Summary

The Division of Administration (DA or Division) directs the innovative internal management of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s (CFTC or Commission) business, human resources, financial, technological, security, and strategic operational resources. The Division’s role is to effectively and efficiently ensure the fulfillment of the Commission’s mission through continued success in continuity of operations.

This job is open to

The public

U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

Clarification from the agency

This vacancy is being filled through the Office of Personnel Management's Government-wide Direct Hire Authority for Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Duties

As the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Architect, you will design, build, and sustain secure, scalable, and compliant AI capabilities using Microsoft technologies as the primary platform (e.g., Azure AI Foundry and Copilot Studio), with the integration of other approved cloud services (e.g., AWS Bedrock) when mission needs require. At the full performance level you will:

Design secure, scalable enterprise AI architectures and solutions using approved cloud platforms;
Develop and deploy AI agents, including orchestration workflows, tool-enabled agents, and integration with enterprise APIs;
Implement RAG solutions, vector databases, and semantic search to support knowledge retrieval and advanced AI capabilities;
Integrate AI services with enterprise applications, identity management, telemetry, monitoring, and logging;
Maintain and optimize AI agents and workflows, monitoring performance, accuracy, cost, and operational reliability;
Ensure AI governance, safety guardrails, documentation, and federal compliance, while advising leadership;
Implement AI safety, content filtering, and guardrails.

Requirements

Conditions of employment

U.S. Citizenship
Males born after 12-31-1959 must be registered for Selective Service
Background/Security Investigation
May be required to serve a probationary period

You will be evaluated on the basis of your level of competency (knowledge, skills and abilities) in the following areas:

Attention to Detail - Being thorough and conscientious when performing work and ensuring accuracy in technical tasks.
Customer Service - Working with clients and customers (internal or external) to understand needs, provide assistance, resolve problems, and deliver high-quality services.
Oral Communication - Expressing information effectively to individuals or groups, taking into account the audience and the nature of the information.
Problem Solving - Identifying issues, evaluating information, analyzing alternatives, and making sound recommendations.
Technical Competence - Uses knowledge that is acquired through formal training or extensive on-the-job experience to perform one’s job; works with, understands, and evaluates technical information related to the job; advises others on technical issues.
Systems Integration - Skill in integrating hardware, software, or other components to solve problems, increase productivity, or improve operations.

Qualifications

CT-13 Level: To qualify for the CT-13 level you must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade (GS/CT-12 level). Specialized experience includes but is not limited to:

Experience applying knowledge of enterprise AI architecture and platforms such as Microsoft AI Foundry to support the design and implementation of AI solutions across a range of business or mission use cases.
Experience using AI architecture models, policies, and planning processes to contribute to identifying improvements and ensuring AI solutions align with organizational requirements and goals.
Experience applying understanding of machine learning algorithms and frameworks to assist in the development, integration, and evaluation of AI capabilities within enterprise environments.
Experience using problem-solving and communication skills to address technical challenges and effectively convey technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders.

CT-14 Level: To qualify for the CT-14 level you must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade (GS/CT-13 level). Specialized experience includes but is not limited to:

Experience applying expert knowledge of enterprise AI architecture and platforms such as Microsoft AI Foundry to design and implement scalable AI solutions across a variety of mission or business use cases.
Experience applying enterprise AI architecture models and governance frameworks to ensure AI specifications, designs, and implementations align with organizational strategies and requirements.
Experience leveraging advanced understanding of machine learning algorithms and frameworks to develop, integrate, and evaluate complex AI capabilities within enterprise environments.
Experience using strong problem-solving and communication skills to address complex technical challenges and convey technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders for informed decision-making.

Education

Education is not required, nor may it be substituted for specialized experience.

Please refer to the OPM IT Management Series 2210 Qualifications Standard for the specific Education/Experience requirements for this position.

Additional information

This position is not in the Bargaining Unit.

Relocation: Relocation expenses will not be paid.

Probationary Period:

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

Your performance and conduct;
The needs and interests of the agency;
Whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
Whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your probationary/trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

More than the number of positions listed may be filled through this vacancy announcement.

The overall salary range is provided for informational purposes as it represents the full range that is applicable to current employees in this occupation/grade. A new hire's direct and overall experience are critical factors in determining a salary offer, therefore, it is important that your resume fully reflects all of your work experience. Note that the upper end of each range is typically applicable only to candidates with significant years of work experience and qualifications Please review the CFTC Compensation Program website for additional information.

