Graduate Assistant

About the role

This is a Non-Tenure Track position. Performs Graduate Assistant duties in in the Graduate School of Engineering Management at Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT).

What you will do

• The primary role of a Research Assistant (RA) is to provide assistance to faculty mentor to enhance the value and effectiveness of AFIT sponsored research, which feeds and enhances AFIT graduate education and coursework.
• RA duties will generally include will generally include activities directly supporting research including, but not limited to: maintaining labs, equipment, hardware, and software; literature reviews; collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data; adapting existing equipment to support new research; and developing research products such as papers, presentations, and code that support sponsored research deliverables.
• RAs work under the close supervision of an experienced graduate faculty member, and the association is meant to be collegial and educational.
• In consultation with the supervisor, the RA works to gain research skills and to enhance his/her grasp of the essentials of the academic discipline, the conduct of research, the role and responsibilities of a faculty member, and the role of technology in support of the Air Force.
• RAs will perform duties consistent with their prior academic preparation and experience.
• Teaching: The primary duty of a Teaching Assistant (TA) is to provide teaching assistance to the instructor of record in the classroom, which cannot be classified as routing clerical work, to enhance the value and effectiveness of AFIT graduate education.
• TA duties will generally include coordinating courses, assisting with classroom discussions, supporting in-classroom activities, recommending grades on homework and exams, conducting review and assistance sessions, assisting with classroom management (e.g. attending classes, taking notes, taking attendance, proctoring exams, and corresponding with class members), setting up labs, developing supporting course material, and other relevant duties as assigned.
• TA's with at least a MS/ME may also deliver lessons under controlled conditions (e.g., with the instructor of record present), prepare lecture materials, and assist in the development of ho9mework and exams.
• TA's will work under the close supervision of an experienced instructor of record for each course, and the association is meant to be collegial and educational.
• In consultation with the instructor of record, the TA works to gain instructional skills and to enhance his/her grasp of essentials of the academic discipline, the role and responsibilities of a faculty member, and the role of technology in support of the Air Force.
• Additional duties supporting the academic and administrative aspects of a military school can be assigned by school and/or university leaders.

Education

This position has a positive degree requirement or education forms the basis for qualifications, you MUST submit transcripts with the application.

Official transcripts are not required at the time of application; however, if position has a positive degree requirement, qualifying based on education alone or in combination with experience, transcripts must be verified prior to appointment. An accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education must accredit education. Click here to check accreditation.

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

FOREIGN EDUCATION: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the requirements.

You must show proof the education credentials have been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education program.

It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying.

How you will be evaluated

Starting September 27, 2025, USAJOBS began restricting all resumes to two pages in length. Applicants possessing the required qualifications as contained within this announcement will be evaluated and ranked by a Faculty-Rating Panel based on the extent to which their experience and education relate to the requirements of the position.

A personal interview and presentation to the faculty may be required of the top applicants. Applicants will be assessed based on their teaching credentials, scholarship, service, and education.

Your application package (curriculum vitae, OFFICIAL transcripts, supporting documents, etc.) will be used to determine your eligibility, qualifications, and quality ranking for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully. An incomplete package will result in non-consideration of your application.

