Test Engineer

Air Force Civilian Service; Edwards (CA); On-site; USD 104,000 - 161,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement (FERS)

Paid time off

Job summary

Air Force Civilian Service seeks a Full-Time Test Engineer (NH-0861-03) at Edwards AFB to support flight sciences and E&T programs in the 773 TS/ENFR. You will perform multidisciplinary engineering work, plan tests, analyze results, and ensure compliance with DoD IA requirements, security clearances, and DAWIA-related expectations.

Qualifications include a professional engineering degree, 3–5 years of reliability experience, and the ability to work with cross‑functional teams in a demanding

Qualifications

• U.S. Citizenship required.
• Professional engineering degree (ABET-accredited).
• DAWIA/IA certification within 3 years.
• Top Secret security clearance required.

Responsibilities

• Lead test and evaluation efforts for assigned programs.
• Apply advanced engineering principles to test plans and data analysis.
• Ensure tests align with acquisition strategy, cost, and schedule constraints.
• Develop plans for testing to evaluate system design and performance.

Skills

Reliability & maintainability

Test engineering

Data analysis

Education

ABET-accredited engineering degree

Job description

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! Air Force Civilian Service, we don’t just support the mission — we help shape the future of national defense through discovery, innovation, and unwavering dedication. About the Role: The Air Force Test Center is looking for a Full-Time Test Engineer (NH-0861-03) to work at the 412th Test Wing, 412TH Test Engineering Group, 773rd Test Squadron, Reliability and Maintainability Flight (773 TS/ENFR) at Edwards Air Force Base. The 773rd Test Squadron is the Air Force’s center of expertise for flight sciences test and evaluation, conducting leading edge developmental flight test to deliver high‑quality data and analysis on new and modified aircraft. Test engineers in this squadron support one or more core technical disciplines, such as performance and flying qualities, aircraft structures, propulsion integration, aircraft subsystems, human systems integration, and reliability and maintainability. The primary purpose of this position is to serve as a professional test engineer for assigned flight sciences or mission systems programs and projects supporting flight test and evaluation of new, modified, and sustained aircraft, subsystems, and support equipment fielded by the United States Air Force. Location: Edwards Air Force Base, CA Typical 2026 salary range: $104,349 - $161,313 per year/per hour (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.” “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.” 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 Incentives: - This position MAY be eligible for a recruitment/relocation incentive. Specifics will be discussed with the Selecting Official. 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.
Must have requirements or may not be considered: Information Assurance (IA) Certification may be a condition of employment. Per DoD 8570.01-M, the incumbent of position must attain the appropriate IA certification within six months of assignment of these duties. A waiver of this six-month requirement may be granted per DoD 8570.01-M, C3.2.4.3. Failure to achieve the required IA certification may result in reassignment from this position. Desired Skills: - 3-5 years reliability and maintainability experience - Familiarity with reliability statistics, reliability growth models, Aircraft maintenance information systems, Joint Reliability and Maintainability evaluation team (JRMET) processes and failure reporting analysis and corrective action system (FRACAS) - Ability to research, analyze, interpret, and apply rules, regulations, and procedures to a variety of situations and to recommend accurate, timely, and economical solutions - Ability to effectively work independently and lead team efforts Major Duties: - Performs a broad range of multidisciplinary professional engineering work to manage test and evaluation (T&E) efforts for assigned programs. - Applies expert knowledge and mastery of advanced engineering theories, principles, concepts, standards, and methods to modify and extend theories and/or practices in the specialty field. - Ensures the T&E strategy is aligned with and supports the approved acquisition strategy, so that adequate, risk-reducing information is provided to support management decisions. - Employee ensures assigned projects remain consistent with program objectives, costs, schedules, performance criteria, and existing policies. - Plans, organizes, directs, and coordinates significant and complex projects in test engineering which represent critical segments of major programs and which entail a variety of complicating factors, interaction with other engineering specializations, and consideration of the lifecycle of items/systems. - Applies a number of diverse engineering practices, techniques, and processes to identify and resolve difficult issues and make recommendations which result in significant changes to important areas of test and evaluation programs. - Studies and interprets requirements, specifications, and characteristics for the system to determine the specific factors to be considered, the type of tests to be conducted, and data to be obtained. - Develops plans for conducting tests (or a series of tests) to evaluate system design and capability to meet established performance requirements. - Ensures system requirements, interfaces, capabilities, and program factors are considered in planning, monitoring, and reviewing tests and test results. Qualifications/Requirements: U.S. Citizenship (Required) 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: This is a designated Drug Testing Position. Security Clearance: Must be able to obtain and maintain a “Top Secret” security clearance. Education Requirements: Position requires a professional engineering degree at the bachelor's level from an ABET accredited institution. Advanced degrees are preferred. DAWIA Certification: Must be able to obtain and maintain the required level of Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) certification within 3 years of assigned duties. - Knowledge of a wide range of professional engineering concepts, principles, practices, standards, methods, techniques, materials, and equipment to effectively apply advanced multidisciplinary engineering theories and concepts to test and evaluation activities and advisory services. - Knowledge of advanced system/item development testing and evaluation sufficient to apply experimental theories and/or new applications to issues and provide technical advice and direction in support of test activities. - Knowledge of the principles of system engineering and program management to ensure system requirements, interfaces, capabilities, and program factors are considered in planning, monitoring, and reviewing tests and test results. - Knowledge of security guidelines, safety issues, and relevant government and industry standards, regulations, practices, and procedures. - Skill in negotiating and/or defending test results, test program concepts with technical accuracy. - Ability to execute projects and/or studies within established financial and/or time constraints; to gather, assemble, analyze facts, form conclusions, devise and recommend solutions to problems; and work in a professional manner with peers, management, contractors, academia, and other agencies. 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. Air Force Civilian Service 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/260902aftcbenefitstrifold 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.