IT Specialist

Summary Securing Travel, Protecting People – At the Transportation Security Administration, you will serve in a high-stakes environment to safeguard the American way of life. In cities across the country, you would secure airports, seaports, railroads, highways, and/or public transit systems, thus protecting Americas transportation infrastructure and ensuring freedom of movement for people and commerce. Responsibilities This IT Specialist position is located Information Technology (ES), Transportation Security Administration, Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Duties include but are not limited to: Participates in all aspects of SELC (Software Engineering Lifecycle) following Agile (Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) or Scrum) delivery methods (e.g. iteration/sprint planning, daily standup, and retrospectives) to ensure documented procedures and policies are followed or modified as needed, supports Continuous Integration / Continuous Delivery, and implementation of Agile principles. Participates in software development project planning to ensure operational awareness of pending application design and functionality changes and analyzes the impact to operations and maintenance. Performs secure programming and identifies potential flaws in codes to mitigate vulnerabilities. Makes optimal use of resources under limited supervision to complete activities within established schedules. Performs routine and recurring assignments in the specialty area; identifies and resolves issues and problems; prepares and updates manuals, instructions, and operating procedures; provides information and assistance to customers; and ensures the application of appropriate security measures to the assignment. Established policies/procedures provide guidance for most assignments but allow some discretion to select the most appropriate approach. Supports operations to ensure, protect, and restore IT systems, services, and capabilities. Assists with conducting system security vulnerability assessments. Assists in the monitoring, evaluating, and ensuring data and systems compliance with IT security requirements (OS, network and storage). Assists in developing technical requirements for new or modified applications; analyzes and determines optimal hardware and software configurations; provides technical guidance in the design, coding, testing, and debugging process; assists customers in installing applications; troubleshoots post-installation problems; and coordinates the technical support of deployed applications. Participate as a member of a team developing preliminary design specifications; meets with customers to collect information about business requirements; and presents draft specifications to the team leader for discussion. Monitors state-of-the-art IT developments; makes recommendations on how to address trends and new technologies within the context of agency policies, plans, and management strategies; and monitors changes in Federal legislation and agency guidance, policy, regulations, and directives for potential impact on organizational policies. Promotes cybersecurity awareness, supports the risk-based protection of mission-essential systems, and ensures compliance with Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA) by incorporating cybersecurity requirements, technologies and processes into all engineering projects and activities. Engages partner organizations to establish secure system interface descriptions and produce, review, and/or approve Interface Control Documents (ICDs). Communicates complex technical requirements effectively with executives and key decision makers. The major duties described above reflect the full performance level of this position. Typically, the lower pay band (G Band) performs the same duties but will receive more guidance and training; and/or projects/work assignments may be less complex.” Requirements Conditions of Employment You must possess U.S. Citizenship or be a U.S. National. You must have reached the minimum age (18) at the time of application. You must complete a favorable Background Investigation (BI). Selective Service registration is required. If you fail to meet the conditions of employment or any other pre-employment requirements, such as missing any of the scheduled appointments, the hiring agency may rescind their tentative offer of employment. Applying to this announcement certifies that you give permission for TSA to share your application with others in DHS for similar positions. Any offers of employment made pursuant to this announcement will be consistent with all applicable authorities, including Presidential Memoranda, Executive Orders, interpretive U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) guidance, and Office of Management and Budget plans and policies concerning hiring. These authorities are subject to change. Qualifications To qualify for the SV-I Pay Band (equivalent to GS-13), you must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the SV-H or GS-12 Pay Band in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private sector. Specialized experience is defined as experience that has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position to be filled. Specialize experience is defined as: Applying agile methodology such as Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe), leveraging the framework methodology, utilizing best practices, processes, and procedures for maximum value delivery. Participates in an agile delivery team through work prioritization of the team backlog to streamline execution of program priorities. Assists with the design, development, and management of complex systems that meet current and future requirements while securing, enhancing, and optimize the existing architecture. Participates in agile delivery teams to ensure security is embedded, continually monitored, and security upgrades occur throughout system lifecycles. Credit for experience is given based on a 40-hour workweek. Part-time experience is credited on a part-time ratio, i.e., working 20 hours per week for two months equals one month of experience. No additional credit is given for overtime. National Service Experience (i.e., volunteer experience): 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. 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, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office. Resumes must include the following: Narrative description of duties with start and end dates (including the month and year) for work experience. State the number of hours worked in a position (i.e. full-time or part-time). If part-time, state the total number of hours worked per week. Performance level (i.e. band or grade) Utilizing the USAJOBS Resume Builder and completing all available fields is strongly encouraged. You must meet the qualification requirements for this position no later than the closing date of the vacancy announcement. Education Additional Information Eligibility to apply for other Federal positions: TSA is an Excepted Service agency exempt from most of Title 5 United States Code, including regulations which apply to displaced Federal employees (CTAP/ICTAP) of other agencies, and employment with TSA does not confer “Competitive Status” that generally results from selection and service in Competitive Service agencies. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has established an Interchange Agreement, which allows most permanent TSA employees to apply and be considered for vacancies in Competitive Service agencies. Information from OPM on this or other Interchange Agreements is available at: www.opm.gov/ To ensure the accomplishment of our mission, DHS requires every employee to be reliable and trustworthy. To meet those standards, all selected applicants must undergo and successfully pass a background investigation as a condition of placement into this position. DHS uses E-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities. If you receive a conditional offer of employment for this position, you will be required to complete an Optional Form 306, Declaration for Federal Employment, and to sign and certify the accuracy of all information in your application, prior to entry on duty. False statements on any part of the application may result in withdrawal of offer of employment, dismissal after beginning work, fine, or imprisonment. TSA employees who are absent for the purpose of performing military duty may apply for any vacancies announced in their absence. More than one position may be filled from this announcement. If you are entering TSA employment on an appointment without time limitations, you must serve a basic trial period unless you have already met the requirement. DHS offers competitive salaries and an attractive benefits package, including: health, dental, vision, life, and long-term care insurance; retirement plan; Thrift Savings Plan [similar to a 401(k)]; Flexible Spending Account; Employee Assistance Program; personal leave days; and paid federal holidays. Other benefits may include flexible work schedules; telework; tuition reimbursement; transportation subsidies; uniform allowance; health and wellness programs; and fitness centers. DHS is committed to employee development and offers a variety of employee training and developmental opportunities. For more information, go to the DHS Careers website and select “Benefits.” Disabled veteran leave will be available to any Federal employee hired on or after November 5, 2016, who is a veteran with a service-connected disability rating of 30 percent or more. Employees who transfer to TSA from an agency that allows employees to maintain an annual leave balance higher than the maximum accumulation for the appointed position will have their leave ceiling set to the maximum accumulation for the appointed position (e.g., United States duty location – 240 hours, foreign duty location – 360 hours, or TSES position – 720 hours). TSA will not make a monetary payment for any leave forfeited under these circumstances.