Air Interdiction Agent

U.S. Customs and Border Protection; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

LEAP 25% pay

Job summary

U.S. Customs and Border Protection in Washington, DC, seeks experienced pilots for Air and Marine Operations.

This position requires commanding aircraft in all environments, conducting airborne law enforcement missions, and coordinating with ground assets to ensure mission success. Applicants must hold FAA Commercial or ATP with instrument rating, meet flight-hour minimums, and be prepared for a polygraph and extensive background investigation.

Qualifications

• Experience commanding aircraft as PIC or sole manipulator in diverse environments.
• Ability to evaluate information rapidly and make judicious decisions in flight.
• Coordinate aircraft and ground assets for law enforcement missions.
• Operate information systems for in-flight data and reporting.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and conduct airborne law enforcement operations.
• Utilize air intercept/sensor systems to support missions.
• Manage flight information and communicate with ground teams.
• Assist in mission planning and coordination with partners.

Skills

Pilot-in-Command

Flight hours

Decision making

Airborne coordination

Radar/sensor operations

Education

FAA Commercial/ATP Certification

Job description

Organizational Location:

This position is with the Department of Homeland Security, within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Air and Marine Operations.

This position is covered by Law Enforcement Availability Pay (LEAP). LEAP is an additional compensation of 25% of the base salary and locality pay. See additional pay information in the Duties section.

Experience:

• Flying as a Pilot-in-Command or sole manipulator of flight controls of an airplane and/or helicopter in all environments of flight, including night, poor weather, unfavorable terrain, low altitudes, or speed


• Evaluating information rapidly and make judicious decisions promptly during in-flight operations


• Developing strategies and coordinate aircraft and ground assets


• Using information systems and databases to conduct information surveys, queries, update files and disseminate information


• Utilizing air intercept/sea search radars, night-vision goggles, or other aircraft sensor systems in furtherance of law enforcement operations


• Coordinating and conducting airborne law enforcement operations

Experience may include:

• Operation of an aircraft as Captain


• Pilot in Command


• Aircraft Commander


• First Officer


• Certified Flight Instructor


• Second in Command


• Co-pilot


• Airborne Mission Commander


• Air to Air, Air to Ground, or Air to Surface aviation law enforcement mission coordinator

Hiring Minimums:

Pilot Enter on Duty minimums are 1500 flight hours; (up to 500 hours can be waived, reducing the pilot enter on duty minimums to 1000 hours; see Required Documents regarding the Flight Hour Waiver).

• 250 Pilot-in-Command hours


• 75 Instrument hours


• 75 Night hours (Flight Hour Waiver available for in service placements)


• 100 Flight hours in the last 12 months (This qualification requirement is currently being waived by OPM through July 22nd, 2027)

*No Military Flight Hour Conversion Allowed.

A current FAA Commercial or ATP Pilot Certification with the following ratings:

• Dual Rated: Airplane (Single-engine land or multi-engine land) with instrument rating AND Rotorcraft Helicopter with instrument rating; or


• Airplane Rated: Airplane (Single-engine land or multi-engine land) with instrument; or


• Helicopter Rated: Rotorcraft Helicopter with instrument rating; or


• Equivalent military rating of the above at the time of application (eligibility based on military flight experience must provide official orders, forms or logbooks showing their status as a rated military pilot)

FAA Class 2 medical required at time of 3-part assessment dated within last 12 calendar months. FAA Class 1, FAA Class 2 or Military dated within the last 12 months qualifies to start the pre-employment process for the AIA position.

Applicants applying at 750 flight hours are required to obtain at least 1,000 flight hours (depending on the number of hours approved for a waiver) at own expense before being able to attend the 3-part assessment. Applicant must still meet 250 Pilot-in-Command, 75 instrument, 75 night hours and 100 flight hours in the last 12 months (This qualification requirement is currently being waived by OPM through July 23, 2027).

Note: Air and Marine Operations (AMO) is currently prioritizing the placement of commercial rotary-wing certificate and best-qualified fixed-wing pilots.

UAS Flight Hours:

Applicants may include UAS Predator A (MQ-1), Predator B (MQ-9) flight hours or predator based variant flight hours. These hours may be credited towards satisfying the \"Total flight time\" 1,500 flight hour requirement only. UAS hours do not count towards the 250 flight hours as a Pilot in Command, 75 flight hours Instrument and 75 flight hours Night. Flight hour logbooks will be required at time of your Flight Assessment for verification.

NOTE: Your resume must explicitly indicate how you meet this requirement, otherwise you will be found ineligible. Please see the \"Required Documents\" section below for additional resume requirements.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

You must meet all qualification requirements, including education if applicable to this position, subject to verification at any stage of the application process by 10/31/2026

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.

Background Investigation:

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is a federal law enforcement agency that requires all applicants to undergo a thorough background investigation prior to employment in order to promote the agency's core values of vigilance, service to country, and integrity. During the screening and/or background investigation process, you will be asked questions regarding any felony criminal convictions or current felony charges, the use of illegal drugs (e.g., marijuana, cocaine, heroin, LSD, methamphetamines, ecstasy), and the use of non-prescribed controlled substances including any experimentation, possession, sale, receipt, manufacture, cultivation, production, transfer, shipping, trafficking, or distribution of controlled substances. For additional information on the preemployment process, review the following link: Applicant Resources | CBP Careers

Polygraph Examination:

The Air Interdiction Agent position is a polygraph-required position. If you are not a current CBP employee in a law enforcement position, you may be required to take a polygraph exam and have favorable results in order to continue in the pre-employment process. Please see Polygraph Examination.

Polygraph Reciprocity:

CBP may accept the results of a prior federal polygraph exam in lieu of a CBP polygraph exam. You will receive information to request reciprocity in your Background Investigation Package.

Polygraph Waiver:

Certain veterans may be eligible to obtain a polygraph waiver. You will receive information to request a waiver in your Background Investigation Package.

Residency:

There is a residency requirement for all applicants not currently employed by CBP. Individuals are required to have physically resided in the United States or its protectorates (as declared under international law) for at least three of the last five years. If you do not meet the residency requirement and you have been physically located in a foreign location for more than two of the last five years, you may request an exception to determine if you are eligible for a residency wavier by meeting one or more of the following conditions:

• Working for the U.S. Government as a federal civilian or as a member of the military


• A dependent who was authorized to accompany a federal civilian or member of the military who was working for the U.S. government


• Participation in a study abroad program sponsored by a U.S. affiliated college or university


• Working as a contractor, intern, consultant, or volunteer supporting the U.S. government

Probationary Period:

All employees new to the federal government must serve a one year probationary period during the first year of his/her initial permanent federal appointment to determine fitness for continued employment. Current and former federal employees may be required to serve or complete a probationary period.