Summary The Air Force offers qualified applicants opportunities to be hired for certain occupations covered by Direct Hire Authorities (DHA). The use of DHA is a fast-track method of hiring applicants from the public with no prior federal status using a non-traditional method of recruitment. To find additional information on "What Is DHA" and to view and/or apply to current DHA opportunities listed on Air Force Civilian Service's "Direct Hire Job Board", please click here. Responsibilities For additional information on direct hire opportunities with the Air Force please click here. Candidates should have a strong background in multiple engineering disciplines spanning the entire life cycle of a weapons system (design, development, and sustainment), as well as technical program management experience. Candidates should have demonstrated success in resolving complex, ambiguous engineering problems through technical expertise, modeling & simulation, and test & evaluation. Candidates should also have demonstrated success integrating dissimilar organizational viewpoints, organizing disparate products into cohesive assessments, and mentoring junior team members. DUTIES: Partners with DoD, DOE, FFRDCs, industry and other nuclear stakeholders within the operational, sustainment, and acquisition communities to prioritize requirements, provide context and feedback to partners on survivability/vulnerability assessments, and review mitigation strategies. Conducts technical review of all official AFNRT products and efforts. Identifies and resolves highly complex problems that cross organizational boundaries. Develops innovative hypotheses, methodologies and solutions for nuclear weapon effects survivability and nuclear weapon system survivability Subject Matter Expert assessments, Modeling and Simulation (M&S) techniques and testing approaches (to include nuclear weapons effect testing). Advises on technical assessments; materiel solutions; acquisition, test, operational and contractual issues related to requirements; systems engineering, financial considerations, performance, and schedule trade-offs. Provides technical expertise into divisional strategic vision for assessments/testing covering Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles, Cruise Missiles, Gravity Weapons, Aircraft, Nuclear Command, Control & Communications (NC3), against Nuclear Effects (EMP, radiation, thermal, blast), directed energy weapons, and cyber-attacks. Provides review of intelligence products to include in in risk assessments and inform development of mitigation strategies. Provides mentoring to AFNRT junior team members. SKILLS: Knowledge of engineering and nuclear science principles, practices, techniques, and procedures, as well as the ability to apply this knowledge to addressing nuclear system survivability and vulnerabilities. This also includes addressing technical challenges in technology development for mitigation strategies. Ability to lead groups or teams, set clear mission objectives, and provide feedback to team members. Strong background in modeling and simulation tool development and maintenance. Strong understanding of nuclear weapons effects environments (EMP, radiation, thermal, blast), directed energy weapons, and cyber-attacks. Experience in communicating and documenting technical requirements. Experience in executing lab-scale and full-scale testing along with the ability to develop test plans as well as gather/assemble/analyze and interpret the test data to provide results to decision-makers. Experience in working effectively with multiple DoD, DOE, academic, and private industry organizations. Candidates should have a strong background in Failure Analysis modeling tools and techniques to include Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA), Fault Tree Analysis (FTA) and Event Tree Analysis. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications For additional information on direct hire opportunities with the Air Force please click here. To qualify as an engineer, employee must meet the education and specialized experience requirements described in the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards, Group Coverage Qualification Standard for Professional and Scientific Positions: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0800/files/all-professional-engineering-positions-0800.pdf KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs): Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following areas: 1. 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. 2. Knowledge of the mission, roles, functions, organizational structure, and operation of the DoD, 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. 3. 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. 4. Knowledge of safety, security, personnel management, and EEO regulations, practices, and procedures. 5. 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. Education To qualify as an engineer, employee must meet the education and specialized experience requirements described in the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards, Group Coverage Qualification Standard for Professional and Scientific Positions: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0800/files/all-professional-engineering-positions-0800.pdf Additional Information Please note: Positions in this field/series may or may not be available, depending on current manning. For the most up-to-date notifications on available positions, we recommend candidates subscribe and complete their profile at (https://afciviliancareers.com/subscribe), indicating their position and location preferences.