Senior Mission Systems Instructor

Published Sept. 16, 2024 Air Force Test Center About the Air Force Test Center: The Air Force Test Center (AFTC) is where tomorrow’s Air Force is tested! Long considered the “Center of the Aerospace Testing Universe”, AFTC is truly where Air Force superiority begins. Home to many Aerospace establishments and records, AFTC remains the state-of-the-art leader in Aerospace testing, and provides the warfighter with cutting-edge technology. AFTC does not only celebrate its past, but we continue to lead from the front. Join our team today and make Aerospace history! About the Role: The Air Force Test Center is looking for a Full-Time Mission Systems Technical Expert (General Engineer) (NH-0801-04) to work at the USAF Test Pilot School (USAF TPS/EDS) at Edwards Air Force Base. This is an amazing opportunity to be a key part of the USAF Test Pilot School (TPS) world-class faculty. You will be serving as the nationally/internationally recognized Mission Systems Technical Expert, Senior Advisor, Curriculum Developer, and master’s degree educator at USAF TPS. In this capacity you will be working with test units across the Air Force Test Center (AFTC), with various divisions of the Air Force Research Lab (AFRL), STARCOM, and other Department of Defense agencies, other government and university research laboratories, commercial air and space companies, and international partners. You will also be interacting with some of the world’s best aviators, engineers, space vehicle operators, and future test leaders – What an opportunity! The primary purpose of this position is to serve as the United States Air Force (USAF) Test Pilot School's (TPS) nationally/internationally recognized technical expert in one of the 4 major phases of the curriculum: Mission Systems. Provide world-class leadership, expertise, and guidance throughout the organization in the areas of mission systems and payloads, instructional systems design, curriculum development and execution, organization and staffing, resourcing, training operations and management, and student programming and administration in support of a 48-week master’s degree program. THIS JOB CAN CLOSE AT ANY TIME! Location: Edwards, CA (Edwards Air Force Base) Typical 2024 salary range: $142,094 - $191,900 per year (includes locality) Telework Information: Eligible for situational telework only, including Emergency and Office of Personnel Management (OPM) prescribed "Unscheduled Telework" Travel Requirements: Up to 25% travel possible Incentives: This position is eligible for a recruitment/relocation and/or student loan repayment incentive up to 25%. Specifics will be discussed with the Selecting Official. Direct Hire Authority: NO 6-MONTH WAIT! Recently retired and/or retiring from MILITARY service ARE eligible for immediate appointment for AFTC positions. The 180-day waiting period has been waived for AFTC to hire recently retired and/or retiring service member Desired Skills: PhD or master’s degree in Aero Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering or Astro Engineering, prior teaching experience and/or simulator experience. Graduate of a military Test Pilot School. Flight Test Conductor and/or Test Director, and/or disciplined engineer control room experience Active member of a professional organization such as AIAA, SETP, SFTE, ITEA, etc. Able to meet USAF flying class III physical requirements including the ability to fly ejection seat aircraft. Major Duties: Senior Advisor: Serves as the top Missions Systems Test education advisor and senior technical consultant to the Commandant and Technical Director Curriculum Developer: Defines, integrates, and implements Mission Systems curriculum development for a graduate-level educational program. Ensures the TPS curriculum includes state-of-the-art test technology and continues to advance new concepts in flight and space testing and test education, test and safety planning, data collection and analysis, and reporting Master's Degree Educator: As a technical subject matter expert, educates students on how to conduct evaluation of new or critically modified aerospace vehicles/systems; gather, analyze, and draw data-driven conclusions; identify and characterize deficiencies; recommend corrective actions; and report on test results. This will be accomplished through teaching academic courses, leading simulator and/or laboratory sessions, and conducting airborne or air/space ops control room instruction. National/International Technical Expert: Represents TPS, AFTC, and STARCOM as a recognized technical expert in Mission Systems Test at national and international symposia and conferences. Acts as technical and/or safety advisor, subject matter expert, and/or report reviewer for AFMC, STARCOM, DoD, NASA, other government agencies, and allied nations as required Flying Opportunities: There are flying opportunities in multiple military and Qualitative Evaluation aircraft and, depending on your background and desires, there’s the possibility to be an instructor in gliders and Cessnas Research Opportunities: There are opportunities to mentor student Test Management Projects and conduct staff Research Projects on cutting edge research topics that span the entire spectrum from advanced controls, autonomy, new sensors, revolutionary navigation techniques, emerging communication techniques/protocols, cyber and electronic warfare concepts, battle management algorithms, enhanced human vehicle interface systems, multi-domain operations, etc. Qualifications/Requirements: U.S. Citizenship Must be able to obtain & maintain a Top-Secret Security clearance and be eligible for SCI & SAP access Master’s degree in engineering and 10+ years of experience in test Must be able to obtain & maintain an APDP Practitioner certification. Advanced knowledge of professional instructional systems design principles, techniques, practices, and procedures Expert professional knowledge of learning theory and psychology of learning including application of learning theories as it relates to systematic design, development, and validation of instructional programs Expert knowledge of advanced technical concepts, principles, and techniques across multiple interrelated and integrated technical and test engineering disciplines Expert knowledge, skill, and ability to conduct ground and flight instruction of technical theory, modeling and simulation, test planning, test conduct, coordination and supervision, data analysis and evaluation, technical reporting, and administrative aspects of test programs. This includes classroom lectures, simulator sessions, laboratory exercises, test briefings/debriefings, and airborne/live-fly instruction Air Force Civilian Service Employment Benefits: Paid Time Off: 11 Federal Holidays off per year Vacation time (Annual Leave) accumulates based on length of employment. Starts at 13 days (104 hours) per year and up to 26 days (208 hours) per year 13 sick days per year (104 hours) Retirement: Pension: Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) 401K: Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) available with up to 5% agency matching Health & Wellness: Various Medical, Dental & Vision packages to choose from for entire family Flexible Spending Account Federal Long Term Care Insurance, and Life & Disability Insurance Work/Life Balance: Family and Medical Leave Act Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Flexible Work Arrangements (dependent on position) Career Development: Tuition Assistance & Professional Development opportunities Career enhancement and promotion opportunities To learn more about our benefits, please check out the AFTC Benefits Trifold at https://simplebooklet.com/230809aftcbenefitstrifold_v5_. Federal Resume Tips: https://afciviliancareers.com/PDF/FederalResumeWriting.pdf https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/faq/application/documents/resume/what-to-include/ Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Classification & Qualifications for Federal Government Employees: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/ To receive additional information about current and future job openings with Air Force Civilian Service, please register at www.AFciviliancareers.com and click “Subscribe” in the top right corner. Please visit the Air Force Test Center job board to view other career opportunities: https://www.aftc.af.mil/About-Us/Jobs/ Equal Opportunity Employer. U.S. citizenship required. Must be of legal working age. Air Force Test Center is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer, and is dedicated to advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility. We recognize diversity encompasses many parts of one’s identity including but not limited to race, color, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), gender identity and expression, age, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, genetic information, disability status, and veteran status. AFTC encourages ALL candidates to apply as our employees’ points of view are key to our success.