Airport Airspace Specialist (Service Area)

Who may apply

Limited to the following applicant groups:

  • Internal to an agency
Des Moines, Washington
Full-time Security Clearance: Other
Application Deadline:
2026-09-01
Posted:
2026-08-19

About 2 weeks left

Salary: $125,635 – $194,772 per year (FV-J)

Salary context

Based on 441 annual-salary jobs in the same occupational series. This role pays above most similar positions.

Job Details

Position Overview

The incumbent serves as the Service Area Airport Airspace Specialist for the assigned Service Area and is responsible for oversight, tracking and conducting evaluation notices of proposed or actual construction, alterations, activation and deactivation of private and public use airports not included in the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS) airports/landing areas (heliports, seaplane bases etc.).

Duties

Subject matter expert and Service Area POC for all airport airspace matters and provides advice and guidance to less-experienced professionals. Works closely with the Office of Airports Headquarters and obtains direction from the assigned Service Area Regional Airports Division Director to develop and disseminate guidance and information in the implementation and support of FAA Joint Order 7400.2 Procedures for Handling Airspace Matters. May act as a principal specialist to develop new and innovative approaches, methodologies, and/or techniques or as a team leader to define and direct challenging projects/programs/ activities. 

Applies experience and expert knowledge that are applicable to his or her discipline to conduct functional activities for projects/ programs that often require the development of new and innovative approaches. Identifies and resolves challenging problems or issues that often cross- organizational boundaries and impact on the accomplishment of strategic objectives. Typical assignments may include providing guidance to less-experienced professionals; leading large project/program teams; defining and developing internal policies and procedures; predicting potential issues and proposing preventive actions. Provides oversight, tracking and evaluates notices filed in accordance with 14 CFR Part 157 and coordinates with the other Service Area Airport Airspace Specialists and the Office of Airports Headquarters to ensure consistency across the nation, improve FAA response time, and maintain accurate airport and runway aeronautical data. 

Applies knowledge of FAA's policies and objectives to identify, define, and organize resources for large projects/programs/work activities. Acquires and allocates resources to accomplish activities within established schedules and budgetary requirements. Applies knowledge of the airport airspace environment to evaluate aeronautical studies of proposed or actual construction, alterations, activation and deactivation of airports to determine the effects of the proposal on the safe and efficient use of airspace by aircraft and the safety of persons and property on the ground; and issues agency determinations. Applies knowledge of the airport airspace environment to evaluate aeronautical studies of proposed construction or alteration on public-use airports (not included in the NPIAS) to determine if the proposed construction or alteration would constitute a hazard to air navigation; and issues agency determinations. 

Represents the major subdivision and LOB/SO as a principal point of contact to provide advice and guidance on the applications of policies and procedures. Prepares, reviews, and recommends approvals of major reports on projects, programs and other work activities for internal and external distribution. Develops briefings to convey strategic vision and/or organizational policies to internal and external audiences. Serves as the Airports Division's service area Point of Contact (POC) for resolving internal conflicts for both Obstruction Evaluation (OE) and Non-Rulemaking Airport (NRA) cases prior to formulation of the Agency's final determination. Collaborates with the FAA's Obstruction Evaluation Group (OEG) to continuously improve and streamline Obstruction Evaluation (OE) reviews by the FAA's Office of Airports staff. 

Provides expert guidance and works closely with other Service Area Airspace Airport Specialists and organizational POCs to assist the Airport District Office (ADO) and/or Airport Regional Office (RO) resolve complex and challenging internal conflicts with minimal direction from a manager/supervisor.  Ensures airport data and information is updated in accordance with the Airport Master Record (FAA From 5010), including airport landing area data associated with new entrants (such as Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) and commercial space) into the National Airspace System (NAS).

Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications & Requirements

To qualify for this position, you must demonstrate in your application that you possess at least one year of specialized experience. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position.

To qualify at the FV-J level, you must demonstrate in your resume specialized experience equivalent to FV-I, FG/GS-13. Specialized experience for this position includes:

  • Experience interpreting and applying knowledge of public laws and acts related to the airport operating environment, including Airport Master Records; Airport Layout Plans; Land Use Plans; and/or Airport Master Plans (i.e. FAA Order 7400.2, 14 CFR Part 77, 14 CFR Part 157 and FAA Form 5010) to accomplish work activities for assigned projects and programs.

