General Engineer - Senior Quality Engineer

Air Force Civilian Service; Layton (UT); On-site; USD 107,000 - 124,000; Full time

Job summary

Air Force Civilian Service seeks a Senior General Engineer to lead quality assurance for the Minuteman III program at Hill Air Force Base. You will direct QA activities, ensure compliance with DoD and AF standards, and manage a multidisciplinary team of engineers and logisticians.

Ideal candidates bring 10–15 years in defense QA, experience with strategic missile systems, and the ability to coordinate with senior leaders and prime contractors to deliver high-quality results.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering from ABET-accredited program required.
• Advanced degree (MS/PhD) preferred for senior QA leadership.
• Experience with DoD/National security programs and weapon systems.
• Strong QA engineering background across design, manufacturing, and integration.
• Ability to lead and mentor a diverse engineering team.

Responsibilities

• Serve as division-level technical authority on DoD/AF quality policies and standards.
• Direct QA activities across milestones like PDR/CDR/TRR/PRR and audits.
• Apply SPC to monitor contractor process capability and tooling maturity.
• Ensure supplier quality flow-down to subcontractors and vendors.
• Assess technology insertion risks and coordinate with senior leadership.

Skills

Quality Assurance

Systems Engineering

Leadership

Mentorship

Strategic Coordination

Team Leadership

Acquisition Knowledge

Military/Defense Experience

Education

ABET-accredited Engineering degree

Advanced engineering degree preferred

Tools

ISO 9001

AS9100

MIL-HDBK-896

Job description

Come be a part of something big! Smart Minds, Cool Jobs, and Awesome Rewards! Fueled by innovation, talent, and ambition, the Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center (AFNWC) is seeking civilian professionals prepared to deploy war-winning capabilities on behalf of the United States Air Force.
OPENS: 3 AUGUST 2026 CLOSES: 17 AUGUST 2026
Air Force Civilian Service is seeking one full-time General Engineer to work in the Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center, Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) Systems Directorate, Minuteman III Division at Hill Air Force Base, Utah.
This position (206019) is an NH-0801-04. The basic salary range for this position is $107,446 - $124,445 based on the Value of Position, which does not include locality pay.

• Value of Position: If your current basic salary is within the band, but above the stated Value of Position, your basic salary will not be reduced if you are selected for the position.
• IMPORTANT**
• AFNWC requires the 2-page resume format for our job announcements. Please access this link to learn more about what to include in your resume: https://help.usajobs.gov/faq/application/documents/resume/what-to-include
• If you submit a resume that is more than 2 pages, you may receive an error message. Please submit no more than a 2-page resume to be considered.
• Provide all academic degrees, professional military education and any other professional certifications on your 2-page resume.
• Recruitment and/or relocation bonuses might be offered upon review of qualifications, and other significant factors.
• Candidates may be asked to provide three professional references upon request.
  

This position serves as a Senior Quality Engineer and also the Quality Assurance subject matter expert for the Minuteman III (MMIII) weapon system. The incumbent will serve as the recognized technical authority for system quality assurance, directing complex technical activities, and leading a diverse team of engineers and logistics professionals. This role ensures the MMIII system and associated subsystems/components are designed, tested, and fielded with acceptable product quality, in accordance with applicable Department of War and Air Force standards, and meet weapon system performance requirements.
RANGE OF DUTIES:

