Technology Development Section Chief

OPEN TO CURRENT DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE (DAF) CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES ONLY.

This announcement will be accepting candidate submissions until 5:00 PM EST, 28 July 2026.

The AFRL Foundational Technologies Directorate seeks to hire a motivated and experienced mid-level General Engineer (0801), Materials Engineer (0806), Electrical Engineer (0850), Electronics Engineer (0855), Physicist (1310), or Chemist (1320), or related Job Series to serve as the Chief, Technology Development Section (REE-ST) in the Photonic, Electronic & Soft Materials Division (REE) of the Foundational Technologies Directorate (RE) in Air Force Research Laboratory.

This position will be filled at the DR-03 level and is located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio. This position may be filled as a 5-year Flexible Length Term appointment (new government hires, current government term employees, etc.) with the option to later extend or convert to a permanent appointment.

Position duties include, but are not limited to:

• Directs, coordinates and oversees work of subordinate employees.
• Mentors employees, provides employee performance/contribution assessments, and appropriately recognizes employee achievements through formal and informal means.
• Advises and provides counsel to employees regarding policies, procedures, and directives of senior management.
• Leads, promotes, and enables complex professional engineering and scientific work in polymers & specialty materials, including promoting high-impact research & development, technical publications and patents, and innovative intellectual property.
• Resolves multifaceted problems spanning multiple disciplines.
• Leads R&D, engineering, program management, and/or other professional and scientific efforts to ensure quality and relevant technical oversight and individual/team contributions.
• Develops & manages complex contracted research & development efforts related to polymers and specialty materials, including providing strategic and tactical oversight of Section contracting and finance actions.
• Determines investment strategy based on branch competencies & capability requirements and executes contracted research and development (R&D) through varied contracts and agreements.
• Applies expert knowledge and advanced scientific and/or engineering theories, principles, concepts, standards, and methods to ensure assigned projects/processes remain consistent with program objectives, costs, schedules, performance criteria, and existing policies.
• Cultivates and sustains a professional atmosphere of cooperation, cohesion, and teamwork.

• U.S. citizenship.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI security clearance.
• This is an Acquisition Professional Development Program (APDP) position requiring Level 2 certification (Practitioner) in Engineering & Technical Management. Applicants must list all completed APDP certifications on resume. Selectee will have 60 months to meet the APDP certification requirements of the position.
• Must meet, or be capable of meeting Defense Acquisition Work Improvement Act (DAWIA) requirements applicable to the duties of the position.
• Selectee is required to submit annual Confidential Financial Disclosure (OGE Form 450).
• This is a drug testing designated position. The incumbent is subject to pre-employment drug testing as a condition of employment, and participation in random drug testing.

• M.S. or Ph.D. in engineering or physical sciences.
• Experience supervising or mentoring researchers and program managers.
• Broad technical experience in polymers & specialty materials.
• Demonstrated leadership of research and development related to polymers & specialty materials, including developing research plans and roadmaps, analyzing data, reporting results, and promoting technology transition.
• Excellent communication skills, including experience writing proposals and publications/reports as well as giving high-level presentations.
• Experience with organizational relationship building, including a demonstrated ability to build and maintain professional networks across and outside AFRL.
• Experience initiating and managing diverse and complex contract vehicles, including monitoring financial and schedule performance.

Requisition Number 03229