Technical Director (NH-0801/1515-04) 846 TS

Air Force Test Center; Holloman (NM); On-site; USD 126,000 - 192,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Recruitment/relocation incentive

Paid relocation

Student Loan Repayment incentive

Job summary

Air Force Test Center at Holloman AFB, NM seeks a Technical Director to lead rocket sled testing programs and manage facilities and infrastructure.

The candidate will mentor civilians, oversee workforce development, and coordinate with DoD/AFMC to align resources and funding with strategic priorities, while maintaining top-secret clearance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree from an ABET Accredited College or University.
• Practitioner level certification in Test and Evaluation is required.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a Top Secret security clearance with SCI access.
• Resumes limited to two pages; familiarity with DoW and AFMC processes encouraged.

Responsibilities

• Plan and oversee unit activities; align goals with engineering objectives.
• Provide expert engineering/data analysis guidance for complex systems.
• Represent the organization with installation and interagency committees.
• Exercise supervisory responsibilities; assign work and manage staff.

Skills

Rocket sled testing

Engineering leadership

Staff mentoring

Organizational leadership

Program coordination

Education

ABET-accredited degree

Job description

These listed job announcements are covered by Direct Hire Authorities (DHA), which are separate from the traditional recruitment job announcements found on USA Jobs. For more information on DHA, click the Air Force Civilian Serviceimage linkon the right side of the page (or scroll to the bottom of your mobile device) and click "Find a Job." You can also click the USA Jobs image linkto view additional job announcements. For further assistance, please contact AFTC Enterprise Recruitment at [e-mail] .

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.

The Air Force Test Center is looking for a Full-Time Technical Director (NH-0801/1515-04) to work at the 846th Test Squadron (846 TS) at Holloman Air Force Base).

In this position you will serve as the senior civilian and recognized subject matter expert in the field of rocket sled testing of weapons systems, test operations, facilities management and infrastructure maintenance. The Technical Director is responsible for mentoring the civilian workforce; conducting organizational and workforce analysis to support manning recommendations; administering squadron-level AcqDemo and Federal Wage System personnel programs; advising the commander on, and enforcing, squadron policy; reviewing/approving technical documents; setting strategic vision and direction; engaging with the customer base to identify emerging test needs and networking within AFTC to advocate for resources; advising the commander on squadron finances, to include management of the integrated requirements list (IRL), projection of long term needs, and submission of POM requests; and pursuing funding avenues for new capability development. Knowledge and experience with a varied scope of technical and organizational management principles, concepts, methods and practices is required as well as the ability to lead through influence and maintenance of productive working relationships across organizational boundaries.

Announcement Closes

11/13/2026

Location

Holloman AFB, NM

Salary

Typical 2026 salary range: $125,776 - $192,331 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.

Desired Skills

• Professional military education highly desired.
• Mastery of advanced principles and practices of professional engineering, especially as they apply to rocket sled testing. Broad background in various scientific fields.
• Ability to manage scientific and/or engineering programs sufficient to: (1) Serve as a nationally recognized consultant and expert in the state‑of‑the‑art and test and evaluation program activities as they relate to complex weapons and electronic systems, and (2) coordinate test program activities of diverse organization staffs comprising professionals across various engineering, analysis and project management disciplines as well as technical trades.
• Knowledge and skill to manage diverse workforce, both civilian and military, in research, development, test and evaluation (RDT&E).
• Knowledge of organizational management best practices required to meet and sustain the squadron’s rocket sled test mission.

Major Duties

• Plans, organizes, and oversees the activities of the unit. Develops goals and objectives that integrate organization and engineering objectives. Establishes, revises, or reviews policies, procedures, mission objectives, and organization design for the staff, as necessary to eliminate work problems or barriers to mission accomplishment, promote team building, implement quality improvements, or in response to concerns with regulatory compliance and/or customer requirements.
• Serves as a consultant and expert in engineering and data analysis work involved in the application of advanced theories, concepts, and principles related to development or sustainment of systems. Incumbent provides expert advice to senior colleagues and/or agency officials responsible for broad program operations. Provides authoritative technical advice to the higher levels of agency management on matters of exceptional importance in the continuation or abandoning of objectives, goals, and programs.
• Represents the organization with a variety of installation and functional area organizations. Serves on special agency and interagency committees, coordinating groups, etc., where decisions, commitments, and conclusions have considerable impact on the long‑range planning and establishment of future projects/programs.
• Exercises supervisory personnel management responsibilities at least 25% of the time. Plans work to be accomplished by subordinates, sets and adjusts short/long‑term priorities, and prepares schedules for completion of work. Assigns work to subordinates based on priorities, selective consideration of the difficulty and requirements of assignments, and the capabilities of employees.

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.

This is a designated Drug Testing Position.

Must be able to obtain and maintain and “Top Secret” security clearance with access to Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI).

Minimum Requirement: Bachelor’s Degree from an ABET Accredited College or University.

Practitioner level certification in Test and Evaluation is required.

The employee is required to file a Confidential Financial Disclosure report, upon appointment and will be required to file annually.

Must possess a current and valid driver’s license.

Knowledge of a wide range of advanced multidisciplinary professional engineering concepts, principles, practices, standards, methods, and techniques to apply experimental theories and new developments to problems not susceptible to treatment by accepted methods, and to plan and execute specialized programs of marked difficulty, responsibility, and significance.

Knowledge of the mission, roles, functions, organizational structure, and operation of the DoW, Air Force, and organizations that govern, interface with, and/or influence systems acquisition, development, and/or sustainment; and knowledge of planning, programming, and budgeting cycles, financial systems, and restrictions on expenditure of funds.

Knowledge of and skill in evaluating state‑of‑the‑art and advancements in theory, application, technology, and policy affecting systems being developed, and in planning, organizing, and directing the functions and staff in critical aspects of development, production, and/or support of systems, subsystems, or equipment.

Knowledge of safety, security, personnel management, and EEO regulations, practices, and procedures.

Skill in establishing and maintaining effective relationships, building consensus and coalitions, negotiating, and resolving conflicts with a variety of individuals and organizations as well as communicating effectively, both orally and in writing.

Ability to plan, organize, and direct the functions of an organization, and mentor, motivate, and appraise the staff through subordinate supervisors as well as analyze, plan, and adjust work operations of one or more organizational segments to meet program requirements and objectives within available resources.

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:

Compliance

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