IT Specialist (APPSW/INFOSEC) Job in Anywhere in the U.S. (remote job)

Vacancy No. Q2-2025-0029 Department Technology Transformation Service
Salary $143,736.00 to $191,900.00 Grade 15 to 15
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 11/13/2024 Close Date 11/18/2024
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
Anywhere in the U.S. (remote job)


Summary

This position is located in the General Services Administration (GSA), Federal Acquisition Service (FAS), Technology Transformation Services (TTS). 

As a IT Specialist (APPSW), Agency Title: Data Engineer, you will serve as an authoritative subject matter expert in data engineering, security, and service design to internal agency, program office, and other stakeholders for the development of data products, analytic solutions, and documentation.

This job is open to

Clarification from the agency

This public notice is issued under Direct Hire Authority (DHA) to recruit talent to occupations for which there is a severe shortage of candidates or a critical hiring need. This means that we can hire any qualified candidate from this notice. About this DHA notice: -Current civil service employees will receive new appointments if selected under this DHA. -For information on DHA, please visit https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/hiring-information/direct-hire-authority/

Duties

Data Software Engineering and Security

  • Serves as an expert data engineer and consultant, managing and directing multiple highly complex and innovative data engineering and information security projects and initiatives.
  • Leverages data, programming, data visualization, and advanced analytic tools, skills, and techniques to support accomplishment of the organizational mission and facilitate the program’s adoption of data-driven information security, cybersecurity, and risk management approaches.
  • Utilizes integrated development environment software for data engineering and visualization (e.g., R Studio, Visual Studio Code, Tableau, MicroStrategy), general purpose programming languages for statistical and data analysis (e.g., R, Python, Java, Scala), data structures, algorithms, and SQL (e.g., SQL, MySQL, PostgreSQL).
  • Engineers data automations and processes (e.g., building, testing, and deploying code) using programming languages and other tools to minimize human error and improve data security, reliability, efficiency, and quality for program/customer agency missions, goals, and future planning.
  • Uses relevant programming language(s) as well as its packages or libraries for various applications to organize, manipulate, reuse, and/or scale data and for associated secure engineering functions and processes used in program office data operations.

Customer Communications and Reporting

  • Provides authoritative advice on data engineering and security methodologies, products and services, and related analyses in discussions with program office managers, supervisors, data consumers, and coworkers.
  • Determines appropriate data tools or services with clients or customers to define project scopes, requirements, and deliverables.
  • Implements and/or maintains data engineering quality assurance processes.

Data Security Support

  • Supports emerging IT and information security initiatives including but not limited to DevSecOps (i.e., development, security, and operations), continuous integration and continuous delivery, and vulnerability management, ensuring new technologies are appropriately accounted for from a data engineering and security perspective.
  • Provides technical expertise and advice on the restructuring and/or re-architecting of program data collection storage and approach to ensure maximum visibility into risk while minimizing data collection and storage engineering overhead.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • US Citizenship or National (Residents of American Samoa and Swains Island)
  • Meet all eligibility requirements within 30 days of the closing date.
  • Register with Selective Service if you are a male born after 12/31/1959

If selected, you must meet the following conditions:

  • Current or Former Political Appointees: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C or Non­Career SES employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the HR Office. Failure to disclose this information could result in disciplinary action including removal from Federal Service.
  • Undergo and pass a background investigation (Tier 4 investigation level).
  • Have your identity and work status eligibility verified if you are not a GSA employee.  We will use the Department of Homeland Security’s e-Verify system for this. Any discrepancies must be resolved as a condition of continued employment.
  • Serve a one year probationary period, if required.

Qualifications

For each job on your resume, provide:

  • the exact dates you held  each job (from month/year to month/year)
  • number of hours per week you worked (if part time).    

If you have volunteered your service through a National Service program (e.g., Peace Corps, Americorps), we encourage you to apply and include this experience on your resume.

For a brief video on creating a Federal resume, click here. 

The GS-15 salary range starts at $143,736.00 per year.

If you are a new federal employee, your starting salary will likely be set at the Step 1 of the grade for which you are selected.  

To qualify, you must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to theGS-14 level or higher in the Federal service. 

