Air Traffic Assistant, Flight Data Communications Specialist

Who may apply

Limited to the following applicant groups:

  • Federal employees - Competitive service
  • Federal employees - Excepted service
  • Veterans
Longmont, Colorado
Full-time Security Clearance: Secret
Application Deadline:
2026-09-08
Posted:
2026-08-19

About 3 weeks left

Salary: $61,123 – $91,688 per year (FV-F)

Job Details

Position Overview

Serves as an Air Traffic Assistant/Flight Data Communications Specialist (FDCS) at an Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) and is responsible for providing flight data processing and communications service for the National Airspace System (NAS).

 

 

Duties

Performs a combination of routine and multiple and varying tasks/assignments under the general direction of a manager, project/program manager, team leader, or more experienced employee. Acts as an individual contributor and/or member of a team to assist other employees in day-to-day operations. Applies experience and detailed knowledge to plan and accomplish routine tasks/assignments. Assignments include the following:

Provides flight data processing and communications service for the air traffic control system, and operates and maintains a variety of air traffic operational computer systems. Processes and monitors the input of proposed and active flight plans from military base operations, ARTCC sectors, terminal facilities, adjacent ARTCC's, flight service stations, and air carrier operations offices.

Recognizes incorrect flight plan entries into the National Airspace System (NAS) and enters corrections as required. Develops and maintains bulk storage flight plans. Receives and analyzes significant meteorological information (SIGMETS), airmen's meteorological information (AIRMETS), weather advisories, etc. and makes immediate notification to the Watch Stander-In-Charge and other operation personnel.

Checks and updates altimeter readings and updates winds aloft. Operates, monitors, and safeguards the DHS Automatic Digital Network (AUTODIN) system. Makes entries into the operations network (OPSNET) concerning computer utilization, delays and traffic counts for designated facilities.

Collects and distributes flight plans, traffic management restrictions, notices to airmen (NOTAMS) and a variety of other data related to flight safety. Prepares and transmits NOTAMS, information requests (INREQS), alert notices (ALNOTS), AIRMETS, Pilot Weather Reports (PIREPS), Center Weather Advisories (CWAs), defense communication messages, traffic management and administrative messages. Trains developmental specialists in the performance of flight data and data communications system functional responsibilities.

Contacts are primarily internal but may also be external depending on the specialized area supported. Internal contacts often involve more than one organizational unit in a major subdivision and are with managers and other employees to share information and to discuss the statuses of tasks/assignments.

Established policies/procedures provide guidance for almost all tasks/assignments, but allow some discretion for employee to select the most appropriate approach(es). Frequently refers problems and work issues to a manager or more experienced employee when guidelines are not available or applicable.

Work is reviewed frequently during major stages of tasks/assignments and at completion to ensure timeliness and alignment with the requirements of projects and/or work activities. Work activities typically support one or more projects/programs and affect the objectives of the organizational unit and the major subdivision.

Performs other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications & Requirements

To qualify for this position you must demonstrate in your application that you possess at least one year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (FV-E or FG/GS-5/6). Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position.

Specialized experience is described as knowledge of and skill in the use of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) air traffic control procedures. Qualifying specialized experience may have been gained in work such as:

  1. Civilian or military aircraft operations work, such as flight instructor, instrument rated pilot, flight engineer or air transport pilot;
  2. FAA Certified Dispatcher for an air carrier;
  3. Flight Information Expediter involved in determining flight times of airplanes and transmitting information to flight operations and command centers;
  4. Civilian or Military Air Traffic Controller; and;
  5. Flight Data Processor;

OR

  • Successful completion of an FAA or Military Air Traffic Control Training Program;

OR

  • Possession of an FAA Control Tower Operator Certificate.

 

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

 

Education

 

 

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).
  • Designated or Random Drug Testing required.
  • Selection and placement are contingent upon waiver or completion of satisfactory security/medical requirement.
  • All or none of the candidates may 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

Only supplemental documentation (e.g. SF-50) will be accepted in combination with your on-line application. These documents must be uploaded to your Aviator application or faxed to 781-238-7283 on or before the closing date of this announcement. All submitted documents should reference the announcement number. Failure to submit an Aviator application and the required documentation by the closing date of this announcement will result in loss of consideration.



Applicants claiming eligibility for the Expanded Veterans Hiring Opportunity (EVHO), MUST submit a DD Form 214 reflecting character of service to verify eligibility by the closing date of the announcement as requested by the Human Resource Office. Eligibility for EVHO will be considered based on applicable documentation submitted by the closing date.

If you are a current or former Federal employee (including a current 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 a current Federal employee and need a current copy of your SF-50, please contact your personnel office. If you are an FAA employee, you can access and print your SF-50 from the eOPF system https://eopf.opm.gov/dot/. If you are a former Federal employee, you can obtain a copy of your SF-50 by writing the National Personnel Records Center Annex, 1411 Boulder Boulevard, Valmeyer, IL 62295. Additional information is available from this link: https://www.archives.gov/st-louis/opf.

Expanded Veterans Hiring Opportunity (EVHO) are preference eligibles and veterans who are honorably discharged from the Armed Forces after completing at least three (3) years of continuous active service. Applicants claiming eligibility for EVHO, MUST submit a DD Form 214 reflecting character of service to verify eligibility by the closing date of the announcement as requested by the Human Resource Office. Eligibility for EVHO will be considered based on applicable documentation submitted by the closing date.

How to Apply

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.