General Engineer

Naval Air Systems Command•Lakehurst, NJ

17d

About The Position

Serve as the Senior Scientific Technical Manager and Chief Engineer (CHENG) for the Support Equipment (SE) and Aircraft Launch and Recovery Equipment (ALRE) Group at the Naval Air Warfare Center, Aircraft Division (NAWCAD). The role is the principal Technical Warrant Holder for SE and ALRE systems engineering across the Naval Aviation Enterprise (NAE), providing expert guidance on lifecycle policy and authoritative advice that shapes acquisition programs, sustainment strategies, and future capabilities. The Chief Engineer provides technical authority for SE and ALRE systems engineering and establishes frameworks, standards, and best practices covering requirements, design, integration, testing, certification, fielding, sustainment, and modernization. The role leads policy and process development and improvement, including requirements management, risk management, Systems Engineering Technical Reviews (SETRs), configuration management, and verification and validation. The position also leads and coordinates NAE SETR activities for NAWCAD Lakehurst and frequently serves as an Independent Technical Review Board (ITRB) member and SETR Chair. This is a Senior Scientific Technical Manager position exceeding the DP-05 (GS-15 equivalent) level. The role may require travel from the normal duty station to locations in the continental United States and overseas, including remote or isolated sites, and extended travel on military or commercial aircraft. The position is covered by the Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) and is a designated Critical Acquisition Position requiring a three-year tenure agreement unless waived.

Requirements

Must be a U.S. citizen and determined suitable for federal employment.
Must participate in direct deposit and, for new Department of the Navy employees, successfully pass E-Verify employment verification.
Must meet applicable Selective Service registration requirements for males born after December 31, 1959.
Must complete ethics orientation within three months of appointment and submit a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE-450) within 30 days of appointment.
Must obtain and maintain the required interim and/or final security clearance before entering duty.
Must obtain the DAWIA certification for the assigned functional area and tier, and required Continuous Learning points, within established timeframes.
Must sign a three-year tenure agreement before assuming the position unless a waiver is approved.
Must successfully complete a pre-employment drug test and be subject to random testing.
Must be able to travel, including to CONUS and OCONUS locations and remote or isolated sites, and travel on military and commercial aircraft for extended periods.
Resume must be no more than two pages and demonstrate the applicable technical qualifications.
Demonstrated senior technical expertise in Support Equipment and Aircraft Launch and Recovery Equipment concepts, design, manufacture, testing, acquisition, and in-service support.
Demonstrated competence guiding complex technical solutions across the Naval Air Enterprise to support safe SE and ALRE operations and Fleet capability.
Deep expertise in Department of Defense/Department of War acquisition and Department of the Navy airworthiness processes.
Demonstrated ability to achieve operationally significant results in fielding and in-service support for aviation support equipment and aircraft launch and recovery systems.
Demonstrated ability to work across disciplines and organizational lines to achieve mission success in timely, solution-constrained environments.
Demonstrated ability to manage and influence mid- and long-term systems to ensure future fleet capability and lethality.
Meet the positive education qualifications for the 0801 Professional Engineering Series through an acceptable engineering degree or an eligible combination of education and experience.
For the engineering degree pathway, hold a bachelor's or higher engineering degree from an accredited college or university meeting the specified ABET or coursework criteria.
For the education-and-experience pathway, demonstrate the required underlying science and engineering knowledge through qualifying professional registration or licensure, a passed Fundamentals of Engineering or other qualifying written examination, at least 60 semester hours of specified coursework, or an appropriate related curriculum plus at least one year of professional engineering experience under professional engineering supervision.

Nice To Haves

A master's or Ph.D. in an applicable educational field is highly desirable.
Graduate education, significant research or development experience, and recognition as a renowned expert in the applicable field are generally expected for Senior Scientific Technical Manager positions.

Responsibilities

Serve as the principal Technical Warrant Holder for SE and ALRE systems engineering across the Naval Aviation Enterprise.
Provide expert guidance on SE/ALRE systems engineering lifecycle policy and authoritative advice on acquisition programs, sustainment strategies, and future capabilities.
Identify and resolve fleet issues involving complex SE and ALRE systems.
Provide expertise throughout the acquisition lifecycle, including ideation, development, prototyping, testing, production, fielding, and in-service support.
Lead and coordinate NAE Systems Engineering Technical Review activities for NAWCAD Lakehurst.
Serve as an Independent Technical Review Board member and Systems Engineering Technical Review Chair.
Provide technical authority for all SE and ALRE systems engineering.
Establish technical frameworks, standards, and best practices for requirements, design, integration, testing, certification, fielding, sustainment, and modernization.
Lead development, implementation, and improvement of SE/ALRE systems engineering policy and processes, including requirements management, risk management, technical reviews, configuration management, and verification and validation.
Travel to CONUS and OCONUS locations, potentially including remote or isolated sites, and travel for extended periods on military or commercial aircraft.