Chief Engineer

Aurora, CO
Full Time
Manager/Supervisor
WE ARE THE NRO
For sixty years, the NRO has developed, acquired, launched and operated the satellites that are the foundation for America’s advantage and strength in space. Using a diversified architecture of spacecraft, NRO collects and delivers the best space-based intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance content on the planet.

Learn more at NRO.gov.

Basic Eligibility For A Position With The NRO
  • You must be a U.S. Citizen
  • You must be able to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI security clearance
  • You will be subject to pre-employment and periodic drug testing
  • You will be subject to pre-employment and periodic polygraph examinations

Where You Will Work
The Mission Operations Directorate (MOD) is the single National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) entity that operates all NRO systems to deliver intelligence value to national decision makers, the Intelligence Community, and warfighters. We continually innovate how we deliver, employ, and integrate NRO systems to solve the most challenging intelligence problems while identifying and defining critical future capabilities. We defend and fight through crisis and conflict in concert with U.S. and allied mission partners.
As part of the MOD team, you will…
  • be empowered to provide direct mission impact to end users
  • have global reach
  • have the ability to do hands-on work with cutting-edge technology
  • have the ability to work with all NRO acquisitions and systems
  • work in a truly dynamic, rewarding environment
  • gain invaluable experience for future assignments
As the Chief Engineer managing all site systems engineering & integration, you will be responsible for tasking and supervisory oversight of a wide variety of engineering, program management, and contractor personnel. The work requires making many decisions to resolve specific complex or intricate issues and problems, developing new methods and criteria, or proposing new policies and practices.  Familiarity with NRO systems/orgs is mandatory and experience working with other agencies is desired.

The NRO Cadre is collecting resumes for consideration against current and future opportunities for senior level (GGS-14 and GGS-15), General Engineers, occupational series 0801. For more information on the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) occupational series, click here.

Your resume may be considered for other positions which your skills and experience may be a good match.

This is a full-time position that is open from April 16, 2026 to April 23, 2026.  Resumes must be submitted by 11:59 PM EST on April 23, 2026.

Who May Apply
  • This position is open to the public.
  • Federal government employees MUST currently be at the grade level or higher as indicated in this announcement. This is NOT a promotion opportunity for current Federal government employees. If selected for the position, Federal government employees will transition laterally at their current grade level and step.
  • Federal applicants who exceed the advertised grade may voluntarily request acceptance at the lower grade per IAW DoWI 1400.25 Volume 2006.
  • The NRO is only accepting external applicants for this job announcement. Current NRO Cadre employees should apply internally.
  • This position may not qualify for the appointment of a reemployed federal annuitant IAW DoWI 1400.25 Volume 300.

What You Will Be Doing 
As the Chief Engineer you will be responsible for the following duties:
  • Exercises supervisory personnel management responsibilities. Directs, coordinates, and oversees work through subordinate supervisors.
  • Supervises two or more assigned functional units through one or more levels of subordinate supervisors. Such positions may function as a PM with delegate authority to make both organization and work assignment changes to achieve the most efficient and economical organization structure possible.
  • Solves systemic management problems of major significance through staff coordination and meetings with the NRO leadership. Participates in internal and external meetings and conferences and for complex and critical fiscal and programming negotiations.
  • Serves as senior program representative at high-level conferences and meetings with representatives from the DoW, other Intelligence Community partners, military services and agencies, and private industry.
  • Monitors contract progress and expenditures against plans, provides necessary statistical data to management and provides strong oversight, guidance, direction, and leadership for teams of acquisition professionals to include military, civil service, SETA and FFRDC contractors developing and implementing NRO project/program requirements.
  • Manages and assesses progress in assigned projects/programs, including cost, schedule and performance supporting baseline requirements, by applying program management methods and procedures.
  • Plans, organizes, and coordinates activities with functional specialists, including contracting, engineering, manufacturing, program controls, configuration/data management, test, logistics, and operations support.

What You Need
  • Required: Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering or Computer science, or a related field.
  • Expert knowledge of the principles, concepts, and methodologies of electronics, aerospace, structural, and materials engineering disciplines in addition to extensive knowledge of mathematics, physics, operations research, and computer sciences to perform assigned duties and responsibilities.
  • Knowledge of DoW and Intelligence Community (IC) organizations, missions, relevant policies, and processes.
  • Mastery of management and executive knowledge and ability to the extent that the experience demonstrates specialization in areas such as program management, manpower management, resource management and/or financial management, civilian and/or military human resources management, and intelligence operations.
  • Expert and detailed knowledge of management and leadership theory and practice, with the demonstrated ability to apply management theory to resolve issues, recommend policy and solve problems not susceptible to treatment by accepted methods.
  • In-depth experience communicating with all levels of personnel in order to represent the organization in interagency forums, lead and participate in planning sessions and working groups, and present briefings.
  • Expertise in advanced multidisciplinary engineering or related engineering/technical discipline, concepts, principles, practices, standards, methods, techniques, materials, and equipment sufficient to apply experimental theories, principles, and concepts to project development, execution, and advisory services.
  • Knowledge of and ability to apply analytic, diagnostic, and qualitative techniques sufficient to produce authoritative analytical products, and the ability to employ new methodological approaches to analyze information.
Qualifying experience may have been acquired in any public or private sector job, but will clearly demonstrate past experience in the application of the particular competencies/knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to successfully perform and is typically in or directly related to the duties of the position as described above. Experience must be reflected in your resume.

