Duties
Represents the Director in her/his responsibilities as Director for select ACAT I through ACATIII equivalent acquisition Special Access Programs (SAPs) in direct support of the Secretary of the Air Force, Air Force Chief of Staff, Chief of Space Operations, and the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition and Space Integration. In this role, provides direction for all matters related to technical execution for the nation's most critical advanced technology programs. Represents the Air Force with Congress, Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) organizations, other DoD Agencies, industry leaders, and the media on issues regarding AFRCO's acquisition portfolio.
The Technical Director provides technical direction to the systems engineering technical review (SETR) process for the portfolio. Chairs major engineering reviews including, but not limited to: System Requirements Reviews, Preliminary Design Reviews, Critical Design Reviews, Flight and Test Readiness Reviews, Technology Readiness Assessments, Manufacturing Readiness Reviews, Risk Board, Technical Review Boards, and Safety Review Boards for the Air Force. Incumbent works in concert with the Air Force Technical Authority as a Delegated Technical Authority for airworthiness. Investigates and recommends improvements to complex system of systems, open architecture (air, ground, and space) segments, low observable, counter low-observable, and electronic warfare systems problems in search of creative, innovative technical and engineering solutions.
The incumbent provides direction in the areas of life cycle logistics and reliability improvement across the portfolio. Recommends designs and leads the development of road maps and architectures for integrating diverse systems employing low observable, counter low-observable, and electronic warfare aerospace systems to ensure the optimal balance of competing and synergistic technologies. Recommends the establishment, continuation, or cessation of new technology thrusts to assure quality low observable, counter low observable, electronic warfare systems and other technologies for current and new aircraft and other operational capabilities developed for DoD use. The incumbent will propose alterations to test and analysis infrastructures to support advances in the state-of-the-art in-flight sciences, command and control, low observable, counter low observable, electronic warfare and other advanced technologies. Based upon expertise and experience, makes recommendations to streamline technical approaches to ensure they are effective and consistent with state-of-the-art engineering principles, operational requirements, and Air Force mission objectives.
In absence of the Director and the Deputy Director, the incumbent will provide oversight of all day-to-day technical and risk reduction activities of AFRCO's portfolio of acquisition programs. The position may directly supervise a limited number of individuals who are primarily responsible for key Air Force advanced technologies. As the Technical Director, the position will oversee the technical aspects of all AFRCO programs to include technology demonstration efforts, SETR reviews, technology transfer, etc. The position will foster technical collaborations across AFRCO, Air Force, DoD, other government agencies, and industry to achieve DoD mission goals to include establishing and leading study teams to address Air Force and DoD advanced technologies.
Serves as a nationally recognized authority providing advice and guidance to the highest Air Force and government officials in open architectures, system-of-systems, low observables, counter low observables, and electronic warfare as they apply to military aerospace systems, their related test and analysis infrastructure, and their performance in combat operations. The incumbent recommends a vision for the future direction of these critical and sensitive technologies and serves as the catalyst for creative thinking on the potential for synergy between low observables, electronic warfare and system-of-systems operations. The Technical Director represents the Director in meetings with other agencies, organizations, industry, academia, and the international scientific and engineering community, and provides engineering advice and guidance to senior Air Force and OSD management, program directors and technical experts on low observable aerospace systems, new observables technologies, and the integration of those technologies into existing low observable, counter low observable, and non-low observable aerospace systems.
Recommends guidance to senior Air Force and DoD leadership as to the implications of breakthroughs in state-of-the-art technologies on security policy. Incumbent recommends changes in security policy to account for new low observable, counter low observable, and electronic warfare technologies and programs, and orchestrates the implementation
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
- U.S. Citizenship Required
- If authorized, 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/
- Males must be registered for Selective Service, see www.sss.gov
- Position is designated as a Testing Designated Position (TDP). Position requires the incumbent sign a Drug Testing letter and pass urinalysis testing prior to appointment.
- Must have or be able to obtain a TOP SECRET/SCI Security clearance
- Must file an Executive Personnel Financial Disclosure Report
- PROBATIONARY PERIOD. An individual's initial SL career appointment becomes final only after the individual successfully completes a 1-year probationary period.
- Active Duty Military Members must indicate retirement eligibility
- Recruitment/Relocation Incentive may be offered
- Disclosure of Political Appointments
- EXECUTIVE PERSONNEL FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE REPORT (Standard Form 278). Selected candidate must file this report in accordance with the Ethics in Government Act of 1978.
- Veterans' preference is applicable to Air Force Senior Level (SL) positions.
Qualifications
This is a Critical Acquisition Position (CAP) and has been designated as a Key Leadership Position which carries significant responsibility, primarily involving supervisory or managerial duties in acquisition. A 3-year tenure agreement is required for the position. The incumbent must meet the Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) requirements cited below, unless a waiver is granted by the AF Senior Acquisition Executive (SAE).
a. Practitioner level certification in Engineering and Technical Management can be obtained within 48 months.
b. 10 years of acquisition experience or equivalent. If internal to Department of Defense (DoD) , 4 years must have been in CAP or equivalent position. If external to DoD, 4 years of Technical leadership equivalent to a CAP.
