TELECOMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST Job in Vaihingen, Germany

Vacancy No. CES-DISA-12736605-25DA Department Defense Information Systems Agency
Salary $75,706.00 to $98,422.00 Grade 12 to 12
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 5/29/2025 Close Date 6/7/2025
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Status Candidates
Locations:
Vaihingen, Germany


Summary

This position is being recruited under 10 USC 1599f into the Cyber Excepted Service and does NOT convey eligibility to be converted to the Competitive Service. It has been identified as a position necessary to carry out and support the mission of the US Cyber Command.

It is in the Professional Work Category at the Full Performance Work Level within the CES Occupational Structure. It is located in the DISA OC/OPS/EUROPE FIELD COMMAND (EU)35.

Duties

  • Provide technical support to contingencies, exercises, and circuit pre-provisioning for MILSATCOM/COMSATCOM.
  • Develops and implements telecommunications plans and programs for a variety of telecommunications projects and promulgates connectivity information via Gateway Access Authorizations (GAA).
  • Provides operational support in the preparation of plans for the reconfiguration (improvement, optimization, and expansion) of the DoD Gateway and its associated missions (s).
  • Analyzes operational requirements and develops system and network specifications to include cost data, frequency, bandwidth, and COMSEC requirements for SATCOM Missions and coordinates with the Regional Space Support Center (RSSC).
  • Defines circuits requiring Request for Service (RFS), Telecommunications Service Request (TSR), and Telecommunications Service Order (TSO) action.
  • Provides written information papers and oral briefings to higher headquarters, outside agencies and organizational personnel to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the of services.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • Must be a U.S. Citizen.
  • Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service.
  • This national security position, which may require access to classified information, requires a favorable suitability review and security clearance as a condition of employment. Failure to maintain security eligibility may result in termination.
  • This is a Drug Testing Position.
  • This is a Mission Essential Position.
  • This position requires a Top Secret/ Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) security clearance.

Qualifications

In order to qualify for this position, you must meet the requirements described below.

Individual Occupational Requirements:
To qualify for this position, you must possess Undergraduate and Graduate Education: Major Study-electrical or electronic engineering, mathematics, physics, public utilities, statistics, computer science, telecommunications management, information systems management, business administration, industrial management, or other fields related to the position to be filled.
or
I possess other education in Communications/electronics or automatic data processing training in technical institutes or business schools above the high school level or in Armed Forces schools that included advanced instruction in addition to basic courses, may be substituted for general experience on a month-for-month basis.
or
I have work experience or quality level unpaid work experience in evaluating, analyzing, developing, managing, or improving communications systems, procedures, and requirements that demonstrated knowledge of current developments and trends in communications concepts and technology.

Qualifying Experience: To qualify at the GG-12, your resume must describe at least one year of experience that demonstrates the competencies necessary for immediate success in the position. Experience refers to any paid or unpaid experience, including volunteer work and Military service, that would be considered equivalent to work normally performed at the next lower grade level in the federal service.

For this position, qualifying experience is defined as: Providing technical and operational support in circuit provisioning for Defense Enterprise Tactical SATCOM, specifically; Gateway Access Authorizations supporting Defense Information System Network.

