Federal Aviation Administration
Supervisory Aircraft Pilot (Flight Test Section Manager) (Temp Opportunity)
Department of Transportation · Multiple Locations
- Salary
- $112,283 - $173,980 per year
- Pay grade
- FV-K
- Schedule
- Full-time
- Appointment
- Temporary promotion
- Opened
- Nov 3, 2026
- Closes
- Nov 13, 2026
- Remote
- No
- Telework eligible
- Yes
- Openings
- few
- Security clearance
- Secret
- Promotion potential
- NA
- Announcement
- 400-AIR-27-AIR712-101201
Who may apply: Internal to an agency
Applications are submitted on USAJOBS.gov, not on Careers.org. Always confirm details in the official announcement.
Summary
The incumbent serves as the Supervisory Aircraft Pilot (Flight Test) Section Manager, directly supervising multiple employees and/or multiple organizational units. Responsible for assuring that the work of the organization directly supports the mission of AIR and AVS.
Duties
- The work requires application of specialized knowledge, practices, principles, theories, concepts, methods, techniques and abilities involving: 1) piloting or co-piloting of aircraft to carry out various programs and functions of the FAA; 2) flight testing of developmental and modified aircraft and components; 3) performing staff work concerned with planning, analyzing, or administering agency aviation programs, where the work requires primarily the application of pilot knowledge and skills. Supports the Branch Manager to execute daily operations to: 1) Align Section resources, activities, and stakeholders with AIR objectives; 2) Develop Section personnel and resources consistent with AIR¿s future needs; and 3) Foster a work environment and culture that emphasizes employee engagement, risk-based decision-making, innovation, collaboration, communication, and accountability throughout the Section. Applies a comprehensive knowledge of the technical aspects of the work in the Section and has a detailed understanding of the objectives of the organizational unit. Directs the work of subordinate employees in the section by: Direct Report Supervision: Monitors and evaluates performance. Executes personnel actions and/or corrective or disciplinary actions. Work usually includes routine project/program tasks based on established policies, procedures, and guidelines. Team Environment: Monitors organizational health and regularly seeks input and feedback from employees. Establishes and enhances practices to encourage communication, collaboration, and innovation in the resolution of issues. Communicates and regularly reinforces connectivity between subordinate employee activities and the broader AlR mission. Defines and assigns accountability for key internal performance objectives. Engages personnel in monitoring key performance indicators and making adjustments necessary to achieve key performance objectives. Works with employees to identify resource needs and advocates for resources on behalf of the team. Established guidelines, policies, and procedures typically govern work. Resolves routine problems independently, but consults with higher-level management when existing guidelines are not available. The incumbent and the section performance is typically reviewed periodically by higher level management, often through status reports and organizational performance measures, to ensure timeliness, policy compliance, and alignment with project/program objectives. The work activities impact directly on the objectives of the organizational unit. Program Support: Oversees technical and administrative support programs of the office. Responsible for overall management responsibilities associated with the planning and direction of programs. Develops techniques to improve program and policies. Manages data systems, administrative processes, and data entry necessary to support office and branch performance metrics and dashboards that can be effectively used by the management team to manage branch and office performance. Oversees procurement and management of building operation and security. Supports the development of plans and techniques to improve program and policies. Operations Monitoring: Engages employees in documenting, refining, and assuring compliance with processes governing all activities. Assesses the productivity, quality, effectiveness, and efficiency of organizational processes. Monitors and approves expenditure of funds. Reviews and approves time and attendance and assures accurate labor distribution reporting. Assigns, communicates, and clarifies context for tasks and responsibilities. Oversees daily operations to ensure timeliness, effectiveness, efficiency, productivity, and compliance with policy in attaining organizational goals. Facilitates coordination and effective communication across FAA organizations, the aviation industry, other civil aviation authorities, and union representatives to accomplish work.
Qualifications
Complete OPM Qualifications Standard for the Aircraft Operation Series, 2181, available at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/2100/aircraft-operation-series-2181/ To qualify for this position, you must demonstrate in your application that you possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to FV-J, FG/GS-14. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. Specialized experience includes: application of specialized knowledge, practices, principles, theories, concepts, methods, techniques and abilities involving: 1) piloting or co-piloting of aircraft to carry out various programs and functions of the FAA; 2) flight testing of developmental and modified aircraft and components; 3) performing staff work concerned with planning, analyzing, or administering agency aviation programs, where the work requires primarily the application of pilot knowledge and skills. Minimum eligibility requirements are based on possession of the appropriate Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) pilot certificates and/or appropriate military ratings, meeting the applicable flight hour requirements and possession of the knowledge and skills required for the position. All applicants MUST possess a valid first or second-class medical certificate. External candidates must obtain a first-class medical certificate prior to appointment (Current AIR and Supervisory Flight Test Pilot's maintain second-class medical certificate). Candidates must possess a current Commercial Pilot Certificate or Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) rating with airplane single-engine and multi-engine land and instrument ratings or the appropriate military ratings (Refer to Required Documents Section). Qualifications are based on possession of the appropriate Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) pilot certificates and/or appropriate military ratings, meeting the applicable flight hour requirements and possession of the knowledge and skills required for the position. Candidates must demonstrate possession of the knowledge and skills required for the work by meeting certain minimum flight hour requirements, including recency of flight experience. Only that flight experience that is directly related to the work of the position is required for purposes of establishing minimum eligibility. NOTE: Candidates establishing eligibility based on military flight experience must provide official orders, forms, or logbooks showing their status as a rated military pilot, flight instructor, or flight examiner, as appropriate. Flight test positions also require completion of a flight test school such as a military flight test school, or at least 1 year of experience either flight testing aircraft for engineering approval (civilian or military) or analyzing aircraft performance data. NOTE: Acceptable engineering flight test experience must have been for the purpose of establishing the basic airworthiness of prototype aircraft or component parts in the experimental/developmental stage. This experience includes flight testing of an aircraft or component from the time of first developmental flight testing through final FAA certification or military acceptance testing. This experience must include basic stability, controllability, and performance testing to determine compliance with civil, military, or foreign standards. The following flight hour requirements apply: 1. Total Flight Time-1750 hours, Flight time as pilot-in-command or second-in-command (copilot) in aircraft of any weight or category is creditable for this requirement. For in-service placements actions, up to one-fourth of the total flight hours may by waived for candidates who have demonstrated possession of the knowledge and skills needed to perform the work, provided they hold the certificates and ratings required; have acquired the pil…
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