Joining the Secret Service, Office of Technical Operations, Aviation and Airspace Security Division, will allow you to provide a technically secure environment for the President and Vice President, as well as the other prominent individual.
This is a Direct Hire Authority (DHA) solicitation Veterans' preference does not apply.
For definitions of terms found in this announcement, please click here.
Summary
Joining the Secret Service, Office of Technical Operations, Aviation and Airspace Security Division, will allow you to provide a technically secure environment for the President and Vice President, as well as the other prominent individual.
This is a Direct Hire Authority (DHA) solicitation Veterans' preference does not apply.
For definitions of terms found in this announcement, please click here.
The selectee will serve as a Detection Systems Specialist in the Office of Technical Operations, Aviation and Airspace Security Division. Typical work assignments include:
Overseeing and monitoring air traffic using integrated radar data and computerized flight information.
Operating various radar and air surveillance detection systems.
Providing airborne track updates to operations center staff and ground security via clear communications to enhance situational awareness.
Coordinating the planning of surveillance and communication for all aspects of airspace security.
Apply for this exciting opportunity to support the Secret Service's mission by providing a technically secure environment for the President and Vice-President of the United States, and other protectees, and to provide leading edge technical support to criminal investigations conducted by the agency. This Detection Systems Specialist position starts at a salary of $102,415.00, GS-12, step 1 with promotion potential to $158,322.00, GS-13, step 10.
Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for Selective Service.
Complete the initial online assessment and USA Hire Assessment, if required.
If selected for this position, you will be required to:
Obtain and maintain a top-secret Tier 5 clearance. For more information visit OPM Mythbuster Page.
Submit to a drug test prior to your appointment and random drug testing while you occupy the position.
Submit a credit check after a conditional offer of employment has been accepted.
Undergo and pass a Full Scope Polygraph prior to onboarding.
This position requires frequent travel aboard commercial and/or military aircraft.
As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:
your performance and conduct;
the needs and interests of the agency;
whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.
Upon completion of your probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.
Qualifications
To be considered qualified for this position you must meet the following qualification requirements for the respective grade level in which you are applying.
Specialized Experience:
You qualify for the GS-12 level (starting salary $102,415) if you possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level performing duties such as:
Operating and maintaining complex detection systems that require accurate manual control and coordination;
Delivering updates on surveillance operations to team members, management, and external partners;
Developing operational plans for detection systems (e.g., screening, surveillance, or sensor technologies).
You qualify for the GS-13 level (starting salary $121,785) if you possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 level performing duties such as:
Overseeing advanced surveillance operations using integrated detection systems to maintain airspace security;
Managing multiple systems simultaneously with accuracy and speed during critical operations;
Presenting complex surveillance information and recommendations to senior leadership and external partners;
Leading the development and implementation of operational plans for detection and surveillance systems.
The qualification requirements listed above must be met by the closing date of this announcement.
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.
Education
Some federal jobs allow you to substitute your education for the required experience in order to qualify. For this job, you must meet the qualification requirement using experience alone--no substitution of education for experience is permitted.
Additional information
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.
The Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act prohibits the Department of Homeland Security and its Components from requesting an applicant's criminal history record before that individual receives a conditional offer of employment. In accordance with 5 U.S. Code § 9202(c) and 5 C.F.R § 920.201 certain positions are exempt from the provisions of the Fair Chance to Compete Act. Applicants who believe they have been subjected to a violation of the Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act, may submit a written complaint to HRsupport@usss.dhs.gov.
More than one selection may be made from this announcement if additional identical vacancies in the same title, series, grade and unit occur.
Applying to this announcement certifies that you give permission for DHS to share your application with others in DHS for similar positions.
The Department of Homeland Security encourages persons with disabilities to apply, to include persons with intellectual, severe physical or psychiatric disabilities, as defined by 5 CFR § 213.3102(u), and/or Disabled Veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30 percent or more as defined by 5 CFR § 315.707. Veterans, Peace Corps/VISTA volunteers, and persons with disabilities possess a wealth of unique talents, experiences, and competencies that can be invaluable to the DHS mission. If you are a member of one of these groups, you may not have to compete with the public for federal jobs. To determine your eligibility for non-competitive appointment and to understand the required documentation, click on the links above or contact the Servicing Human Resources Office listed at the bottom of this announcement.
The Secret Service prohibits employees from having visible body markings (including but not limited to tattoos, body art, and branding) on the head, face, neck, hand and fingers (any area below the wrist bone) (exception: a single conservative and unobtrusive tattoo in the form of a ring is authorized on one finger).
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.
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.
