Summary
The United States Court of Federal Claims is seeking to fill a Programmer/Analyst position within the court's IT/Systems Office located in the National Courts Building, 717 Madison Place, NW, Washington, D.C.
Clarification from the agency
This announcement is open until filled. This position requires a Public Trust Background Investigation.
Duties
The Programmer/Analyst is a member of the court's IT/Systems Office located in the National Courts Building, 717 Madison Place, NW, Washington, D.C. The incumbent is responsible for the design, development, and support of web-based applications, and takes a lead role involving software development with multiple programming languages as needed at the U.S. Court of Federal Claims (USCFC) and the U.S. Court of Federal Claims Office of Special Masters (USCFC-OSM). Much of this work involves the courts case management database and application, webserver, and general scripting in Linux and Windows. The candidate will also maintain and support the Court's internal and external websites. This is a professional and highly visible position that will provide support to approximately 150 end users in two locations within the DC metro area. The incumbent will also collaborate with other on-site IT staff, as well as development staff at other courts and other Federal Judiciary organizations. This position will report to the Director of the IT/Systems Office.
No relocation expenses will be paid.
Responsibilities
The candidate must have application development experience and a performance history that demonstrates outstanding application development and troubleshooting skills. The candidate will be responsible for designing, developing, and adapting software in support of the Court's CM/ECF system. The candidate will also be responsible for the design, development, and maintenance of local court modifications to the CM/ECF system. The ideal candidate will have appropriate tact to interact directly with the court's judges and special masters, their chambers personnel, and court staff in order to gather requirements, troubleshoot software errors, and provide support for their technical needs. The candidate should also have an innate sense of follow-through, team spirit, and professional responsibility for the quality of one's work.
- Directs and provides systems and software development services using multiple programming languages.
- Recommends strategies to judges, court management, and the user community to determine requirements for systems which support the mission of the court. Recommends and directs the development of software and hardware solutions to enhance both existing and new systems.
- Maintains contact with other automation court personnel at different locations and levels for the purpose of remaining knowledgeable of developments, techniques, and user programs.
- Provides technical expertise for hardware and software for SQL Server, MySQL, Informix, Drupal, Apache Web server, and Linux shell scripting.
- Designs, modifies, and implements short and long-range automation improvement plans for the court, ensuring that changes can be implemented with minimal disruption to the work of the court.
- Manages execution of automation plans for major automated systems and establish training in system use and capabilities. Performs testing, establish procedures, and devise security systems for hardware, software, and data.
- Research current and future technologies and trends and analyze alternatives, including commercial off-the-shelf software. Develops prototype applications and coordinates with judges, senior managers, and staff to ensure that development efforts are meeting the needs of the court.
- Develops, implements, and manages large and small scale projects from inception to delivery, including developing complex project plans, thorough design plans, and detailed time lines. Ensure adequate resources are available, coordinate and lead project meetings, and ensure projects are delivered on time and within the confines of the project budget.
- Performs cost benefit analysis on all development projects.
- Provides guidance to other programmers and server administrators in day-to-day responsibilities and with non-routine questions.
- Assists with the design, development and maintenance of court websites utilizing content management systems, databases, and traditional web programming languages.
- Consults with and provides advice and guidance to judges, senior managers, and staff of the courts throughout the district and the circuit on current and future technologies and the automation of manual court processes. Provides advice and guidance on technology purchases.
- Represents the court in judiciary-wide initiatives, meetings, conferences, etc.
- Develops long term plans for the automation of manual processes, implementing state of the art technologies.
- Monitors, reviews, and analyzes internal controls to ensure development projects meet or exceed established controls and separation of duties.
- Other duties as assigned.
Experience working with relational database systems is required. Informix, MS SQL, and MySQL database experience is strongly preferred, as is direct experience with the Federal Judiciary's CM/ECF system and the Drupal content management system. Experience with Perl is a plus.
Conditions of Employment
The successful candidate must be a self-starter as well as detail oriented. Candidate must also be highly organized and tactful, possess good judgment, poise and initiative, and maintain a professional appearance and demeanor at all times. Candidate must have strong prioritizing and problem-solving skills, solid communication skills (written & oral) and be able to communicate effectively with persons within the court as well as with persons outside the court. A demonstrated ability to work harmoniously with others in a team environment and to exhibit a professional manner at all times is essential.
Qualifications
To qualify at the CL-27 level: Two years of specialized experience, including at least one year equivalent to work at CL-25.
To qualify at the CL-28 level: Two years of specialized experience equivalent to work at CL-27.
To qualify at the CL-29 level: Two years of specialized experience equivalent to work at CL-28.
Specialized Experience: Progressively responsible clerical or administrative experience requiring the regular and recurring application of clerical procedures that demonstrate the ability to apply a body of rules, regulations, directives, or laws and involve the routine use of specialized terminology and automated software and equipment for word processing, data entry or report generation. Such experience is commonly encountered in law firms, legal counsel offices, banking and credit firms, educational institutions, social service organizations, insurance companies, real estate and title offices, and corporate headquarters or human resources/payroll operations.
Education
The Court requires the candidate to have a bachelor's degree in computer science or a related field. Five (5) years of specialized experience which demonstrates working knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the Programmer/Analyst may be substituted for the degree requirement.
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
The court will also conduct an evaluation of each applicant's qualifications and materials after receipt of a complete application package.
Candidates with federal court experience strongly preferred.
Applications must be submitted electronically. The application shall consist of:
- Cover Letter (include the Announcement Number and the position title and address your qualifications relating to the duties and responsibilities of this position);
- Résumé;
- Form AO78 Federal Judiciary Application Form which can be found at: https://www.uscourts.gov/forms/human-resources-forms/application-judicial-branch-federal-employment;
- Three (3) business/professional references with name, affiliation, and contact information;
- Salary History for prior three (3) years;
- If a current Federal Civilian Employee, your latest Personnel Evaluation and your latest SF-50; and,
- If a current or recently discharged or retired military member, your latest Officer Evaluation Report (OER), Enlisted Evaluation Report (EER) or equivalent, and a copy of your DD Form 214.
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.
The best qualified applicants will be invited for in-person interviews in Washington, D.C. Due to the large number of applications anticipated, only those applicants invited for interviews will be contacted by the court.
Applicants selected for interviews must travel at their own expense. Interview and relocation expenses will not be reimbursed.
Email complete application in one submission (attachments in PDF only) to: uscfcjobs@cfc.uscourts.gov. Zip files and faxes will not be accepted. Please include the Title and Job Announcement Number in the subject line.
Next steps
- The court will conduct an evaluation of each applicant's qualifications and materials after receipt of a complete application package.
- Applicants selected for an interview will be contacted. Interviews may commence immediately.
- The court reserves the right to modify the conditions of this job announcement, to withdraw the job announcement, and/or to commence interviews immediately, any of which actions may occur without prior written or other notice.
- This is an "Excepted Appointment" and an "At-Will" position. Federal Government Civil Service classifications or regulations do not apply.
- All appointments are subject to a full background check including an FBI Fingerprint Background Check, as well as periodic reinvestigation.
- If offered employment, such employment will be provisional pending the satisfactory completion of a mandatory Fingerprint and Background Investigation. The provisional nature of your employment, however, will not affect your start date, salary, or other benefits.
- No phone calls please. Only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.
- The United States Court of Federal Claims is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
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