Air Force Research Laboratory
Nondestructive Evaluation (NDE) Research Engineer
How your CV stacks up
Upload your CV to see how well it fits this job role
?%
Job Overview
OPEN TO ALL US CITIZENS.
This announcement will be accepting candidate submissions until 11:45 PM EST, 28 August 2026.
The AFRL Foundational Technologies Directorate seeks to hire a motivated and experienced mid-level engineer specializing in nondestructive evaluation (NDE) approaches to serve as a NDE Research Engineer in the Material State Awareness Branch (REN-W) of the Composite, Ceramic, Metallic and Materials Performance Division (REN). This position will be filled at the DR-02 (GS-12/13 equivalent) or DR-03 (GS-14 equivalent) level and is located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, OH. This position may be filled as a 5-year Flexible Length Term appointment (new government hires, current government term employees, etc.) with the option to later extend or convert to a permanent appointment.
Position Duties Include, But Are Not Limited To
- Conducts fundamental and applied research to enhance the current state-of-the-art nondestructive evaluation (NDE) and material state sensing using various approaches, including but not limited to eddy current, ultrasound, x-ray, micro & millimeter wave, and thermography sensing methods.
- Conducts NDE experiments to characterize and quantify materials state, e.g. discontinuities/material properties/material microstructure (i.e. local crystallographic or electromagnetic properties, dimensional measurements), in advanced aerospace materials.
- Develops and applies modeling and analysis approaches to include multi-physics modeling, signal processing, and enhanced data analytics to develop algorithms for forward simulations and inversion of NDE signals to understand and quantify the material state.
- Leads contracted research management activities spanning fundamental through advanced development programs that discover, develop, mature, and transition next-generation NDE technology.
- Writes contractual technical documentation, purchase request requirements, and evaluates technical and cost proposals. Ensures satisfactory technical progress and fiscal performance of awarded contracts.
- Defines near- and far-term NDE S&T goals to address material state sensing approaches that mitigate sensing and structural complexity and variability present in Department of the Air Force (DAF) systems aligned with AFRL priorities in collaboration with DoW and industry stakeholders.
- Identifies innovative nondestructive approaches to determine the material state through collaboration with academia, industry, and other government agencies. Identifies and pursues collaborative research opportunities from both internal and external funding mechanisms.
- Serves as Subject Matter Expert to DAF weapon system program offices and other government agencies.
- Must use MM/DD/YYYY date format for experience entries on resume. At a minimum, unofficial transcript of highest relevant degree must be uploaded (per the application notification email).
- For resume writing tips, facts about the federal hiring process and additional resources, visit: https://help.usajobs.gov/faq/application/documents/resume/what-to-include
Reasons to use Rodeo
Start with a chat, not a search bar
Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.
It searches the market for you
Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
Required Qualifications
- United States Citizenship.
- Ability to obtain and maintain a Secret security clearance.
- A bachelor’s degree in a science or engineering discipline. To be acceptable, the curriculum must: (1) be in a school of engineering with at least one curriculum accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) as a professional engineering curriculum; or (2) include differential and integral calculus and courses (more advanced than first-year physics and chemistry) in five of the following seven areas of engineering science or physics: (a) statics, dynamics; (b) strength of materials (stress-strain relationships); (c) fluid mechanics, hydraulics; (d) thermodynamics; (e) electrical fields and circuits; (f) nature and properties of materials (relating particle and aggregate structure to properties); and (g) any other comparable area of fundamental engineering science or physics, such as optics, heat transfer, soil mechanics, or electronics.
- To qualify for a DR-02, applicants must have at least one (1) year of specialized experience at the DR-01/GS-11 (or equivalent pay system). To qualify for a DR-03, applicants must have at least one (1) year of specialized experience at the DR-02/GS-13 (or equivalent pay system). Examples of specialized experience includes experience with electromagnetic NDE testing and/or materials characterization research and experience with physics-based modeling and enhanced data analytics of NDE data.
Get help with your application
Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
Desired Qualifications
- Doctorate degree in a relevant technical field from an accredited institution.
- Minimum 5 years experience related to NDE testing.
- Expertise with NDE testing and/or materials characterization research.
- Expertise with physics-based modeling and enhanced data analytics of NDE data.
- Experience in leading teams in a research environment, conducting technical program management, and interacting with DAF/DoW customers.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills.
Telework
Yes, this position is eligible for situational telework; as determined by agency policy.
Eligible for a Referral Bonus?
No.
Series
- 0801
- 0806
- 0830
- 0850
- 0854
- 0855
- 0861
- 1310
- 1321
Additional Information
- Requisition Number 05770
- Posting End Date 08/28/2026
“It took my CV and asked me questions relevant to understanding what kind of jobs to suggest for me. Suggestions were almost perfect. Jobs were exactly what I’ve been looking for.”
Jessica, London
Skills