Federal
Air Traffic Control Specialist (Staff Support Specialist)
Federal Aviation Administration ยท Department of Transportation
About This Position
Serves as a Staff Support Specialist (MSS-1) at Level 5 Terminal Facility.
Qualifications
Candidates must show Specialized Experience, which is defined as: 1) Must have held an FAA 2152-FG-14 or above, regional or headquarters position for a least one year (52 weeks); OR 2) Must have been facility rated or area certified for at least one year (52 weeks) at an ATS facility; NOTE: An employee who has been facility rated or area certified for at least one year (52 weeks) in an ATS facility that is upgraded, is considered to meet the qualification requirements of the upgraded positions, since the employee has been performing the higher-graded work; OR 3) Must have held an MSS position for at least one year(52 weeks) in an ATS facility; NOTE: There are no restrictions on who can apply to MSS vacancies at those facilities with 3 or less MSS levels. In addition to the qualifications listed above for MSS positions, the chart on MSS positions will be used to determine which career level applicants are qualified to make application. All qualifications requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement.
Major Duties
Responsible for tactical, strategic, and administrative support of multiple program areas such as training, quality control, quality assurance, traffic management, airspace and procedures, plans and programs, operational automation, military operations, special and security operations, safety management system, safety reporting and other areas of specialty identified collaboratively at the local level. The work requires a comprehensive knowledge of the ATC field and familiarization with the many integral components of the industry which comprise the National Airspace System. Specialists must have the ability to apply this knowledge to the analysis, evaluation and development of new methods, studies, approaches, and procedures. The Staff Support Specialist must be knowledgeable of agency wide programs, facility goals and objectives. Must be able to communicate clearly and tailor their message to the target audience. While not required, hardware/software experience is desirable. Some travel will be required. For the assigned Facility/Duty Location: 1. Performs daily functions of maintaining and or improving operational material and or resources within the assigned area(s) of specialty. 2. Communicates intra / inter facility as well as among various lines of business and industry. 3. Makes recommendations for new projects/studies, taking into account available resources and the accomplishment of facility goals and objectives. 4. Applies expertise toward the completion of projects/studies and facility reports. 5. Analyzes and evaluates the effectiveness of equipment, facilities, and procedures. 6. Conducts investigations, evaluations, and briefs facility personnel. 7. Develops methods to improve customer service and the quality of support provided. 8. Collaborates freely among facilities, provides feedback and consults with other Staff Support Specialists regardless of duty location. 9. May perform duties outside of the facility commensurate with grade and experience. Depending upon facility structure, reports to an assigned MSS-2, 3 or 4, who provides administrative direction for facility assignments, in terms of broadly defined missions or functions within areas of specialties. The incumbent is responsible for planning, designing and completing work assignments independently. Results of the work are technically authoritative and are normally accepted without change. Work is evaluated in terms of results achieved and effectiveness in assigned program areas. NOTE: **This position is covered by the Department of Transportation's Drug and Alcohol Testing Program. Persons occupying this position who meet the requirement to maintain currency and elect to maintain currency will be subject to random drug and alcohol testing.
Conditions of Employment
We are not accepting applications from noncitizens.
How You Will Be Evaluated
IMPORTANT: Applicants may be rated on the extent and quality of experience, education, and training relevant to the duties of the position(s). All answers provided in the on-line process must be substantiated. Ensure that your application package/resume supports your responses.