The law prohibits public officials from appointing, promoting, or recommending their relatives. The law prohibits requesting, making, transmitting, accepting, or considering political recommendations for employment or other personnel actions for non-political positions. This includes recommendations from Members of Congress, Congressional employees, elected state or local officials, and political party officials and any recommendation based on party affiliation.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

This vacancy is being filled through the Office of Personnel Management's Government-wide Direct Hire Authority for Artificial Intelligence (AI). Traditional rating and ranking procedures do not apply to this vacancy. All applicants who meet the specialized experience will be forwarded to the Selecting Official for consideration. Veteran's Preference does not apply to the direct hire recruitment procedures.

You may preview questions for this vacancy.

Required Documents

You must provide a complete Application Package, which includes:

Resume showing all relevant and related experience (two pages max). If selected, your resume will be used to determine your initial pay setting decision;
Cover Letter (optional);
Performance appraisal (optional);
Transcripts (if required, an unofficial copy is accepted for application package, but an official copy with the date the degree was awarded is required prior to firm offer letter being extended)

Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP): The ICTAP provides eligible displaced federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. If your agency has notified you in writing that you are a displaced employee eligible for ICTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if: 1) this vacancy is within your ICTAP eligibility, 2) you apply under the instructions in this announcement, and 3) you are found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well qualified, you must score 85 or better on established ranking criteria. You must provide proof of eligibility with your application to receive selection priority. Additional information about ICTAP eligibility is at:
http://www.opm.gov/ctap/index.asp.ICTAP

Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP). Provides eligible surplus and displaced competitive service employees in the CFTC with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. If CFTC has notified you in writing that you are a surplus or displaced employee eligible for CTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if: 1) this vacancy is within your CTAP eligibility, 2) you apply under the instructions in this announcement, and 3) you are found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well qualified, you must rate equivalent to the Well Qualified or better category using established rating criteria. You must provide a copy of your written notification of CTAP eligibility with your application. Additional information about CTAP eligibility is at: http://www.opm.gov/ctap/index.asp.

CTAP/ICTAP Candidates MUST submit:
1. A copy of their agency reduction-in-force notice;
2. A copy of your most recent Performance Rating;
3. A copy of your most recent SF-50 noting current or last position held, the grade level, and the duty location; and
4. A copy of your notice of proposed removal for declining a directed reassignment or transfer of function outside the local
commuting area or documentation showing you were separated as a result of RIF or declining a directed reassignment or
transfer of function outside the local commuting area.

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order 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.

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.

How to Apply

RESUME REQUIREMENT: Your resume may NOT exceed two pages, and the font size should not be smaller than 10 pts. Please ensure your resume clearly demonstrates how you meet the qualifications for the position within the two-page limit.

YOU MUST APPLY ONLINE: Your complete application, including required documents, must be received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (EST) on the closing date of this announcement. You must complete and submit an application by accessing the USAJOBS website at USAJOBS.GOV. To begin, click the Apply Online button within the vacancy announcement and follow the prompts to create an account using LOGIN.GOV, if you have not done so already. LOGIN.GOV will walk you through each step of the account set-up and will automatically link your USAJOBS profile to LOGIN.GOV. Once you have established an account using LOGIN.GOV, you will then go back to USAJOBS.GOV using your LOGIN.GOV username and password to answer the questions and submit all required documents. If you already have established an LOGIN.GOV account or want to return to your saved application, go to USAJOBS.GOV using your LOGIN.GOV username and password to apply or view your profile. If you have problems completing your on-line application, including problems submitting your supporting documents, please contact the Help Desk by e-mail at mgshelp@monster.com or phone at 1-866.656.6831. The help desk is available Monday-Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. EST.

To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account (https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login), all of your applications will appear on the welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/.

Agency contact information

Rolanda A. Morgan

Phone: 202-418-5624
Fax: 202-501-0018
Email: rmorgan@cftc.gov

Address: Commodity Futures Trading Commission
Three Lafayette Centre
1155 21st St. NW
Washington, District of Columbia 20581
United States

Next steps

For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/.

Please notify us if your contact information changes after the closing date of the announcement. Also, note that if you provide an email address that is inaccurate or if your mailbox is full or blocked (e.g., spam-blocker), you may not receive important communication that could affect your consideration for this position.

IT Specialist (AI Architect) Job in Washington, DC