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; 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 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.
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.
This announcement is being filled using the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Direct-Hire Authority. Agencies may appoint candidates directly to jobs, without regard to the provisions of Title 5 U.S.C.3309 through 3318. Therefore, Veterans' preference does not apply when appointing individuals. For more information on Direct Hire Authority please visit: Direct Hire Authority.
Applicants who meet the basic requirement and specialized experience for the position will be referred to the selecting official for further consideration. Traditional rating and ranking of applicants do not apply to the announcement.
Veterans: Although the Direct Hire Authority permits hiring without regard to Veterans Preference, applicants who are eligible for Veterans Preference are encouraged to include that information in their application and submit supporting documentation (See Required Documents section for information on substantiating documents).
Upon review, your resume and/or supporting documents need to support your answer choices to the assessment questionnaire. Your resume must also reflect the one year of specialized experience requirement, in order to be considered. If the one year of specialized experience, equivalent to the next lower grade level cannot be identified in your resume, you will be considered not qualified. The competencies or knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to perform this job are:
Eye-Hand Coordination
Oral Communication
Planning and Evaluating
Surveillance
Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) Eligibles: If you have never worked for the Federal government, you are not ICTAP eligible. View information about ICTAP eligibility on OPM's Career Transition Resources website. To be considered eligible under ICTAP, you must be placed in the well-qualified category for this position, as described above. In addition, you must submit the supporting documents listed under the required documents section of this announcement.
An interview may be required for this position. If an interview is required, failure to complete the interview may result in removal from further consideration.
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.
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.
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; 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 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.
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.
In addition to addressing the vacancy specific questions, you must also submit the following documentation:
Resume - Limit your resume to no more than two pages. The USAJOBS database will not allow an applicant to submit an application that includes a resume over two pages. In order to receive credit for experience contained in an uploaded resume, your employment history should show work experience in month/year format (MM/YYYY), reflecting starting date and ending date, and include the number of hours worked per week. To learn how to format and submit a two-page resume, please visit the USAJOBS Help Center.
If tentatively selected for the position, the applicant may be required to provide additional documentation (SF50s) to validate their eligibility for the position.
Are you claiming special priority selection rights under the Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP)? Submit documentation verifying your CTAP eligibility - this includes a copy of your agency notice, a copy of your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, noting your current position, grade level, and duty location.
Are you claiming special priority selection rights under the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP)? Submit documentation verifying your ICTAP eligibility - this includes a copy of your agency notice, a copy of your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, noting your current position, grade level, and duty location
Are you a veteran? Veterans' preference does not apply to selections made using Direct Hiring Authority however, if you would like to submit your military records for benefits you may receive after selection, please submit the following: a copy of your DD-214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (Member Copy 4). If a DD-214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (Member Copy 4) is not available, other documentation listing the beginning and ending dates of active service and the type of discharge must be submitted to verify eligibility. If claiming 10-point preference, you will need to submit a Standard Form (SF-15), "Application for 10-point Veterans' Preference." For more information view Veteran Information.
Are you a current or former political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee? Submit a copy of your applicable SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, 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 application, to include submission of the documentation specified in the Required Documents section above. PLEASE NOTE:Only resumes up to a total of two pages will be accepted. Applicants with resumes exceeding two pages will be removed from consideration.
The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 03/23/2026 to receive consideration. The application process is as follows:
To begin your online application, click the Apply Online button and follow the prompts to register or sign into USAJOBS,
Complete the online questionnaire and submit the required documents. See Required Documents section for more detail.
You must complete the application process and submit any required documents no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST) on 03/23/2026.
To update your application at any time during the announcement open period, return to your USAJOBS account. There you will find a record of your application, the application status, and an option to Update Application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed.
To verify the status of your application both during and after the announcement open period, log into your USAJOBS account. All of your applications will appear on the Welcome page. The application record in your USAJOBS account provides the Announcement Status and a "You applied on" date. This information does not confirm the agency application status. Use the "Track this Application" link for additional information regarding the agency application status, the documentation you submitted, and any correspondence sent related to this application. The Announcement Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Announcement Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/.
It is your responsibility to verify that any information entered or uploaded is received and is accurate. Human Resources will not modify or change any part of your application. Determining your eligibility and qualifications is dependent on the supporting documentation and information provided, which may impact your referral for further consideration. If a document is not legible, you will not be able to view it in your application.
We strongly encourage you to apply online. If you cannot apply online, you may contact the APT Talent Management Division at HRSupport@usss.dhs.gov OR by calling (202) 406-6420 between the hours of 9:00 am and 5:30 pm EST (excluding Federal holidays) prior to the closing date of this announcement to receive assistance.
