Federal

Aviation Security Watch Officer

Federal Aviation Administration ยท Department of Transportation
๐Ÿ“ Washington, District of Columbia FV-I $103,604 - $160,571/yr
Posted: May 17, 2026 Deadline: May 26, 2026 (Closes in 9 days)

About This Position

Position is within the FAA, Security and Hazardous Materials Safety (ASH), Office of National Security Programs and Incident Response, Washington Operations Center Complex (AXE-100).

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, you must demonstrate in your application that you possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the FV-H, FG/GS-10-12 level. This experience is typically related to the line of work of the position to be filled and which has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been at least equivalent to the next lower level in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization.

Specialized Experience is defined as: -Experience utilizing communications and information systems within the National Airspace System (NAS); collecting information from multiple sources simultaneously in order to validate and give context during critical incidents and national security emergencies. AND -Experience composing and delivering briefings to government and national security organizational partners internal and external to a federal agency. You should include relevant examples of the specialized experience in your work history.

Errors or omissions may impact your rating or may result in you not being considered. Answer all questions to the best of your ability. DO NOT ASSUME THAT BECAUSE YOU HOLD, OR HAVE HELD THIS POSITION, YOU WILL AUTOMATICALLY BE FOUND ELIGIBLE.

You may be asked to provide evidence or documentation that you have this type of experience later in the selection process.

Your responses are subject to verification through job interviews, or any other information obtained during the application process. Any exaggeration of your experience or any attempt to conceal information can result in disqualification. *Applicants who fail to demonstrate possession of any of the above criteria AND who do not provide the required documentation will receive no further consideration for this position.* Applicants may be asked to verify information on your application for employment with the FAA. All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this vacancy announcement.

Major Duties

The incumbent serves as a member of a watch standing 12-hour rotating shifts that operate on a 24-hour, 7-day per week basis. The Washington Operations Center Complex maintains situational awareness of the air domain community and provides information for mission and decision support. The incumbent will be responsible for collecting, analyzing and disseminating information on the status of operations in the National Airspace System (NAS), such as aircraft incident/accidents, facility outages, security incidents, severe weather, and all occurrences that may impact the operating status of aviation worldwide.

The incumbent will perform multiple, varying, and complex assignments under limited direction of the manager. Applies experience and advanced knowledge of the NAS as it pertains to safety, security, and regulatory operations of aircraft and Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) in the NAS. Provide notifications and investigative support to accident investigators and law enforcement agencies investigating airmen or aircraft involved in accidents, security incidents, and transportation related threats.

As necessary, will compose summaries and provide verbal briefings delivered to the Secretary of Transportation, the Administrator/Deputy Administrator, key officials, and other national operations centers. In situations demanding immediate decision or action until communications can be established, provides or arranges for support required by the Office of Primary Responsibility. Maintains operational readiness of the facility.

Serves as liaison with counterparts of other Federal agencies and departments, and national operations centers. Participates in the Continuity of Operations Exercises and augments the agency COOP cadre. Applies technical expertise and advanced knowledge of complex systems and/or emerging technology such as Airspace Awareness &Detection System (AADS), Conference Management System, Incident Warning System (IWS) and Emergency Notifications/Network System.

Knowledge of systems interrelationships and management of the National Airspace System (NAS). Monitors and assesses reports of UAS demonstrated activities, sightings, incidents or post-event research and the implications to FAA interests, the NAS, national security, air domain, and industry partners. Conducts trend analysis, operational support, and in-depth assessments on UAS threat concerns to maximize the FAA's situational awareness of UAS risks in the NAS and to inform reporting/messaging, mitigation planning, operational decision-making, and crisis management either proactively, during or following incidents/activity of concern.

Coordinates with federal/state/local/tribal, academic, global counterparts, and industry, to collaborate on and share information regarding UAS threats, risks, and vulnerabilities potentially affecting the air domain. Defines, plans, and organizes available resources to accomplish projects and program activities. Established policies/procedures provide guidance for most assignments, but allow considerable discretion for employee to select the most appropriate approach(es) or develop new approaches.

Assignments regularly require interpretations of internal and external policies and extrapolations from precedents. Resolves all but unique technical problems without intervention of management or more experienced technical specialist. Identifies and informs management of problems that require their attention.

