Driving Aviation Engineering Excellence: Supervisory General Engineer at the FAA

America’s aviation infrastructure is a marvel of modern engineering, managing thousands of flights daily with unmatched precision. At the heart of this complex network is the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), an agency dedicated to maintaining and upgrading the safest and most efficient aerospace system in the world.

An exceptional leadership opportunity is now open for a Supervisory General Engineer (FV-J) in Des Plaines, Illinois. Operating within the FAA's Technical Operations - Engineering Services, specifically the Term/Surv/WX Construction Center CHI, this role commands a highly competitive salary range of $124,957 to $193,721 per year. It represents a premier career destination for accomplished engineering professionals who want to pair their technical acumen with executive-level personnel leadership and project management.

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About the Agency: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)

At the FAA, innovation is constant. The agency’s responsibilities stretch beyond standard flight tracking into the cutting-edge realms of autonomous commercial vehicles, eco-friendly electric aircraft, solar-powered high-altitude flight, and commercial space travel. Over 44,000 specialists work across 120 unique occupations to turn these technological frontiers into safe, everyday realities.

This position is housed within the Air Traffic Organization (ATO), Technical Operations division. Specifically, you will lead the Term/Surv/WX (Terminal/Surveillance/Weather) Construction Center CHI. The team here is responsible for constructing, maintaining, and upgrading the structural and electronic infrastructure that pilots and air traffic controllers rely on. By joining this team, you become a guardian of the sky, helping construct the systems that guide millions of travelers safely home.

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Job Responsibilities

As a Supervisory General Engineer, you will transition from individual technical execution to front-line strategic management. You will direct a diverse team of engineers, technical specialists, and administrative support staff. Your daily portfolio will balance engineering design, project execution, compliance, human resources, and financial stewardship.

Primary responsibilities include:

• Personnel Leadership: Serving as the immediate supervisor for your assigned workforce. This includes setting daily work schedules, establishing performance goals, conducting annual evaluations, approving leave, and managing employee development or corrective actions.
• Financial Stewardship: Overseeing and managing your organizational unit's assigned budget. You will plan short-term and long-term project expenses, track resource allocation, and advocate for additional resources when project scopes expand.
• Project and Program Oversight: Directing civil, mechanical, electrical, and structural engineering work focused on airport terminal, weather tracking, and radar surveillance systems. You will ensure projects stay on schedule and conform to rigid federal safety guidelines.
• Strategic Coordination: Interfacing with senior management, external customer groups, and peer units to explain operational policies, share project progress, and resolve disputes.
• Problem Solving: Navigating complex operational challenges, developing original policy interpretations when standard guidelines are absent, and reporting outcomes directly to senior agency leaders.

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Requirements and Qualifications

Because this is a senior-level, safety-critical leadership position, applicants must meet exceptionally high standards of education and experience.

Basic Education Requirements

Candidates must satisfy one of the two following pathways to verify their foundational engineering expertise:

1. A Professional Engineering Degree: Successful completion of a four-year bachelor's degree (or higher) in engineering from an ABET-accredited curriculum. Alternatively, the program must include advanced differential and integral calculus alongside coursework in at least five of the following engineering sciences: statics/dynamics, strength of materials, fluid mechanics/hydraulics, thermodynamics, electrical fields and circuits, nature/properties of materials, or other advanced engineering physics.
2. A Combination of Education and Experience: A blend of college-level education, technical training, and hands-on engineering experience that provides a thorough theoretical and practical understanding of physical and mathematical sciences. This must be backed by an active Professional Engineer (PE) registration, passing the Engineer-in-Training (EIT) exam, 60 semester hours of advanced math and physical sciences, or a related technology degree paired with at least one year of supervised professional experience.

Specialized Experience and the Multi-Discipline Rule

Beyond educational requirements, you must demonstrate at least 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to the FV-I (GS-13) grade level. This experience must be in professional engineering and highlight strong project management skills. Crucially, your application must showcase engineering work in two or more professional engineering disciplines (such as electrical, civil, mechanical, or structural engineering).

Critical Managerial Selection Factors

To be considered for this supervisory role, you must provide separate, clear narrative responses online addressing your experience in the following Managerial Selection Factors:

1. Ability to lead, develop, and organize a diverse workforce.
2. Skill in project management, fiscal planning, and budget execution.
3. Ability to communicate technical information effectively to both technical and non-technical audiences.
4. Experience defining operational policies and resolving complex, ambiguous issues.

Note: Failure to address these factors directly on the online application will result in immediate disqualification.

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Role Comparison: FV-J vs. Standard Engineering Roles

To better understand the high-level nature of this position, review the differences between the Supervisory General Engineer and standard technical engineering tracks within the federal service:

Feature / Attribute	Supervisory General Engineer (FV-J)	Standard Engineering Roles (FV-H/I)
Primary Mandate	Operational leadership, budget oversight, and personnel development.	Technical design, testing, calculations, and execution.
Core Grade Level	Equivalent to GS-14.	Equivalent to GS-11 through GS-13.
Budget Authority	Manages division-wide construction and resource planning.	Minimal direct control; recommends project-level materials.
Staff Management	Directly hires, evaluates, and disciplines unit employees.	No direct reports; may provide occasional peer reviews.
Scope of Impact	Region-wide terminals, weather, and radar centers.	Discrete systems, physical assets, or individual projects.
Conflict Resolution	Negotiates between senior leadership, external partners, and staff.	Addresses physical system failures and technical issues.

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Salary and Core Compensation Plan

The salary for this position is set between $124,957 and $193,721 per year. This pay range is administered under the FAA Core Compensation Plan, which operates outside of the traditional General Schedule (GS) system to provide more flexible, performance-driven pay bands that mirror private-sector practices.

This pay range includes locality pay specific to the Des Plaines/Chicago metropolitan area and is subject to annual adjustments. Candidates should note that this is not a bargaining-unit position, meaning it is classified as a management role.

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Comprehensive Benefits Package

Employees of the FAA enjoy a premier benefits program designed to support their long-term financial stability, health, and work-life balance:

• Retirement Planning: Membership in the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS), which features a guaranteed pension. This is paired with the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), offering up to 5% agency matching contributions on your investment.
• Health and Wellness: Broad enrollment options in the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) program, as well as separate dental, vision, and long-term care insurance programs.
• Paid Time Off: Accrual of paid annual leave, sick leave, and 11 paid federal holidays.
• Workplace Flexibility: Eligible for telework to help balance professional leadership duties with home life, according to department protocols.
• Other Protections: Life insurance policies, flexible spending accounts, and reasonable accommodations for qualified employees with disabilities.

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Pro-Tips for a Winning FAA Application

Landing a federal supervisory engineering position requires a highly precise and compliant application. Keep these strategies in mind when building your package:

1. Respect the Resume Page Limit: Your resume is strictly limited to two pages. Any information on page three or beyond will be ignored. Be direct, clear, and focus only on high-impact achievements.
2. Specify Engineering Disciplines: Explicitly name the different engineering fields you have worked in (e.g., civil, electrical, mechanical). Ensure you document specialized experience in at least two fields.
3. Detail Your Work History: To receive credit for your experience, your resume must include: job title, federal series/grade (if applicable), employer name, exact start and end dates (MM/DD/YYYY format), and the exact hours worked per week.
4. Answer the Managerial Narrative Factors Fully: Treat these four narrative factors like an exam. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to write a short paragraph for each factor. Include the name and contact info of a reference who can verify each narrative.
5. Don't Forget Your SF-50 and Transcripts: If you are a current or former federal employee, you must upload your SF-50. Because of the positive education requirement, you must upload transcripts showing your degree was awarded by an accredited school.

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Q: What is the deadline to apply for this job?

The application portal closes on August 24, 2026, at 11:59 PM Eastern Time. Be sure to submit and verify your application well in advance of the deadline.

Q: Are official transcripts required when I apply?

You may upload legible, unofficial transcripts with your online application to prove your credentials. However, if you are selected, you must submit official university transcripts before you can start work.

Q: Does this position require a background check?

Yes. The selected candidate must complete a federal background check. Additionally, you will be required to submit a financial disclosure statement within 30 days of starting your duties.

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The role of Supervisory General Engineer (FV-J) in Des Plaines, IL, is a rewarding opportunity for an experienced engineer to transition into a career defining the future of aviation. By guiding the Term/Surv/WX Construction Center CHI, you will ensure the safety of hundreds of thousands of travelers daily while leading a world-class team of engineers. If you meet the qualifications and are ready to make a national impact, optimize your two-page resume, answer the managerial selection narratives, and submit your application to the FAA by August 24, 2026.