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General Engineer

Missile Defense Agency

Redstone Arsenal, ALFull-time$131–197K/yrPosted today

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At a glance

Compensation
$131–197K/yr
Location
Redstone Arsenal, AL
Schedule
Full-time
Work Authorization
Not specified

Olive lists jobs from US employers, including remote roles you can work from the United States.

Requirements

Credentials this posting asks for.

Engineer Intern Or Engineer In Training Or PE LicenseFundamentals Of Engineering Exam Or Equivalent TestDoD Acquisition Practitioner Certification Within 60 Months

Job overview

The Missile Defense Agency seeks a General Engineer in its Engineering Directorate supporting Command & Control, Battle Management & Communications. At the NH-04 broadband level, the role plans integration efforts for Missile Defense System sites, manages technical and operational requirements for a protected wide-band system, and develops communications and satellite communications solutions. Applicants must meet specialized experience and professional engineering qualification standards.

Skills & qualifications

RequiredNice to have

Skills

Network EngineeringCommand and Control SystemsCommunications Systems EngineeringSatellite CommunicationsTerrestrial Network TransportSoftware Defined NetworkingOptical Transport

Qualifications

One Year Specialized ExperienceEngineering Degree or Equivalent PathEngineer Intern or Engineer in Training or PE LicenseFundamentals of Engineering Exam or Equivalent Test60 Semester Hours Engineering SciencesRelated Bachelor's and One Year Engineering ExperienceDoD Acquisition Practitioner Certification Within 60 Months80 Continuous Learning Points Every Two YearsThree-Year Federal Service CommitmentSelective Service Registration or ExemptionNegative Drug Test

Full job description

Summary

This position is part of the Department of War (DoW), Missile Defense Agency (MDA). The incumbent will be responsible for serving as a General Engineer for The Engineering Directorate supporting Command & Control, Battle Management & Communications (DCC). .

Duties

This is a Direct Hire Authority (DHA) solicitation utilizing the DHA for Acq Demo Business and Technical Management to recruit and appoint qualified candidates to positions in the competitive service. As a General Engineer at the NH-0801-4 broadband level, some of your typical work assignments may include: Plan multiple integration efforts for Missile Defense System (MDS) sites and implement new communication requirements. Manages the technical and operational requirements for the Protected Anti-Scintillation Anti-Jam Wide-band Net-Centric System. Approve Defense Information Systems Agency Store Front circuit requests and evaluate and approve circuit test reports. Engineer new MDS communications paths, including Satellite Communications (SATCOM) solutions for disadvantaged MDS sites. Review and approve Contract Data Requirements LIst (CDRLs) submitted by prime contractors. Represents MDS SATCOM requirements to the wider DoW SATCOM community and develop SATCOM requirements. Qualifications

You may qualify at the NH-04 Broadband Level, if you fulfill the following qualifications: A. One year of specialized experience equivalent to the NH-03/GS-13 grade level in the Federal service as listed below and must meet 3 of the 5 specialized experience listed below to be qualified: Experience in network engineering and complex global command and control systems. Experience in the engineering of communications systems to include satellite communications technologies and equipment. Experience with terrestrial network transport capabilities and technology. Experience with Software Defined Networking (SDN) Experience with Optical transport technologies. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (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. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. In addition to meeting qualifications, your application package must reflect the applicable experience to meet the Individual Occupational Requirements for the 0801, series as listed below: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0800/files/all-professional-engineering-positions-0800.pdf A. Degree: Engineering. To be acceptable, the program must: (1) lead to a bachelor's degree in a school of engineering with at least one program accredited by ABET; or (2) include differential and integral calculus and courses (more advanced than first-year physics and chemistry) in five of the following seven areas of engineering science or physics: (a) statics, dynamics; (b) strength of materials (stress-strain relationships); (c) fluid mechanics, hydraulics; (d) thermodynamics; (e) electrical fields and circuits; (f) nature and properties of materials (relating particle and aggregate structure to properties); and (g) any other comparable area of fundamental engineering science or physics, such as optics, heat transfer, soil mechanics, or electronics. OR B. Combination of education and experience -- college-level education, training, and/or technical experience that furnished (1) a thorough knowledge of the physical and mathematical sciences underlying engineering, and (2) a good understanding, both theoretical and practical, of the engineering sciences and techniques and their applications to one of the branches of engineering. The adequacy of such background must be demonstrated by one of the following: 1. Professional registration or licensure -- Current registration as an Engineer Intern (EI), Engineer in Training (EIT), or licensure as a Professional Engineer (PE) by any State, the District of Columbia, Guam, or Puerto Rico. Absent other means of qualifying under this standard, those applicants who achieved such registration by means other than written test (e.g., State grandfather or eminence provisions) are eligible only for positions that are within or closely related to the specialty field of their registration. For example, an applicant who attains registration through a State Board's eminence provision as a manufacturing engineer typically would be rated eligible only for manufacturing engineering positions. 2. Written Test -- Evidence of having successfully passed the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE)2 examination or any other written test required for professional registration by an engineering licensure board in the various States, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico. 3. Specified academic courses -- Successful completion of at least 60 semester hours of courses in the physical, mathematical, and engineering sciences and that included the courses specified in the basic requirements under paragraph A. The courses must be fully acceptable toward meeting the requirements of an engineering program as described in paragraph A. 4. Related curriculum -- Successful completion of a curriculum leading to a bachelor's degree in an appropriate scientific field, e.g., engineering technology, physics, chemistry, architecture, computer science, mathematics, hydrology, or geology, may be accepted in lieu of a bachelor's degree in engineering, provided the applicant has had at least 1 year of professional engineering experience acquired under professional engineering supervision and guidance. Ordinarily there should be either an established plan of intensive training to develop professional engineering competence, or several years of prior professional engineering-type experience, e.g., in interdisciplinary positions. (The above examples of related curricula are not all-inclusive.) NOTE: Failure to provide transcripts will result in you being rated ineligible for this position. All materials must be submitted by the closing date of the announcement.

