Chief Engineer, Operating Location El Paso

Chief Engineer, Operating Location El Paso

Department: Department of the Air Force

Location(s): El Paso County, Texas

Salary Range: $107466 - $164301 Per Year

Job Summary: Do not email applications. To submit your resume for this Direct Hire opportunity click here. For additional information on other USSF direct hire opportunities visit the Air Force Civilian Careers Space Force website and follow USSF on LinkedIn.

Major Duties:

• The United States Space Force (USSF) in El Paso, TX is searching for a Chief Engineer for Operating Location El Paso (NH-0801-04, GS-14/15 equivalent). Description: Mission: Space System Command (SSC) develops, acquires, equips and sustains lethal and resilient space capabilities to enhance joint lethality to protect the nation and its allied partners. Operating Location El Paso is strategically centered to capitalize on El Paso's vast manufacturing capability, logistics infrastructure, proximity to White Sands Missile Range and Space Port America, and academic resources and research efforts. The Chief Engineer will lead a team of engineers working closely with academic institutions and non-traditional businesses to close Space capability gaps. As the Chief Engineer, you will help transition these efforts through the "Valley of Death" in order to operationalize the capability into the government and/or commercial industry. Work with SSC organizations and leadership to identify challenges to feed into research efforts and help synergize/focus government/academic/industry efforts to collaborate and solve challenges. Ideal Candidate: Masters degree in engineering required with a PhD preferred, experience as an engineer, worked closely with academia, experience with prototyping, transitioned technology from a prototype to commercial or government operational use, previous supervisor preferred, expericence with engaging senior leaders and executives Key Skills and Abilities: 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 DoW, Space 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. 6. Ability to plan, organize, and direct the functions of an organization, and mentor, motivate, and appraise the staff through subordinate supervisors as well as analyze, plan, and adjust work operations of one or more organizational segments to meet program requirements and objectives within available resources.

Qualifications: The 0801 series has an individual occupational requirement that must be met and can be viewed here. In addition to the above requirements you can view the experience level requirements here. Please scroll down to the 4th section titled Professional and Scientific Positions.

How to Apply: Do not email applications. To submit your resume for this Direct Hire opportunity click here. PLEASE NOTE: It is the applicant's responsibility to verify that information entered and/or uploaded, (i.e., resume) is received, accurate, and submitted by the closing date. You may verify your documents have been processed with your application package successfully. You can access your USAJOBS account to do so by clicking here. Uploaded documents may take up to one hour to clear the virus scan.

Application Deadline: 2026-05-14