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Posted: April 8, 2026 (0 days ago)

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CONTRACT SPECIALIST

Naval Air Systems Command

Department of the Navy

Fresh

Location

Salary

$121,785 - $158,322

per year

Closes

April 10, 2026More Navy jobs →

GS-12 Pay Grade

Base salary range: $74,441 - $96,770

Typical requirements: 1 year specialized experience at GS-11. Advanced degree + significant experience.

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

Job Description

Summary

This job involves managing all stages of contracts for the F-35 fighter jet program, from planning and negotiating deals to ensuring the procurement of aircraft, engines, and related equipment for the military and international partners.

It requires handling complex, high-value contracts for major defense systems.

A good fit would be someone with several years of experience in government or industry contracting, especially in defense acquisitions, who is skilled in analysis, negotiation, and strategic planning.

Key Requirements

  • At least one year of specialized experience at GS-12 level or equivalent in federal, private, or public sector contracting
  • Planning, developing, implementing, maintaining, and administering all contract aspects of a system acquisition program
  • Utilizing price/cost analysis techniques to evaluate contractor proposals and prepare pre-negotiation positions
  • Applying negotiation techniques for sole source major weapons systems contracts with high-level officials
  • Comprehensive experience in cost realism and cost analysis for sole source major weapons system procurements
  • Meeting Department of Defense (DoD) qualification standards for GS-1102 contracting positions (including Title 10 requirements)
  • U.S. citizenship and ability to obtain a security clearance

Full Job Description

This Contract Specialist position is located in the F-35 Joint Program Office, Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) in Arlington, VA.

The position supports cradle to grave contracting requirements for the F-35 program.

This includes the design, development, procurement, operation, and maintenance of F-35 aircraft, F135 engines, and associated equipment to support the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, U.S.

Marine Corps, international partner nations, and multiple Foreign Military Sales customers.

In addition to the Basic Requirements for this position, your resume must also demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-12 grade level or pay band in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private or public sector.

Specialized experience must demonstrate the following: 1) Planning, developing, implementing, maintaining, and administering all contract aspects of a system acquisition program; 2) Utilizing price/cost analysis techniques to evaluate contractor proposals and preparing a pre-negotiation position; 3) Applying negotiation techniques to conduct contract negotiations of hardware sole source major weapons systems contracts with high level business, industry, scientific, and/or Government officials; and/or 4) Demonstrating comprehensive and complex experience in both cost realism and cost analysis, in a sole source major weapons system procurement.

Applicant must meet the following Department of Defense qualification requirements for 1102 contracting positions: http://www.secnav.navy.mil/donhr/Documents/CivilianJobs/DoD_Qualification_Standard_For_GS-1102.pdf And the title 10 requirements found here: http://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title10-section1724&num=0&edition=prelim Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., professional, philanthropic, religious, spiritual, community, student, social).

Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. Major Duties:

  • You will develop procurement objectives for the program in terms of competition and price range, and construct the contractual vehicle including use of pricing arrangements, subcontracting policy, set-aside policies, and similar considerations.
  • You will prepare procurement documentation such as determinations and findings and solicitation documents.
  • You will prepare and maintain current acquisition plans, appropriate milestone charts, and related schedules.
  • You will plan the negotiation strategy, coordinate strategy with negotiation teams, and lead the negotiations.

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Posted on USAJOBS: 4/8/2026 | Added to FreshGovJobs: 4/8/2026

Source: USAJOBS | ID: ST-12930828-26-ARW