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Posted: March 6, 2026 (0 days ago)

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Airway Transportation Systems Specialist (Program Manager)

Federal Aviation Administration

Department of Transportation

Fresh

Salary

$124,632 - $193,218

per year

Closes

March 26, 2026More DOT jobs →

GS-13 Pay Grade

Base salary range: $88,520 - $115,079

Typical requirements: 1 year specialized experience at GS-12. Expert-level knowledge in field.

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

Job Description

Summary

This job involves leading and managing complex projects to keep the U.S.

air traffic control and navigation systems running safely and efficiently, acting as the go-to expert for solving tough technical problems in aviation electronics.

The role requires overseeing teams, coordinating with various groups, and ensuring minimal disruptions to air travel operations.

It's a great fit for experienced technical professionals with a strong background in aviation systems who enjoy high-level problem-solving and leadership in a critical national infrastructure role.

Key Requirements

  • Extensive experience in technology system interrelationships and management of automated aviation, navigation, and electronics systems
  • Specialized experience equivalent to FV-I or GS-13 level, including installing, evaluating, maintaining, modifying, and certifying NAS facilities and equipment
  • Demonstrated abilities in technical expertise, project management, and leadership, supported by narrative justifications in application
  • Ability to serve as senior project manager or team leader for large, complex work activities
  • Experience resolving complex issues with high-level internal and external stakeholders to maintain NAS integrity
  • Skills in coordinating shutdowns and restorations of systems with minimal impact on air traffic operations
  • For promotions, a signed supervisory endorsement is required

Full Job Description

Airway Transportation Systems Specialists (ATSS) Program Manager at this level is recognized as the principal expert in their field.

All duties of an ATSS are tied to maintaining safe and efficient operating capacity of the vast and complex network of electronics systems required for the world's largest air traffic control and navigation system.

ATSS personnel install, evaluate, maintain, modify and certify facilities, services and equipment that support the National Airspace System (NAS).

To qualify for this position, candidate must show experience at the level of difficulty and responsibility that demonstrates an extensive amount of and experience in technology system interrelationships, and management of civilian or military automated aviation, navigation, and electronics systems.

Generally, experience at the next lower level (Pay Band I/Level IV or equivalent), meets the minimum qualifications for this position as long as the experience supports the DEMONSTRATED ABILITIES identified below.

In addition to your resume, in the space provided under each Demonstrated Ability, you MUST provide a NARRATIVE justification on how you meet this ability.

The justification should be clear and concise, providing a description of your education, training, and experience that would describe the degree to which you possess each Demonstrated Ability listed below.

Eligible candidates may be ranked based on demonstrated abilities.

Specialized Experience for J-Band: In addition to the Demonstrated abilities qualified applicants must demonstrate specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade (FV-I or FG/GS-13).

Specialized experience is experience which has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position and that is typically in or directly related to work of the position to be filled.

Supervisor Endorsement: If your selection for this position would be considered a PROMOTION, then a Supervisory Endorsement is REQUIRED by the closing date of this announcement.

The endorsement must be signed (wet/ink or digital/certificate signature), dated, and must include the vacancy announcement number.

To obtain the Supervisory Endorsement form or memo, please contact your manager. NOTE: For ingrade/downgrade candidates, a supervisor's endorsement is not required. Major Duties:

As an ATSS Program Manager, the incumbent is recognized as the principal technical expert for development of workable solutions for any unanticipated situations adversely affecting operationally critical systems of the NAS.

Serves as senior project manager or team leader for large, challenging and complex work activities.

Represents the FAA as a senior technical authority for major agency activities, emerging technologies and customer concerns.

Responsible for establishing and managing program goals and objectives and formulating project plans; develops, interprets, recommends changes, and has broad discretion to insure compliance with organizational objectives and policies; identifies, procures, distributes, and tracks resources needed to accomplish large work activities.

Works with customers at high internal and external organization levels to the FAA to resolve complex issues to insure the integrity of the NAS.

Coordinates with multiple air traffic entities to shut down and restore facilities, systems, and services to prevent activities from disrupting air traffic operations.

Quickly resolves restoration problems with minimal impact to the NAS. Performs work providing agency-wide leadership for highly complex and challenging technical activities.

This may be accomplished using innovative concepts and approaches for problems that have resisted earlier efforts at resolution.

Maintains authority to commit the necessary resources to accomplish the agency's mission. Develops innovative approaches to attain organizational objectives and optimize the use of resources.

Works independently, monitors and evaluates trend data on a nationwide basis to develop workable solutions for sustaining the NAS.

Keeps abreast of changes in technology and the new systems coming on-line. Provides recommendations to senior level managers for enhancement of systems and air traffic operations.

Formulates Standard Operation Procedures (SOP) for local use, dealing with Emergency and Safety situations at assigned facilities.

Incumbent has the authoritative responsibility for timely upward reporting of NAS information that could have an impact to operations for purposes of Situation Awareness (i.e.

NOTAM, SAL Paging function). Understands the current state and dynamics of local operations and being able to anticipate future changes and developments.

Integrates Operational Risk Management (ORM) into restoration, schedule maintenance activities, and all planned projects, ensuring that all customers and users of services are included and involved in ORM implementation and planning.

Incumbent is management's representative during non-administrative hours. Formulates and recommends organizational positions on major agency activities to senior managers.

Technical decisions are considered authoritative in his/her area of expertise. Is considered a technical expert within the FAA for an assigned system or specialty area.

Work directly supports the objectives of the agency and the safe and continual operation of the NAS. Contacts are both internal and external.

Formulates and recommends organization positions on major agency activities to senior managers. Represents the FAA as a senior technical authority for major projects and programs. Works independently.

Has broad discretion to ensure alignment with organization objectives and policies. Develops innovative approaches to attain organizational objectives and optimize the use of resources.

Identifies and justifies the resources needed to accomplish large work activities.

Provides expert guidance and instruction to address diverse, complex issues that often cross multiple projects, programs, or functional areas.

Develops plans, techniques, and policies to address current or anticipated problems and issues. Work is typically reviewed for success in achieving desired results. Performs other duties as assigned.

Incumbent must possess a valid driver's license.

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Posted on USAJOBS: 3/6/2026 | Added to FreshGovJobs: 3/6/2026

Source: USAJOBS | ID: ANM-ATO-26-0690570-97534