Job Overview

This job announcement will be accepting candidate submissions until 1600 EST on 20 Feb 2025. The position is open to all US citizens.

The Department of the Air Force has the most advanced and sophisticated communication, sensing, and weapon systems in the world, and we need your help to keep it that way. Join our team and help ensure we continue to field cutting-edge technology to maintain our nation’s security.
Seeking a motivated engineer or scientist to identify cheaper, faster, and better ways to manufacture components, devices, and systems and partner with industry to make these new techniques reality. You would be trusted and empowered to identify and execute projects offering the best return on investment for Department of the Air Force communication systems and data links supporting networked communication, command and control. Your focus will include fourth and fifth generation weapon systems to include exquisite and/or attrition-tolerant platforms, affording you the opportunity to learn and contribute to the latest and greatest technological advancements. In this role, you would help bring technologies across the “valley of death” to full-rate production for our most critical mission systems through strategic partnerships across government and industry.

Serves in the Functional Systems Manufacturing Branch within the Manufacturing, Industrial Technologies and Energy Division. Duties include, but not limited to:
• Identifies, develops, and executes projects and multi-year roadmaps to mature and advance manufacture technologies and processes that will reduce the acquisition and supportability costs of weapon systems.
• Identifies and addresses manufacturing process improvements at the substrate, device, subcomponent, subsystem and/or system levels.
• Coordinates within/across Department of the Air Force and other Services/Agencies to identify and understand highest priority customer requirements and overall Department of Defense modernization priorities.
• Establishes and maintains cooperative efforts across AFRL, Air Force Lifecycle Management Center (AFLCMC), and other Services/Agencies to optimize manufacturability efforts.
• Serves on Service and/or Interagency teams to advance programs and build partnerships.
• Continues to strengthen technical knowledge to assist with identifying and solving the Department’s most critical barriers to enable advancements in Department of Air Force systems.
• Creates and fosters government/industry/academic partnerships to help advance manufacturing needs, includes staying up to date on the latest technologies through workshops, conferences, and site visits.

Eligible for a Referral Bonus?

Yes

Required Qualifications

• US Citizenship.
• Possess a professional science or engineering (S&E) degree, in a relevant technical field, from an accredited (or ABET accredited for engineering) academic institution.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a secret security clearance.
• Applicants must have at least one (1) year of specialized experience at the next lower grade or equivalent in other pay systems.
  Specialized experience is experience that equips the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the duties of the position successfully, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization.

Desired Qualifications

• Self-starter who thrives in a challenging but rewarding environment.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Advanced technical degree in electrical engineering, physics, or related field.
• Understanding, familiarity, and experience with the challenges and opportunities in manufacturing electronics for defense applications, including but not limited to, manufacturing processes at the substrate, device, and subcomponent levels.
• Understanding, familiarity, and/or experience with current state-of-art and challenges with manufacturing communication systems for exquisite and/or attrition-tolerant platforms.
• Experience managing or working on government contracts.
• Experience building and executing technical and/or manufacturing roadmaps.

Additional Information

This position will be filled at the DR-02 (GS-12/13 equivalent) or DR-03 (GS-14 equivalent) level and is located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, OH. This position may be filled as a 5-year Flexible Length Renewable Technical Term Appointment (new government hires, current government term employees, etc.) with the option to later extend or convert to a permanent appointment.

NOTE: Must use DD MMM YYYY date format for experience entries on resume.

For resume writing tips, facts about the federal hiring process and additional resources, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/faq/application/documents/resume/what-to-include/

When uploading documents, please utilize the naming convention listed below:

Resume: Req No_Last Name_First Name_Resume
Transcript: Req No_Last Name_First Name_Transcript
Latest SF50: Req No_Last Name_First Name_SF50
Acceptable file types: .docx, .pdf

Requisition Number: 43530

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Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) employs approximately 11,500 military, civilian and contractor personnel, and manages a $7 billion portfolio of investments. The lab supports external customers and partners with industry while investing in basic research, applied research and advanced technology development. As one integrated lab, AFRL seamlessly supports the Science & Technology needs of two services: the Air Force and the Space Force.