Organizational Location: This position is with the Department of Homeland Security, within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Air and Marine Operations, Logistics and Maintenance Division, San Diego, CA.
Base Requirements: Maintenance Manager/Maintenance Test Pilot Course (MM/MTPC), (2) An equivalency evaluation administered by a Maintenance Test Evaluator. 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. Maintenance Test Pilots must be qualified in the aircraft to be flown and meet the standardization requirements of the appropriate Army Training Manual and comply with all procedures in TM 1-1500-328-23, Technical Manual Aeronautical Equipment Maintenance Management Procedures, and the appropriate aircraft maintenance test flight manual. 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-13 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 IAW, aircraft flight/performance manual, established test plans, FAA FARs, 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, FARs, etc Developing, executing, and reviewing test cards, test readiness briefings, safety readiness briefs, test out-briefs and coordinate all activities supporting test execution 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; and Meet all applicable Time in Grade requirements (current federal employees must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade or equivalent grade band in the federal service) by 01/14/2026. 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. You may be required to obtain a Secret level clearance for this position. Flight test positions also require completion of a flight test course such as a military flight test school or the FAA flight test pilot course, or at least 1 year of experience either flight testing aircraft for engineering approval (civilian or military) or analyzing aircraft performance data.
This position starts at a salary of $121,585.00 (GS-13, Step 1) to $158,062.00 (GS-13, Step 10). Typical work assignments include: Serving as the primary Maintenance Test Pilot responsible for overseeing and managing the maintenance testing program for Air and Marine Operations (AMO) locations. Providing technical guidance and review of tests, workload acceptance, and related AMO evaluations. Determining goals and objectives for normal and special emphasis plans and work schedules and set priorities relating to schedules for timely completion of projects. Identifying the necessary components of a maintenance flight test team, secures resources for all test activities, and oversees and ensures complete test execution while implementing recommendations for improving related training.