Clarification from the agency

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

(Research)

• The primary role of a Research Assistant (RA) is to provide assistance to a faculty mentor to enhance the value and effectiveness of AFIT sponsored research, which feeds and enhances AFIT graduate education and coursework.
• RA duties will generally include activities directly supporting sponsored research including, but not limited to: maintaining labs, equipment, hardware, and software; literature reviews; collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data; adapting existing equipment to support new research; and developing research products such as papers, presentations, and code that support sponsored research deliverables.
• RAs work under the close supervision of an experienced graduate faculty member, and the association is meant to be collegial and educational. In consultation with the supervisor, the RA works to gain research skills and to enhance his/her grasp of the essentials of the academic discipline, the conduct of research, the role and responsibilities of a faculty member, and the role of technology in support of the Air Force. RAs will perform duties consistent with their prior academic preparation and experience.

• The primary duty of a Teaching Assistant (TA) is to provide teaching assistance to the instructor of record in the classroom, which cannot be classified as routine clerical work, to enhance the value and effectiveness of AFIT graduate education.
• TA duties will generally include coordinating courses, assisting with classroom discussions, supporting in-classroom activities, recommending grades on homework and exams, conducting review and assistance sessions, assisting with classroom management (e.g. attending classes, taking notes, taking attendance, proctoring exams, and corresponding with class members), setting up labs, developing supporting course material, and other relevant duties as assigned.
• TAs with at least a MS/ME may also deliver lessons under controlled conditions (e.g., with the instructor of record present), prepare lecture materials, and assist in the development of homework and exams. TAs will work under the close supervision of an experienced instructor of record for each course, and the association is meant to be collegial and educational. In consultation with the instructor of record, the TA works to gain instructional skills and to enhance his/her grasp of the essentials of the academic discipline, the role and responsibilities of a faculty member, and the role of technology in support of the Air Force.

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.
• Incumbent may be required to travel by commercial or military conveyance (or other means of travel) to perform temporary duty.
• Initial appointment is under Schedule A appointing authority, Excepted Appointment Not-to-Exceed 366 days.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.

Qualifications

• This position meets the professional exemption criteria for the Fair Labor Stands Act (5 CFR 551.207).

• Candidates must be a U.S. citizen with a relevant technical undergraduate degree in science or engineering disciplines which include but not limited to the following occupational series: 04XX, 08XX, 13XX or 15XX series from an accredited institution by the time employment begins and in rare cases, those with equivalent experience, education and professional recognition.
• The ability to write programs in Python, Java, C++, or other higher-level languages and/or computational packages, such as Matlab or Mathematica, and plotting packages for data processing and presentation is highly desired.
• Possess the ability to communicate clearly and expertly (in English) in both verbal and written forms concerning academic, administrative, and technical subject matters is required.

How you will be evaluated

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

Starting September 27, 2025, USAJOBS began restricting all resumes to two pages in length.

Applicants possessing the required qualifications as contained within this announcement will be evaluated and ranked 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, service, and education. Your application package (curriculum vitae, 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.

Additional documents are required to complete your application package, please reference the "How to Apply" and "Required Documents" section for more information.

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

• Resume/Curriculum Vitae: Your resume 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 is illegible/unreadable. Additional information on resume requirements can be located under "How To Apply".
• 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. You will not be considered for this vacancy if your resume is illegible/unreadable. (Required)
  • Your curriculum vitae must include detailed information in the following areas, as appropriate:
    • Teaching Accomplishments: Include teaching experience and teaching awards.
    • Professional Accomplishments: Include research, consultations, publications, and awards.
    • Service Accomplishments: Include membership, leadership roles, nature of service and contribution in collegial and/or professional organizations, societies, etc.
• 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) (Highly Desired)
• Three letters of recommendation from individuals familiar with your professional work is (Highly 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)

• Teaching Accomplishments: Include teaching experience and teaching awards.
• Professional Accomplishments: Include research, consultations, publications, and awards.
• Service Accomplishments: Include memberships, leadership roles, nature of service and contribution in collegial and/or professional organizations, societies, etc.

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