Interdisciplinary Test Manager

Air Force Civilian Service; Alamogordo (NM); On-site; USD 90,000 - 138,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid Time Off

Sick leave

Health insurance

Retirement Plan

Flexible Work Arrangements

Job summary

The Air Force Test Center in Alamogordo, NM seeks a full-time Test Manager (NH-801/0855/1515-03) at Holloman AFB. You will lead multidisciplinary engineering efforts, manage projects, and deliver data-driven test results for GPS/inertial programs.

Requirements include an ABET-accredited engineering degree, Secret clearance eligibility, and strong communication and leadership skills. Telework is situational; travel up to 25% may be required.

Qualifications

• Excellent oral and written communication skills for briefings and reports.
• Strong leadership, organization, and communication abilities.
• Flexibility to handle new situations and changing priorities.
• Ability to collaborate with squadron members and DoD organizations on GPS/inertial test programs.
• Knowledge of operations research, mathematics, and quantitative methods is beneficial.

Responsibilities

• Provide expert engineering input for development and sustainment of systems.
• Evaluate new technologies and provide recommendations for program improvement.
• Conduct complex analyses, set goals, and develop guidelines for projects.
• Plan, organize, and oversee projects to meet mission objectives and optimize resources.
• Prepare and present technical reviews and reports to leadership at Air Force/DoD levels.

Skills

Communication skills

Leadership

Adaptability

GPS & inertial testing

Education

ABET-accredited engineering degree

Job description

About the Air Force Test Center: The Air Force Test Center (AFTC) is where tomorrow's Air Force is tested! Long considered the Center of the Aerospace Testing Universe, AFTC is truly where Air Force superiority begins. Home to many Aerospace establishments and records, AFTC remains the state-of-the-art leader in Aerospace testing, and provides the warfighter with cutting-edge technology. AFTC does not only celebrate its past, but we continue to lead from the front. Join our team today and make Aerospace history!

General opening statements: Don't just watch the future unfold - build it.

About the Role

The Air Force Test Center is looking for a full-time interdisciplinary position (NH-801/0855/1515-03) to work at the 746th Test Squadron as a Test Manager at Holloman AFB, NM. Serve as a professional multidisciplinary engineer with test engineering, execution, data analysis and reporting responsibility in assigned programs/projects. Employee applies multidisciplinary engineering techniques and principles to determine optimum ways of interpreting test data and communicating these results to those who determine test and evaluation objectives, and/or to determine operational or technical adequacy of item or system requirements or specifications.

Location: Alamogordo, NM (Holloman Air Force Base)

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

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.

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

• Excellent oral and written communication skills to effectively present briefings, prepare reports for leadership, and interact with diverse teams and stakeholders.
• Strong leadership, organization, and communication abilities
• Flexibility to handle new situations, adapt to changing priorities, and make timely, well-informed decisions.
• Ability to establish, develop, and maintain effective working relationships with other squadron members and 704th Test Group organizations in furtherance of GPS and inertial test
• Working knowledge of GPS and inertial theory and test

Major Duties

• Serves as a consultant and expert in engineering, applying advanced theories and principles to the development and sustainment of systems.
• Makes significant and innovative recommendations for advancing specialized programs and evaluates new technologies for incorporation into existing systems.
• Performs complex and comprehensive analysis, develops short and long-term goals, and recommends guidelines and technical oversight for specific projects.
• Manages, plans, and organizes assigned projects and acquisitions to meet mission objectives, assessing program execution and adjusting resources or policies to increase efficiency.
• Conducts technical reviews, maintains awareness of development efforts, and assesses technical ramifications to identify and mitigate risks.
• Reviews, prepares, and presents oral and written reports to leadership at the Air Force and DoD levels.
• Plans, organizes, and oversees the activities of others, developing goals and objectives that integrate organizational and engineering objectives.
• Balances workload and provides overall direction and vision to team members on a wide range of engineering and administrative issues.

Qualifications / Requirements

• U.S. Citizenship
• PROBATIONARY PERIOD STATEMENT: 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. (NOTE: Typically, the 1-year probationary period is for Competitive Jobs, and 2-year trail period is for Excepted Jobs.)
• Drug Testing: (if applicable) This is a designated Drug Testing Position
• Security Clearance: (Required) Must be able to obtain and maintain "Secret" security clearance
• Education Requirements: A professional engineering degree at the bachelor's level from an ABET accredited institution in engineering or a closely related field is required.
• Certifications/Licensure: Must meet, or be capable of achieving the Acquisition Professional Development Program certification as 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.
• Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: 1. Professional knowledge of a wide range of principles, concepts, and practices of operations research analysis to apply scientific methods and techniques to analyze systems, processes, and/or operational problems and procedures.
• Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: 2. Knowledge of mathematics and analysis to perform studies and prepare reports, documentation, and correspondence to communicate recommendations/conclusions clearly.
• Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: 3. Knowledge of quantitative techniques and methods used to develop, adapt, modify, and apply models to resolve problems or define and clarify alternative solutions.
• Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: 4. Ability to analyze, interpret, and apply operations research rules and procedures in a variety of situations and recommend solutions to senior analysts.
• Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: 5. Ability to analyze problems to identify significant factors and fundamental relationships, gather pertinent data, and recognize solutions.
• Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: 6. Ability to plan and organize work, and confer with co-workers effectively.
• 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.

Employment Benefits

• Paid Time Off: 11 Federal Holidays each year
• 13 sick leave days earned per year (accumulative)
• Paid Vacation Time: 13-26 days per year based on length of employment
• Health Insurance: No waiting period to qualify for you and your family
• Retirement: Immediate coverage by the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS)
• Basic Benefits Plan Social Security: Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), like a 401(k) (Automatically receive 1% agency contributions and up to 5% matching)
• Health & Wellness: Various Medical Flexible Spending Account Federal Long Term Care Insurance, and Life & Disability Insurance
• Work/Life Balance: Family and Medical Leave Act Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Flexible Work Arrangements (dependent on position)
• Career Development: Tuition Assistance & Professional Development opportunities
• Career enhancement and promotion opportunities

To learn more about our benefits, please check out the AFTC Benefits Trifold at https://simplebooklet.com/260902aftcbenefitstrift

Federal Resume Tips: 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: https://help.usajobs.gov/faq/application/documents/resume/what-to-include https://afciviliancareers.com/PDF/FederalResumeWriting.pdf

Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Classification & Qualifications for Federal Government Employees: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/

Please visit the Air Force Test Center job board to view other career opportunities: https://www.aftc.af.mil/About-Us/Jobs/

AFTC is an Equal Opportunity Employer.