Candidates must describe how they meet the qualifying experience and/or selective placement factor(s) within the body of their resume. All qualifications must be met within 30 days after the closing date of this announcement.
  • For more information on the Cyber Excepted Service Personnel System, click here.
  • For more information on veterans' preference, click here.
  • For more information regarding qualifications requirements, click here.
  • All applicants are encouraged to apply electronically. If you are unable to apply on-line, you may contact 317-212-0454 for assistance.
  • If selected, the authorized rate of pay may exceed the stated maximum salary rate range under certain circumstances.
  • The Department of Defense (DoD) policy on employment of annuitants issued March 18, 2004 will be used in determining eligibility of annuitants.
  • Salary plus Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) is authorized. This rate is subject to change without notice.
  • Recruitment, relocation, or retention incentives MAY be authorized. . The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 makes certain reimbursements/payments taxable. For information on these changes and the Relocation Income Tax Allowance (RITA), for which some appointees are eligible, click here.
  • This position is covered under DoD Manual 8140 which will be subject to future Cyber Workforce requirements as defined by the Manual.
  • This position is subject to the limitations imposed by the DOD Priority Placement Program.
  • Priority Placement Program (PPP) Military Spouse Preference (MSP) eligible candidates will receive priority consideration at the highest grade level for which they have applied and been determined best qualified up to and including the full performance level.
  • PPP Application Based Preference Eligibles (Military Reserve and National Guard technicians, Military Reserve and National Guard technicians receiving disability retirement, and Retained Grade employees) will receive priority consideration at the full performance level only.
  • Because this position is in the Cyber Excepted Service, Veterans' Preference will be applied to preference eligible candidates, as defined by Section 2108 of the Title 5 U.S.C. in accordance with the procedures provided in DoD Instruction 1400.25, Volume 3005, "CES Employment and Placement." If you are a veteran claiming veteran's preference, as defined by Section 2108 of Title 5 U.S.C., you must submit documents verifying your eligibility with your application package.
  • This is a Mission Essential position. The nature of the position's duties and the organization's operational mission requires the incumbent to physically report to their duty station in certain situations where non-essential employees are excused, such as during national emergencies, extreme weather situations, mission critical systems outages, and/or other scenarios as deemed appropriate at the highest levels of the organization's chain of command. The incumbent may also be required to physically report to an alternate duty station during the activation of a Continuity of Operations (COOP) Plan.
  • Applicants must comply with the Exceptional Family Member Program requirements as outlined in the DoD Instruction 1315.19.
  • If an employee brings a family member to an overseas location who requires medical or dental care, then the employee will be responsible for obtaining and paying for such care. Access for civilian employees and their families to military medical and dental treatment facilities is on a space-available and reimbursable basis only.
  • If an employee brings a child to an overseas location and that child is entitled to attend a DoD school on a space-required basis in accordance with DoDEA Regulation 1342.13, the DoDEA and the Military Department responsible for providing related services will ensure that the child, if eligible for special education, receives a free appropriate public education, including related services pursuant to DoDI 1342.12 and DoDM 1342.12.
  • If an employee brings an infant or toddler (up to 3 years of age) to an overseas location, and that infant or toddler, but for the child's age, is entitled to attend the DoDEA on a space-required basis in accordance with DoDEA Regulation 1342.13, then the Military Department responsible for EIS will provide the infant or toddler with the required EIS in accordance with the eligibility criteria consistent with DoDI 1342.12 and DoDM 1342.12.
  • A three year probationary or trial period may be required.
  • Individuals tentatively selected for drug testing designated positions at the Defense Information Systems Agency will be required to submit to urinalysis for illegal drugs prior to appointment or placement.
  • We may use this announcement to fill additional vacancies within 90 days of the closing date.
  • Moving costs MAY be paid.

Education

There is no substitution of education for the qualifying experienceat the GG-12 grade level.

