Associate Computer Engineer

OPEN TO ALL QUALIFIED US CITIZENS.

This announcement will be accepting candidate submissions until 11:45 PM MDT, 19 November 2026.

Job Overview

As part of the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Directed Energy Directorate, Space Electro-Optics Division, the Starfire Optical Range (SOR) is a vital resource in achieving the Department of the Air Force’s mission to operate freely in space. This world‑class research facility is located on a hilltop 1,900 meters (6,240 feet) above sea level on Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico.

SOR’s primary mission is to develop optical sensing, imaging, and atmospheric compensation technologies to support Space Domain Awareness missions.

This facility is the world leader in research for laser-beacon adaptive optics for military uses and civilian applications, and technologies originating at SOR are regularly proliferating across the world‑wide astronomical community. It is a major component of the Air Force Research Laboratory’s support to the U.S. Space Force.

SOR is a tight‑knit team of professional military, civil service, and contractor personnel. The nature of the work necessitates willingness to learn and adopt institutional knowledge driven by the unique, cutting‑edge technologies developed  employees are onboarded in technical areas that are within their ability to learn and understand, and in line with mission needs. New employees are expected to actively shadow and learn from more senior government personnel until gaining the necessary knowledge to independently contribute to mission needs.

In line with the AFRL Lab Demo personnel management system ( Lab Demo Business Rules), new employees can expect to contribute to a variety of tasks ranging across Problem‑Solving, Communications, Technology Management, and Teamwork and Leadership, enabling whole‑person individual growth while executing duties to develop state‑of‑the‑art capabilities for the Department of Defense.

This position supports the development and integration of a complex suite of sensors and hardware into an advanced multi‑platform sensing, tracking, and data‑processing system.

Position Duties Include, But Are Not Limited To

• Expected to be part of a team and learn from world‑class scientists and engineers.
• Write firmware and software for custom‑made electronics boards and systems.
• Document software & hardware for complex, integrated system‑of‑systems.
• Serve as night or day crew member and/or responsible systems engineer.
• Create and execute system test plans, track reliability, and brief leadership.
• Ensure customer technical needs are met and facilitate technology transition.
• As needed, interface with existing Starfire Optical Range partners across the Air Force Research Laboratory, Department of Defense, nation, and internationally to promote knowledge sharing and technology transition activities.
• Relocation costs or other incentives may be available and considered by the organization.

Required Qualifications

• US Citizenship is required.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a required Top Secret security clearance.
• Bachelor or higher degree from an accredited institution. Unofficial transcripts are required to verify the degree.
• To qualify at the DR-02 (GS-12/13 or equivalent) level, candidates must have at least 1 year of specialized experience at the next lower grade level or equivalent grade level (DR-01 or GS-07, 09 or 11). Specialized experience is experience that equips the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. Or, the applicant may have directly related education with superior academic achievement, or, a combination of education and experience as specified in the OPM General Schedule Qualification Standards…