Deputy Chief Engineer

Fueled by innovation, talent and ambition, the Air Force Civilian Service (AFCS) is seeking civilian professionals prepared to deploy war-winning capabilities on behalf of the United States Air Force.

About the role

The Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center Nuclear Command, Nuclear Weapons Acquisition Division (AFNWC/NDB) is seeking a full-time General Engineer as Deputy Chief Engineer for the Nuclear Weapons Acquisition Division, located at Eglin Air Force Base near Fort Walton Beach, FL.

This key engineering position is accountable to the Division Chief Engineer and will assist in leading engineering and technical functions within a division composed of military, government civilian, A&AS contractors, and Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC) personnel.

Responsibilities

• Supervise and lead a technical team of multi-disciplined engineers to achieve NDB priorities, including all aspects of missile system development and verification, and assign daily responsibilities to engineering team members.
• Advise the Chief Engineer on technical matters of reliability, manufacturing, integration, and system development, production, fielding, and sustainment of the LRSO weapon system.
• Perform multidisciplinary engineering work involving the application of electrical, electronics, mechanical, aerospace, human systems integration/human factors, reliability, availability and maintainability, system security engineering, cybersecurity engineering, cryptologic systems, system safety, configuration and data management, manufacturing and quality engineering, system sustainment, digital engineering, and other engineering disciplines to determine the technical baseline.
• Coordinate the various phases of engineering work with other functional disciplines (e.g., program management, logistics, finance, cost/pricing, contracts) and interpret/translate engineering requirements into design characteristics and criteria.
• Formulate and explain recommendations or solutions to modify standard practices, equipment, devices, processes, and techniques.
• Evaluate performance with respect to program requirements and evaluate design changes to assess effects on performance.
• Guide and mentor assigned engineering staff, direct contractor engineering work, and oversee branch Organize, Train, and Equip (OT&E) functions.
• Lead technical requirement verification and validation utilizing sound system engineering best practices.
• Assist in the completion and testing of the full Weapon System’s technical baseline spanning multiple IPTs (including integration, software, air vehicle, manufacturing, testing, and performance), industry partners, and cross-service organizations.
• Assist Engineering Functional OT&E activities within the branch, including recommending personnel actions, recruiting, and staffing of engineering positions.
• Perform other engineering-related duties and special projects as assigned by the Division Chief Engineer as mission needs dictate.

Requirements

• U.S. Citizenship.
• Must be TS/SCI eligible; this position requires the incumbent to obtain and maintain the appropriate security clearance. Active TS/SCI or TS clearance preferred. Please include current clearance level in your resume.
• Required to handle and safeguard sensitive and/or classified information in accordance with regulations.
• Engineering degree required. An advanced engineering degree, such as a Master’s or PhD, is preferred. Electrical, electronics/RF/communications, computer, mechanical, software, or systems engineering degrees desired.
• Must meet Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) requirements, including achieving Engineering and Technical Management “Practitioner” certification category within the required timeframe after appointment.
• At least eight years of relevant technical experience is highly desired.
• Strong background in nuclear weapon and/or systems acquisition, system and digital engineering principles, regulations, and policies is highly desired.
• Must meet the education and specialized experience requirements described in the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards for Professional and Scientific Positions.

Skills

• Effective communication and organizational skills with demonstrated experience in leading diverse technical teams of experienced professionals.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, manage, and mentor assigned personnel, including young professionals (new hires and recent college graduates).

Pay

This position is classified as NH-0801-04 with a typical 2026 salary range of $107,446 - $150,264 (basic salary without locality included). Locality pay for the Rest of US area is 17.06% of basic salary. If your current basic salary is within the band but above the stated Value of Position, your basic salary will not be reduced if selected.

Schedule

• This position is not eligible for remote work or regular and/or recurring telework.
• Subject to random drug testing.
• Work may occasionally require travel away from the normal duty station on commercial (or military) aircraft. Travel requirements are not expected to exceed 25%.