Interdisciplinary (NH-0801/0861-03) AEDC/PMD

Air Force Test Center; Tullahoma (TN); On-site; USD 90,000 - 138,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Recruitment incentive

Relocation incentive

Student Loan Repayment (SLR) incentive

Job summary

Air Force Test Center is seeking full-time Interdisciplinary Engineers (Aerospace/Mechanical/Electrical/Materials) at Arnold Air Force Base, TN. Positions are NH-0801/0861-03 Broadband Level III, GS-12/13 equivalent, with typical 2026 salary range $89,508–$138,370 per year and travel up to 25%.

Selected engineers may transition to the 715th Test Squadron after facility readiness. Recruitment/relocation incentives and student loan repayment may be offered.

Qualifications

• Must possess a Bachelor of Science in Engineering (ABET) or equivalent.
• Strong knowledge of real-time telemetry and data-processing systems.
• Experience applying engineering principles to test and evaluation environments.
• Ability to obtain and maintain security clearance (Top Secret eligibility).
• DAWIA/ETM or T&E certification is desirable or required within grace periods.

Responsibilities

• Deliver technical oversight and system integration across major ground test facilities within AEDC/PMD.
• Direct engineering reviews of facility design, construction, and test readiness for NHTF arc heater and J-5 facilities.
• Develop TEMP, hazard analyses, and determine operational limits for facilities.
• Establish initial operational engineering cadre and controls prior to 715 TS transition.
• Oversee integration of facility utilities, HV DC power, cooling loops, gas storage, vacuum chambers, and high-enthalpy heaters.
• Analyze real-time measurement data to validate test conditions against specs.
• Lead root-cause analyses and implement corrective actions for failures during tests.
• Prepare engineering evaluation reports and brief DoD sponsors.
• Collaborate with military, civilian scientists, contractors, and customers on diagnostics and instrumentation.

Skills

Clearance readiness

Telemetry systems

Data acquisition

Engineering leadership

Written/verbal communication

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Job description

The Air Force Test Center is looking for full-time Interdisciplinary Engineers (Aerospace / Mechanical / Electrical / Materials), Pay Band and Series NH-0801 /0861 -03 (Broadband Level III, GS-12/13 Equivalent), to work within the Arnold Engineering Development Complex (AEDC) / Program Management Division (AEDC/PMD) at Arnold Air Force Base, TN. (Note: Select engineering positions will transition to the 715th Test Squadron [715 TS] upon facility operational readiness).

Announcement Closes: 11/03/2026

Location: Arnold AFB, TN

Typical 2026 salary range: $89,508 - $138,370 per year (includes locality)
“If your current basic salary is within the band, but above the stated VOP, your basic salary will not be reduced if you are selected for the position.”

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.

This position MAY be eligible for a Student Loan Repayment (SLR) incentive. Specifics will be discussed with the Selecting Official.

Must have requirements or may not be considered:

• Ability to obtain and maintain the required security clearance; the PRD identifies the position as requiring Top Secret eligibility/access.
• Knowledge of real-time and post-flight telemetry mission-room systems, associated software, and their application to weapon-system test and evaluation.
• Experience applying computer engineering or computer science principles, procedures, requirements, and mission-support systems, particularly real-time data-processing systems.
• Knowledge of telemetry systems, real-time data acquisition, advanced computer hardware/software, and aircraft or weapon-system test environments.
• Knowledge of test-range instrumentation and sensors, including their use in data collection and processing.
• Ability to gather customer requirements, assess feasible technical approaches, and develop telemetry attributes or data-processing solutions that meet mission needs and schedules.
• Ability to analyze complex technical problems; conduct research; develop solutions; and summarize findings and recommendations.
• Ability to communicate technical issues, results, requirements, project status, and resource considerations clearly in writing and verbally.
• Ability to lead technical efforts and mentor junior engineers and scientists in telemetry operations, signal processing, data acquisition, data reduction, display, and troubleshooting.
• Willingness to travel occasionally and work overtime as mission requirements dictate.

