Electronics Engineer

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!

Be the force behind the force. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to empower the U.S. Air Force and Space Force to protect our nation's interests in air, space, and cyberspace. This is more than a job; it's a calling to serve.

About the Role:

The Air Force Test Center is looking for a Full-Time PNT Test Capability Engineer (NH-0855-03) to work at the Arnold Engineering Development Complex, 704th Test Group, 746th Test Squadron, Capability Development Flight, (746 TS/CZC) at Holloman Air Force Base, NM.

As a PNT Test Capability Engineer, you will lead the development and acquisition of advanced test capabilities, including high-accuracy PNT reference architectures, multi-GNSS simulators and hardware-in-the-loop laboratories, inertial rate tables and centrifuges, counter-PNT NAVWAR systems, and ground-test infrastructure. You will perform systems engineering across the capability life cycle-from gap analysis and requirements development through design reviews, integration, test, verification, and validation-to deliver credible, mission-relevant PNT test capability.

APPLY NOW! THIS JOB CAN CLOSE AT ANY TIME!

Location: Holloman Air Force Base, NM

Typical 2026 salary range: $89,508 - $138,370 per year (includes locality)

Telework Information: Eligible for situational telework only, including Emergency and Office of Personnel Management (OPM) prescribed "Unscheduled Telework"\

Travel Requirements: Up to 50% 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.,Must have requirements or may not be considered:

• A professional engineering degree at the bachelor's level from an ABET accredited institution in Electronics Engineering or a closely related engineering discipline is required.
• The work requires the incumbent to obtain and maintain the appropriate security clearance.

Desired Skills:

• 2 years of experience with developmental and/or operation test and evaluation desired
• 3 years of PNT engineering experience desired
• 3 years of acquisition systems engineering experience desired

Major Duties:

• Lead systems engineering for acquisition and development of PNT test capabilities.
• Develop operational, technical, and derived subsystem requirements, including key performance parameters and key system attributes.
• Prepare systems engineering plans, technical baselines, interface definitions, and verification strategies.
• Conduct technical trade studies and recommend cost-effective, supportable capability approaches.
• Coordinate design reviews, technical interchange meetings, and integration activities with government, contractor, and test stakeholders.
• Evaluate contractor designs, technical data, test plans, and deliverables for compliance with approved requirements.
• Plan and support integration, developmental testing, verification, validation, and transition of new test capabilities into operational use.
• Advise squadron leadership and acquisition teams on technical risks, dependencies, schedules, and recommended mitigation actions.

Qualifications/Requirements:

Qualifications/Requirements: (As identified in PRD)

U.S. Citizenship (Required)

PROBATIONARY PERIOD STATEMENT: (Required) - For All Positions

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 with access to Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI)

Education Requirements: A professional engineering degree at the bachelor's level from an ABET accredited institution in Electronics Engineering or a closely related engineering discipline is required.

DAWIA Certification: Must be able to obtain and maintain the required level of Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) test & evaluation certification within 4 years of assigned duties.

Top 5-6 job related KSAs:

1. Knowledge of Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) technologies

2. Knowledge of systems engineering principles and practices

3. Skill in translating operational test needs and capability gaps into measurable technical requirements, interface definitions, verification criteria, and technical baselines.

4. Skill in developing and evaluating test capabilities

5. Ability to lead technical planning, trade studies, design reviews, integration, verification, and validation

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.