Additional information

  • This position is in the Excepted Service and does NOT convey eligibility to be converted to the Competitive Service. It is being recruited under 10 U.S.C. 1599f into the Cyber Excepted Service (CES) personnel system.
  • If you are a current Federal Career/Career-Conditional employee, you will be placed on an Excepted appointment.
  • Current competitive service employees who accept an overseas Cyber Excepted Service (CES) position or convert into an overseas CES position are not entitled to statutory return rights. Administrative return rights may still be granted at the discretion of the losing DoD Agency. Employees without administrative return rights will, at the end of their overseas tour, be subject to placement through the DoD Priority Placement Program.
  • Current Federal employees within CONUS who are selected through a formal competitive recruitment process for a lower graded position overseas may be afforded pay retention if their pay would otherwise be reduced. Pay retention may be granted to employees already in the overseas area if the recruitment efforts had been extended outside the overseas command involved and the individual selected will have to PCS. Locality rates of pay will not be used for pay setting when transferring to the overseas area.
  • Telework availability will be based upon the mission requirements and supervisory determination.
  • Eligibility for foreign-area allowances such as Foreign Post Allowance and Living Quarter Allowance will be determined at the time of hire.
  • Military Spouse Preference (MSP)/Family Member Preference (FMP) - Candidates claiming MSP/(FMP) must include a copy of sponsor's permanent change of station orders authorizing movement of spouse to the overseas command or other appropriated documentation that support the preference. Additional documentation may be required prior to granting the preference. Family members of locally hired DoD civilian employees are not eligible for Family Member Preference.
  • The DoD policy on overseas employment for civilian employees limits overseas tours to 5 years. Extensions beyond 5 years are designed to provide management flexibility to meet defined mission requirements that otherwise cannot be made. Case-by-case extensions beyond the 5-year limit may be granted in extremely rare situations.
  • LENGTH OF TOUR: The initial length of this overseas tour is months. Tours extensions may be authorized at the discretion of management. With few exceptions, DOD policy limits overseas tours to a maximum of 5 years.
  • PASSPORT/VISA: Candidates must be able to obtain and maintain an official government passport and, as required by location, a VISA.
  • No-fee passport required. US Government civilian personnel who have not received their no-fee passport prior to departing CONUS may enter the overseas foreign county (OCONUS) using a tourist passport. Civilian personnel cannot enter the overseas foreign country on ID card and/or travel orders. The passport must be valid for at least six (6) months beyond the date of arrival in the overseas foreign country.
  • U.S. citizens in a foreign overseas country under ordinary resident status are not eligible to apply for appointment under Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA).

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.

Once the application process is complete, a review of your resume and supporting documentation will be made and compared against your responses to the assessment questionnaire to determine if you are qualified for this job. The numeric rating you receive is based on your responses to the questionnaire. The score is a measure of the degree to which your background matches the competencies required for this position. If, after reviewing your resume and or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, you may lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating.


The Assessment Questionnaire takes approximately 15 minutes to complete and collects information on your education, training and experience related to the following critical competencies:

You can preview the Assessment Questionnaire here: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12736605

Criminal History Inquiries- 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 @ dfas.indianapolis-in.zh.mbx.ssc-cc@mail.mil
Your complete Application Package (containing the above required documents) must be received no later than 11:59 pm Eastern Time on 06/07/2025 .

WARNING: Failure to submit a complete application package including any required documentation by 11:59 PM (EST) on06/07/2025 , or at the time of application for announcements with an extended closing date, may result in an ineligible rating and loss of consideration. To verify that your application is complete, log into your USAJOBS account, select Application Status and More Information. The Details page will display the status of your application. It is the applicant's responsibility to verify that information entered, uploaded is received, legible and accurate. HR will not modify answers submitted by an applicant.

Required Documents

FOR THIS JOB ANNOUNCEMENT THE FOLLOWING SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS ARE REQUIRED AS THEY APPLY STATED BELOW AND MUST BE RECEIVED BY THE CLOSE OF THE ANNOUNCEMENT. NOT ALL DOCUMENTS WILL APPLY TO EVERYONE.