Applicants applying for the GS 15 grade level must meet the following requirements: Have IT-related experience demonstrating EACH of the four competencies AND one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS 14 level in the Federal service as described below:

IT Specialist competency requirements: 

  • Attention to Detail - This skill is generally demonstrated by assignments where the applicant keeps abreast of latest technology, information, research, etc., to maintain knowledge in field of expertise (for example, reads trade journals, participates in professional/technical associations, maintains credentials).
  • Customer Service - This skill is generally demonstrated by assignments where the applicant promotes or develops and maintains good working relationships with key individuals or groups. 
  • Oral Communication - This skill is generally demonstrated by assignments where the applicant serves on panels, committees, or task forces as a representative for the organization on technical or professional issues.
  • Problem Solving -  This skill is generally demonstrated by assignments where the applicant monitors current trends or events (for example, technological, economic, political, social, educational, or employment trends or events) and applies the information as appropriate.

To qualify, you must have one (1) year of specialized experience. Specialized experience is defined as:

  • Applying data engineering and information security principles, methods, standards, and practices to program operations;
  • Utilizing various analytical and statistical software to prepare data for analysis and clean data to include from structured/semistructured/unstructured sources;
  • Working with various stakeholders and clients to define and determine the appropriate data services or tools requirements for projects;
  • Providing technical expertise on the restructuring and/or re-architecting of program data collection storage to assess potential threats, vulnerabilities, and risks; and
  • Using software and programming languages (such as R, Python, SQL) and other tools to conduct operational data engineering functions.

Education

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Additional information

Bargaining Unit Status
- This position is ineligible for the bargaining unit

Criminal History Inquiries - Not allowed before offer

If you apply to this position and are selected, we will not ask about your criminal history before you receive a conditional job offer. If you believe you were asked about your criminal history improperly, contact the agency or visit GSA's webpage.

Relocation Not Paid

Relocation-related expenses are not approved and will be your responsibility.  

Recruitment/Relocation Incentive

On a case-by-case basis, the following incentives may be approved:

·       Recruitment incentive if you are new to the federal government

·       Relocation incentive if you are a current federal employee

·       Credit toward vacation leave if you are new to the federal government

Diversity

GSA is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility that goes beyond our compliance with EEO regulations including: 

  • Valuing and embracing diversity, promoting equity, inclusion and accessibility, and expecting cultural competence; and
  • Fostering a work environment where all employees, customers and stakeholders feel respected and valued.
Our commitment is: 
  • Reflected in our policies, procedures and work environment;
  • Recognized by our employees, customers and stakeholders; and
  • Drives our efforts to recruit, attract, retain and engage the diverse workforce needed to achieve our mission.

Benefits

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.

You will have access to many benefits including:

  • Health insurance (choose from a wide range of plans)
  • Life insurance coverage with several options
  • Sick leave and vacation time, including 11 paid holidays per year
  • Thrift Savings Plan (similar to a 401(k) plan)
  • Flexible work schedules
  • Transit and child care subsidies
  • Flexible spending accounts
  • Long-term care insurance
  • Training and development

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.

Applications will be evaluated against the basic qualifications. Qualified candidates will be considered in accordance with the Office of Personnel Management Direct Hire Guidelines. Applications will not be rated or ranked. Veterans’ Preference does not apply to the direct hire recruitment procedures.

You may not be considered for the position, if any part of the application is incomplete or missing the required supporting documentation. Falsifying your background, education and/or experience is cause for not hiring you or dismissing you if hired. 

ICTAP/CTAP Candidates: The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found “well-qualified" for this vacancy. In addition to meeting the basic qualifications stated in the qualification section of this announcement, well qualified is defined as: experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position, demonstrated by meeting at least 51% or more of the competencies/KSA’s listed below (i.e. 3 out of 5, or 4 out of 6, or 5 out of 8, etc.) 

