Summary
Click on "Learn more about this agency" button below to view Eligibilities being considered and other IMPORTANT information. The United States Space Force (USSF) is a highly specialized, independent branch of the Armed Forces organized under the Department of the Air Force (DAF). Its primary mandate is to organize, train, and equip space forces to secure and maintain freedom of operations within, from, and to the space domain.
Duties
The Technical Advisor and Principal Investigator is a senior authority responsible for leading the development, modernization, and integration of USSF force designs and multi-domain sensing architectures. They direct cross-functional teams, orchestrate high-level DoW and Presidential directives, and drive advanced capabilities while evaluating threats and resource requirements. The Technical Advisor and Principal Investigator leads and coordinates multi-disciplinary teams to develop, modernize, and evaluate future force designs. This role directly supports high-priority mandates, including Presidential Executive Orders like the Golden Dome for America (GDA) architecture, OSD direction, and Chief of Space Operations guidance. By formulating detailed analyses and trade space assessments, the advisor ensures critical national milestones are met. Additionally, they oversee the development and execution of the annual work plan, collaborating closely with Mission Support and Planning divisions to guide secure the necessary funding and contract support. Serving as a primary technical authority, the incumbent conceives and executes complex projects to advance engineering, scientific, and space technology concepts. As Principal Investigator, they lead cross-functional teams to test and refine advanced Kill-Chain capabilities, directly enhancing targeting precision and reducing operational timelines. The role is responsible for applying sound engineering practices to construct threat projections and vulnerability assessments. They integrate diverse intelligence inputs from commercial, scientific, allied, and international sources to deliver cohesive, decision-quality insights to USSF, DAF, and DoW leadership. This position acts as a vital bridge across the National Security Space enterprise, fostering collaborative relationships with space community leaders, international allies, industry partners, and research institutions. The incumbent facilitates joint discussions to resolve strategic and technical concerns, ensuring that standards and methodologies are accurately applied. They actively advise division leads on project definition and task prioritization. Furthermore, they evaluate existing policies and legislation, directing the drafting of DAF legislative proposals to advocate for program requirements. Furthermore, they evaluate and advise the service on policies and legislation.
Education
A degree qualifying for the 0801 General Engineer job series is required. To be acceptable, the curriculum must: (1) if an engineering degree, be in a school of engineering with at least one curriculum accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) as a professional engineering curriculum; or (2) include differential and integral calculus and courses (more advanced than first-year physics and chemistry) in five of the following seven areas of engineering science or physics: (a) statics, dynamics; (b) strength of materials (stress-strain relationships); (c) fluid mechanics, hydraulics; (d) thermodynamics; (e) electrical fields and circuits; (f) nature and properties of materials (relating particle and aggregate structure to properties); and (g) any other comparable area of fundamental engineering science or physics, such as optics, heat transfer, soil mechanics, or electronics; or a combination of education and experience as required by the U.S. A master's degree or higher in engineering or a related scientific discipline is highly desired. This is a Critical Acquisition Position (CAP).
How you will be evaluated
Applications will be evaluated against the foregoing qualification requirements. Failure to meet any one of the mandatory technical or senior professional qualification standards will eliminate a candidate from further consideration. A screening panel will evaluate the candidates for this position composed of senior executives selected for organizational and/or functional backgrounds relevant to this position. The panel members will individually review each of the applications in terms of the qualifications criteria contained in this announcement. The qualifications stated are the minimum requirements of the position to be Qualified, a rating schedule will be applied by a screening panel to determine which candidates are considered to be Best Qualified. Then, they will meet to discuss each application, and reach a consensus decision as to the best qualified, qualified or not qualified candidates. The panel will interview all of the best-qualified candidates based upon consistently applied criteria. The panel will then make a recommendation of those best-qualified candidates who should be referred to the selecting official, in priority order. Final selection of a candidate is contingent upon USecAF approval.