The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is recruiting professionals to support a range of technical roles in Secure Software Engineering, including both Front and Backend Engineers, Full Stack Developers, and Software Architects. All positions are in the DHS Cybersecurity Service.
Summary
THIS IS A HIRING PILOT FOR THIS ANNOUNCEMENT ONLY
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is recruiting professionals to support a range of technical roles in Secure Software Engineering, including both Front and Backend Engineers, Full Stack Developers, and Software Architects. All positions are in the DHS Cybersecurity Service.
As a DHS Cybersecurity Service employee in the Technical Career Track, you will continually maintain and share your Secure Software Engineering expertise to perform a wide range of critical, complex, routine and non-routine tasks, including:
Applying technical expertise to design, build, maintain, and oversee the development of secure custom software critical to support and safeguard Departmental or Component mission spaces.
Serving as a technical expert and mentor to other team members by reviewing software systems and development processes for security, technical quality, maintainability, and reliability.
Documenting secure development and code best practices to support Departmental or Component projects and programs, including security, coding, testing, and governance best practices for both government and contractor developed systems.
Applying knowledge of software environments and source code quality, security, and stability to interpret existing code functionality and performance, taking appropriate corrective action as necessary.
Writing secure and maintainable source code to address identified business needs.
Working with other software engineers, DevOps engineers, testers, designers, and product managers to support the entire software development lifecycle (SDLC) from design and development through building and deploying secure, scalable, reliable, and maintainable software systems.
Analyzing risks throughout the life of software systems to understand likely points of attack and failure, including the development process through operations and maintenance of deployed applications.
Creating and continuously improving unit, functional, and end-to-end tests and analyzing results to prevent and remediate security issues and bugs.
Must be registered for the Selective Service (if you are a male).
Must be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance. Security clearance levels may vary.
Must be able to submit to a drug test and receive a negative result.
Must be able to comply with ethics and standards of conduct requirements, including completing any applicable financial disclosure.
May be required to serve a 3 year probationary period.
While these positions are considered telework, some individuals must live within 2 hours driving distance to a DHS SCIF in either Chandler, AZ; Stennis, MS; Idaho Falls; Arlington, VA; Pensacola, FL; Springfield, VA or Washington, D.C.
Remote work may be available for some positions.
Qualifications
This position is in the Technical Track across a range of career levels. Employees in this career track generally:
Have between 5-15 years of cybersecurity work experience.
Range from experienced cybersecurity professionals who apply technical expertise and independent judgement to perform cybersecurity work - to - recognized Federal cybersecurity technical authorities with uncommon technical expertise who advise on cybersecurity challenges impacting DHS and the Nation.
Depending on their career level, DHS Cybersecurity Service employees with a technical capability in Secure Software Engineering will generally apply their technical expertise to:
Conducting software system planning and development to create new, and enhance existing, technical capabilities, following industry best practices for quality, security, scalability, and reliability.
Giving full consideration to the security risks and mitigations for software systems throughout the software development lifecycle (SDLC) and is able to both create secure systems and review existing systems for potential security issues.
Developing software using modern best practices and cross-functional knowledge of the entire software development landscape including agile methodologies, continuous integration and continuous deliver (CI/CD) processes, automated testing, and secure system design and analysis.
Staying current on emerging technologies, trends, and practices and recommends pathways to implement such improvements to meet organizational goals and requirements.
DHS Cybersecurity Service employees start at career levels and salaries matching their experience and expertise. To learn more about DHS Cybersecurity Service career tracks and levels, visit our application portal.
This position is focused on Cybersecurity Engineering.
DHS Cybersecurity Service jobs are structured cybersecurity specializations - called technical capabilities. To learn more about technical capabilities, visit our application portal.
DESIRED TOOLS/INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE:
Demonstrated experience coding in at least one modern programming language.
Demonstrated experience using algorithms and data structures.
Demonstrated experience implementing modern secure software development best practices (e.g., automated testing, agile development, and CI/CD)
Demonstrated experience with system design, especially of distributed, cloud-based systems.
Demonstrated exposure to common security vulnerabilities in software and how to guard against them (e.g., XSS, DoS, SQL injection, CSRF, etc.).
Education
Degrees are not required for jobs in the DHS Cybersecurity Service, but DHS is interested in your level of education and the topics you studied. As you submit initial application information, you will be asked questions about your education.
Additional information
Salary: Listed salary ranges reflects typical starting salaries available to employees in most of the United States across applicable career levels. Within the provided range, average salaries vary for each career level.
In some geographic areas, average starting salaries will be higher because of a local cybersecurity labor market supplement (e.g., metro Washington, D.C. +10%).
Actual salaries of individual employees may be higher or lower than provided figures. For an overview of the salaries available in the DHS Cybersecurity Service, visit Resources.
Benefits: DHS Cybersecurity Service employees receive a range of federal employment benefits designed to support their professional and personal lives. To learn more about benefits, visit our application portal.