• Technical Quality Authority and Quality Management System Compliance: Serves as the division-level technical authority on Department of Defense and Air Force quality policies, industrial quality standards, and advanced manufacturing practices.
• Acquisition Quality Planning & Milestone Support: Directs the development of quality-related requirements, criteria, and metrics for inclusion in key acquisition documents, including Statements of Work, Statements of Objectives, and Requests for Proposal. Provides authoritative Quality Assurance (QA) engineering support during program milestone activities (e.g., Standards and Readiness Review, Preliminary Design Review (PDR), Critical Design Review (CDR), Test Readiness Review (TRR), Production Readiness Review (PRR), and Functional/Physical Configuration Audits).
• Process Control, Variability Reduction, & Key Characteristics: Applies advanced Statistical Process Control techniques to monitor, analyze, and evaluate contractor manufacturing capability, process stability, and tooling maturity.
• Supplier Quality Flow Down & Audits: Ensures rigorous Supplier Quality Flow Down to guarantee that prime contractors flow all relevant technical, safety, and quality requirements down to subcontractors and lower-tier material suppliers.
• Technology Insertion & Schedule Risk Assessment: Assesses the technical feasibility, engineering risks, and quality implications of technology transfer and technology insertion opportunities into existing and future MMIII programs.
• Stakeholder Integration: Interfaces directly with senior leadership, Integrated Product Team partners, Global Strike, U.S. Strategic Command, and prime contractors to ensure the highest likelihood of delivering quality product to the warfighter.
• DESIRED SKILLS:
• At least 10-15 years of relevant technical experience is highly desired to perform this critical quality assurance role. Specialized experience at the NH-04 or equivalent level is also highly preferred.
• Experience with quality assurance engineering that includes evaluating design and manufacturing quality elements for a large complex high-dollar program. Depth of experience in integrating systems engineering efforts from multiple teams and disciplines within an enterprise.
• Experience in defense weapon systems and nuclear weapon system development, especially experience related to strategic missile systems.
• Ideal candidates will possess a combination of the following knowledge, skills, and abilities, which are critical differentiators for success in this role: Ability: Inherent capacity to lead, influence, and manage in a complex environment, including:
• Mentorship & Influence: The ability to provide technical oversight, mentorship, and operational control to a diverse team of engineers across various grades and disciplines.
• Strategic Coordination: Ability to proactively anticipate integration challenges and coordinate effectively with key personnel across a complex and highly integrated Weapon System.
• Advising Leadership: The ability to serve as a trusted technical advisor, translating complex engineering issues into actionable information for senior materiel leader-level management. Skill: Demonstrated technical leadership and program execution skills, including:
• Technical Milestone Management: Proven skill in leading system safety through major program milestones, specifically PDR, CDR, TRR, and PRR.
• Systems Integration: Advanced skill in managing and executing quality assurance with numerous internal and external interfaces, multiple contractor deliverables, and Government Furnished Property.
• Team Leadership: Experience leading a technical team at the NH-04 level is preferred.
• Knowledge: Expert understanding of complex technical and acquisitions domains, including:
• Technical System Domains: Subject matter expertise in conducting quality assurance across a family of Acquisition Category I, II, and III programs.
• Certification Processes: Comprehensive knowledge of quality assurance’s role in ensuring requirements rigor associated with extensive knowledge in ISO 9001, AS9100, and MIL-HDBK-896 policies.
• Acquisition Program Execution: Familiarity with complex weapon system sustainment activities to include mitigating obsolescence risk, assessing suitable substitute parts to replace legacy components, modifications, and upgrades.
• U.S. CITIZENSHIP
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) security clearance and required to handle and safeguard sensitive and/or classified information in accordance with regulations to reduce potential compromise.
• To qualify as an Engineer, employee must meet the education and specialized experience requirements described in the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards, Group Coverage Qualification Standard for Professional and Scientific Positions: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0800/files/all-professional-engineering-positions-0800.pdf
• A professional engineering degree at the Bachelor’s level from an ABET accredited institution is required; an advanced engineering degree, such as a Master’s or a PhD is preferred.
• This position is designated as a drug testing position. The incumbent is subjected to pre-employment drug testing as a condition of employment, and participation in random drug testing thereafter.
• Employee must meet Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) requirements, which includes achieving Engineering and Technical Management “Practitioner” certification category within required timeframe after appointment.
• In accordance with the Ethics in Government Act, 1978, employee may be required to file an OGE Form 450, Confidential Financial Disclosure Report, upon appointment and will be required to file annually.
• Work may occasionally require travel away from the normal duty station on military or commercial aircraft.