Range Safety Engineer

The United States Space Force (USSF) Space Systems Command (SSC) Space Launch Delta 45 (SLD 45) Safety Engineering Analysis Launch (SEAL) (vehicle and ground systems) at Patrick Space Force Base, Florida is searching for a Range Safety Engineer (NH-0803-03, GS 12/13 equivalent).

Description:
As a critical technical authority within the Space Launch Delta safety infrastructure, the Range Safety Engineer acts as the primary Point of Contact (POC) for assigned programs-including launch vehicles, Flight Termination Systems (FTS), payloads, ground support equipment, and facility operations-while directly coordinating comprehensive safety activities such as technical interchange meetings, program introductions, statement of capability evaluations, procedural reviews, incident resolutions, and FAA/AST coordination. Serving as a Subject Matter Expert (SME), this engineer operates as the Program Lead Systems Safety Engineer to oversee end-to-end system safety, tailor complex AFSPCMAN 91-710 Range Safety User Requirements, and evaluate non-compliances to determine the operational boundaries of deviations or waivers. Maintaining high-level technical expertise in critical fields-ranging from high-pressure systems and composite overwrapped pressure vessels (COPVs) to ordnance, toxic propellant diffusion modeling, explosive overpressure modeling, and lightning protection-the engineer cross-functionally leads multi-program safety initiatives and actively identifies when to leverage specialized engineering equivalents to guarantee the uncompromised safety of national security space launch operations.

The ideal candidate for this critical national security role possesses a Bachelor of Science degree in an engineering field or related science and must possess the immediate capability to obtain and maintain a Secret security clearance. They demonstrate a comprehensive, working knowledge of health, safety, and environmental mandates outlined in SPFCMAN 91-710 Range Safety User Requirements, alongside a deep operational familiarity with Eastern Range launch vehicles, Flight Termination Systems (FTS), payloads, ground support equipment, facilities, and their corresponding organizational and contractual frameworks. Crucially, the candidate exhibits an exceptional level of professional judgment, resourcefulness, and technical originality, proving themselves uniquely capable of anticipating, navigating, and adapting range safety operations to the rapid pace of changing aerospace technology and administrative processes.

Key Skills and Abilities:
1. Professional knowledge of multidiscipline engineering concepts, principles, consensus standards, and practices.
2. Knowledge of engineering standards, methods, practices, and techniques, materials, and equipment to determine compliance with federal, state, and local codes and regulations.
3. Knowledge of health, safety, and environmental requirements as outlined in SPFCMAN 91-710 (formerly AFSPCMAN or EWR 127-1) and other applicable standards, regulations, and/or technical orders.
4. Knowledge of risk management techniques and cost-benefit analyses.
5. Skill in determining and negotiating acceptable resolutions to complex engineering problems which require considerations of safety, cost, and schedule.
6. Skill in operating a computer and common applications, and learning new applications and systems.
7. Ability to analyze, interpret, and apply rules, regulations, and procedures in a variety of situations and recommend timely and economical solutions.
8. Ability to plan and organize programs and coordinate with other engineering disciplines, other personnel, and organizations as required.
9. Ability to communicate effectively by speech, in writing, and in the virtual environment, maintaining good working relationships.
10. Knowledge of Eastern Range launch vehicles, flight termination systems, payloads, ground support equipment, facilities, organizations, and contracts.

Conditions of employment

• U.S. Citizenship Required
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a Secret security clearance.
• Required to handle and safeguard sensitive and/or classified information in accordance with regulations to reduce potential compromise.
• A professional engineering degree at the bachelor’s level from an ABET accredited institution, or in a closely related technical field as desired by the hiring organization, is required.
• Must exhibit a high degree of judgment, resourcefulness, originality, and the ability to foresee and adapt to the impact of changing technology and administrative processes.
• Eligible for situational telework only, including Emergency and OPM prescribed “Unscheduled Telework”.
• Subject to Temporary Duty Assignment (TDY): Approximately 15 days per year.
• May be required to travel by military or commercial aircraft in the performance of TDY assignments.
• May be required to work overtime on an unscheduled or emergency basis.
• PCS will be 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/.
• 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.
• Incentive is not authorized.
• This position will close after 5 business days or 75 applications, whichever comes first.

Qualifications

The 0803 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