Principal Technical Manager for Signatures Department

Department of the Navy

Naval Surface Warfare Center, Maryland Full-time $194,672 – $209,600 Closes Jun 30, 2026

Summary

You will serve as Principal Technical Manager for the Signatures Department within the Naval Surface Warfare Center Carderock Division (NSWCCD).

Duties

  • You will serve as the expert authority on signatures for surface ships, including aircraft carriers, unmanned vehicles, combatant craft, and submarine platforms.
  • You will identify future signature related capabilities in ships, submarines, unmanned platforms, maritime systems, and aircraft carriers and ensure that high-quality technical work is executed.
  • You will recommend new scientific and technical programs in signatures, signature mitigation, and management to Navy leadership and provide expert consultation to government, academia, and industry.
  • You will coordinate and integrate technical efforts in signature management with internal Division experts, other government agencies (e.g., Office of Naval Research, NAVSEA, Program Executive Offices), industry partners and universities.
  • You will drive major technological advancements in the Navy's ship and ship systems concepts, designs, and technology integrations in the areas of signatures and signature management.

Education

Applicants must meet the following positive education qualifications requirements of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualifications Standards Manual: For 0801 Professional Engineering Series: A. Degree: Engineering. Successful completion of a bachelor’s or higher engineering degree from an accredited college or university. To be acceptable, the program must: (1) lead to a bachelor’s degree in a school of engineering with at least one program accredited by ABET; 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.

Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position. -or- B. Combination of education and experience — college-level education, training, and/or technical experience that furnished (1) a thorough knowledge of the physical and mathematical sciences underlying engineering, and (2) a good understanding, both theoretical and practical, of the engineering sciences and techniques and their applications to one of the branches of engineering. The adequacy of such background must be demonstrated by one of the following: (I) Professional registration or licensure — Current registration as an Engineer Intern (EI), Engineer in Training (EIT), or licensure as a Professional Engineer (PE) by any State, the District of Columbia, Guam, or Puerto Rico. Absent other means of qualifying under this standard, those applicants who achieved such registration by means other than written test (e.g., State grandfather or eminence provisions) are eligible only for positions that are within or closely related to the specialty field of their registration.

For example, an applicant who attains registration through a State Board’s eminence provision as a manufacturing engineer typically would be rated eligible only for manufacturing engineering positions; or (II) Written Test — Evidence of having successfully passed the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) examination or any other written test required for professional registration by an engineering licensure board in the various States, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico; or (III) Specified academic courses — Successful completion of at least 60 semester hours of courses in the physical, mathematical, and engineering sciences and that included the courses specified in the basic requirements under paragraph A. The courses must be fully acceptable toward meeting the requirements of an engineering program as described in paragraph A; or (IV) Related curriculum — Successful completion of a curriculum leading to a bachelor’s degree in an appropriate scientific field, e.g., engineering technology, physics, chemistry, architecture, computer science, mathematics, hydrology, or geology, may be accepted in lieu of a bachelor’s degree in engineering, provided the applicant has had at least 1 year of professional engineering experience acquired under professional engineering supervision and guidance. Ordinarily there should be either an established plan of intensive training to develop professional engineering competence, or several years of prior professional engineering-type experience, e.g., in interdisciplinary positions. (The above examples of related curricula are not all inclusive.) For 1301-General Physical Science Seriesa. A degree in physical science, engineering, or mathematics that included 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science such as mechanics, dynamics, properties of materials, and electronics; -or- b.

Combination of education and experience — education equivalent to one of the majors shown in A above that included at least 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science, plus appropriate experience or additional education; An advanced degree of Master’s or Ph.D. in one of the educational fields listed above is highly desirable.

How You Will Be Evaluated

Once the application process is complete, a review of your resume and supporting documentation will be conducted. If you meet minimum qualifications, your Application Package will be further reviewed to determine if you possess the Technical Qualifications (TQ) listed above. TQs must be thoroughly addressed within your two (2) page resume. Separate narratives will not be accepted or reviewed.

Highly Qualified applicants may undergo one or more interviews and may be referred to the selecting official for further consideration. Additional documentation may be required in the interview/assessment process. The Ad-hoc Executive Resources Board (AERB) will review results and make recommendations on final selections to the approving authority. If selected, you may be required to provide supporting documentation.