The Secret Service provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities, on a case-by-case basis. Please contact us if you require this for any part of the application and hiring process.
It is your responsibility to verify that any information entered or uploaded is received and is accurate. Human Resources will not modify or change any part of your application. Determining your eligibility and qualifications is dependent on the supporting documentation and information provided, which may impact your referral for further consideration. If a document is not legible, you will not be able to view it in your application.
Once your complete application is received, we will conduct an evaluation of your qualifications and determine your eligibility. Best-qualified applicants will be referred for further consideration and possible interview. We expect to make a selection within 45 days of the closing date of this announcement. If you are selected, we will conduct a suitability/security background investigation. For more information on applying for Federal employment, please click here.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
In addition to addressing the vacancy specific questions, you must also submit the following documentation:
Resume - Limit your resume to no more than two pages. The USAJOBS database will not allow an applicant to submit an application that includes a resume over two pages. In order to receive credit for experience contained in an uploaded resume, your employment history should show work experience in month/year format (MM/YYYY), reflecting starting date and ending date, and include the number of hours worked per week. To learn how to format and submit a two-page resume, please visit the USAJOBS Help Center.
If tentatively selected for the position, the applicant may be required to provide additional documentation (SF50s) to validate their eligibility for the position.
Are you claiming special priority selection rights under the Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP)? Submit documentation verifying your CTAP eligibility - this includes a copy of your agency notice, a copy of your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, noting your current position, grade level, and duty location.
Are you claiming special priority selection rights under the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP)? Submit documentation verifying your ICTAP eligibility - this includes a copy of your agency notice, a copy of your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, noting your current position, grade level, and duty location
Are you a veteran? Veterans' preference does not apply to selections made using Direct Hiring Authority however, if you would like to submit your military records for benefits you may receive after selection, please submit the following: a copy of your DD-214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (Member Copy 4). If a DD-214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (Member Copy 4) is not available, other documentation listing the beginning and ending dates of active service and the type of discharge must be submitted to verify eligibility. If claiming 10-point preference, you will need to submit a Standard Form (SF-15), "Application for 10-point Veterans' Preference." For more information view Veteran Information.
Are you a current or former political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee? Submit a copy of your applicable SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, 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 application, to include submission of the documentation specified in the Required Documents section above. PLEASE NOTE:Only resumes up to a total of two pages will be accepted. Applicants with resumes exceeding two pages will be removed from consideration.
The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 03/23/2026 to receive consideration. The application process is as follows:
To begin your online application, click the Apply Online button and follow the prompts to register or sign into USAJOBS,
Complete the online questionnaire and submit the required documents. See Required Documents section for more detail.
You must complete the application process and submit any required documents no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST) on 03/23/2026.
To update your application at any time during the announcement open period, return to your USAJOBS account. There you will find a record of your application, the application status, and an option to Update Application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed.
To verify the status of your application both during and after the announcement open period, log into your USAJOBS account. All of your applications will appear on the Welcome page. The application record in your USAJOBS account provides the Announcement Status and a "You applied on" date. This information does not confirm the agency application status. Use the "Track this Application" link for additional information regarding the agency application status, the documentation you submitted, and any correspondence sent related to this application. The Announcement Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Announcement Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/.
It is your responsibility to verify that any information entered or uploaded is received and is accurate. Human Resources will not modify or change any part of your application. Determining your eligibility and qualifications is dependent on the supporting documentation and information provided, which may impact your referral for further consideration. If a document is not legible, you will not be able to view it in your application.
We strongly encourage you to apply online. If you cannot apply online, you may contact the APT Talent Management Division at HRSupport@usss.dhs.gov OR by calling (202) 406-6420 between the hours of 9:00 am and 5:30 pm EST (excluding Federal holidays) prior to the closing date of this announcement to receive assistance.
The Secret Service provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities, on a case-by-case basis. Please contact us if you require this for any part of the application and hiring process.
It is your responsibility to verify that any information entered or uploaded is received and is accurate. Human Resources will not modify or change any part of your application. Determining your eligibility and qualifications is dependent on the supporting documentation and information provided, which may impact your referral for further consideration. If a document is not legible, you will not be able to view it in your application.
Once your complete application is received, we will conduct an evaluation of your qualifications and determine your eligibility. Best-qualified applicants will be referred for further consideration and possible interview. We expect to make a selection within 45 days of the closing date of this announcement. If you are selected, we will conduct a suitability/security background investigation. For more information on applying for Federal employment, please click here.
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
