About the Role:
The Air Force Test Center is looking for a Full-Time General Engineer (NH-0801-03) to work at the 412 Test Wing, 412 Operations Group, 420 Flight Test Squadron, (420 FLTS/DOOE) at Edward Air Force Base.
Position provides technical and professional engineering expertise for the planning, provisioning, conduct, evaluation, and reporting of open air, installed vehicle, system integration laboratory, and hardware-in-the-loop tests of air vehicles. The incumbent provides overall test planning expertise for assigned projects. The incumbent provides technical expertise in test integration and test mission planning.
Announcement Closes: 13 Aug 2026.
Location: Edwards, CA (Edwards Air Force Base)
Typical 2026 salary range: $104,349 - $161,313 per year (includes Locality)
Travel Requirements: 30 Days Per Year
Areas of Consideration (AOC): Department – wide (DoD)
Incentives:
This position MAY be eligible for a recruitment/relocation incentive.
Specifics will be discussed with the Selecting Official.
Desired Skills:
- 3+ years experience of active flight test experience - We are executing the B-21 flight test program, from envelope expansion to mission systems, with every flight a first-of-its-kind event. As the world's first 6th generation aircraft, it features highly integrated and interdependent systems. These factors demand flight test professionals who can make high-stakes, real-time decisions, and expertly balance aggressive technical test requirements with uncompromising flight and system safety. Previous Test Conductor and Test Director experience and/or qualifications are highly desired.
- 2+ years experience in a lead/principal engineer role - You won't just be analyzing data; you will be defending our test philosophy to senior military leadership and dignitaries. You must be able to distill complex, highly classified flight test results into clear, communicable, and actionable insights.
- 2+ years experience in Systems Engineering - You must speak multiple engineering "languages." We need a leader who can quickly synthesize input from flight controls, mission systems, modeling & simulation, and contractor teams to make definitive, program-level decisions.
Major Duties:
1. Spearhead Next-Gen Flight Testing: Serve as a core Combined Test Force (CTF) participant for the B-21 Raider, directly shaping Test Plans, and critical test cards for a historic acquisition program.
2. Execute as Test Conductor and/or Test Director: Take the B-21 to the skies to execute highly complex, first-of-their-kind flight test profiles, leading 50 person control rooms through disciplined safe, secure, effective, and efficient flight test.
3. Define B-21 Test Philosophy & Policy: Formulate and direct the overarching test strategies for the 420th FLTS. You will ensure absolute technical validity, safety, and efficiency in the evaluation of cutting-edge weapon systems and subsystems.
4. Lead Multi-Disciplined Engineering Teams: Drive elite team building and technical leadership, synchronizing experts across avionics, flight dynamics, flight controls, and modeling & simulation to deliver a fully integrated evaluation of the B-21.
5. Master System Safety & Risk Management: Make high-stakes, real-time trade-off decisions between technical requirements and test safety. You will lead system safety documentation and reviews to protect critical national assets and personnel.
6. Command Technical Direction & Liaison: Act as the primary technical linchpin between Squadron supervision, 412th Test Wing technical advisors, and the Program Office. You will proactively monitor CTF tests and immediately address complex challenges with contractors to keep the program on its budget and technical baselines.
7. Shape Future Capabilities & Acquisitions: Provide integrated, expert-level engineering support for critical source selections, requests for proposal (RFPs), and major design reviews that will dictate the future capabilities of the B-21 platform.
8. Deliver High-Visibility Briefings: Exercise sound engineering judgment to synthesize complex flight test results into authoritative program summaries. You will author reporting standards and deliver high-impact briefings to local commanders, higher-headquarters officials, and domestic dignitaries.
Qualifications/Requirements:
- U.S. Citizenship
- Depending on the type of position (competitive/excepted) you are selected for, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period OR 2-year trial period
- Upon completion of your probationary/trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest
- Obtain & maintain Security clearance (if applicable)
- This position requires Secret or Top Secret or SCI security clearances as well as possible clearances with special access programs.
- This position may require some flying on/in government and military aircraft.
- Physical Exam Required when duties require flying: Member must obtain and maintain a valid FAA Second Class Medical Certificate and abide by the rules and regulations documented in the FAR/AIM associated with the medical certificate or obtain and maintain a certified AF Flying Class III IAW DAFMAN 48-123, Section 1.2.6. and the Medical Standards Directory (MSD). Comply with AFI 48-123 and MSD for continued flying class III qualifications and requirements to see flight surgeon for DNIF/RTFS determination.
- This is a designated Drug Testing Position
- Knowledge of advanced concepts, principles, and techniques across multiple inter-related and integrated technical and test engineering disciplines.
- Knowledge of combat aircraft avionics, armament, radar, sensor, survivability, or electronic warfare systems or related systems and subsystems.
- Knowledge of flight and laboratory air vehicles/missile test conduct, coordination, and supervision, data analysis/evaluation and applicable flight test truth sources, modeling/simulation, technical report preparation, and administrative aspects of flight test programs.
***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/what-to-include
Please send resumes to:
POC Names & Emails: Heather Snodgrass, heather.snodgrass@us.af.mil and Nicole Tirado, nicole.tirado@us.af.mil
ADHERENCE TO APPLICABLE HAF/AFMC/AFTC STRATEGIC HIRING GUIDANCE IS REQUIRED