Senior Software Developer Job

Vacancy No. 250019MP-12792754-JMG Department Railroad Retirement Board
Salary $90,025.00 to $117,034.00 Grade 13 to 13
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 9/8/2025 Close Date 9/26/2025
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Status Candidates
Locations:
Birmingham, ALLittle Rock, ARMesa, AZCovina, CA


Summary

This position is located in the Railroad Retirement Board's Bureau of Information Services. The incumbent will be responsible for serving as a team leader assigned to carry out advanced PC and Mainframe systems and development projects.

This job announcement may be used to fill one or more vacancies.

This is a bargaining unit position. This position is represented by the Council of AFGE Locals in the Board.

Duties

As a Senior Software Developer, you will:

  • Lead a team in carrying out advanced application development projects for PC and mainframe systems.
  • Create a project plan based on general instructions from the section supervisor.
  • Oversee all technical aspects of the projects, including the design and scope of individual programs, system testing, and implementation.
  • Coordinate team activities and prepare a project schedule. This includes assigning tasks, setting deadlines, and defining deliverables. You will track assignments and adjust tasks as needed to meet the schedule.
  • Work with the section supervisor as a spokesperson for the project, handling communications with the Bureau of Information Services (BIS) and user personnel.
  • Stay updated on the latest data processing design techniques and tools. This includes learning about data design, online system design, database design, batch processing, development methods, standards, documentation techniques, and support software.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • Must be a U.S. Citizen
  • Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered for Selective Service
  • Suitable for Federal employment, determined by a background investigation
  • May be required to successfully complete a probationary period
  • Complete the initial online assessment and USAHire Assessment, if required
  • All candidates are expected to reside within 50 miles of the closest field office location listed in this job announcement.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications for GS-13 level:

One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level in the Federal service.
Specialized experience is:

  1. Serves as the leader of a team assigned to carry out advanced PC and Mainframe systems development projects, providing advice and assistance to team members, answering questions, ensuring resolution of technical or requirement conflicts, coordinating the implementation of the system among all parties, and serving as spokesperson for the project.
  2. Develops the overall project plan, including scope, requirements, database design, system design, programming, testing, and implementation.
  3. Application development proficiency using Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC), IBM z/OS mainframe systems, and COBOL applications.
In addition, all applicants qualifying based on experience must have IT-related experience demonstrating each of the four competencies listed below. Applicants must demonstrate possession of these competencies within the body of the resume; no separate statements addressing them are required.

Attention to Detail: Ability to create and/or modify code which should be thorough and complete, fulfilling all requirements specified. Follow System Development Life Cycle and IBM z/OS mainframe systems documents, prepare a test plan, conduct thorough unit and system testing, noting exceptions to processing and investigating any problems found.

Customer Service: Provides development programming services to customers (including the general public, individuals who work in an agency, other agencies, or organizations outside the government.) Interacts with customers in the development and creation of applications and provides application problem resolution support. Respond to customers in a professional manner, strive to fulfill customer expectations, and complete assignments in a timely and accurate manner.

Oral communication: Ability to converse with customers to successfully derive, understand, and respond to customer requirements. Clearly convey status reports to management, customers, and team members regarding application development process, problem resolution, and other pertinent matters.

Problem solving: Identifies missing or unclear system requirements. Recognizes application problems, both in testing and production. Determines accuracy and relevance of problem resolution information. Uses sound judgment and skill to determine and execute problem solutions.

Time-in grade-restrictions: Applicants who are current or former Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements (52 weeks at the next lower grade level).

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional, philanthropic, religious, spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Only experience and/or education obtained by the closing date of this announcement will be considered.

Education

There is no education substitution for this position.

Additional information

Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments here: https://help.usastaffing.gov/Apply/index.php?title=Reasonable_Accommodations_for_USA_Hire

Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA): To be eligible for a VEOA appointment under Merit Promotion procedures, the veteran must be a preference eligible or a veteran separated after 3 years or more of continuous active service performed under honorable conditions.

INTERAGENCY CAREER TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PLAN (ICTAP):

  • ICTAP provides eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority for competitive service vacancies. You must be determined to be well-qualified for the vacancy to be eligible for special selection priority. After submission of an acceptable application which meets ICTAP eligibility, you will be determined to be well-qualified for a vacancy if your rating places you in the 85th percentile or higher in total possible points.
  • ICTAP eligibles must submit proof of eligibility for special selection priority. Please see the Required Documents section below for more information. Click here for more information on ICTAP.
Noncompetitive Appointment Authorities: For more information on noncompetitive appointment authority eligibility requirements:
Special Hiring Authorities for Veterans
Special Hiring Authorities for Certain Military Spouses
Other Special Appointment Authorities

If you are a male applicant who was born after 12/31/59 you are required to register under the Military Selective Service Act; the Defense Authorization Act of 1986 requires that you be registered or you are not eligible for appointment in this agency.

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.

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.

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.

You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses on the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position. You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):

  • Accountability
  • Attention to Detail
  • Customer Service
  • Decision Making
  • Flexibility
  • Influencing/Negotiating
  • Integrity/Honesty
  • Interpersonal Skills
  • Learning
  • Reading
  • Self-Management
  • Software Development
  • Stress Management
  • Stress Tolerance
  • Planning and Evaluating
  • Oral Communication
  • Teamwork
  • Writing

The USA Hire Assessments includes a cut score based on the minimum level of required proficiency in these critical general competencies. You must meet or exceed the cut score to be considered. You will not be considered for the position if you score below the cut score or fail to complete the assessment.

Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on the online assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.

Required Documents

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

  • Resume showing work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment and duties performed.
  • SF-50: If you are a current or former Federal employee, you must submit a copy of a recent Notification of Personnel Action, SF-50, showing competitive status. (Blocks #24 and #34 must be completed.)
  • Performance Appraisal: If you are a current or former Federal employee, you are encouraged to submit a complete copy of a current or last performance appraisal. The performance appraisal may be used as part of the ranking process and/or to verify your responses to the questionnaire.
  • Veterans' Documentation: If you are a veteran, you must provide a copy of your Record of Military Service (DD-214), and proof of your veterans' preference, if applicable. Veterans with a service connected disability must also submit a completed claim form SF-15 (click here for form) along with the required proofs. Go to FedsHireVets-Veterans Preference for more information.
  • Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) documentation: If you are eligible under ICTAP, you must submit all required materials verifying your eligibility as listed in "Additional Information." These materials include:
    • Proof of eligibility: You must submit documentation such as a separation notice or other required material; and
    • SF-50: You must submit a copy of a recent Notification of Personnel Action, SF-50 that shows career or career-conditional competitive service status (Blocks #24 and #34 must be completed); and
    • Performance Appraisal: You must submit your most recent performance appraisal, which must be rated at least fully successful or equivalent. (This is not required if you are eligible for ICTAP due to compensable injury or disability retirement.) The performance appraisal may also be used as part of the ranking process and/or to verify your responses to the questionnaire.
  • Reasonable Accommodation: If you are requesting a reasonable accommodation to the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, submit documentation to support your request, including the Reasonable Accommodation Request Form found here: https://help.usastaffing.gov/Apply/index.php?title=Reasonable_Accommodations_for_USA_Hire

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

THIS IS NOT A REMOTE POSITION. This position requires the incumbent to physically report to the nearest field office.

Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply and be considered for this position, you must complete all required questionnaires, assessments and submit all required documentation as specified in the How to Apply and Required Documents section. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration. The application process is as follows:

  1. Click the Apply Online button.
  2. Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all necessary supporting documentation.
  3. Click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59 PM (ET) on the announcement closing date.
  4. If you are required to complete any USA Hire Assessments, you will be notified after submitting your application. The notification will be provided in your application submission screen and via email. The notification will include your unique assessment access link to the USA Hire system and the completion deadline. Additionally, in USAJOBS you can click "Track this application" to return to your assessment completion notice.
  5. Access USA Hire using your unique assessment link. Access is granted through your USAJOBS login credentials.
  6. Review all instructions prior to beginning your assessments. You will have the opportunity to request a testing accommodation before beginning the assessments should you have a disability covered under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended.
  7. Set aside at least 3 hours to take the USA Hire Assessments; however, most applicants complete the assessments in less time. If you need to stop the assessments and continue later, you can re-use your unique assessment link.
  8. Your responses to the USA Hire Assessments will be reused for one year (in most cases) from the date you complete an assessment. If future applications you submit require completion of the same assessments, your responses will be automatically reused.
For more general information, system requirements, reasonable accommodation information, and to request assistance regarding the USA Hire Assessments, review the following resources: https://help.usastaffing.gov/Apply/index.php?title=USA_Hire_Assessments

To update your application, including supporting documentation: During the announcement open period, return to your USAJOBS account, find your application record, and click Edit my application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed.

To view the announcement status or your application status: Click on this: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/. Your application status page is where you can view your application status, USA Hire assessment completion status, and review your notifications sent by the hiring agency regarding your application.

Agency contact information

RRB Human Resources
Address
Railroad Retirement Board
844 N Rush St
Chicago, IL 60611
US

Next steps

Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. After a review of your complete application is made, you will be notified of your rating and possible referral to the hiring official. If further evaluation or interviews are required you will be contacted.

Additional Locations

  • Oakland, CA
  • Roseville, CA
  • Denver, CO
  • Washington, DC
  • Jacksonville, FL
  • Tampa, FL
  • Atlanta, GA
  • Des Moines, IA
  • Chicago, IL
  • Decatur, IL
  • Joliet, IL
  • Indianapolis, IN
  • Kansas City, KS
  • Wichita, KS
  • Louisville, KY
  • New Orleans, LA
  • Boston, MA
  • Baltimore, MD
  • Detroit, MI
  • Duluth, MN
  • Saint Paul, MN
  • Saint Louis, MO
  • Billings, MT
  • Charlotte, NC
  • Fargo, ND
  • Omaha, NE
  • Newark, NJ
  • Albuquerque, NM
  • Albany, NY
  • Buffalo, NY
  • Central Islip, NY
  • New York, NY
  • Cincinnati, OH
  • Cleveland, OH
  • Portland, OR
  • Altoona, PA
  • Harrisburg, PA
  • Philadelphia, PA
  • Pittsburgh, PA
  • Scranton, PA
  • Nashville, TN
  • Fort Worth, TX
  • Houston, TX
  • Salt Lake City, UT
  • Richmond, VA
  • Roanoke, VA
  • Seattle, WA
  • Spokane, WA
  • Milwaukee, WI
  • Huntington, WV


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


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