Documents you must provide

• Cover letter, which should address your qualifications for the position described above.
• Include the Announcement Number for this position in your letter.
• Curriculum vitae (CV) or academic resume.
• Transcripts: Legible PDF copies of official transcripts are acceptable for initial application submission.
• If an official transcript is not yet available due to a recent graduation, a letter of degree completion provided by the university awarding the degree will suffice.
• However, if selected, you will be required to provide original copies of official transcripts.
• Foreign Education: A U.S. Equivalency from a Department of Education approved (non-federal) credentialing agency (i.e., AICE, NACES), who will complete a U.S. Standard of Education Conversion for education completed in foreign colleges or university.
• Separate List of Professional References: Names and contact information for three individuals who can speak to your accomplishments, work ethic, and character.
• These individuals should have no stake in the outcome of this search.
• Veterans: If claiming VRA, VEOA or Veterans' Preference - Submit VOW certification memo or copy of the official DD-Form 214, which must include the character of service/type under honorable conditions (i.e., with an honorable or general discharge).
• This will be annotated in block 24 on member copy 2, 4, or 7 of the DD-Form 214.
• If you are also claiming 10-point preference and/or 30% Disabled Veteran, you must submit a VA Letter or a disability determination from a branch of the Armed Forces (or documentation of Purple Heart, if applicable).
• Active Duty Service Members: The VOW Act requires federal agencies to treat an eligible active duty service member as a veteran, disabled veteran, and preference eligible (as applicable) when applying for civil service positions before the effective release or discharge date.
• Appointment of military members before the release or discharge date is permissible if the member is on terminal leave.
• At the time the active duty member applies for a civil position, he or she must submit a "certification" memo in lieu of a DD-Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty.
• Active duty members applying for a civil service position without submitting a valid certification memo or DD-Form 214 with their application will render the member ineligible for the position.
• The certification memo must originate from the member's military service branch on official letterhead and contain the following: Name/Rank/Grade of Service Member Branch of Armed Forces Dates of Active Service (Start and End Date(s)) Expected Date of Discharge/Release from Active Duty Terminal leave start date (if applicable) Expected character of service/discharge and type of separation (i.e. separation or retirement) Must be certified within 120 days of anticipated discharge Signature by, or by direction of the adjutant, personnel office, unit commander, or higher headquarters commander.
• Note: The VOW Act provides tentative preference.
• If appointed, a DD Form-214 must be submitted upon receipt.
• Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

What to expect next

Once your application package is received an acknowledgement email will be sent. Upon vacancy closeout, applicants will be notified via e-mail acknowledging receipt of their application package and advised of the anticipated selection date. Upon candidate selection, all applicants will be notified via e-mail of their selection/non-selection status.

Additional information

This job is being filled by an alternative hiring process and is not in the competitive civil service. This is an Administratively Determined position in the Excepted Service. Late applications from veterans will not be accepted for faculty positions.

Late applications for veterans only apply when filling positions in the competitive service. As a condition of employment, male applicants born after December 31, 1959 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service. For additional information click here.

Direct Deposit: All federal employees are required by PL 104-134 to have federal payments made by Direct Deposit. Employed Annuitants (Reemployed Annuitants): Applicants in receipt of an annuity based on civilian employment in the Federal Service are subject to the DoD Policy on The Employment of Annuitants. Click here for more information.

Current Federal Civilian employees may apply for temporary and term positions and if selected, a break in service of at least three (3) calendar days may be required prior to appointment to the position. Incentives: Recruitment and/or retention incentives may or may not be used.

Disabled veteran leave is available to a federal employee hired on/after 5 Nov 2016, who is a veteran with a service-connected disability rating of 30% or more. For more information, click here. AFIT is an Equal Opportunity Employer and provides reasonable accommodation to qualified applicants with disabilities.

Application materials become the property of AFIT and WILL NOT be returned. Applications submitted under this announcement will be considered ONLY for this vacancy. If you have questions regarding this announcement and have hearing or speech difficulties click here.

This is an open continuous announcement and will be used to fill vacancies as openings occur. To receive consideration for vacancies, applicants must submit complete applications prior to the established cut-off date(s). Application initial cut-off date is 30 Nov 2026 and every 30 days thereafter.

You are encouraged to apply as early as possible. This announcement will remain open until the closing date indicated; however, those who apply after the cut-off date will be considered for referral to the hiring manager only if no selection is made from the initial group or if additional vacancies occur and the initial referral list yielded an insufficient number of candidates.

If you make corrections and resubmit your application, the date the application is last submitted will be used to determine those who are considered to have met the cut-off date. This announcement is open until 30 Sep 2027 and may be used to fill like vacancies for 90 days after the closing date.