Air Traffic Control Specialist

Federal Aviation Administration (DOT); Elgin (IL); On-site; USD 170,000 - 226,000; Full time

Job summary

Federal Aviation Administration in Elgin, IL seeks a Certified Professional Controller (ATC-12) for the TRACON facility. You will manage radar traffic, vector aircraft, and provide pilots with clearances, weather, and field condition advisories.

Position requires prior facility rating or area certification, full-time schedule, and a comprehensive US government benefits package. Relocation may be provided; travel may be up to 25% as needed.

Qualifications

• Must have been facility rated or area certified in an ATO terminal/en route facility.

Responsibilities

• Provide radar control for arriving/departing aircraft and for transiting airspace.
• Apply radar separation standards and vectoring procedures.
• Operate and troubleshoot radar/communication equipment; issue clearances and advisories to pilots.

Skills

Radar control

ATC procedures

Pilot communications

Education

Facility rating / area certification

Tools

Radar equipment

Job description

Summary Serves as a Certified Professional Controller (CPC) in an ATC-12 level Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) facility, responsible for the safe, orderly, and expeditious flow of air traffic.

Overview

• Open & closing dates: 09/30/2025 to 09/29/2026
• Salary: $170,395 to – $225,700 per year (includes locality pay adjustment of 30.86%)
• Pay scale & grade: AT LH
• Location: 16 vacancies in Elgin, IL
• Telework eligible: No
• Travel required: 25% or less – may require up to 25% travel
• Relocation expenses reimbursed: Yes – fixed relocation payment of $27,000 (subject to taxes)
• Appointment type: Permanent
• Work schedule: Full-time
• Service: Excepted, Promotion potential: NA, Job family (Series): 2152 Air Traffic Control
• Supervisory status: No
• Security clearance: Other
• Drug test: Yes
• Bargaining unit status: Yes – represented by NATCA: Air Traffic – Center & Terminal
• Announcement number: AGL-AT-25-0162-96307
• Control number: 846824100

Open to

Internal to an agency: Current federal employees of the hiring agency that posted the job announcement.

Clarification from the agency: ATO-Wide – Open to current permanent FAA employees assigned to the ATO and AMA-500 Lines of Business.

Duties

Provides radar control to aircraft arriving or departing the primary airport and adjacent airports, and to aircraft transiting the facility’s airspace. Operates radar and communication equipment to apply radar separation standards and vectoring procedures. Detects and adjusts malfunctions and interferences in the equipment. Issues speed, altitude, and directional instructions to pilots to keep aircraft properly separated. Provides air traffic advisory services to pilots including clearances to operate aircraft, weather and field conditions, and safety and traffic alerts.

Provides training to developmental air traffic controllers and other employees in the facility. Performs the technical functions associated with training, briefings, quality assurance, and the technical functions of staff support specialists.

Provides watch supervision for the continuous operation of a facility or area where a supervisor is not available.

Works under direct supervision at the outset of each new assignment. When certified on the required position(s) of operation, the CPC independently performs the described duties under general supervision.

Conditions of employment

• US Citizenship is required.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must submit an SF50 (See Required Documents).
• Designated or Random Drug Testing required.
• Current medical is required.

Qualifications

Specialized Experience: Must have been facility rated or area certified in an ATO terminal/en route facility.

Qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

Additional information

We may use this vacancy to fill other similar vacant positions.

Position may be subject to a background investigation.

A one‑year probationary period may be required.

The person selected for this position may be required to file a financial disclosure statement within 30 days of entry on duty. FAA policy limits certain outside employment and financial investments in aviation‑related companies. www.faa.gov/jobs/workinghere/financial-disclosure-requirements

This position is covered by the Department of Transportation’s Drug and Alcohol Testing Program. Any applicant tentatively selected for this position will be subject to pre‑employment or pre‑appointment drug screening. Persons occupying a “testing designated position (TDP)” will be subject to random drug and/or alcohol testing.

Benefits

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Learn more about federal benefits.

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full‑time, part‑time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

All qualified applicants will be considered regardless of political affiliation, race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, age, disability, or other non‑merit factors. DOT provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the agency contact listed in the Agency Contact Information section of this announcement or the hiring manager. An employee with a disability must notify the decision‑maker of the accommodation request. Job applicants and employees are required to follow up oral requests in writing. Decisions on granting reasonable accommodation will be made on a case‑by‑case basis. Additional information on reasonable accommodations procedures or on EEO Programs is available on Office of Civil Rights (ACR) or by contacting the local FAA Civil Rights Office.

Required documents

• FAA‑3330‑43‑1 : Rating of Air Traffic Experience For AT Movement

All supplemental documents (FAA Form 3330-43-1, SF‑50) must be uploaded by the closing date of the announcement in order to receive consideration. Applicants will be considered ineligible if the form and SF‑50 are not received by the closing date of this announcement.

If you are an FAA employee, you must provide a copy of your SF‑50 (Notification of Personnel Action) containing information in Blocks 15, 17, 18, 19, 22, and 24 so it can be used to verify your position title, series, grade, tenure, and organization of record by the closing date of the announcement. You may fax your SF‑50 or upload it into the online application. If faxing the SF‑50, please ensure you include the vacancy announcement number on the faxed copy.

If you are an FAA employee, you can access and print your SF‑50 from the eOPF system https://eopf.opm.gov/dot/.

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

Agency contact information

Eve Kuo

Phone: [phone]

Fax: [phone]

Email: [e-mail]

Federal Aviation Administration

AGL Regional HR Services Branch

2300 E. Devon Ave., Room 250

AHF‑N310

Des Plaines, IL 60018

US

Next steps

Once we receive your complete application, the Human Resources Office will conduct an evaluation of your qualifications. Eligible and qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager for consideration. You will be contacted directly if selected for an interview.

For instructions on how to check the status of your application, please go to: USAJOBS Help Guide.

Important – If you make any changes to your application, you must resubmit it. If you make changes to your application and do not resubmit it, your changes will not be considered part of your application package, and only your previously submitted application will be evaluated.

Fair and transparent

The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.

Criminal history inquiries

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy

Financial suitability New employee probationary period

Privacy Act Reasonable accommodation policy

Selective Service Signature and false statements

Social security number request