As a Flight Test Pilot, you will provide technical assistance to management's development, planning, and execution of the agency's Aviation and Marine Test and Evaluation (T&E) Program.
This position starts at a salary of $143,616.00 (GS-14, Step 1) to $186,700.00 (GS-14, Step 10)
Typical Work Assignments include:
Serving as the agency Technical Director and subject matter expert (SME) for certification of normal, utility, primary, and restricted category fixed and rotary wing airframes and serving as the SME during certification and validation board meetings, safety and certification review panels, and test planning action
Identifying the necessary components of a test team, securing resources for all test activities, and overseeing and ensuring complete test execution while implementing recommendations for improving related training and T&E procedures
Representing DHS and its components at meetings to plan and coordinate joint test efforts with officials from other federal, state, and local agencies and foreign enforcement agencies
Performing test pilot duties; preparing general and detailed flight test programs for aircraft submitted for certification and evaluation.
FAA Class 1 Medical or FAA Class 2 medical
FAA Commercial or ATP Airplane or Helicopter rated with Instruments
Flight Logs showing 1750 hours total flight time, 1150 pilot-in-command, 75-night flight hours, 100 flight hours in last 12 months
You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this position
Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered with Selective Service
Primary U.S. residency for at least three of the last five years (additional details below)
You may be required to pass a background investigation
CBP follows the DHS Drug-Free Workplace Plan for drug testing procedures
As an employee of CBP, you will be joining a workforce that is dedicated to accomplishing our mission while maintaining the trust of our Nation by strictly adhering to all government ethics standards. Your conduct will be subject to the ethics rules applicable to all Executive Branch employees, and to CBP employees specifically, as well as the criminal conflict of interest statutes. Once you enter on duty, these rules include obtaining approval for outside employment or business activity, to ensure such employment or business activity is not prohibited and does not interfere or conflict with performance of your official duties. Please review further details via the following link.
DHS uses E-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more about E-Verify including your rights and responsibilities.
Bargaining Unit: This position is not covered under the bargaining unit.
This position has an Individual Occupational Requirement.
Completed a long flight test course (flight tests schools include but are not limited to U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School (USAFTPS) U.S. Naval Test Pilot School (USNTPS), Empire Test Pilot School (ETPS) or National TPS (pilot long course)). Or have least 1 year of experience of either flight-testing aircraft for engineering approval (civilian or military) or analyzing aircraft performance data.
An FAA Medical Certificate Class I or II. Either one must be within 12 calendar months of the date of issuance. Your FAA Medical certificate must be valid through the closing date of this announcement, otherwise you will be found ineligible. Military flight medicals cannot be used.
Must obtain/ maintain qualification/certification/training currency in designated fixed and rotary wing aircraft for test pilot duties
Flight Hours: You must have 1750 hours total flight time. Within the 1750 hours you must have/show:
1150 hours pilot-in-command
75-night flight hours
100 flight hours within the last 12 months
Experience: You qualify for the GS-14 grade level if you possess 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, performing duties such as:
Providing technical guidance and review of test programs and representing the program in technical matters related to testing, test design, test budgeting, test analysis, test results, new test competencies, workload acceptance, and related evaluations
Conducting test flights in accordance with, aircraft flight/performance manual, established test plans, FAA Federal air regulations, policies and procedures governing how aircraft are certified, what requirements the crew must have, including pilots or others, where the aircraft can be flown, and basic flight operations
Reviewing responses to test related documentation, annual reports, and periodic metrics to ensure accuracy and compliance to safety requirements, federal air regulations, etc
Developing, executing, and reviewing test cards, test readiness briefings, safety readiness briefs, test out-briefs and coordinate all activities supporting test execution
Performing duties beyond the functional check flight duties, engaging in more complex and experimental testing of aircraft systems, performance and designing under various conditions.
NOTE: Your resume must explicitly indicate how you meet this requirement, otherwise you will be found ineligible. Please see the "Required Documents" section below for additional resume requirements.
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.
You must meet all qualification requirements, including education if applicable to this position, subject to verification at any stage of the application process by 04/11/2025.
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.
Background Investigation: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is a federal law enforcement agency that requires all applicants to undergo a thorough background investigation prior to employment in order to promote the agency's core values of vigilance, service to country, and integrity. During the screening and/or background investigation process, you will be asked questions regarding any felony criminal convictions or current felony charges, the use of illegal drugs (e.g., marijuana, cocaine, heroin, LSD, methamphetamines, ecstasy), and the use of non-prescribed controlled substances including any experimentation, possession, sale, receipt, manufacture, cultivation, production, transfer, shipping, trafficking, or distribution of controlled substances. For additional information on the preemployment process, review the following link: Applicant Resources | CBP Careers
Residency: There is a residency requirement for all applicants not currently employed by CBP. Individuals are required to have physically resided in the United States or its protectorates (as declared under international law) for at least three of the last five years. If you do not meet the residency requirement and you have been physically located in a foreign location for more than two of the last five years, you may request an exception to determine if you are eligible for a residency waiver by meeting one or more of the following conditions:
Working for the U.S. Government as a federal civilian or as a member of the military
A dependent who was authorized to accompany a federal civilian or member of the military who was working for the U.S. government
Participation in a study abroad program sponsored by a U.S. affiliated college or university
Working as a contractor, intern, consultant or volunteer supporting the U.S. government
Probationary Period: All employees new to the federal government must serve a one-year probationary period during the first year of his/her initial permanent federal appointment to determine fitness for continued employment. Current and former federal employees may be required to serve or complete a probationary period.
Please see the Qualifications and Required Documents sections for more information if education is applicable to this position.
Incentive Bonus: Upon selection, you may be eligible to receive a retention bonus after 90 days of employment.
Security Clearance: You will be required to obtain a Top-Secret clearance for this position.
Physical Demands: This position requires periods of long-term standing, bending and crouching working in and around aircraft and boats. It requires working on concrete ramps in high temperature conditions, climbing in and out of aircraft, flying in aircraft, and operations in and on boats (under 50') while underway in varying sea states.
Work Environment: Work entails operations around high noise areas, aircraft ramp operations, on aircraft in flight, boats underway, in all conditions and will require protective gear to include hearing protection and flight uniforms. The work environment includes high hot, low cold temperatures, humidity, rain, and desert conditions and can involve testing platforms with substantially modified systems characterized by a substantial degree of hazard.