Space Launch Engineer / Mission Manager, SSC/AAMX Job in Kirtland AFB, NM

Vacancy No. AF-FY25-6S-NH-801-03-SPLASH Department Space Systems Command
Salary $89,583.00 to $138,486.00 Grade 3 to 3
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 9/10/2025 Close Date 9/16/2025
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
Kirtland AFB, NM


Summary

To submit your resume for this Direct Hire opportunity click here.

For additional information on other USSF direct hire opportunities visit the
Air Force Civilian Careers Space Force website and follow USSF on LinkedIn.

Duties

The United States Space Force (USSF) at Kirtland AFB, NM is searching for a Space Launch Engineer / Mission Manager, SSC/AAMX (NH-0801-03, GS-12/13Equivalent).

Description:
Ready to Launch Your Career Into Orbit?
Join the United States Space Force's premier rapid-response launch team as a Space Launch Engineer and Mission Manager, where your work directly supports the Nation's most critical defense missions. This is your chance to lead high-stakes launch acquisition and operations across a constellation of national priorities-including missions for the USSF, Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD), U.S. Army, Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC), and the Missile Defense Agency's (MDA) Golden Dome space-based interceptor program.
?? Your Mission, Should You Choose to Accept It:
- Lead integrated action teams to shape launch strategy and ensure mission readiness
- Conduct deep technical evaluations and mission assurance reviews of launch systems
- Deliver high-impact briefings to senior military and civilian leadership
- Pilot launch teams through the full mission lifecycle-from concept to countdown
??? Why You Matter: You'll be at the forefront of safeguarding America's space launch architecture, driving innovation through cross-functional collaboration and technical excellence. Your leadership will ensure our warfighters have the space-based capabilities they need-when they need them.
?? If You're Fired Up About Space Launch, National Defense, and Leading Missions That Matter-This Is Your Call to Action.
Come join America's Launch Team. Lead boldly. Fight smart. Win big.


Ideal Candidate:
This position requires the member to serve as a space launch engineer and mission manager; duties include leading mission engineering (must have ABET accredited Bachelor of Science engineering degree), program management and launch operations from acquisition start through post-launch reporting and closeout. Member must lead Government, customer and launch service contractor teams to meet mission requirements, resolve issues, as well as ensure resolutions are consistent with program objectives, existing policies, and procedures. In addition, the member must be able to coordinate various phases of work with other functional disciplines and interprets/translates engineering requirements into design characteristics and criteria. Member must be able to formulate and explain recommendations or solutions to modify standard practices, equipment, devices, processes, and techniques to leadership. Member must be knowledgeable of processes and procedures related to program management and strategic planning activities needed to execute projects and/or studies within established financial and time constraints. Member must have the ability to encourage new ideas and innovations; manage resources and build coalitions to achieve mission success.


Key Skills and Abilities:
1. Knowledge of processes and procedures related to program management and strategic planning activities needed to execute projects and/or studies within established financial and time constraints.
2. Ability to encourage new ideas and innovations; manage human, financial and information resources strategically and build coalitions to achieve common goals.
3. Skill in working with customers to assess needs, provide assistance, resolve problems, and satisfy expectations
4. Ability to persuade others to accept recommendations, work toward an agreement, and negotiate mutually acceptable solutions.
5. Ability to develop and maintain effective relationships and to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
6. Ability to organize work, set priorities, and determine resource requirements; determine goals and strategies to achieve them; coordinate with other organizations; monitor progress, and evaluate outcomes.
7. Ability to identify problems and use sound judgment and decisions to generate and evaluate alternatives and make recommendations


Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • Must be a U.S. Citizen.
  • Employee must be able to obtain and maintain a Top-Secret clearance.
  • Required to handle and safeguard sensitive and/or classified information in accordance with regulations to reduce potential compromise.
  • Drug Testing: This position has been designated by the Air Force as a Testing Designated Position (TDP) under the Air Force Civilian Drug Demand Reduction Program.
  • May occasionally be required to work other than normal duty hours and/or shift work may be required which may include overtime and/or irregular hours.
  • PCS / Incentive funding are not authorized.
  • Eligible for situational telework only, including Emergency and OPM prescribed "unscheduled telework"
  • Position will close in 5 business days or 75 applications (whichever comes first).
  • 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.
  • A professional engineering degree at the bachelor’s level from an ABET accredited institution is required.
  • This position has been designated as an acquisition position and is covered by the Acquisition Professional Development Program (APDP).
  • Employee must within 30-days of assuming this position and by 31 October annually thereafter, file an OGE-450, “Confidential Financial Disclosure Report.
  • This position is designated a NON-CRITICAL APDP position.

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.

Additional information

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 here for more information.

Disabled veteran leave is available to a Federal employee hired on/after 5 Nov 2016, who is a veteran with a service-connected disability rating of 30% or more. For more information, click here.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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.

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.

Required Documents

Resume: You must submit a resume that provides:

  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.

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

Do not email applications. To submit your resume for this Direct Hire opportunity click here.

Agency contact information

US Space Force Enterprise Talent Management
Address
USSF - Space Systems Command
1670 Space Force Pentagon
Washington, DC 20330
US

Next steps

For additional information on other USSF direct hire opportunities visit the Air Force Civilian Careers Space Force website and follow USSF on LinkedIn.


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