Mission Systems Chief Engineer

Job Overview

OPEN TO CURRENT DEPT OF AIR FORCE (DAF) CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES.

This announcement will be accepting candidate submissions until 11:45 PM CST, 6 August 2026.

This opportunity is for anyone interested in the role of Mission Systems Division Chief Engineer within AFRL’s Air Warfare Directorate at the grade of DR-03 or DR-04 (lateral) for the 08XX engineering series.

Serves as the division engineering technical authority for a diverse portfolio of projects towards the discovery, development, integration, and transition of affordable mission systems (including but not limited to guidance, communications, ISR, open systems' architecture, and electronic warfare) for weapons and attributable unmanned airborne platforms enabling our dominance in air warfare.

Responsible for leading the workforce in technical planning and management of advanced research and development projects. This position provides senior engineering oversight and ensures engineering technical alignment with organizational vision, priorities, mission objectives, and statutory requirements. The member will lead a multidisciplinary workforce and collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to deliver high-impact results.

Major Duties, But Are Not Limited To

• The primary role of this position is the engineering technical authority for the division.
• Represents the division at the Engineering Board (EB).
• As part of the EB/Directorate Technology Advisory Committee (DTAC), works with capability portfolio leads to develop and evaluate technical capability roadmaps and strategies.
• Co-Lead, with Division Technical Advisor, of the Win the Future Division Capability Portfolio’s technical management.
• Leads engineering, including but not limited to systems and digital, and technical risk management processes and execution.
• Drives the translation of directorate and division mission and vision into executable strategies by providing critical guidance to the workforce.
• Identifies risks, assesses impacts, and implements mitigation strategies to ensure operational resilience and mission continuity.
• Responsible for S&T information protection process for the division.
• Conducts technical sufficiency reviews in conjunction with the Division Technical Advisor.
• Ensures the USAF Airworthiness/Test process is appropriately engaged and implemented for ground and flight test demonstrators.
• Lead division interface across AFRL/RA, AFRL/IPTs, other AFRL Technology Directorates, AFLCMC/IDO, and other Government/Industry stakeholders.
• Fosters a culture of technical excellence and continuous learning to build, grow, and maintain the deep, multidisciplinary expertise essential for a premier lab mission.

Required Qualifications

• US Citizenship.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Top Secret security clearance.
• At least one (1) year of specialized experience at the next lower grade (DR-02/GS-13 for DR-03; DR-03/GS-14 for DR-04), or equivalent experience in other pay systems.
• Applicants are required to meet all OPM Qualification Standard requirements for the 08xx occupational series and grade.

Desired Qualifications

• Demonstrated ability to lead large diverse teams, build consensus, and identify and resolve conflicts/problems between stakeholders.
• Ability to motivate, develop, and grow technical teams.
• Demonstrated success leading cross-functional teams or enterprise level initiatives to resolve technical or warfighter challenges.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to support and enable organizational programs, mission, vision, values, and promote a culture of innovation.
• Experience with facilitating and enabling internal/external collaboration and partnerships.
• Master's or Doctoral Degree in an appropriate career field.
• Completion of Intermediate Developmental Education and/or Senior Developmental Education.
• Ability to understand and provide guidance on operations in a laboratory environment in addition to ground/flight test.
• HIL/SIL experience to mature technology.
• Demonstrated experience with Open Architectures.
• Demonstrated experience in applying a risk management framework

Telework

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

Eligible for a Referral Bonus?

No

Series

08XX

Additional Information

Requisition Number 26666

Posting End Date

08/06/2026