Applicants submitting a resume that exceeds the two-page limit per OPM Memorandum, “Merit Hiring Plan,” dated May 29, 2025, https://www.opm.gov/chcoc/latest-memos/merit-hiring-plan.pdf will not be eligible for consideration. For more information regarding resume writing, see “Guidance for Applicants on 2-Page Resume” and visit the Resume Help Center.

Rotational Assignment
This position requires a three-year rotational assignment agreement with possible extensions of two-years. Approved extensions will be in one-year increments based on mission requirements. At the conclusion of the rotational assignment, the position's occupant will be required to relocate to NRO Headquarters, Chantilly, VA or another acceptable assignment within the NRO. 

Other Information
  • Overtime Statement:  MAY be required to work other than normal duty hours, which may include evenings, weekends, and/or holidays.
  • Travel Statement:  MAY be required to travel in military or commercial aircraft to perform temporary duty assignments.
  • Financial Disclosure:  MAY be required to file an OGE Form 450, Confidential Financial Disclosure Report, upon appointment and will be required to file annually.
  • Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) coded positions: If selected for a DAWIA coded position, the incumbent must meet appropriate certification requirements IAW the Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) no later than 24 months after accepting this position. Individual shall maintain, at a minimum 80 continuous Learning Points every 24 months via the services acquisition management system. DAWIA requirements may be located at the Defense Acquisition University website.
  • Geographic Mobility Agreement: MAY be subject to directed reassignment as required to address mission effectiveness, and/or career development.
  • Information Assurance (IA): Must achieve the appropriate IA certification within six months of assignment.
  • Emergency Essential: Certain positions MAY be deemed emergency essential and incumbents must be willing to meet all position requirements.

Location
Aurora, CO
Telework is not available and you must be able to work at the specified location(s).

Salary
This position meets the qualifications for Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System (DCIPS) Targeted Local Market Supplement (TLMS) STEM pay for NRO Cadre employees and candidates as authorized by the office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security’s (OUSD(I&S)).  Cadre employees and candidates are eligible to receive STEM pay if they are currently serving in a STEM designated position. Should a Cadre employee or candidate earning STEM pay change positions within the organization, they must be assigned to another STEM qualifying position in order to continue to remain eligible for STEM pay.  Otherwise, Cadre employees and Candidates Generally would be transitioned to the DCIPS GG Pay Scale. For more information on STEM pay, visit https://dcips.defense.gov/Human-Resources/Compensation/

2026 salary range for STEM pay:
GG-14: $148,275 – $197,200
GG-15: $167,446 – $197,200

**This position is a full-performance level DCIPS position. The NRO is accepting applications from U.S. Citizens and current federal government employees for this position.  To qualify for the position, federal government employees MUST currently be at the GGS – 14-15 grade level and may ONLY apply for a lateral reassignment at their current grade level and step. Federal applicants who exceed the advertised grade may voluntarily request acceptance at the lower grade per IAW DoWI 1400.25 Volume 2006.

Hiring Incentives
The NRO may offer hiring incentives and other entitlements at management’s discretion.

Trial Period
All new DCIPS employees will be required to serve a 2-year trial period.

Veterans’ Preference
DoW Components with DCIPS positions apply Veterans’ Preference to preference eligible candidates as defined by Section 2108 of Title 5 USC, in accordance with the procedures provided in DoW Instruction 1400.25, Vol 2005, DCIPS Employment and Placement.  If you are a veteran claiming veterans’ preference, as defined by section 2108 of Title 5 USC, you must submit documents verifying your eligibility upon request.

Equal Employment Opportunity Policy
The United States government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service or other non-merit factor.
Reasonable Accommodation Policy
Federal agencies must provide reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process should follow the instructions in the job opportunity announcement. For any part of the remaining hiring process, applicants should contact the hiring agency directly. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.

A reasonable accommodation is any change to a job, the work environment, or the way things are usually done that enables an individual with a disability to apply for a job, perform job duties or receive equal access to job benefits.

Under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, federal agencies must provide reasonable accommodations when:
  • An applicant with a disability needs an accommodation to have an equal opportunity to apply for a job.
  • An employee with a disability needs an accommodation to perform the essential job duties or to gain access to the workplace.
  • An employee with a disability needs an accommodation to receive equal access to benefits, such as details, training, and office-sponsored events.

You can request a reasonable accommodation at any time during the application or hiring process or while on the job. Requests are considered on a case-by-case basis. Please send your request to [email protected].

Privacy Act Notice
Privacy Act Notice (PL 93-579): We use this information to determine qualifications for employment. This is authorized under Title 5 U.S.C. 3302 and 3361.

Read more about the Privacy Act of 1974 
 
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