About the Role:
The Air Force Test Center is looking for a Full-Time Senior Technical Director (NH-0801-04) to work at the 412 Test Wing, Test Wing Staff (412 TW/CT) at Edwards Air Force Base.
The primary purpose of this position is to support is to serve as the flight and ground test, logistics test, and technical support authority to the 412th Test Wing Commander and his staff. Serves as head civilian for approximately 5,500 strong workforce demonstrating knowledge in test and evaluation and base installation support. Advises Wing Commander on strategic planning and programs, financial management, and civilian workforce development. Develops and manages a core team of engineers to ensure future test capability infrastructure is ready for airpower domination.
The 412th Test Wing accomplishes flight and associated ground test programs on manned and unmanned aerospace vehicles, subsystems and components and aerodynamic decelerators; programs, develops, operates, and maintains engineering technical services and facilities to accomplish the test mission, and manages the USAF Test Pilot School and the Edwards Flight Test Range.
Announcement Length/Closes: 14 Mar 2026
Location: Edwards, CA (Edwards Air Force Base)
Typical 2026 salary range: $146,632 - $197,200 per year (includes Locality)
Travel Requirements: Up to 60 days
Areas of Consideration (AOC): Department – wide (DoD)
Desired Skills:
- Recognized technical authority in aerospace test, systems engineering, or related disciplines, with demonstrated experience providing independent expert advice that significantly influences enterprise-level strategy, policy, or acquisition decisions.
- Extensive experience integrating complex, high-risk technical programs across multiple organizations, exercising broad latitude in decision-making with minimal supervisory direction, and resolving issues with substantial operational and financial impact.
- Demonstrated ability to evaluate and manage enterprise-level technical, infrastructure, and modernization risks affecting multi-billion-dollar programs, test capabilities, or mission-critical assets.
- Proven success leading large-scale organizational transformation, modernization, or capability development initiatives within a complex federal, defense, or research environment, with measurable impact on mission performance and long-term strategic readiness.
Major Duties:
- Providing enterprise-level technical leadership and authoritative engineering oversight for complex aerospace, flight test, ground test, systems engineering, or research and development programs with significant operational and financial impact.
- Exercising independent technical judgment with broad latitude to influence strategic direction, acquisition planning, modernization initiatives, infrastructure investment, or long-range capability development within a large federal, defense, or research organization.
- Integrating and resolving highly complex, high-risk technical issues across multiple functional areas (e.g., engineering, acquisition, operations, logistics, contractor organizations), where decisions materially affect mission execution, cost, schedule, and performance.
- Leading senior technical personnel and/or multidisciplinary teams in the execution of large-scale programs, while providing expert consultation to executive leadership and external stakeholders.
Qualifications/Requirements:
-U.S. Citizenship
-Obtain & maintain Top Secret Security clearance
-This is a designated Drug Testing Position
-This position has been designated as a Non-Critical Acquisition Position and is covered by the Acquisition Professional Development Program (APDP). The selectee must meet or be capable of achieving the APDP certification as designated on the position description within the defined grace period for that certification level after assignment. This position also requires the employee to engage in acquisition continuous learning activities achieving 80 Continuous Learning points every 24 months.
-Must file an OGE-450, Confidential Financial Disclosure Report. Incumbent is required to attend annual ethics and procurement integrity training.
-Subject to TDY up to 60 days per year
-Expert knowledge of engineering and ability to apply engineering principles to synthesize solutions to unique problems.
-Expert knowledge in test and evaluation practices and procedures, including the use of test facilities across the Air Force and DoD.
-Expert knowledge of the DoD systems acquisition process, the DoD budgeting process, the DoD logistics process, and the DoD procurement process.
***Resumes limited to two pages. Federal agencies now only accept resumes up to two pages in length.*** Learn more about the new resume requirements at https://help.usajobs.gov/faq/application/documents/resume/page-limit.
Please send resumes to: Brittany Power, HRL, 412TW.WSA.HRLWorkflow@us.af.mil
ADHERENCE TO APPLICABLE HAF/AFMC/AFTC HIRING FREEZE IMPLEMENTATION GUIDANCE IS REQUIRED