Additional Information
We may use this vacancy to fill other similar vacant positions. Position may be subject to a background investigation. A one-year probationary period may be required. The person selected for this position may be required to file a financial disclosure statement within 30 days of entry on duty. FAA policy limits certain outside employment and financial investments in aviation-related companies. www.faa.gov/jobs/workinghere/financial-disclosure-requirements This position is covered by the Department of Transportation's Drug and Alcohol Testing Program. Any applicant tentatively selected for this position will be subject to pre-employment or pre-appointment drug screening. Persons occupying a "testing designated position (TDP)" will be subject to random drug and/or alcohol testing. Interview Policy: If the Agency decides to interview any qualified employee on the selection list, then all on the list who are qualified must be interviewed. Requirement for Security Clearance: Selection and placement are contingent upon waiver or completion of satisfactory security requirements. Early Retirement: Position is not covered under P.L. 92-297 for early retirement purposes. Incomplete Applications: Please ensure you answer all questions and follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may impact your rating or may result in you not being considered for the job. Links to Important Information: Locality Pay, COLA
How to Apply
Faxed, mailed or e-mailed applications cannot be accepted. Applicants may be required to complete one or multiple assessments as part of the evaluation process. This assessment aims to evaluate the competencies and qualifications essential for the position. You must apply online to receive consideration. Your application must be submitted by 11:59 PM Eastern Time on the Close Date for it to be accepted. If you are applying for positions associated with FAA registers, your application must be submitted at the time a referral list is created in order to receive consideration for positions associated with a register. RESUMES ARE LIMITED TO TWO PAGES. IN DESCRIBING YOUR WORK EXPERIENCE AND/OR EDUCATION, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC AND INCLUDE INFORMATION AS IT RELATES TO THE QUALIFICATIONS AND SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS POSITION. We strongly encourage applicants to utilize the USAJOBS resume builder in the creation of resumes. Please ensure EACH work history includes ALL of the following information: Job Title (include series and grade if Federal Job) Relevant work experience: should align to the Job Announcement and address all required qualifications and include job title, employer name, start/end dates, number of hours worked per week. Education, certification or licensure: If required, education should include school/institution name, completion date, degree type and GPA. Determining length of General or Specialized Experience is dependent on the above information and failure to provide ALL of this information may result in a finding of ineligible. You may upload completed documents to your USAJOBS Account. This will provide you the opportunity to utilize the uploaded information again when applying for future vacancies. Please see this guide, Document Upload Guide, for more information on uploading and re-using the documents in your applications.
Required Documents
Submit completed Form FAA 3330-43-1, Rating of Air Traffic Experience for AT Movement, including a list of correspondence courses. The form must be submitted either by uploading as an attachment with the bid package through USAJOBS or email to [email protected]. Submit FAA Form 3330-43-1 to your designated facility rating official at least 5 days prior to the closing date of the announcement. The rating official will complete FAA Form 3330-43-1 and return it to you for timely mailing. Bids from candidates which have not been certified and signed by facility management will be ineligible for consideration. Incomplete bid packages will not be considered. If you are an FAA employee, you MUST provide a copy of your SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action) containing information in Blocks 15, 17, 18, 19, 22, and 24 so it can be used to verify your position title, series, grade, tenure, and organization of record by the closing date of the announcement. You may fax your SF-50 or upload it into the on-line application. If faxing the SF-50, please ensure you include the vacancy announcement number on the faxed copy. If you are an FAA employee, you can access and print your SF-50 from the eOPF system https://eopf.opm.gov/dot/. Forms: FAA-3330-43-1 : Rating of Air Traffic Experience For AT Movement
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the salary for the Air Traffic Control Specialist (Staff Support Specialist) position at Federal Aviation Administration?
The salary range for this position is $92,965 - $125,501/yr. This is a AT-EI position on the General Schedule pay scale. Actual pay may vary based on locality adjustments.
Where is the Air Traffic Control Specialist (Staff Support Specialist) job located?
This position is located in Camp Springs, Maryland. This is an on-site position.
What qualifications do I need?
Candidates must show Specialized Experience, which is defined as: 1) Must have held an FAA 2152-FG-14 or above, regional or headquarters position for a least one year (52 weeks); OR 2) Must have been facility rated or area certified for at least one year (52 weeks) at an ATS facility; NOTE: An employee who has been facility rated or area certifi...
How do I apply for this position?
Apply through USAJobs.gov by clicking the 'Apply on USAJobs' button. You'll need a USAJobs account, a federal-style resume, and supporting documents. The deadline is Mar 3, 2026.
Is a security clearance required?
Yes, a Secret clearance is required.
What does AT-EI mean?
AT-EI refers to the General Schedule grade level. Higher grades require more experience and offer higher pay. Visit our GS Pay Scale page for full salary tables by grade and locality.
What benefits do federal employees receive?
Federal employees receive comprehensive benefits including health insurance (FEHB), retirement through FERS, Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) with government matching, paid annual and sick leave, paid parental leave, life insurance, and student loan repayment programs.