Develops and recommends techniques to address problem situations. Work activities typically support and may be vital to the success of projects or activities, and may affect the objectives of the FAA. The work affects internal and external customers.

Conditions of Employment

We are not accepting applications from noncitizens.

Education

Education cannot be substituted for experience.

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. *For ALL Core Comp positions: This position is covered by the FAA Core Compensation plan.

Additional information about Core Compensation is available at: https://www.faa.gov/jobs/working_here/benefits. As a part of the Federal-Wide Hiring Reform Initiative (streamlining the hiring process), the FAA is committed to eliminating the use of Knowledge, Skills and Ability (KSA) narratives from the initial application in the hiring process for all announcements. Therefore, as an applicant, you are NOT required to provide a narrative response in the text box listed below each KSA.

In lieu of providing a KSA narrative response in the text box listed below each KSA section, in your work history, please include information that provides specific examples of how you meet the response level or answer you chose for each KSA.

Your work history examples should be specific and clearly reflect the highest level of ability.

Your KSA answers will be evaluated further to validate whether the level that you selected is appropriate based on the work history and experience you provided.

Your answers may be adjusted by a human resource specialist as appropriate. Eligible applicants meeting the minimum qualification requirements and/or selective placement factor(s) (SPF) may be further evaluated on the Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA) and/or Quality Ranking Factor (QRF) listed in the announcement. Based on this evaluation, applicants will be placed in one of the following categories: (1) score order; (2) category grouping; (3) alphabetical; or (4) priority grouping, and referred to the selecting official for selection consideration.

Some, all, or none of the applicants may be interviewed. This Level 4 (Special Sensitive; TS/SCI) position requires favorable adjudication of a Single Scope Background Investigation (SSBI) background investigation prior to appointment, unless a waiver is obtained. This announcement is also being advertised under VA #AWA-ASH-26-68707BR-98587.

Please review both vacancy announcements before making application to determine your eligibility to apply. This is not a bargaining unit position. Links to Important Information: Locality Pay, COLA

How to Apply

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. 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.

Required Documents

Only supplemental documentation (e.g. transcript, certifications, SF-50, and/or veterans' documentation) will be accepted in combination with your on-line application or faxed to 202-267-7032. These documents must be uploaded on faxed or before the closing date of the announcement. All submitted documents must reference the announcement number.

For guidance on how to create a Federal resume, visit http://www.archives.gov/careers/jobs/forms/resume-guide.pdf. Failure to submit all required documents by the closing date will result in a finding of ineligible. We are not responsible for incomplete, illegible or missing documents.

Please DO NOT email your application documents. We cannot accept documents received via the email system. Documents sent via email will NOT receive consideration. Applicants claiming eligibility for the Expanded Veterans Hiring Opportunity (EVHO), MUST submit a DD Form 214 reflecting character of service to verify eligibility by the closing date of the announcement as requested by the Human Resource Office.

Eligibility for EVHO will be considered based on applicable documentation submitted by the closing date. If you are a current or former Federal employee (including a current 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 a current Federal employee and need a current copy of your SF-50, please contact your personnel office.

If you are an FAA employee, you can access and print your SF-50 from the eOPF system https://eopf.opm.gov/dot/. If you are a former Federal employee, you can obtain a copy of your SF-50 by writing the National Personnel Records Center Annex, 1411 Boulder Boulevard, Valmeyer, IL 62295. Additional information is available from this link: https://www.archives.gov/st-louis/opf.

Expanded Veterans Hiring Opportunity (EVHO) are preference eligibles and veterans who are honorably discharged from the Armed Forces after completing at least three (3) years of continuous active service. Applicants claiming eligibility for EVHO, MUST submit a DD Form 214 reflecting character of service to verify eligibility by the closing date of the announcement as requested by the Human Resource Office. Eligibility for EVHO will be considered based on applicable documentation submitted by the closing date.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the salary for the Aviation Security Watch Officer position at Federal Aviation Administration?
The salary range for this position is $103,604 - $160,571/yr. This is a FV-I position on the General Schedule pay scale. Actual pay may vary based on locality adjustments.
Where is the Aviation Security Watch Officer job located?
This position is located in Washington, District of Columbia. This is an on-site position.
What qualifications do I need?
Education cannot be substituted for experience.
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 May 26, 2026.
Is a security clearance required?
Yes, a Top Secret clearance is required.
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.