  1. Utilizing data engineering principles, concepts, methods, standards, and practices and related skills in applying them in their interrelationships with other specialized occupations (e.g., data management, systems analysis). 
  2. Applying secure data engineering service and product quality improvement principles, strategies, processes, and practices to accurately represent partner agency requirements, present recommendations for adoption of new methodologies, and lead or coordinate implementation of secure data engineering service/product quality improvement activities.
  3. Using data engineering techniques and requirements within federal and other government entities and current and emerging data engineering solutions (i.e., software, applications, algorithms, programs, and/or services) sufficient to work with partnering agencies and other stakeholders in quantitatively and/or qualitatively analyzing identity access management and related data.
  4. Collaborating with key decision makers and other stakeholders for the purpose of planning, carrying out, and completing high-profile, critical, and/or intensive secure data engineering project work and activities.
  5. Comprehensive knowledge and skill in identity security, vulnerability management, virtualization security, web application security, network architecture and segmentation, continuous integration/automation tools, and secure practices.
  6. Utilizing IT security and integration of complex technical and non-technical research, policy information, and best practices needed to address high priority and sensitive issues and derive solutions impacting the security of information systems and related technology and the security of operational technology and critical infrastructure including one the following: user research, design, policies, and/or testing physical or digital information collection systems, information storage systems, access control systems, public key infrastructure, and federation with regards to trust framework solutions.

You may preview questions for this vacancy.

Required Documents

ALL required documents must be submitted before the closing date. Review the following list to determine what you need to submit.

Your resume showing applicant's name, email address, work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment and duties performed.

If you are ICTAP/CTAP eligible - submit a, b, and c: (a) proof of eligibility including agency notice; (b) SF-50, and (c) most recent performance appraisal.

Current or Former Political Appointees: Submit SF-50.  

How to Apply

Submit a complete online application including any required documents prior to 11:59 pm Eastern Time on the closing date of the announcement. You can modify or complete your application any time before the deadline. Simply return to USAJOBS, select the vacancy, and update your application.  For more detailed instructions on how to apply, click here: Apply for a GSA Job.

If you are having issues applying to this announcement, you should switch to a different browser, network or device. Note: Your firewall may block your transfer from USAJOBS to your GSA application. 

To begin, click the Apply Online button on the vacancy announcement.

  • Sign in or register on USAJobs and select a resume and documents to include in your application.
  • Once you have clicked Apply for this position now, you will be taken to the GSA site to complete the application process.
  • Click the Apply To This Vacancy and complete all steps in the application process until the Confirmation indicates your application is complete.  If you click Return to USAJobs or get timed out prior to receiving confirmation, your application will not be submitted and cannot be considered for this job.
  • Note:  Review the REQUIRED DOCUMENTS section of this announcement to determine which apply to you and must be submitted online. You may choose one or more of the following options to submit your document(s): Upload (from your computer) or USAJOBS (click the "USAJOBS" link to complete the transfer process). 

Need Assistance? 

  • Questions or issues completing an application and/or submitting documentation - contact mgshelp@monster.com or 1-866-656-6831 Monday-Friday 7AM - 7PM EST, except for Federal holidays
  • Specific questions on the position - contact the HR representative (Monday-Friday during normal business hours) listed on the announcement, prior to the application deadline

You must receive HR approval before deviating from these instructions.

Be sure to APPLY EARLY as most assessments must be completed fully and submitted before the announcement closing.

Agency contact information

Tiffany Trimm
Phone
000-000-0000
Fax
000-000-0000
Email
tiffany.trimm@gsa.gov
Address
GSA, Technology Transformation Service
General Services Administration (GSA)
Office of Human Resources Management (OHRM)
1800 F Street NW
Washington, District of Columbia 20405
United States
Learn more about this agency

Next steps

After the closing date/deadline:

  1. ELIGIBILITY/QUALIFICATIONS: Your application will be reviewed for all requirements.
  2. REFERRAL TO MANAGEMENT: If you meet all the requirements, you may be referred to management for review and a possible interview.  
  3. SELECTION/TENTATIVE JOB OFFER: If you are selected, you will receive a tentative offer and start the suitability and/or security background investigation process.
  4. FINAL JOB OFFER: Once our security office determines you can come on board, you will be given a final offer, which is typically 40 days after the announcement closes
  5. FINAL COMMUNICATION: Once the position is filled, we will notify you of your status. You may also check your application status by logging into USAJOBS and clicking “Track this Application” on the Applicant Dashboard.

Thank you for your interest in working for U.S. General Services Administration!


Note: We cannot accept applications on behalf of Federal Agencies. Application instructions are listed within the Job Description.


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