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Posted: March 16, 2026 (0 days ago)

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AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL SPECIALIST (TERMINAL)

Air Combat Command

Department of the Air Force

Fresh

Location

Salary

$107,048 - $139,166

per year

Closes

GS-11 Pay Grade

Base salary range: $62,107 - $80,737

Typical requirements: 1 year specialized experience at GS-10. Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, or 3 years graduate study.

Note: Actual salary includes locality pay (15-40%+ depending on location).

Job Description

Summary

This job involves directing air traffic at airports to ensure planes take off, land, and move safely without collisions, often in high-pressure situations.

It's a critical role in the Air Force supporting military operations in Nevada.

A good fit would be someone with prior air traffic control experience who stays calm under stress, works flexible hours including nights and weekends, and is committed to national security missions.

Key Requirements

  • At least one year of specialized experience at GS-9 level or equivalent in air traffic control, including issuing instructions to pilots for safe aircraft separation
  • Knowledge of air traffic control laws, rules, and regulations from military or civilian facilities
  • Ability to act decisively under stressful situations and maintain alertness during long periods of pressure
  • Completion of training like Air Force course E3AZR1C171 00TA (Automated Terminal Instrument Procedures) or equivalent, desired
  • Pass initial and periodic drug testing as a Testing Designated Position
  • Willingness to work rotating shifts, overtime, uncommon tours (including weekends/holidays), and respond to short-notice recalls
  • Not eligible for Ready Reserve; subject to special retirement provisions for air traffic controllers under CSRS/FERS

Full Job Description

Click on "Learn more about this agency" button below to view Eligibilities being considered and other IMPORTANT information.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT (cont'd) This position may be entitled to 5% premium pay as authorized by 5USC 5546a (a)(1) Must complete all training requirements to maintain proficiency for TERPS duties, and obtain and maintain facility ratings within facility prescribed time limits as required IAW DOD, Air Force and FAA regulations, instructions, and directives.

Completion of Air Force course E3AZR1C171 00TA, Automated Terminal Instrument Procedures (TERPS), E3OZR13M4 OOTA (If Officer), or equivalent, is desired This position has been designated by the Air Force as a Testing Designated Position (TDP) under the Air Force Civilian Drug Demand Reduction Program.

Employee must pass initial and periodic short notice drug testing.

Illegal drug use by employees in sensitive positions presents a clear threat to the mission of the Air Force, national Security and public safety May be required to work an uncommon tour of duty, i.e., Saturdays, Sundays, Holidays, etc.

May be required to work rotating shifts and overtime.

May be required to respond to short notice recall to support unscheduled emergency air traffic and/or contingencies/exercises to support the mission. This is a Key position.

The duties of this position meets all requirements as a category 4 designation, and shall not be vacated during a national emergency or mobilization without seriously impairing the capability of the parent Federal Agency.

This position must be removed from the Ready Reserve and CAN NOT become a member of the Ready Reserve (IAW: DoDD 1200.7, "Screening the Ready Reserve.") This position is subject to the special retirement provisions for Air Traffic Controllers under CSRS and FERS (5 USC 3382, Involuntary Separation for Retirement; 5 USC 8335(a) and 8425(a), Mandatory Separation; 5 USC 8336 (e) and 8412 (e), Immediate Retirement; 5 USC 8339 (e) and 8415 (a), Mandatory Separation; 5 USC 8336(e) and 8412(e), Immediate Retirement; 5 USC 8339(e) and 8415 (d), Computation Annuity) This position is Mission essential.

The duties of this position meets all requirements as a category 4 designation and shall not be vacated during a national emergency and mobilization without seriously impairing the capability of the parent Federal Agency or office to function effectively.

This position must be removed from the Ready Reserve and CAN NOT become a member of the Ready Reserve. (IAW: DoDD 1200.7, "Screening the Ready Reserve").

In order to qualify, you must meet the specialized experience requirements described in the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards for General Schedule Positions, Air Traffic Control Series, 2152.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must have at least one (1) year of specialized experience at the next lower grade GS-11, or equivalent in other pay systems.

Examples of specialized experience includes includes experience in a military or civilian air traffic facility that demonstrated possession of the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform the level of work of the specialization for which application is made.

This experience must have provided knowledge of appropriate air traffic control laws, rules, and regulations.

