Summary
Created by the FY2020 NDAA under the Department of the Air Force, the U.S. Space Force (USSF) secures U.S. freedom of action in the space domain. It trains and equips forces for offensive, defensive, and combat-support operations, providing independent capabilities to national leadership while boosting the overall lethality of the joint military force. Location to be determined after selection has been made.
Duties
This executive role serves as the central technical authority for the DAF space enterprise, bridging high-level strategic requirements with complex, cross-portfolio engineering execution and global partnerships to ensure U.S. space dominance. Directs enterprise system-of-systems engineering, technical governance, and cross-portfolio integration. Exercises delegated authority to oversee integration compliance across all Portfolio Acquisition Executives (PAEs) and Program Executive Offices (PEOs). Leads mission thread analysis, kill chain assessments, and cross-program interface definitions. Decomposes high-level Space Priority Requirements into actionable, cross-mission specifications while enforcing technical baselines. Aligns technical execution, architectures, and schedules across multiple portfolios. Identifies integration risks or gaps, directs corrective mitigation actions, and directly informs resource planning and POM investment prioritization. Ensures end-to-end capability interoperability by coordinating with the Department of War (DoW), Intelligence Community (IC), interagency partners, and allied nations. Serves as the premier senior technical advisor to DAF leadership (including the ASAF and PDAS). Represents SSIO in high-level DoW/IC engagements, supporting senior testimonies, acquisition strategies, and architecture development forums. Mentors and develops a highly skilled, high-performance workforce of civilian and military personnel. Establishes organizational structures and a culture focused on technical excellence, innovation, and enterprise-level thinking.
Education
A bachelor's degree from an accredited institution is highly desired. A master's or advanced degree in engineering, systems engineering, or a closely related technical field is highly desired; advanced study in business or public administration is also desirable. Certification Required: Advanced Program Management (Legacy Level III)
How you will be evaluated
Once the application process is complete, a review of your resume and supporting documentation will be conducted. If you meet the education, eligibility, and minimum qualifications requirements, your Application Package will be further reviewed to determine if you possess the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQ) and Technical Qualifications (TQ) listed above. ECQs and TQs must be thoroughly addressed within your two (2) page resume. Separate narratives will not be accepted or reviewed. Applicants will be evaluated against the qualifications requirements by a screening panel composed of senior executives and/or general officers selected for organizational and/or functional backgrounds relevant to this position. Highly Qualified applicants may undergo one or more interviews and may be referred to the selecting official for further consideration. Final selection is contingent on approval by the Under Secretary of the Air Force. Upon selection, if not already a member of the SES serving under a career appointment, the selected candidate must have their executive qualifications certified by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualifications Review Board (QRB) prior to appointment. The selected candidate's application will be forwarded to OPM for review and certification by the QRB, unless the selectee provides evidence of their noncompetitive status (i.e., a current SES, OPM QRB certified SESCDP graduate, or SES reinstatement eligible). Once QRB certified, the selected candidates will be required to serve a one-year probationary period. For more information regarding the SES, please visit: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/senior-executive-service/.