If after reviewing your resume and supporting documentation, a determination is made that you inflated your qualifications and/or experience, you may be found ineligible/not qualified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment. All qualifications requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

Required Documents

  • A complete application includes items described below.
  • Please note that if you do not provide all required information, as specified in this announcement, you may not be considered for this position (or may not receive the special consideration for which you may be eligible).
  • Please carefully review the following list to determine what documentation you need to submit.
  • Some documents may not apply to all applicants.
  • RESUME: All applicants are required to submit a resume limited to two (2) pages showing all relevant experience, duties and accomplishments.
  • Applicants must include evidence of the TQs.
  • PLEASE DO NOT USE USAJOBS RESUME BUILDER.
  • CURRENT FEDERAL CIVIL SERVICE EMPLOYEE: Must provide a copy of your Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (SF-50) or equivalent personnel action form reflecting you are a current Federal Civil Service employee.
  • You are required to provide documentation that supports the eligibility and qualification claims made in your resume and assessment questionnaire.
  • You must submit the applicable documents listed here and those listed with the eligibilities you select in the announcement questionnaire with your application package.
  • Applicants who do not provide supporting documentation that fully support their claims will not be referred to the hiring manager.
  • Cover letter is optional.
  • Is there a basic education requirement for this position?
  • Are you using education as a substitute for some or all of the experience requirement?
  • Check the Education section above to see what is allowed and what is required.
  • Any claims you make in your resume or assessment questionnaire regarding education or degrees MUST be supported by submitting with your application official or unofficial transcripts or a list of courses, grades earned, completion dates, and quarter and semester hours earned issued from your school.
  • While unofficial transcripts are acceptable for initial application, an official transcript will ultimately be required if you are selected for the position.
  • You may submit a copy your degree(s) if specific coursework does not have to be verified.
  • Are you claiming membership in any professional organizations, or possession of a license, certificate or credentials?
  • Check the Conditions of Employment section above to see if any are required.
  • If you claim membership, license, certification, or credentials, you must submit a copy of said document in your application package.
  • Are you a veteran claiming 5-point veterans' preference or claiming sole survivorship preference?
  • You must submit a copy of your latest DD-214 Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (any copy that shows all dates of service, as well as character of service [Honorable, General, etc.] is acceptable) OR a VA letter that shows dates of service or service connected disability AND character of service.
  • If you have more than one DD-214 for multiple periods of active duty service, submit a copy for each period of service.
  • If you were issued a DD-215 to amend aforementioned information on the DD-214 you must submit that too.
  • If you are not sure of your preference eligibility, visit the Department of Labor's website: Veterans' Preference Advisor Are you a disabled veteran or claiming 10-point veterans' preference?
  • If you are eligible to claim 10 point veterans preference you must submit a DD-214 Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty as described above for 5-point preference.
  • You must also provide the applicable supporting documentation of your disability (e.g. disability letter from the VA) as described on Standard Form-15 (SF-15). http://www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/SF15.pdf.
  • Are you an active duty service member?
  • Active Duty Service Members are required to submit a statement of service printed on command letterhead and signed by the command.
  • The statement of service must provide the branch of service, rate/rank, all dates of service, the expected date of discharge and anticipated character of service (Honorable, General, etc.).
  • Documents submitted as part of the application package, to include supplemental documents, may be shared beyond the Human Resources Office.
  • Some supplemental documents contain personal information such as SSN and DOB and some documents such as military orders and marriage certificates may contain personal information for someone other than you.
  • You may sanitize these documents to remove said personal information before you submit your application.
  • You must provide an un-sanitized version of the documents if you are selected.

About this role

The Principal Technical Manager for Signatures Department position with the Department of the Navy is based in Naval Surface Warfare Center, Maryland. You will serve as Principal Technical Manager for the Signatures Department within the Naval Surface Warfare Center Carderock Division (NSWCCD). The role pays $194,672 to $209,600 per year.

Day to day, the work involves you will serve as the expert authority on signatures for surface ships, including aircraft carriers, unmanned vehicles, combatant craft, and submarine platforms. The full list of duties, conditions, and required documents appears in the official announcement linked on this page.

Who should apply

Review the announcement's Qualifications section closely, since it defines exactly what federal administrative work experience this Principal Technical Manager for Signatures Department position requires. Match your federal resume directly to the announcement's wording so a reviewer can confirm each requirement in writing. For this Principal Technical Manager for Signatures Department position with the Department of the Navy in Naval Surface Warfare Center, Maryland, confirm you meet each requirement before applying.

How competitive it is

At $194,672 to $209,600 per year, this is a mid-to-senior role where a precisely tailored application matters most. Because it is a supervisory or senior position, expect experienced candidates and a strong emphasis on a documented leadership and performance record. Based in Naval Surface Warfare Center, Maryland, it competes within that local market, which can mean lighter competition than major metropolitan postings. The announcement closes on June 30, 2026, and federal postings can close early once enough applications arrive, so applying promptly is wise.

This overview is general guidance from Job Army to help you understand the role. Always read the official announcement for exact duties, qualifications, and requirements before applying.

Job Details

Department Department of the Navy
Job Type Full-time
Location Naval Surface Warfare Center, Maryland
Salary $194,672 – $209,600
Pay Period Per Year
Closing Date Jun 30, 2026
Posted Jun 16, 2026
Source ID DE-12983357-26-SRP
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