Interdisciplinary; NH-AEDC​/PMD

The Air Force Test Center is looking for full-time Interdisciplinary Engineers (Aerospace / Mechanical / Electrical / Materials), Pay Band and Series NH-0801 /0861
-03 (Broadband Level III, GS-12/13 Equivalent), to work within the Arnold Engineering Development Complex (AEDC) / Program Management Division (AEDC/PMD) at Arnold Air Force Base, TN. (

Note:

Select engineering positions will transition to the 715th Test Squadron [715 TS] upon facility operational readiness).

Announcement Closes: 11/03/2026

Location:
Arnold AFB, TN

Typical 2026 salary range: $89,508 - $138,370 per year (includes locality)
“If your current basic salary is within the band, but above the stated VOP, your basic salary will not be reduced if you are selected for the position.”

Travel Requirements:
Up to 25% travel possible

Incentives:

This position MAY be eligible for a recruitment/relocation incentive. Specifics will be discussed with the Selecting Official.

This position MAY be eligible for paid relocation (Permanent Change of Station (PCS) costs MAY be paid). Specifics will be discussed with the Selecting Official.

This position MAY be eligible for a Student Loan Repayment (SLR) incentive. Specifics will be discussed with the Selecting Official.

Must have requirements or may not be considered:

• Ability to obtain and maintain the required security clearance; the PRD identifies the position as requiring Top Secret eligibility/access.
• Knowledge of real-time and post-flight telemetry mission-room systems, associated software, and their application to weapon-system test and evaluation.
• Experience applying computer engineering or computer science principles, procedures, requirements, and mission-support systems, particularly real-time data-processing systems.
• Knowledge of telemetry systems, real-time data acquisition, advanced computer hardware/software, and aircraft or weapon-system test environments.
• Knowledge of test-range instrumentation and sensors, including their use in data collection and processing.
• Ability to gather customer requirements, assess feasible technical approaches, and develop telemetry attributes or data-processing solutions that meet mission needs and schedules.
• Ability to analyze complex technical problems; conduct research; develop solutions; and summarize findings and recommendations.
• Ability to communicate technical issues, results, requirements, project status, and resource considerations clearly in writing and verbally.
• Ability to lead technical efforts and mentor junior engineers and scientists in telemetry operations, signal processing, data acquisition, data reduction, display, and troubleshooting.
• Willingness to travel occasionally and work overtime as mission requirements dictate.

Desired

Skills:

• NHTF Focus: 2+ years of engineering experience in arc heater systems, plasma physics, aerothermal heating environments, high-temperature gas dynamics, or thermal protection system (TPS)/hypersonic materials test characterization.
• J-5 Program Focus: 2+ years of engineering experience in large-scale hypersonics ground test operations, high-mach flow facility systems, high-enthalpy aerodynamic simulation, air-breathing hypersonic propulsion integration, or high-pressure gas heater systems.
• AEDC/PMD to 715 TS Transition Focus:
  Engineering experience in facility activation, system commissioning, construction engineering verification, or developing technical Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to transition major ground test facilities into operational testing.
• Long Range Kill Chain (LRKC) Focus: 2+ years of engineering experience in precision strike weapon aerodynamics, radio frequency (RF)/sensor telemetry integration, wind tunnel aerodynamics, or integrated hardware-in-the-loop test networks.

Major Duties:

• Serves as a facility and test engineer within the Program Management Division (AEDC/PMD), delivering technical oversight, engineering evaluations, and systems integration across major ground test facility investments.
• Directs engineering reviews of facility design, final construction, hardware installation verification, and technical checkouts for the NHTF arc heater and J-5 large-scale hypersonic test facilities.
• Apply advanced engineering principles to formulate comprehensive Test and Evaluation Master Plans (TEMP), engineering hazard analyses, and facility operational limits.
• Engineers technical operating checklists, fail-safe interlocking sequences, and emergency shutdown logic to establish the initial operational engineering cadre prior to…