  1. Transcripts (if applicable).
  2. SF-50 - (if applicable) Notification of Personnel Action for current or former federal employees- All applicants to include current agency employees must provide your most recent SF50 or the SF50 reflecting Career/Career-Conditional tenure and the highest grade held on a permanent basis.
  3. Veterans Preference Documentation (if applicable):
  • You must submit a copy of your DD Form-214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty", showing the dates of active duty service, type of discharge and the character of service. Alternatively, If you are a current military member in active duty service and do not have a copy of your DD Form-214, you must submit a written documentation (certification) from your branch of service certifying that you are expected to be discharged or released from active duty under honorable conditions no later than 120 days after the date the certification is submitted with your application for this position. The certification should also include your rank, dates of active duty service and what the condition of discharge is thought to be.
  • If claiming 10-point preference and/or are a 30% or more Disabled Veteran, you must submit both a DD Form-214 or expected discharge documentation as described above AND a copy of a letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) or your branch of service certifying the presence of service-connected disability and indicating the percentage of disability
  • If you are claiming eligibility based on 10-point derived veterans' preference (i.e. a spouse, widow/widower, or parent of a veteran claiming veterans' preference when the veteran is unable to use it), you must also submit a Standard Form 15 (SF-15) "Application for 10-Point Veteran's Preference" and any required documents indicated on the SF-15 to substantiate the claimed preference.
  • DoD Components with CES positions apply Veterans' Preference to preference eligible candidates, as defined by Section 2108 of the Title 5 U.S.C. in accordance with the procedures provided in DoD Instruction 1400.25, Volume 3005, "CES Employment and Placement."
  1. Military Spouse Preference (MSP) Eligible: Military Spouse Preference applicants, must be selected and placed at the highest grade level for which they have applied and been determined best qualified up to and including the full performance level. You must include a completed copy of the Military Spouse PPP Self-Certification Checklist dated within 30 days along with the documents identified on the checklist to verify your eligibility for Military Spouse Preference. Click here to obtain a copy of the Military Spouse PPP Self-Certification Checklist.
  2. Military Reserve (MR) and National Guard (NG) Technicians PPP Eligible: MR and NG technicians PPP applicants must be selected and placed at the full performance level if determined well qualified. You must include a completed copy of the Military Reserve and National Guard Technician PPP Self-Certification Checklist to verify your eligibility for Military Reserve and National Guard Technician preference. Click here to obtain a copy of the Military Reserve and National Guard Technician PPP Self-Certification Checklist.
  3. Military Reserve (MR) and National Guard (NG) Technicians Receiving Disability Retirement PPP Eligible: MR and NG technicians receiving disability retirement PPP applicants must be selected and placed at the full performance level if determined well qualified. You must include a completed copy of the Military Reserve and National Guard Technician Disability PPP Self-Certification Checklist to verify your eligibility for Military Reserve and National Guard Technician Disability preference. Click here to obtain a copy of the Military Reserve and National Guard Technician Disability PPP Self-Certification Checklist.
  4. Retained Grade PPP Eligible: Retained Grade PPP applicants, must be selected and placed at the full performance level if determined well qualified. You must include a completed copy of the Retained Grade PPP Self-Certification Checklist to verify your eligibility for Retained Grade preference. Click here to obtain a copy of the Retained Grade PPP Self-Certification Checklist.

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

  1. Your Resume
  • Your resume MUST include the following information for each job listed: Job title; duties (be as detailed as possible); month & year start/end dates (e.g. June 2007 to April 2008); and full- time or part-time status (include hours worked per week). Read more about what should I include in my federal resume? at USAJOBS.
  • DO NOT include the following information: Classified or government sensitive information; Social Security Number; Photos of yourself; Personal information, such as age, sex, religious affiliation, etc.; or encrypted and digitally signed documents. Read more about what should I leave out of my resume? at USAJOBS.
  1. A complete Assessment Questionnaire
  2. Other required supporting documents: (SEE BELOW FOR MORE INFORMATION ON REQUIRED SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS)
Click 'Apply Online' to create an account or log in to your existing USAJOBS account.
  1. Follow the prompts to complete the assessment questionnaire and upload required documents.
  2. Please ensure you click the Submit My Answers button to submit your application.
  3. Check application status by logging into your USAJOBS account, clicking Application Status, then More Information for this position. Return to an incomplete application by logging into your USAJOBS account and clicking Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application will be incomplete.

Agency contact information

HR Customer Care Center
Address
DISA -OC/EUROPE
6910 Cooper Road
Fort Meade, MD 20755-7088
US

Next steps

Once the online questionnaire is received you will receive an acknowledgement email that your submission was successful. The occupational questionnaire and the resume that you submit will be used to assess your qualifications for the job, and to identify the best qualified applicants to be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration and possible interviews. We will notify you of the outcome after each of these steps has been completed. After making a tentative job offer, we will conduct a suitability/security background investigation.

dfas.indianapolis-in.zh.mbx.dfasmeritcc@mail.mil(317) 212-0454


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