Education

Substitution of education may not be used in lieu of specialized experience for this grade level. All materials must be submitted by the closing date of the announcement. FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html How You Will Be Evaluated

We will review your resume and supporting documents, to ensure you meet the basic qualification requirements. We will evaluate each applicant who meets the basic qualifications on the information provided and evaluate your relevant work experiences as it relates to fundamental competencies, identified below, required for this position. Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics): Traditional rating and ranking of applications does not apply to this vacancy. Your application (resume and supporting documentation) will be evaluated to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications required as listed on the announcement under qualification requirements. Veterans Preference: If you are entitled to veterans preference, you should indicate the type of veterans' preference you are claiming on your resume. Your veterans' preference entitlement will be verified by the employing agency. For information on entitlement see http://www.fedshirevets.gov/job/vetpref/index.aspx Appointment of Military Spouses (5 CFR 315.612) (NonComp Mil Sp): To receive this preference, you must choose to apply using the " Appointment of Military Spouses (5 CFR 315.612) (NonComp Mil Sp)" eligibility. If you are claiming Military Spouse eligibility and are determined to be Well Qualified (score of 85 or above) for the position, you will be referred to the hiring manager. Information and required documentation for claiming Military Spouse eligibility may be found at the General Applicant Information and Definitions link below. Appointment of Department of Defense Spouses (NonComp Civ Sp): Are you the spouse of a current Department of Defense, Department of State, or intelligence community employee who is being transferred in the interest of the Government from one official station within the Department to another within the Department for permanent duty? Supporting Documentation: You are required to submit proof of marriage AND permanent change of station (PCS) orders: spouse's PCS orders (showing you as a dependent) and/or copy of marriage certificate. If you are a current or previous Federal employee, please include your most recent SF-50. Other Information

Other Notes: Salary Ranges are the following unless statutory/regulatory rates prevail. For the Schriever AFB, CO Location: $129,096 to $197,200 (includes 20.15% locality). For the Redstone Arsenal, AL Location: $130,987 to $197,200 (includes 21.91% locality) For the Colorado Springs, CO Location: $129,096 to $197,200 (includes 20.15% locality) CRITICAL ACQUISITION POSITION (CAP). Selectee for this position will be required to sign a written agreement to remain, for a minimum of three years, in the federal service in this critical acquisition position. DAWIA (Back to Basics) Certification: CAP: Position is a DoD Critical Acquisition Position & requires DoD Acquisition Engineering and Technical Management, Practitioner certification. Certification prior to hiring is not essential but must be accomplished within 60 months after entry into this position. Selectee must also achieve 80 hours of Continuous Learning Points (CLPs) every 2-years and sign a written agreement to remain in Federal service in the position for at least three years. Click here for more details and Resources. This is a Security Cooperation position coded Acquistion Management, Advanced Level. Selectee must obtain mandatory certification within 60 months of entry into position. RE-EMPLOYED ANNUITANT: This position DOES NOT meet criteria for re-employed annuitant. The DoD criteria for hiring Re-employed Annuitants can be found at: https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/issuances/140025/1400.25-V300.pdf. All applicants must meet qualifications and eligibility criteria by the closing date of the announcement. Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see Who Needs to Register | Selective Service System : Selective Service System (sss.gov)) This position is subject to an initial drug screening, and random testing thereafter. A negative drug test result must be received by HR within 30 calendar days after the EOD (i.e., start date). The selectee's inability successfully pass; or refusal to conduct the test may result in: 1) the tentative or FJO being withdrawn during the recruitment process; or 2) subsequently being removed from Federal service for failure to meet a condition of employment. You may be required to sign a "Drug Test Statement of Understanding" if you are selected for this position.

How this job compares

Set against the 11,500 open Systems Engineer jobs on Olive Jobs, counted November 4, 2026.

Pay
  • This posting$131–197K/yr
  • Alabama median$109–195K/yr245 salary ranges
  • US median$116–190K/yr8,431 salary ranges

This range's midpoint, $164K, is 8% above the Alabama median midpoint ($151K) — in the middle half of Systems Engineer salary ranges in Alabama.

Openings
Olive Jobs lists 375 open Systems Engineer jobs in Alabama and 11,500 across the US. 5% of them nationwide are listed as remote or flexible.
Hiring the most in Alabama
Experience
This posting asks for at least 1 year of experience — less than three in four Systems Engineer postings that state a minimum ask for (median 5 years, across 9,603 postings).
Education
4,536 of the 11,500 open Systems Engineer jobs (39%) ask for a bachelor's degree or higher.

Counted across the open, public US postings on Olive Jobs on November 4, 2026. Pay medians are the middle values of the low ends and of the high ends of postings that list both ends of a range in the same cadence (a yearly salary or an hourly rate); a range's midpoint is halfway between its ends. Pay and experience figures resting on fewer than 20 postings are left out.

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