QUALIFICATIONS: Eligibility will be based upon a clear showing the applicant has training, education and experience of the scope and quality sufficient to effectively carry-out the duties of the position. Candidates must exemplify the corporate perspective, leadership vision, broad experience and character needed in the Civilian Senior Executive Service corps not only to satisfy the immediate vacancy, but future vacancies which will occur in a variety of organizations, functions and locations.
MANDATORY TECHNICAL QUALIFICATIONS (NTE 2 Pages per MTQ): A supplemental statement must be submitted separately addressing each TQ. TQs must provide specific examples that address relevant experience and accomplishments. Applicants should focus on recent experience, education, and training, as some Recruitment Panel members may consider experience that's over 10 years old to be outdated. Applicants must reflect superior technical qualifications demonstrated through leadership and management in the following:
1. Conduct investigations and recommend improvements to complex systems, open architecture (air, ground, space) segments, low observable, counter low-observable, and electronic/cyber, and data/information warfare systems in search of creative, innovative technical and engineering solutions as the AFRCO's Technical Authority for airworthiness.
2. Ability to execute the systems engineering technical review (SETR) process for the portfolio and chairs major engineering reviews including, but not limited to: System Requirements Reviews, Preliminary Design Reviews, Critical Design Reviews, Flight and Test Readiness Reviews, Technology Readiness Assessments, Manufacturing Readiness Reviews, Risk Board, Technical Review Boards, and Safety Review Boards for the Air Force.
Education
Education: A bachelor's degree from an accredited institution is required. A master's or advanced degree from an accredited institution is highly desired.
For 0800, General Engineering Series:
a. A professional engineering degree from an accredited institution is required. To be acceptable, the curriculum must: (1) be in a school of engineering with at least one curriculum accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) as a professional engineering curriculum; or (2) include differential and integral calculus and courses (more advanced than first-year physics and chemistry) in five of the following seven areas of engineering science or physics: (a) statics, dynamics; (b) strength of materials (stress-strain relationships); (c) fluid mechanics, hydraulics; (d) thermodynamics; (e) electrical fields and circuits; (f) nature and properties of materials (relating particle and aggregate structure to properties); and (g) any other comparable area of fundamental engineering science or physics, such as optics, heat transfer, soil mechanics, or electronics.
-OR-
b. A combination of education and experience as required by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM). Acceptable combinations of education and experience can be found at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0800/files/all-professional-engineering-positions-0800.pdf
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.
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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 to Apply
Please follow the below instructions to submit applications. Any applications received that do not include all of the required documents or do not meet format requirements will not be forwarded for consideration.
The complete Application Package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 03/03/2025.
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.
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.
PREFERRED RESUME FORMAT: (Limit 5 pages/Times New Roman 12-font) (Do Not Use the USAJOBS Resume Builder) - Please submit a typewritten resume (upload as a PDF), including the following information:
Job Information: Announcement number (MRL2025-3) and title of the position to which you are applying.
Personal Information: Full name, mailing address (with zip code), day and evening phone numbers (with area code) and complete e-mail address where you would like to receive correspondence regarding your application. **PLEASE DO NOT INCLUDE SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER**
Active-Duty/Retired Military: State highest rank held, date of promotion and date eligible to retire or date of retirement, (e.g., Colonel/June 2006/December 2014). NOTE: IAW 5 U.S.C. 3326, a 180-day waiver will be required for retired or retiring members of the armed forces during the period of 180 days immediately after retirement. Please note: you will be ineligible for consideration if your statement of service is not submitted with your application or it shows an expected discharge or release date greater than 120 days from the date of the submission of the certification.
Education: Educational information, including the name, city and state of colleges or universities you attended, as well as the type and year of any degree received. Report only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For more information, you may refer to the following U.S. Department of Education website: http://www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html
Work Experience: Give the following information for your paid and non-paid work experience related to the job for which you are applying: (Do not send job descriptions).
- Starting and ending dates (month and year)
- Job title (for government position, include civilian series and grade or military rank)
- Employer's name and address
- Supervisor's name and phone number, please indicate if we may contact your current supervisor
- Salary (current)
*Applicants should focus on recency of experience, hiring officials may consider experience over 10 years outdated.
References: Provide the names, addresses and telephone numbers of three individuals who can comment on your qualifications for this position. Please do not list supervisors already listed above.
This agency provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process, please notify this office. The decision on granting reasonable accommodations will be on a case-by-case basis.
SAF/MRL CONTACT INFORMATION: Questions regarding this announcement may be directed to Terence Lee - terence.lee.8@us.af.mil.
Next steps
Once your application package is received an acknowledgement email will be sent.
If you provided an email address, you will receive an email message acknowledging receipt of your application. Your application package will be used to determine your eligibility and qualifications for consideration. If you are determined to be ineligible or not qualified, your application will receive no further consideration.
To check the status of your application or return to a previous or incomplete application, log into your USAJOBS account, select My Applications, and click on the more information link under the application status for this position.
If you do not provide an email address, you are responsible for checking status updates and notifications in USAJOBS. Hard copy notifications will not be sent to you.