL 104-134 to have federal payments made by Direct Deposit.

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 herefor more information.

Current Federal Civilian employees may apply for temporary and term positions and if selected, a break in service of at least three (3) calendar days may be required prior to appointment to the position.

AFIT is an Equal Opportunity Employer and provides reasonable accommodation to qualified applicants with disabilities. The Air Force believes that diversity is essential to accomplishing its mission. AFIT highly values individuals who have a demonstrated ability to work successfully with and help develop individuals of diverse backgrounds and perspectives. For the Air Force, diversity encompasses: personal life experiences, geographic background, socioeconomic background, cultural knowledge, educational background, work background, language abilities, physical abilities, philosophical/spiritual perspectives, age, race, ethnicity, and gender.

Application materials become the property of AFIT and WILL NOT be returned.

Applications submitted under this announcement will be considered ONLY for this vacancy.

If you have questions regarding this announcement and have hearing or speech difficulties click here.

Benefits

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.

Review our 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.

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Your application package (resume, supporting documents, and responses to the questionnaire) will be used to determine your eligibility, qualifications and quality ranking for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment.
Applicants possessing the required qualifications as contained within this announcement will be evaluated and ranked by a Faculty-Rating Panel based on the extent to which their experience and education relate to the requirements of the position. A personal interview and presentation to the faculty may be required of the top applicants.

Applicants will be assessed based on their teaching credentials, scholarship, service, and education. Your application package (curriculum vitae, OFFICIAL transcripts, supporting documents, etc.) will be used to determine your eligibility, qualifications, and quality ranking for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully. An incomplete package will result in non-consideration of your application.

An incomplete package will result in non-consideration of your application.

AFIT is dedicated to the goal of building a pluralistic faculty committed to a multicultural environment that enriches the educational experience of our students. Hence, we are especially interested in candidates whose teaching, life experience and/or research interests contribute to a climate that values and uses diversity in all its forms. Interested persons should submit a curriculum vitae and a statement of interest that addresses the ways in which the applicant's qualifications meet the requirements of the ad to include evidence of teaching excellence, promise of research productivity, and commitment to diversity/inclusion. Additional documents are required to complete your application package, please reference the "How to Apply" and "Required Documents" section for more information.

Required Documents

The following documents are required and must be received by {Insert} by the closing date of the announcement.

    • Letter of application (cover letter) (Required)
    • Curriculum vitae (resume)-If your curriculum vitae/resume includes a photograph or other inappropriate material or content, you will not be considered for this vacancy. Your resume may be submitted in any format. For qualifications determinations your resume must contain hours worked per week and the dates of employment (i.e., hour per week and month/year to month/year or month/year to present). Resumes that do not contain this information may be marked as insufficient and applicants may not receive consideration for this position. (Required)
    • Transcripts - This 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. (Required)
    • List of three professional references (to include name, complete mailing address and phone number) (Desired)
    • Three letters of recommendation from individuals familiar with your professional work is (Optional)
    • Statement of Teaching-(Desired)
    • Statement of Research interests-( Desired)
    • Veterans' preference documents, if applicable (i.e. DD-214, SF-15, Veterans Affairs letter for federal employment) (If applicable)
    • U.S. Equivalency from a Department of Education approved (non-federal) credentialing agency (i.e. AICE, NACES), who will complete a U.S. Standard of Education Conversion for education completed in foreign colleges or universities. (If applicable)
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.

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

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.

How to Apply

The complete Application Package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 01/15/2025

To preview the Application Questionnaire, please click the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12610402

To begin the process, click the Apply Online button to create an account or log in to your existing USAJOBS account. Follow the prompts to complete the application questionnaire. Please ensure you click the Submit My Application button at the end of the process.

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

A complete application package will include a letter of application (cover letter), curriculum vitae, legible copies of ALL transcripts, statement of teaching, and statement of research interest. A Doctoral degree is required before employment begins, but ALL transcripts must be provided for ALL degrees being pursued or obtained as stated in your curriculum vitae are required.

An incomplete package will result in non-consideration of your application.

Your curriculum vitae may include detailed information in the following areas, as appropriate (if applicable):
1. Teaching accomplishments: Include teaching experience and teaching awards
2. Professional Accomplishments: Include research, consultations, publications, and awards
3. Service Accomplishments: Include membership, leadership roles, nature of service and contribution in collegial and/or professional organizations, societies, etc.

If you are claiming veterans' preference, please provide basic eligibility information in your cover letter. Also include in your application a copy of your DD-214 (Member Copy 4) and, if disabled, a completed SF-15 (Application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference), along with a letter for federal employment from the Department of Veterans Affairs indicating your service-connected disability rating.

IF APPLICABLE: An active-duty military member's statement of service/certification letter will be accepted in lieu of a DD-214. The statement/certification letter can be obtained from your servicing military personnel office and must be signed by, or by direction of, the adjutant, personnel officer, or commander of your unit or higher headquarters and must indicate your rank, dates of active-duty service, and type of discharge/character of service (i.e. honorable). Your preference and/or appointment eligibility will be verified prior to appointment. Military members may be appointed before the effective date of their military separation, if member is on terminal leave, and if applicable, with the appropriate 180-day approved waiver.

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.

Human Resources WILL NOT modify or change any answers submitted by an applicant.

Agency contact information

Total Force Service Center
Address
Wright Patterson AFB Tenants
2000 Allbrook Drive
Wright Patterson AFB, OH 45433
US
Learn more about this agency

Next steps

Upon vacancy closeout, applicants will be notified via e-mail acknowledging receipt of their application package and advised of the anticipated selection date.

Upon candidate selection, all applicants will be notified via e-mail of their selection/non-selection status.


Note: We cannot accept applications on behalf of Federal Agencies. Application instructions are listed within the Job Description.