Supervisory Computer Scientist

Air Force Civilian Service; Layton (UT); On-site; USD 126,000 - 163,000; Full time

Job summary

Air Force Civilian Service seeks a Supervisory Computer Scientist to serve as deputy Chief of Software in Sentinel Software Branch (NIXW) at Hill AFB near Layton, Utah. You will oversee the prime contractor’s software across subsystems and platforms and lead software lifecycle activities.

You will coordinate with stakeholders, guide Agile teams, and ensure compliance with DoD and nuclear standards while mentoring junior staff and advancing software excellence.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in computer science or engineering or related field with relevant mathematics coursework.
• Professional Military Education is preferred but not required.
• Experience with ACAT l programs and defense acquisition processes valued.
• Security clearances and SAP access handling requirements apply.

Responsibilities

• Plan, schedule, and execute Sentinel Section activities and processes.
• Oversee software design, development, testing, and deployment for Sentinel weapon system software.
• Communicate strategic vision for software lifecycle and management to stakeholders.
• Coordinate resources and commitments across internal and external teams.
• Apply software development methodologies to organize the workforce for timely support.
• Establish and review policies and objectives to achieve mission goals.
• Identify priority changes and implement them.
• Manage software metrics definition, management, and tracking.
• Support government engineers embedded with prime contractor teams.

Skills

Software architecture

DevSecOps

Real‑time systems

Programming languages

Cyber security

MBSE/DEE

Agile leadership

Team leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS/Engineering

Professional Military Education

Tools

SysML

UML

Cameo

Git

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: 25 AUGUST 2026 CLOSES: 8 SEPTEMBER 2026

• 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
• Your resume may NOT exceed two pages, and the font size should not be smaller than 10 pts. The two-page resume ensures the most relevant experience, education, and professional development is reviewed and considered, which is a common practice in both the public and private sectors.
• The hiring manager will reject any illegible/unreadable resumes or resumes that do not comply with the 2-page limitation.
• Provide all academic degrees, professional military education and any other professional certifications on your 2-page resume.

Air Force Civilian Service is currently seeking a full-time Supervisory Computer Scientist to work in the Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center, Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) Systems Directorate, Sentinel Systems Division (NIX), Software Branch (NIXW) at Hill Air Force Base near Layton, Utah. This position (986502) may be filled as either a NH-1550-04 Computer Scientist, NH-0855-04 Electronics Engineer, or NH-0801-04 General Engineer. The salary range for this position is $125,776 - $162,740, based on Value of Position (91), which includes Hill AFB locality pay (17.06%).

• 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. Recruitment, Relocation, Retention, and Student Loan Incentives may be authorized.

The Sentinel program is a major defense acquisition program charged to deliver a full system replacement for the nation’s Minuteman III ICBM, providing a strategic deterrent to nuclear attack against the United States.

The primary purpose of this position is to serve as deputy Chief of Software within the Sentinel Software Branch of the ICBM Systems Directorate, accomplishing oversight of the prime contractor’s software development activities across multiple subsystems and hardware platforms.

DUTIES:

• Manages the planning, scheduling, and execution of the Section activities and processes.
• Manages design, development, production, test, and deployment activities in support of Sentinel weapon system software.
• Communicates strategic vision for software lifecycle development and management with appropriate stakeholders.
• Coordinates with numerous internal/external stakeholders to secure resources and cross-organizational commitments to further the Sentinel mission.
• Applies appropriate software development and production methodologies, to include cutting-edge initiatives, to organize the workforce for efficient, responsive, and timely support to program and warfighter.
• Establishes, revises, and reviews policies, procedures, mission objectives, and organizational structures to efficiently and effectively accomplish mission objectives.
• Identifies necessary changes in organizational priorities and take action to implement such changes.
• Managing the software metrics definition, management and tracking team.
• Enabling and supporting government software engineers embedded with prime contractor software development teams.

SKILLS:

• Must have a strong technical background and be able to grasp extremely challenging technical concepts in these areas (this list is not exhaustive): o Software architecture, design, test, and implementation. o Development Security and Operations (DevSecOps) pipeline design, development, and execution. o Real-time systems and software design and development principles. o Breadth and depth of software language experience (e.g., C/C++, Java, Fortran, Python, etc.). o Understanding of current cyber security design principles, tools, and implementation. o Model Based System Engineering (MBSE) practices and Digital Engineering Environment (DEE) system architectural design (e.g., SysML, UML, etc.) and tool experience (e.g., Cameo, etc.). o Extensive experience working in and leading Agile teams.
• Strong leadership, supervision, employee mentorship, teamwork and communication skills to effectively interface with internal and external stakeholders at all levels as well as the independence, assertiveness, self-reliance, and tenacity to get the job done is desired.
• Experience working ACAT l programs with the understanding and knowledge to implement the government acquisition process as defined by the Defense Acquisition University is highly valued.
• Strong background in collateral, sensitive-compartmented information, and special access program security program management is preferred.
• Understanding of Air Force and Department of Defense requirements related to nuclear standards is preferred.
• Master’s degree and grade-appropriate Professional Military Education desired but not required.
• Experience working on nuclear weapon system programs desired but not required.
• U.S. CITIZENSHIP
• Employees must be able to obtain and maintain a Top Secret security clearance with Special Access Program (SAP) access and will be required to handle and safeguard sensitive and/or classified information in accordance with regulations to reduce potential compromise.
• Computer Scientist candidates must have a bachelor's or higher degree in computer science or a bachelor's degree with 30 semester hours in a combination of mathematics, statistics, and computer science. At least 15 of the 30 semester hours must have included any combination of statistics and mathematics that included differential and integral calculus.
• Engineer candidates must meet the specialized experience requirements described in the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) All Professional Engineering Positions, 0800, Individual Occupational Requirements: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/ general-schedule-qualification-standards/0800/files/all-professional-engineering-positions-0800.pdf
• Employees must meet Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) requirements, which includes achieving Engineering and Technical Management “Practitioner” certification category within required timeframe after appointment.
• This is a DoD Cyber Workforce Framework (DCWF) position and is assigned the following DoD Cyberspace Work Role Code(s) and Proficiency Level(s): o Software Developer (621) Executes software planning, requirements, risk management, design, development, architecture, modeling, estimation, configuration management, quality, security, and tests using software development methodologies, architectural structures, viewpoints, styles, design decisions, and frameworks across all lifecycle phases.
• In accordance with the Ethics in Government Act, 1978, employees may be required to file an OGE Form 450, Confidential Financial Disclosure Report, upon appointment and will be required to file annually.