Director, 715th Test Squadron, Hypersonic Systems Test

Air Force Test Center; Tullahoma (TN); Hybrid; USD 126,000 - 192,000; Full time

Job summary

Air Force Test Center at Arnold AFB, TN seeks a Supervisory General Engineer to direct the 715th Test Squadron, Hypersonic Systems Test, overseeing ground and flight test programs for hypersonics. The role leads a large team of government and contractor personnel, manages test planning and execution, and partners with AFRL and other agencies to advance hypersonic technology.

Salary for 2026 ranges from 125,776 to 192,331 with situational telework and up to 25% travel; recruitment/relocation

Qualifications

• ABET-accredited bachelor’s degree in aerospace, mechanical, or closely related field.
• Security clearance required.
• APDP certification or ability to obtain within grace period.
• Willingness to travel up to 25%.

Responsibilities

• Lead a 180-member government/contractor squad supporting hypersonic test and evaluation through development, ground and flight test, and analysis.
• Oversee test planning, execution, and reporting for facilities and test units.
• Coordinate with Participating Test Organizations (PTOs) and agencies to integrate hypersonic testing needs.
• Provide expert engineering guidance to management on objectives and programs.

Skills

Supervisory leadership

Leadership

Strategic engagement

Hypersonics knowledge

Education

ABET engineering degree

Job description

These listed job announcements are covered by Direct Hire Authorities (DHA), which are separate from the traditional recruitment job announcements found on USA Jobs.

Please contact AFTC Enterprise Recruitment at [e-mail].

NO 6-MONTH WAIT! Recently retired and/or retiring from MILITARY service ARE eligible for immediate appointment for AFTC positions. The 180-day waiting period has been waived for AFTC to hire recently retired and/or retiring service members.

The Air Force Test Center is looking for a Full-Time Supervisory General Engineer (NH-0801-04) to serve as the Director, 715th Test Squadron, Hypersonic Systems Test and work at the Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC) in the Air Force Test Center (AFTC), at the 804th Test Group at Arnold AFB in Tullahoma, TN.

The primary purpose of this position is to serve as the Director of the 715th Test Squadron, Hypersonic Systems Test, exercising second level supervisory and managerial authorities over the squadron. Responsible for performing professional engineering and management work in support of projects/programs pertaining to ground test & evaluation, flight test integration and test execution support, integrated developmental test for hypersonics, technology development and investment for hypersonic T&E.

Location: Tullahoma, TN Arnold Air Force Base

Typical 2026 salary range: $125,776 - $192,331 (includes locality)

Telework Information: Eligible for situational telework only, including Emergency and Office of Personnel Management (OPM) prescribed "Unscheduled Telework"

Travel Requirements: Up to 25% travel possible

Incentives:

• This position MAY be eligible for a recruitment/relocation incentive. Specifics will be discussed with the Selecting Official.
• This position MAY be eligible for paid relocation (Permanent Change of Station (PCS) costs MAY be paid). Specifics will be discussed with the Selecting Official.

Direct Hire Authority: NO 6-MONTH WAIT! Recently retired and/or retiring from MILITARY service ARE eligible for immediate appointment for AFTC positions. The 180-day waiting period has been waived for AFTC to hire recently retired and/or retiring service members.

Desired Skills:

• 3+ (three plus) years of supervisory / leadership experience highly desired.
• Experience in leading combined Government and Contractor teams desired.
• Ability to actively engage with strategic leaders and key members of the hypersonic stakeholder community desired.

Major Duties:

• Leads180-membergovernment/contractorSquadronsupporting hypersonic test and evaluation through technology development, investment, ground and flight test, and analysis, supporting all customers within the Department of Defense.
• Oversees test planning, execution, and reporting activities for the Aerodynamic and Propulsion Test Unit (APTU), High-Temperature Arc Heater Facilities (H1, H2, H3) and the stand up of the J-5 Phoenix and DragonFire test facilities at Arnold AFB, TN.
• Leads the Integrated Development Test team at Eglin AFB, FL Operating Location component as a Geographically Separated Unit, supporting the T&E of hypersonic systems across all phases of test from early component and subsystem ground test to aircraft integration and flight test for hypersonic system and aerospace vehicle development.
• Oversees test planning, execution, and reporting activities as the Lead Developmental Test Organization (LDTO) and Executing Test Organization (ETO) for ground and flight testing of hypersonic systems by partnering with Participating Test Organizations (PTOs) across the Air Force Test Center (AFTC), Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), the Major Range and Test Facility Base (MRTFB), Industry and Academia.
• Facilitates integration of the Test Resource Management Center’s (TRMC) CTEIP Hypersonics Portfolio (HyTIP) and High-Speed Systems Test (HSST) technology development portfolio into current and future hypersonic testing needs for rapid acquisitions, technology demonstrators, and science & technology advancement.
• Plans, organizes, and oversees all strategic activities of the unit while also developing goals and objectives that integrate organization and engineering objectives.
• Establishes, revises, or reviews policies, procedures, and mission objectives, as necessary to eliminate work problems or barriers to mission accomplishment, promote team building, implement quality improvements, or in response to concerns with regulatory compliance and/or customer requirements.
• Serves as a consultant and expert in engineering work involved in the application of advanced theories, concepts, and principles related to development or sustainment of hypersonic systems. Provides authoritative technical advice to the higher levels of management on matters of exceptional importance in the continuation or abandoning of objectives, goals, and programs.
• Represents the organization with a variety of installation and functional area organizations. Serves on special agency and inter-agency committees, coordinating groups, etc., where decisions, commitments, and conclusions have considerable impact on the long‑range planning and establishment of future hypersonic projects/programs.

Qualifications/Requirements:

• Obtain & maintain appropriate Security clearance.
• This is a designated Drug Testing Position.
• Work may occasionally require travel away from the normal duty station on military or commercial aircraft.
• The work may require the employee to drive a motor vehicle. An appropriate valid driver’s license may be required for the position.
• A professional engineering degree at the bachelor’s level from an ABET accredited institution (preferably in Aerospace, Aeronautical, or Mechanical Engineering or a closely related field).
• This position has been designated as a Non-Critical Acquisition Position. Category- Test and Evaluation Level 3-Senior Level and is covered by the Acquisition Professional Development Program (APDP). The employee must meet or be capable of achieving the APDP certification 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.
• Employee must within 30‐days of assuming this position and annually thereafter, file an OGE‐450, "Confidential Financial Disclosure Report."
• Employee is required to attend annual ethics and procurement integrity training.
• Knowledge of professional aerospace engineering concepts, principles, practices, standards, methods, techniques, materials, and equipment to effectively apply advanced engineering theories, principles, and concepts to project development, execution, and advisory services.
• Knowledge of development testing and evaluation sufficient to apply experimental theories and new applications to issues and provide technical advice and direction in support of weapon systems, subsystems, and/or support equipment.
• Knowledge of integrated air‑vehicles, ground systems, and support equipment sufficient to plan, design, test, troubleshoot, evaluate, and oversee the development and/or sustainment of aerospace vehicles, systems, equipment, and components.

PROBATIONARY PERIOD STATEMENT: (Required) – For All Positions

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.

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:

Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Classification & Qualifications for Federal Government Employees: