Become an Aerospace Leader: Composite/Plastic Fabricator at Hill AFB

In the modern landscape of defense aviation, keeping state-of-the-art aircraft combat-ready requires a highly specialized skill set. The United States Air Force relies on advanced composite materials and cutting-edge low-observable (LO) technologies to maintain its global strategic advantage. At the heart of this maintenance network are the skilled technicians who fabricate, repair, and maintain the structures of 5th Generation weapon systems.

The Department of the Air Force, specifically the Headquarters of the Air Force Reserve Command, is actively recruiting a Composite/Plastic Fabricator to join the elite 419th Maintenance Squadron at Hill Air Force Base in Utah. If you are a precision craftsperson with experience in advanced composite repairs, layout development, and protective coating applications, this specialized dual-status role offers a robust federal career alongside the pride of serving in the Air Force Reserve.

About the Agency: The 419th Maintenance Squadron and the ART Program

The 419th Maintenance Squadron is a critical component of the 419th Fighter Wing, the first Air Force Reserve unit to fly and maintain the operational F-35A Lightning II. Operating out of Hill AFB, Utah, this unit works alongside active-duty counterparts to ensure unmatched airpower anytime, anywhere.

This opening is for an Air Reserve Technician (ART) position. ARTs occupy a unique and vital niche within the Department of Defense. As an ART, you are a full-time, permanent federal civil service employee who enjoys all the standard benefits granted to competitive service personnel. Concurrently, you are required to maintain active military membership in the local Air Force Reserve unit. This dual-status structure ensures that the unit has highly experienced, full-time technical leaders on hand to maintain equipment and train traditional reservists during unit training assemblies (UTAs) and potential mobilizations.

Job Responsibilities: Precision Maintenance on 5th Generation Systems

As a Composite/Plastic Fabricator (WG-10), you will handle the structural integrity and advanced radar-evading surfaces of some of the world's most sophisticated military aircraft. Your work directly impacts pilot safety and mission success.

Key responsibilities include:

On/Off-Equipment Maintenance: Troubleshooting, inspecting, repairing, modifying, and maintaining advanced composite components, both internal and external.
Low-Observable (LO) System Maintenance: Evaluating, repairing, and applying specialized coatings to ensure the aircraft retains its precise signature-reduction profiles. You will work with health evaluation and quantification systems to verify system integrity.
Structural Fabrication and Layout: Planning and laying out complex repairs using advanced geometry, triangulation, blueprints, engineering drawings, and manufacturing specifications.
Corrosion Control: Identifying, removing, and preventing structural corrosion through the application of advanced chemical inhibitors.
Training Reservists: Developing training plans and mentoring reserve unit members to maximize the unit's technical competency and readiness.
Environmental Safety Compliance: Utilizing safety and environmental practices in compliance with the Federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Air Force Environmental Compliance Assessment Management Program (ECAMP) when handling hazardous materials and waste.

Requirements & Qualifications

To qualify for this WG-10 position, applicants must meet the standards described in the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards Handbook X-118C for the WG-4300 Pliable Materials Work Family.

Rather than a set timeframe of experience, the primary focus is on the quality of your skills and your ability to work with minimal oversight. The key criteria include:

Screen-Out Element

The absolute ability to perform the core duties of a Composite/Plastic Fabricator without more than normal supervision.

Essential Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Fabrication and Repair: Proven skill in fabricating and assembling aircraft structural components from composite and pliable materials using blueprints, technical specifications, and shop mathematics.
Tool Proficiency: Experience using and maintaining metal shop tools, specialized surface preparation tools, powered spray systems, vacuum equipment, and measuring instruments.
Signature Technology: Familiarity with low-observable technology principles, signature data validation, and the application of specialized coatings to exact tolerances.
Safety and Compliance: Understanding of work-area hygiene, Foreign Object Debris (FOD) prevention, and EPA/ECAMP guidelines regarding hazardous material generation and protective gear.

Key Conditions of Employment

Military Reserve Status: You must enlist or maintain active status in the Air Force Reserve. This requires regular participation in military training assemblies (typically one weekend per month and an annual active-duty tour).
Special Program Access: You must be capable of obtaining special access authorization for critical weapon systems (such as the F-22, B-2, or F-35) in compliance with USAF Special Access Program regulations.
Physical Requirements: This position is physically demanding. You must be able to lift and carry up to 50 pounds independently (and heavier loads with assistance), stand for extended periods, work in cramped or awkward positions under aircraft, climb ladders, and wear vapor-proof suits and respirators.
Security Clearance: Ability to obtain and maintain a Secret security clearance.
Overtime and Travel: Willingness to travel on military or commercial aircraft for temporary duty assignments (TDY) and work off-shifts (including nights and weekends) to support round-the-clock operations.

Salary Overview and Pay Schedule

This position offers a stable and competitive compensation package under the Federal Wage System (FWS) for blue-collar occupations.

Position Title	Grade	Pay Basis	Minimum Annual Salary	Maximum Annual Salary
Composite/Plastic Fabricator	WG-10	Per Year	$64,572	$75,341

Note: Overtime, shift differentials for night work, and potential recruitment or retention incentives may further enhance your overall earning potential.

Comprehensive Benefits

As an Air Reserve Technician, you receive a double layer of benefits combining federal civil service perks with military reservist privileges.

Civil Service Benefits

Retirement Security: Coverage under the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) pension plan and access to the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) with up to 5% agency matching contributions.
Health and Life Insurance: Premium health insurance plans, dental, vision, and Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance (FEGLI).
Paid Time Off: Accrual of annual leave for personal use, dedicated sick leave, and 11 paid federal holidays per year.

Military Reserve Benefits

Military Leave: Receive 15 days of paid military leave annually to attend your reserve active-duty training tours without losing your civilian civil service pay.
Base Access: Full commissary, base exchange (BX), and recreational facility privileges.
TriCare Reserve Select: Access to high-quality, low-cost military health insurance for you and your family.

Step-by-Step Application Guide

Because this is a federal job, the application process requires strict adherence to administrative procedures. Follow these steps to ensure your application package is reviewed:

Prepare Your Resume (Critical Limit): Your resume must not exceed two pages in length. Resumes that exceed two pages or are illegible will be excluded from consideration. Use a font size of 10 points or larger.
Include Mandatory Details: For every job entry on your resume, you must list the start and end dates (Month/Year) along with the average hours worked per week. If you are a current or former federal employee, you must explicitly state your pay plan, series, and grade (e.g., WG-4352-10 or GS-0301-09).
Do Not Include Personal Information: To ensure a fair hiring process, do not include photographs, your Social Security Number, age, gender, religion, or other protected personal characteristics in your resume.
Access the Questionnaire: Navigate to the official application portal using the links provided below and preview the vacancy questionnaire to align your resume with the required competencies.
Upload Required Documentation: Gather and submit all applicable files, including:
- Your two-page resume
- The online questionnaire responses
- Your most recent SF-50 (for current/former federal employees)
- DD-214 or a valid VOW Act service certification memo (for veterans)
- VA disability rating letter and SF-15 (if claiming 10-point veteran preference)
Submit: Confirm all uploads are successful (which may take up to an hour to clear the system virus scan) and submit your package before the closing deadline on October 7, 2026, at 11:59 PM Eastern Time.

Expert Application Tips

Be Detailed but Concise: Fitting your career into two pages is a challenge. Prioritize concrete bullet points detailing your experience with structural repairs, low-observable coating thicknesses, and specific technical tools rather than generalized statements.
Match Your Questionnaire: The hiring system uses your resume to verify your answers on the assessment questionnaire. If you rate yourself as an expert in applying radar-absorbent materials, your resume must clearly document instances where you successfully performed that exact task.
Double-Check Dates and Hours: The human resources team relies heavily on the documented hours worked per week to calculate your qualified time. Missing weekly hours is one of the most common reasons qualified candidates are marked "insufficient" and eliminated.

Working as a Composite/Plastic Fabricator for the 419th Maintenance Squadron at Hill AFB is more than a job—it is a mission-critical technical career. By joining the Air Reserve Technician program, you secure a lucrative, stable federal position while actively contributing to national security. If you have the hand-eye coordination, physical stamina, and structural fabrication expertise needed to keep 5th Gen stealth systems in peak operational form, apply today and join the ranks of the Department of the Air Force's elite maintenance teams.

Why This Composite/Plastic Fabricator Job Matters

Step into the future of aerospace maintenance and work on cutting-edge 5th Generation aircraft. Secure a dual-status role that blends the stability of federal civil service with the pride of military reserve service.

Composite/Plastic Fabricator Job Overview

The Headquarters, Air Force Reserve Command is seeking a highly skilled Composite/Plastic Fabricator (WG-10) for the 419th Maintenance Squadron at Hill AFB, Utah. This is an Air Reserve Technician (ART) position, offering a unique opportunity to provide expert on- and off-equipment maintenance, repair advanced composite structures, and manage low-observable technology coatings on advanced military aircraft.

Requirements for Composite/Plastic Fabricator

Must be able to perform composite/plastic fabrication tasks with little or no supervision.
Must meet and maintain active military membership requirements in the Air Force Reserve.
Ability to obtain and maintain a Secret security clearance.
Must pass a physical examination qualifying for the wear of respiratory protection equipment.
Possession of or ability to obtain a valid state driver's license and airfield operating permit.
Willingness to work scheduled/unscheduled overtime and off-shifts (1st, 2nd, or 3rd shift) to support 24/7 operations.
Must be able to obtain special program access for specific weapon systems (such as F-22, B-2, or F-35, if applicable).

Preferred Qualifications for Composite/Plastic Fabricator

Prior hands-on experience maintaining low-observable (LO) coatings and systems on 5th Generation fighter platforms.
Demonstrated skill in complex layout and pattern development, including geometric projection and triangulation.
Deep understanding of EPA and Air Force Environmental Compliance Assessment Management Program (ECAMP) standards regarding hazardous waste.
Experience in training or mentoring junior technicians/reservists in specialized composite repair processes.

Federal Benefits & Perks

✓Competitive salary under the Federal Wage System (WG-10 pay grade).
✓Full federal civil service benefits, including health, dental, and vision insurance.
✓Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) pension plan and Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) with agency matching.
✓15 days of paid military leave annually for active duty reserve training.
✓Generous paid annual leave, sick leave, and federal holidays.
✓Access to base recreational, health, and shopping facilities.

💡 How to Apply Composite/Plastic Fabricator Job & Insider Tips

Application Steps for Composite/Plastic Fabricator Job

Create or log in to your existing USAJOBS account.
Ensure your resume is updated, legible, and does not exceed the mandatory two-page limit.
Complete the online application questionnaire via USA Staffing.
Upload all required supporting documents, including your resume, SF-50 (if applicable), and DD-214/Certification memo (for veterans).
Verify that your application package is fully complete and click 'Submit My Application' before the closing date.

💡 General Tips

Do not exceed the two-page limit for your resume. Resumes longer than two pages will be automatically disqualified.
Ensure your resume explicitly details the month, year, and hours worked per week for every position listed to verify qualifying experience.
Do not include personal identifiable information (PII) such as your social security number, photo, age, or gender in your resume.
Carefully match your resume text to the answers you provide in the online questionnaire to avoid being disqualified for inconsistencies.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an Air Reserve Technician (ART)?

An Air Reserve Technician is a full-time federal civil service employee who is also required to maintain active membership as a military reservist in the same unit. This role offers the unique blend of civilian career stability with active military participation.

Where is this job located?

This position is located at Hill Air Force Base in northern Utah, near Ogden and Salt Lake City.

What is the salary range for this position?

The starting salary ranges from $64,572 to $75,341 per year, depending on qualifications and experience under the WG-10 grade.

Are there strict physical requirements for this role?

Yes. This position requires strenuous physical exertion, including prolonged standing, climbing ladders, working in cramped positions, lifting up to 50 pounds, and wearing respiratory protective equipment for extended periods.

Can retired military members apply?

Generally, retired military members are ineligible for active membership in the Air Force Reserve, which is a requirement for ART positions. However, retired members who already hold active Air Force Reserve assignments may apply if they document their assignment on their application.