More information about the specific benefits available to you will be provided as you progress through the application process.
Background Investigation: To ensure the accomplishment of its mission, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) requires each and every employee to be reliable and trustworthy. To meet those standards, all selected applicants must undergo and successfully complete a background investigation for a security clearance as a condition of placement in this position. This review includes financial issues such as delinquency in the payment of debts, child support and/or tax obligations, as well as certain criminal offenses and illegal use or possession of drugs.
Pursuant to Executive Order 12564 and DHS policy, DHS is committed to maintaining a drug-free workplace and, therefore, conducts random and other drug testing of its employees in order to ensure a safe and healthy work environment. Headquarters personnel in safety- or security-sensitive positions are subject to random drug testing and all applicants tentatively selected for employment at DHS Headquarters are subject to drug testing resulting in a negative test result.
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.
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.
All DHS Cybersecurity Service applicants participate in a multi-phase assessment process, which varies by career track. For the Technical Career Track, applicants participate in a three-phase assessment process:
You must successfully complete each phase to advance to the next phase.
The total time commitment for the three phases is approximately 5 hours (many applicants require less time!).
Before each phase, DHS will e-mail you instructions and information to help you prepare.
Assessments are time sensitive, so monitor your e-mail to ensure you have plenty of time to complete them prior to any deadlines.
PHASE I: ONLINE ASSESSMENTS
Unproctored - you choose the time and location.
Includes two assessments: (1) a work styles inventory that will take about 30 minutes to complete; (2) a work simulation that you will have up to 2 hours to complete.
The two assessments take about 90 minutes (on average) to complete.
Requires a computer with audio (speakers or headphones) and a reliable internet connection.
No knowledge of DHS or cybersecurity is required for these assessments, which measure non-technical capabilities that are important for professional success in the DHS Cybersecurity Service. This includes how you communicate, analyze information, and collaborate with others:
The work styles inventory presents you with questions about your work-related interests and preferences.
The work simulation presents you with realistic, work-related scenarios and asks you to respond to them.
PHASE II: TECHNICAL CAPABILITY ASSESSMENT
Proctored - must be scheduled in advance and completed at a designated assessment center.
There is a different assessment for each DHS Cybersecurity Service technical capability (visit Jobs to learn more about the technical capabilities).
Most individuals only have a primary technical capability and complete only one Technical Capability Assessment, but in limited circumstances, you may complete a second Technical Capability Assessment.
You will have up to 2.5 hours to complete each Technical Capability Assessment; each takes about 90 minutes (on average) to complete.
Assessments present realistic, work-related cybersecurity scenarios and questions to assess technical skills.
Cybersecurity knowledge is assessed, but no knowledge of DHS is required.
*Applicants who successfully complete Phase II will undergo a Subject Matter Expert (SME) resume review, and some may be asked to participate in a Phase III: Structured Technical Interview that carries a sufficient weight in the overall hiring process. More information will be provided to such applicants as they progress through the application process.
PHASE III: STRUCTURED TECHNICAL INTERVIEW
Live Interview, either virtual or in-person.
Includes two 90-minute scenario-based interviews used to further assess your technical proficiency in this technical capability.
Your un-proctored and proctored assessment results are valid for a period of one year after completion and will be kept and used toward future positions for which you might apply that require the same assessments. Note: This is a hiring pilot for this announcement only, your assessment results will not be used to qualify you for other positions.
To learn about the assessment process for this Technical Track position, visit our portal and read the "Assessment Process" guide. (Please note, the assessment process has been modified for this hiring pilot only).
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.
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.
Your resume. To help you prepare your resume before applying to the DHS Cybersecurity Service, visit our application portal and read the "Resume Tips" guide.
If you are requesting a reasonable accommodation to the online assessments, submit documentation to support your request, including the Reasonable Accommodation Request Form found here.
If you are a current or former political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee please submit a copy of your applicable SF-50, along with a statement that provides the following information regarding your most recent political appointment:- Position title- Type of appointment (Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES, or Presidential Appointee)- Agency- Beginning and ending dates of appointment
To apply for this position, you must complete the initial online questionnaire, required assessments, and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 09/06/2023 to receive consideration. The application process will follow the bullets outlined below.
To begin the application process, click the Apply Online button.
Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all necessary supporting documentation.
Click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59PM (ET) on the announcement closing date.
After submitting an online application, you will be notified whether or not you are required to take additional online assessments through the USA HIRE platform. This message will be delivered via email notification.
If you are asked to take the online assessments, you will be presented with a unique URL to access the USA Hire system. Access to USA Hire is granted through your USAJOBS login credentials.
Be sure to review all instructions prior to beginning online assessments. Note: set aside at least 3 hours to take these assessments; however, most applicants complete the assessments in less time. If you need to stop the assessments and continue at a later time, you can re-use the URL sent to you via email and also found on the Additional Application Information page that can be located in the application record in your USAJOBS account.
