Job Overview

This job announcement will be accepting candidate submissions through 15 Nov 24. Position is open to current AFRL Civilian DR-03s only.

The AFRL Materials and Manufacturing Directorate seeks to hire a motivated and experienced DR-03 Scientist or Engineer to serve as a Section Chief for the Materials Development Section in the Polymers & Specialty Materials Branch of the Photonics, Electronics & Soft Matter Material Division. This position will be filled at the DR-03 (GS-14 equivalent) level and is located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, OH.

Position duties include, but are not limited to:

• Through close collaboration with the Polymers & Responsive Materials Research Lead, it promotes and enables complex professional engineering and scientific work in polymers & specialty materials, including high-impact research & development, technical publications and patents, and innovative intellectual property.
• Directs, coordinates and oversees the work of subordinate employees
• Mentors employees, provides employee performance/contribution assessments, and appropriately recognizes employee achievements through formal and informal means.
• Advises and provides counsel to employees regarding policies, procedures, and directives of senior management
• Resolves multifaceted problems spanning multiple disciplines
• Leads R&D, engineering, program management, and/or other professional and scientific efforts to ensure quality and relevant technical oversight and individual/team contributions
• Develops & manages complex contracted research & development efforts related to polymers and specialty materials, including providing strategic and tactical oversight of Section contracting and finance actions
• Determines investment strategy based on branch competencies & capability requirements and executes contracted research and development (R&D) through varied contracts and agreements
• Applies expert knowledge and advanced scientific and/or engineering theories, principles, concepts, standards, and methods to ensure assigned projects/processes remain consistent with program objectives, costs, schedules, performance criteria, and existing policies
• Cultivates and sustains a professional atmosphere of high-impact contributions, cooperation, cohesion, and teamwork.

Telework

Yes, this position is eligible for telework opportunities; as determined by agency policy

Remote Work (CONUS)

No, this position is not approved for remote work.

Required Qualifications

• U.S. citizenship
• Current AFRL Civilian DR-03 employee
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Top Secret security clearance
• Initial and random drug testing is a condition of employment for this position.
• Possess a professional science or engineering (S&E) degree, in a relevant technical field, from an accredited (or ABET accredited for engineering) academic institution.
• This is an Acquisition Professional Development Program (APDP) position requiring Level 2 certification (Practitioner) in Engineering & Technical Management. Applicants must list all completed APDP certifications on their resume.
• Selectee will have 60 months to meet the APDP certification requirements of the position.

Desired Qualifications

• M.S. or Ph.D. in engineering or physical sciences
• Experience supervising or mentoring researchers and program managers
• Broad technical experience in polymers & specialty materials, especially expertise related to soft materials for electronics & sensing as well as resilient polymeric materials and responsive polymer systems
• Demonstrated leadership of research and development related to polymers & specialty materials, including developing research plans and roadmaps, analyzing data, reporting results, and promoting technology transition
• Excellent communication skills, including experience writing proposals and publications/reports as well as giving high-level presentations
• Experience with organizational relationship building, including a demonstrated ability to build and maintain professional networks across and outside AFRL
• Experience initiating and managing diverse and complex contract vehicles, including monitoring financial and scheduled performance

NOTE: Must use MM/DD/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. The Requisition Number for this announcement is 33778.

• 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 No. 33778)

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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.