The United States Space Force (USSF) Space Systems Command (SSC) System Delta 88 - MILSATCOM (SYD 88) at Los Angeles Air Force Base, California is searching for a Chief Engineer (NH-0801-04, GS 14/15 equivalent).

Description:
Space Systems Command (SSC), the premier center for military space systems acquisition, is seeking a forward-thinking, senior-level MILSATCOM Foreign Military Sales (FMS) Chief Engineer to shape the future of national security space capabilities. In this high-impact role, you will serve as the overarching technical authority, providing expert engineering direction on the development, integration, and feasibility of the nation's most critical space mission architectures. You will directly advise senior leadership, oversee complex engineering activities for FMS space acquisition programs, and represent the organization in high-level engagements across the DoD and interagency partners to ensure delivered solutions effectively meet warfighter needs. If you have deep expertise in defense systems and a passion for advancing military space power, this is your opportunity to make a lasting impact-enhanced by the flexibility of a Satellite Agency Worksite (SAW) agreement for eligible candidates located near other USAF or USSF installations.

The ideal candidate is a highly accomplished engineering professional possessing a bachelor's degree in engineering from an ABET-accredited institution and holding (or having the immediate capability to obtain and maintain) an active Top Secret/SCI security clearance. With 10 or more years of defense program engineering experience-strongly focused on systems-level space architectures-you bring a profound understanding of multidisciplinary engineering concepts and the proven skill to evaluate and integrate cutting-edge technological advancements into system development. You are highly competitive if you possess or can acquire a Level III Certification in Engineering or SPRDE and have hands-on experience in Foreign Military Sales (FMS) engineering management, specifically advising on the acquisition and releasability of critical space assets. Furthermore, your exceptional written and oral communication skills enable you to seamlessly build consensus, resolve complex conflicts, and represent the organization effectively among diverse DoD, interagency, and international stakeholders.

Key Skills and Abilities:
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.

Conditions of employment

• U.S. Citizenship Required
• Eligible for situational telework only, including Emergency and OPM prescribed "Unscheduled Telework"
• PCS is authorized and paid IAW JTR and AF Regulations. If receiving an authorized PCS, you may be subject to completing/signing a CONUS agreement. More information on PCS requirements, may be found at: https://afciviliancareers.com/regulatory/
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a Top-Secret security clearance with SCI access.
• Required to handle and safeguard sensitive and/or classified information in accordance with regulations to reduce potential compromise.
• This position has been designated for drug testing. Incumbent is subject to random urinalysis testing as a condition of employment.
• Work may occasionally require travel away from the normal duty station on military or commercial aircraft.
• Employee must within 30-days of assuming this position and by 31 October annually thereafter, file an OGE-450, “Confidential Financial Disclosure Report.” Employee is required to attend annual ethics and procurement integrity training.
• This position is designated a CRITICAL APDP position
• This position may be designated as an acquisition position covered by the Acquisition Professional Development Program (APDP).
• 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.
• Subject to Temporary Duty Assignment (TDY): Approximately 45 days per year.
• Incentive is not authorized.
• This position will close after 5 business days or 75 applications, whichever comes first.

Qualifications

The 0801 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.

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.

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:

1. Personal information - your full name, email and mailing addresses, phone number
2. Education information - the name of the school and the dates you attended
3. 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
4. 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.

Next steps