Senior Research General Engineer

Air Force Research Laboratory; Valparaiso (FL); Hybrid; USD 105,000 - 145,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Telework eligible

Job summary

Air Force Research Laboratory, located at Eglin AFB FL, seeks a Weapons Open Systems Architecture Engineer to lead advanced research in open architecture, embedded computing, and complex interfaces. You will coordinate multi-disciplinary teams and contribute to critical classified programs across defense partners.

The role requires U.S. citizenship, an ABET-accredited engineering degree, and the ability to obtain a Top Secret clearance.

Qualifications

• US citizenship required.
• ABET-accredited S&E degree required.
• Top Secret clearance required or must be able to obtain one.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and execute advanced research initiatives across military services, AFLCMC, labs, academia, and industry partners.
• Author, review, and manage ICDs and other technical documentation.
• Develop, brief, and defend budgets for projects and subprojects.
• Present research findings to senior management and scientific forums.
• Build consensus, manage technical programs, and drive team success across complex engineering efforts.
• Travel TDY as required to support objectives.

Skills

Leadership

Technical communication

Program management

Briefings

Education

ABET-accredited engineering degree

Job description

Job Overview

This announcement will be accepting candidate submissions until 11:45 PM CST, 4 September 2026.

The Air Warfare Directorate (RA) - Eglin AFB FL is seeking a Weapons Open Systems Architecture Research Engineer (DR-08XX-03) equivalent to GS-14. This opportunity is open to all qualified U.S. citizens interested in the role of Weapons Open Systems Architecture Engineer within Mission Systems Division, Air Warfare Directorate. The Weapons Open Systems Architecture (WOSA) Engineer serves as a technical leader responsible for navigating and applying abstract architectures, embedded computing, and complex electrical interfaces, using engineering and scientific work. Drawing on deep electrical engineering and extensive industry experience, this role requires a consensus-builder adept at managing programs and building high-performing teams to support critical classified efforts. The incumbent will act as a pivotal technical expert, bridging the gap between advanced conceptual architectures and tangible, fieldable capabilities while collaborating with diverse defense, academic, and industry partners.

Major Duties Include, But Are Not Limited To

• Using engineering and scientific work, coordinate and execute advanced research initiatives across military services, AFLCMC, national laboratories, academia, and industry partners.
• Author, review, and manage comprehensive technical documentation, to include Interface Control Documents (ICDs).
• Develop, brief, and robustly defend budgets for projects and associated subproject elements.
• Present research findings and complex technical data to senior management and at various scientific forums via high-quality briefings, technical reports, and scientific papers.
• Build consensus, manage technical programs, and drive team success across highly complex engineering efforts.
• Travel on temporary duty (TDY) as required to support program and mission objectives.

Required Qualifications

• US Citizenship.
• Must possess a professional science or engineering (S&E) degree from an accredited academic institution (ABET). https://www.abet.org/accreditation/find-programs/ Must have at least one year of specialized experience at the GS-13/DR-02 or equivalent grade level.
• Must hold or be able to obtain and maintain a Top Secret security clearance.

Desired Qualifications

• Significant weapons experience spanning systems engineering, project management, research, development, subsystems demonstration, acquisition, and/or test and evaluation.
• In-depth technical knowledge of various weapon subsystems, system engineering related to platform integration, and the operational context of military employment and utility.
• Experience leveraging Digital Material Management and Operations Analysis as applied to weapons Science and Technology (S&T).
• Demonstrated prior experience vectoring, directing, and leading cross-functional, multidisciplinary teams.
• Ability to cultivate and sustain a professional environment of cooperation, cohesion, and teamwork.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.

Telework

Yes, this position is eligible for situational telework; as determined by agency policy

Eligible for a Referral Bonus?

No

Series

08XX

Additional Information

Candidates with resumes longer than 2-pages will not be considered.

Requisition Number 98074

Posting End Date

09/04/2026