Examples of specialized experience include issuing control instructions and advice to pilots in the vicinity of airports to assure proper separation of aircraft and to expedite their safe and efficient movement; ability to act decisively under stressful situations and to maintain alertness over sustained periods of pressure; skill to coordinate plans and actions with pilots and other controllers; and judgment to select and take the safest and most effective course of action from among several available choices.

FEDERAL TIME-IN-GRADE (TIG) REQUIREMENT FOR GENERAL SCHEDULE (GS) POSITIONS: Merit promotion applicants must meet applicable time-in-­grade requirements to be considered eligible.

One year at the GS-11 level is required to meet the time-in-grade requirements for the GS-12 level. TIG applies if you are in a current GS position or held a GS position within the previous 52 weeks.

NOTE: Applicants applying as VEOA candidates who are current GS civil service employees or are prior GS civil service employees within the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs): Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following areas: Knowledge of concepts and principles contained in Air Force instructions, FAA handbooks, regulations and orders, and other publications pertaining to flight information publication requirements; and of approach procedure flyability, ATC policies and procedures, flight inspection requirements, geography, electronic data processing and navigational aids characteristics in order to certify instrument flight procedures.

Knowledge of publications pertaining to flight information publication requirements; of ATC policies and procedures, geography, and navigational aid characteristics; of civil engineering rules; of the use and function of National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) Aeronautical Information Publication Library; of radar systems; and of significant weather conditions that affect the safety of air traffic operations.

Knowledge of civil engineering rules and regulations relating to airport actual and imaginary surfaces, airfield waivers and airfield construction; and with the use and function of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) Aeronautical Information Publication Library.

Knowledge of laws, rules, regulations, and procedures governing the movement of air traffic control operations and the separation of aircraft in terminal radar approach control and control tower operations; and of the functional and operational limitations of all ATC equipment including radar systems, navigational aids (NAVAIDS), weather indicators, remote status indicators, radios, landlines, recording equipment, ATC simulation systems, and any other equipment pertaining to ATC services; and of significant weather conditions that affect the safety of air traffic operations.

Skill in application of TERPS criteria.

Ability to use computer systems and printing devices to include GPD, desktop computers, large scale printers and similar data processing devices; and to extract required data from all associated source reference materials.

Ability to communicate effectively, disseminate information clearly and concisely through written reports, memos, and procedures, as well as presentations/briefings; make rapid and precise judgments in a real-time work situation; remain calm under conditions that are stressful; and to adjust rapidly to changes in the traffic pattern and tempo of work activity.

MAXIMUM ENTRY AGE: The maximum age for original entry into an identified ATC position is 36 years.

An individual shall NOT be appointed or assigned to an ATC position if that appointment cannot be completed prior to the last day of the month in which the individual reaches his/her 36th birthday.

Applicants over the age limit must meet re-entry or age waiver requirements in accordance with DoDI 1400.25-V331 dated 26 Jan 15, Department of Defense Civilian Personnel Manual, Subchapter 331, Civilian Air Traffic Controllers.

Any individual who has reached the mandatory separation age (56) is NOT eligible for employment/reemployment as an ATC (5 U.S.C.

3323(a) (reference (b)).NOTE: ATCs have a mandatory separation age of 56. This position is covered as an Air Traffic Controller under 5 USC 2109.

This position is subject to the special retirement provisions for Air Traffic Controllers under CSRS and FERS (5 USC 3382, Involuntary Separation for Retirement; 5 USC 8335(a) and 8425(a), Mandatory Separation; 5 USC 8336(e), Immediate Retirement; 5 USC 8339(3) and 8415(d), Computation of annuity, and 8412(e).

Major Duties:

The primary purpose of this position is: To develop and manage the unit Air Traffic Control (ATC) Terminal Instrument Procedures (TERPS) Program and to provide air traffic control (ATC) services to military and civilian aircraft operating in a radar environment using instrument flight rules (IFR) and visual flight rules (VFR) providing for the safe, orderly, and expeditious flow of air traffic.

To provide non-radar approach control services in allocated airspace, in the event of radar outages. Duties: Plans, organizes and directs activities of the TERPS program.

Determines effectiveness and adequacy of procedures, determines ramifications, and makes recommendations to management.

Directs movement of aircraft in flight and on the ground as displayed on radar indicator and pilot reported. Operates communication and display equipment and provides emergency assistance to aircraft.

Maintains certification requirements.

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Posted on USAJOBS: 3/16/2026 | Added to FreshGovJobs: 3/17/2026

Source: USAJOBS | ID: 9H-AFPC-12911437-204297-LEB