Reasonable Accommodation Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended and Americans with Disabilities Act 1990 as amended, that would interfere with completing online assessments on the USA HIRE platform, you will be granted the opportunity to request a reasonable accommodation in your online application. Requests for Reasonable Accommodations for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for Reasonable Accommodation must be received prior to starting the online assessments. Decisions on requests for Reasonable Accommodations 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 online assessments. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the online assessments. To determine if you need a Reasonable Accommodation, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for online assessments here: http://help.usastaffing.gov/Apply/index.php?title=Reasonable_Accommodations_for_USA_Hire.
Cybersecurity Talent Management System
245 Murray Lane SW
Washington, DC 20528
US
Next steps
The DHS Cybersecurity Service application process is designed to both prioritize fairness to all applicants and identify qualified candidates to join the DHS Cybersecurity Service. Successful applicants proceed through the following steps and will receive notifications as each step is completed: Submit Initial Information
Upload resume
Answer questions about your expertise and experience
Assessment + Interview
Complete multi-phase assessment process
Interview with the team you might join
Tentative Job Offer + Background Investigation
Receive a tentative job offer, including your compensation and benefits package
Receive an invitation to start the background investigation process
Final Job Offer + Start Date
Receive a final job offer
Determine your start date
We will notify you by email after each of these steps has been completed. Your status will also be updated on USAJOBS throughout the process. To check your status, log on to your USAJOBS account, click on "Application Status," and then click "More Information."
Note: If you successfully complete the application process and receive a tentative DHS Cybersecurity Service job offer, applicable employment eligibility requirements, including those you must comply with throughout your appointment at DHS, will be communicated to you in writing.
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.
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.(http://www.uscis.gov/e-verify).
To learn more about DHS Cybersecurity Service employment eligibility, visit our application portal.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
Your resume. To help you prepare your resume before applying to the DHS Cybersecurity Service, visit our application portal and read the "Resume Tips" guide.
If you are requesting a reasonable accommodation to the online assessments, submit documentation to support your request, including the Reasonable Accommodation Request Form found here.
If you are a current or former political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee please submit a copy of your applicable SF-50, along with a statement that provides the following information regarding your most recent political appointment:- Position title- Type of appointment (Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES, or Presidential Appointee)- Agency- Beginning and ending dates of appointment
To apply for this position, you must complete the initial online questionnaire, required assessments, and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 09/06/2023 to receive consideration. The application process will follow the bullets outlined below.
To begin the application process, click the Apply Online button.
Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all necessary supporting documentation.
Click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59PM (ET) on the announcement closing date.
After submitting an online application, you will be notified whether or not you are required to take additional online assessments through the USA HIRE platform. This message will be delivered via email notification.
If you are asked to take the online assessments, you will be presented with a unique URL to access the USA Hire system. Access to USA Hire is granted through your USAJOBS login credentials.
Be sure to review all instructions prior to beginning online assessments. Note: set aside at least 3 hours to take these assessments; however, most applicants complete the assessments in less time. If you need to stop the assessments and continue at a later time, you can re-use the URL sent to you via email and also found on the Additional Application Information page that can be located in the application record in your USAJOBS account.
Reasonable Accommodation Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended and Americans with Disabilities Act 1990 as amended, that would interfere with completing online assessments on the USA HIRE platform, you will be granted the opportunity to request a reasonable accommodation in your online application. Requests for Reasonable Accommodations for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for Reasonable Accommodation must be received prior to starting the online assessments. Decisions on requests for Reasonable Accommodations 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 online assessments. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the online assessments. To determine if you need a Reasonable Accommodation, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for online assessments here: http://help.usastaffing.gov/Apply/index.php?title=Reasonable_Accommodations_for_USA_Hire.
Cybersecurity Talent Management System
245 Murray Lane SW
Washington, DC 20528
US
Next steps
The DHS Cybersecurity Service application process is designed to both prioritize fairness to all applicants and identify qualified candidates to join the DHS Cybersecurity Service. Successful applicants proceed through the following steps and will receive notifications as each step is completed: Submit Initial Information
Upload resume
Answer questions about your expertise and experience
Assessment + Interview
Complete multi-phase assessment process
Interview with the team you might join
Tentative Job Offer + Background Investigation
Receive a tentative job offer, including your compensation and benefits package
Receive an invitation to start the background investigation process
Final Job Offer + Start Date
Receive a final job offer
Determine your start date
We will notify you by email after each of these steps has been completed. Your status will also be updated on USAJOBS throughout the process. To check your status, log on to your USAJOBS account, click on "Application Status," and then click "More Information."
Note: If you successfully complete the application process and receive a tentative DHS Cybersecurity Service job offer, applicable employment eligibility requirements, including those you must comply with throughout your appointment at DHS, will be communicated to you in writing.
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.
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.(http://www.uscis.gov/e-verify).
To learn more about DHS Cybersecurity Service employment eligibility, visit our application portal.
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
