Terminal Air Traffic Controller

United States Space Force•Vandenberg AFB, CA 95814, United States• Full Time

Posted 1 week ago• Business & Finance

Compensation

$81,290–$105,671/year

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Job Description

Summary

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Accepting applications

Open & closing dates

01/09/2026 to 01/19/2026

Salary $81,290 to - $105,671 per year

Salary is dependent upon duty location, grade, step and locality pay.

Pay scale & grade GS 10

Location

Duties

The United States Space Force (USSF) Space Systems Command (SSC) 30th Operations Support Squadron (30 OSS) at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California is searching for two Terminal Air Traffic Controllers (GS-2152-10).

Description:
The Air Traffic Control Specialist (Terminal) positions will serve as a Watch Supervisor-qualified Air Traffic Control Specialist in the Control Terminal facility at Vandenberg Space Force Base (VSFB), CA. Provide safe, orderly, and expeditious air traffic control support and services to aircraft transiting, originating, or terminating in the installation's delegated terminal airspace. Controls military and civilian aircraft under visual flight rules (VFR) in a control terminal environment. On a rotational basis, may perform duties as Watch Supervisor. Responsible for the overall operations of the facility when performing as the Watch Supervisor and maintains general situational awareness of air traffic. Observe and report airport advisories, critical weather information, and equipment outages. Coordinates Notice to Airman (NOTAMS) actions to advise all users of the status of airport facilitates. Provides instruction and assistance to air traffic control personnel. Provide basic journeyman training for personnel to meet certification requirements for upgrade and qualification in the Air Traffic Control (ATC) career field. Maintain certification requirements. Upon obtaining position and facility certification, recurring training is required to maintain proficiency in current air traffic control requirements, and to ensure continued proficiency in each certified operating position.

The ideal candidate will have prior experience as a certified active-duty or USAF or USSF Civilian Air Traffic Control Terminal Watch Supervisor. At least 5 years of ATC Terminal experience is highly desired. At least 10 years of ATC experience and expertise in the ATC career field within the last 3 years is highly desired.

Key Skills and Abilities:
1. Knowledge of the laws, rules, regulations and procedures governing the movement of air traffic.
2. Knowledge of Terminal Air Traffic Control (ATC) Procedures, including terminal procedures.
3. Knowledge of the functional/operational limitations of all ATC equipment, as well as approach lighting, airfield lighting, weather instructions, navigational aids (NAVAIDS), remote status indicators, arresting systems, landlines, and any other equipment pertaining to ATC services.
4. Knowledge of weather phenomena and localized effects.
5. Ability to make rapid and precise judgments in a real-time work situation, remain calm under conditions that are stressful, coordinate many different processes at once, and adjust rapidly to changes in the traffic pattern and tempo of work activity.
6. Ability to communicate effectively (rapidly, clearly, and distinctly) orally and in writing; to act decisively in emergency situations; and to provide appropriate reporting procedures as required.

Requirements

U.S. Citizenship Required
Must be able to obtain and maintain a Secret security clearance.
PCS is not authorized. Incentive is authorized.
Must possess valid air traffic controller certification and obtain/maintain currency of the same.
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.
This position has been designated by the Air Force as a Testing Designated Position (TDP) under the Air Force Civilian Drug Demand Reduction Program.
May be required to respond to short notice recall supporting unscheduled emergency air traffic and/or contingencies/exercises to support the mission.
Work may occasionally require travel away from the normal duty station on military or commercial aircraft.
This is a Key Position, and the incumbent must be removed from the Ready Reserve and CAN NOT become a member of the Ready Reserve.
Must complete all training requirements within locally prescribed time limits to obtain and maintain a full facility rating in facility of assignment.
This position is subject to the special retirement provisions for Air Traffic Controllers under CSRS and FERS.
The position may require the employee to work under adverse environmental conditions and requires a physical.
At least 10 years of ATC experience and experience in the ATC career field within the last 3 years is highly desired.
The incumbent must accomplish local limited weather observer certification requirements administered by base weather flight.
This position will close after 5 business days or 75 applications, whichever comes first.

The 2152 series has an individual occupational requirement that must be met and can be viewed here. There is no Group Coverage Qualification Standard for this series.

Evaluation

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs): Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies as related to the series and grade of the position being filled. Final qualifications determinations will be assessed based on OPM's General Schedule Qualifications Standards found here:

Interviews: You will be contacted by e-mail and/or telephone if your application is identified as qualifying for a position being filled. An interview may be conducted. If interviewed, you will be asked to address the same knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies used to initially qualify your application for the position.

Required Documents

Resume:You must submit a resume that may NOT exceed two pages, and the font size should not be smaller than 10 pts. You will not be considered for this vacancy if your resume exceeds two pages or is illegible/unreadable. Do NOT include photographs, inappropriate material, inappropriate content, nor personal information such as age, gender, religion, social security number, etc., on your resume. If the resume you submit contains such information you will not be considered for this vacancy. Your resume must provide:

Personal information - your full name, email and mailing addresses, phone number
Education information - the name of the school and the dates you attended
Work experience - paid and unpaid work with the following information:
- Job title
- Detailed duties and accomplishments
- Employer's name and address
- Supervisor's name and phone number
- Starting and ending dates (If actual dates are not known, provide your best-estimated timeframes.)
- Hours per week
- Salary, if applicable
Other qualifications - skills, certifications/licenses, honors, awards, special accomplishments, and job-related training courses

College Transcripts (if applicable): Please see the Education section of this announcement for detailed information about transcripts.

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

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