 

You should include relevant examples of the specialized experience in your work history. Errors or omissions may impact your rating or may result in you not being considered.

Qualifications must be met by the closing date of this vacancy announcement.

Education

Substitution of Experience with Education does NOT apply.

Conditions of Employment

  • US Citizenship is required.
  • Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
  • Must submit an SF50 (See Required Documents).
  • Interviews: If the agency decides to interview any qualified employee on the selection list, then all on the list who are qualified must be interviewed

Requirements

We are not accepting applications from noncitizens.

Evaluations



IMPORTANT: Applicants may be rated on the extent and quality of experience, education, and training relevant to the duties of the position(s). All answers provided in the on-line process must be substantiated. Ensure that your application package/resume supports your responses.

Required Documents

Applicants must apply on-line, through USAJOBS, to receive consideration; Faxed, mailed or e-mailed applications cannot be accepted. If you need to submit additional documents to supplement your on-line application, e.g. transcripts, SF-50, or veteran's documents, you may upload these documents with your application in USAJOBS.

Current FAA employee: You MUST submit a copy of your most recent (non-award) SF-50 including Blocks 15, 17, 18, 19, 22, and 24 so it can be used to verify your position title, series, grade, tenure, and organization of record by the closing date of the announcement. Failure to provide the required documentation by the closing date of this announcement will result in non-consideration for this position.




If you are an FAA employee, you MUST provide a copy of your SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action) containing information in Blocks 15, 17, 18, 19, 22, and 24 so it can be used to verify your position title, series, grade, tenure, and organization of record by the closing date of the announcement. You may fax your SF-50 or upload it into the on-line application. If faxing the SF-50, please ensure you include the vacancy announcement number on the faxed copy.

If you are an FAA employee, you can access and print your SF-50 from the eOPF system https://eopf.opm.gov/dot/.



Forms:
  • SF-15  : Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference

How to Apply

Supplemental documentation and college transcripts can also be faxed to (206) 231-4150 or emailed on or before the closing date of this announcement. Please include your name and the vacancy announcement number on each of your faxed pages and redact all Personally Identifiable Information (PII), such as social security number and date of birth. Applicants must submit the following: - Resume with complete work history; and - A copy of the most recent SF-50 (Notice of Personnel Action) with the required information listed below.

 


Applicants may be required to complete one or multiple assessments as part of the evaluation process. This assessment aims to evaluate the competencies and qualifications essential for the position.

You must apply online to receive consideration. Your application must be submitted by 11:59 PM Eastern Time on the Close Date for it to be accepted. If you are applying for positions associated with FAA registers, your application must be submitted at the time a referral list is created in order to receive consideration for positions associated with a register.

RESUMES ARE LIMITED TO TWO PAGES. IN DESCRIBING YOUR WORK EXPERIENCE AND/OR EDUCATION, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC AND INCLUDE INFORMATION AS IT RELATES TO THE QUALIFICATIONS AND SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS POSITION.

Please ensure EACH work history includes ALL of the following information:

Job Title (include series and grade if Federal Job)
  • Relevant work experience: should align to the Job Announcement and address all required qualifications and include job title, employer name, start/end dates, number of hours worked per week.
  • Education, certification or licensure: If required, education should include school/institution name, completion date, degree type and GPA.

Determining length of General or Specialized Experience is dependent on the above information and failure to provide ALL of this information may result in a finding of ineligible.

You may upload completed documents to your USAJOBS Account. This will provide you the opportunity to utilize the uploaded information again when applying for future vacancies. Once we receive your complete application, the Human Resources Office will conduct an evaluation of your qualifications. Eligible and qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager for consideration. You will be contacted directly if selected for an interview.

For instructions on how to check the status of your application, please go to: USAJOBS Help Guide.

Important - If you make any changes to your application, you must resubmit it. If you make changes to your application and do not resubmit it, your changes will not be considered part of your application package, and only your previously submitted application will be evaluated.

All qualified applicants will be considered regardless of political affiliation, race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, age, disability, or other non-merit factors. DOT provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the agency contact listed in the Agency Contact Information section of this announcement or the hiring manager. An employee with a disability must notify the decision-maker of the accommodation request. Job applicants and employees are required to follow up oral requests in writing. Decisions on granting reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. Additional information on reasonable accommodations procedures or on EEO Programs is available on Office of Civil Rights (ACR) or by contacting the local FAA Civil Rights Office.