Desired Skills:

• NHTF Focus: 2+ years of engineering experience in arc heater systems, plasma physics, aerothermal heating environments, high-temperature gas dynamics, or thermal protection system (TPS)/hypersonic materials test characterization.
• J-5 Program Focus: 2+ years of engineering experience in large-scale hypersonics ground test operations, high-mach flow facility systems, high-enthalpy aerodynamic simulation, air-breathing hypersonic propulsion integration, or high-pressure gas heater systems.
• AEDC/PMD to 715 TS Transition Focus: Engineering experience in facility activation, system commissioning, construction engineering verification, or developing technical Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to transition major ground test facilities into operational testing.
• Long Range Kill Chain (LRKC) Focus: 2+ years of engineering experience in precision strike weapon aerodynamics, radio frequency (RF)/sensor telemetry integration, wind tunnel aerodynamics, or integrated hardware-in-the-loop test networks.

Major Duties:

• Serves as a facility and test engineer within the Program Management Division (AEDC/PMD), delivering technical oversight, engineering evaluations, and systems integration across major ground test facility investments.
• Directs engineering reviews of facility design, final construction, hardware installation verification, and technical checkouts for the NHTF arc heater and J-5 large-scale hypersonic test facilities.
• Apply advanced engineering principles to formulate comprehensive Test and Evaluation Master Plans (TEMP), engineering hazard analyses, and facility operational limits.
• Engineers technical operating checklists, fail-safe interlocking sequences, and emergency shutdown logic to establish the initial operational engineering cadre prior to transition into the 715th Test Squadron (715 TS).
• Oversees the engineering integration of critical facility utility systems, including multi-megawatt high-voltage direct current (DC) power supplies, deionized arc heater cooling water loops, high-pressure gas storage, vacuum chambers, and high-enthalpy airflow heaters.
• Analyzes real-time engineering measurement data—including heat flux sensors, optical pyrometers, calorimeter instrumentation, high-frequency pressure transducers, and aerodynamic load balances—to validate test conditions against customer specifications.
• Leads root-cause failure analyses and engineering troubleshooting for anomalies occurring during high-enthalpy plasma arc runs, hypersonic wind tunnel blowdowns, or aerothermal exposure; designs and implements engineered corrective solutions.
• Prepares comprehensive engineering evaluation reports, facility calibration data packages, and technical briefings for Department of the Air Force and Department of Defense program sponsors.
• Collaborates with military officers, civilian scientists, construction contractors, and test customers to engineer novel diagnostic techniques and advanced instrumentation for hypersonic materials and high-speed flow ground testing.

Qualifications/Requirements:

• 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.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a Secret security clearance (at minimum).
• This is a designated drug testing position subject to pre-employment and random drug testing under the Air Force Civilian Drug Testing Program.
• Professional Engineering Degree: Must possess a Bachelor of Science (or higher) in Engineering from an Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) accredited college or university (or demonstrate qualifying professional engineering credentials satisfying Office of Personnel Management [OPM] requirements for the 0800 engineering series).
• DAWIA Certification: Position is coded for acquisition; must achieve and maintain the required Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) Practitioner or Advanced certification in Engineering and Technical Management (ETM) or Test & Evaluation (T&E) within statutory grace periods.
• Aerospace Ground Test Facility Engineering: In-depth knowledge of aerospace engineering principles governing ground test facility activation, commissioning, high-enthalpy arc heaters, aerodynamic wind tunnels, or large-scale hypersonics test cells.
• Specialized Aerothermal and Gas Dynamic Systems: Professional engineering knowledge of aerothermal heating phenomena, plasma arc physics, hypersonic materials and thermal protection systems, or high-mach aerothermodynamic simulation.
• Instrumentation and Data Acquisition Engineering: Demonstrated skill in selecting, integrating, and evaluating sensor systems—including heat flux gauges, optical pyrometers, high-speed pressure transducers, and aerodynamic force balances to accurately quantify test article performance.
• Engineering Hazard Mitigation and Safety Systems: Skill in conducting technical risk assessments on high-voltage electrical distribution, high-pressure gas storage, vacuum systems, and extreme thermal environments to establish fail-safe engineering controls and safety interlocks.
• Facility Systems Engineering and Operational Commissioning: Practical skill in conducting technical design reviews, verifying mechanical and electrical installations during construction in the Program Management Division (AEDC/PMD), and successfully commissioning complex test cells into operational service.
• Technical Reporting and Engineering Briefings: Ability to synthesize complex aerothermal, mechanical, and materials engineering test data into authoritative technical reports and executive engineering briefings for DoD leadership and test customers.
• Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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:

ADHERENCE TO APPLICABLE HAF/AFMC/AFTC STRATEGIC HIRING GUIDANCE IS REQUIRED