Skip to main content
U.S. flag
Back to results
 

Sr. Production Support Engineer

Department of Labor
Bureau of Labor Statistics
Office of Technology and Survey Processing

Summary

IT Specialist positions located in DOL, Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Office of Technology and Survey Processing (OTSP) provide IT support to all aspects of BLS data development initiatives. BLS measures labor market activity, working conditions, price changes, and productivity in the U.S. economy to support public and private decision making.

Overview

Help
Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
04/01/2026 to 04/10/2026
Salary
$121,785 - $158,322 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 13
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Suitland, MD
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
None - This position is at its Full Promotion Potential.
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
High Risk (HR)
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
Yes - The duty location is within the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, and included in the Local 12, AFGE bargaining unit.
Announcement number
DE-26-CHI-BLS-12922064-KDZ
Control number
863434600

Duties

Help

This position is located in OTSP, Division of Enterprise Web Systems (DEWS). DEWS operates, maintains, designs, and develops BLS internet data dissemination facility (LABSTAT), internet data collection facility (IDCF), and central intranet facility (BLS Central).

ITSPEC (Systems Analysis/Policy Planning) Sr. Production Support Engineers advance DEWS initiates by allocating project resources for LABSTAT, IDCF, and BLS Central system updates. These roles coordinate system enhancement efforts, data-release workflows, and operational support to ensure accurate, timely dissemination of BLS's data across public-facing platforms. Specific functions include but are not limited to:

  • Software Delivery: Supporting end-to-end software delivery in hybrid Agile-Waterfall environments, from requirements through production support. Using CI/CD platforms (e.g., Jenkins, GitLab CI) to automate builds and deployments and apply DevOps practices to strengthen delivery.
  • Linux/Unix Operations: Performing Linux/Unix operations on production systems by executing command-line tasks (such as shell scripts for system administration), running script-based applications (such as automated test scripts in Ruby or Python), and executing Perl-based automation (such as scripts to monitor and troubleshoot routine processes).
  • Database Configuration Management: Running SQL scripts in Oracle production environments (such as updating database metadata). Following strict configuration and change management processes to ensure system integrity and traceability, using project tracking tools (e.g. JIRA), version control platforms (e.g. GitLab), and database development tools (e.g. Toad/SQL Developer).
  • System Validation: Conduct system testing of web applications, databases, and integrated components to validate functionality and reliability, and develop clear technical requirements and user-friendly guides that support both technical and non-technical staff.

This is not a software development position. The role focuses on supporting production environments, maintaining system reliability, executing automation, and sustaining existing systems rather than building new software capabilities.

Requirements

Help

Conditions of employment

  • Must be a U.S. Citizen.
  • Must be at least 16 years old.
  • Requires a probationary period if the requirement has not been met.
  • Candidate required to obtain the necessary security/investigation level.

Qualifications

Candidates must demonstrate proof of meeting the Minimum Qualifications, that is, both the Experience and the Specialized Experience listed below.

Minimum Qualifications

Experience

IT-related experience; experience may be demonstrated by paid or unpaid experience and/or completion of specific, intensive training (for example, IT certification), as appropriate. Experience must have demonstrated each of the four competencies listed below.

  1. Attention to Detail - Is thorough when performing work and conscientious about attending to detail. An experience indicator at this level includes planning, prioritizing, and organizing project/program requirements.
  2. Customer Service - Works with clients and customers (that is, any individuals who use or receive the services or products that your work unit produces, including the general public, individuals who work in the agency, other agencies, or organizations outside the Government) to assess their needs, provide information or assistance, resolve their problems, or satisfy their expectations; knows about available products and services; is committed to providing quality products and services. An experience indicator at this level includes in-depth analysis and resolution of complex problems such as assessing customers' needs and identifying or tailoring information about products and/or services.
  3. Oral Communication - Expresses information (for example, ideas or facts) to individuals or groups effectively, taking into account the audience and nature of the information (for example, technical, sensitive, controversial); makes clear and convincing oral presentations; listens to others, attends to nonverbal cues, and responds appropriately. An experience indicator at this level includes orally justifying decisions, conclusions, findings, and/or recommendations in a professional setting such as orally presenting project/program related information to engage in open and constructive discussions and sharing of information.
  4. Problem Solving - Identifies problems; determines accuracy and relevance of information; uses sound judgment to generate and evaluate alternatives, and to make recommendations. An experience indicator at this level includes gathering and analyzing facts, drawing conclusions, and developing recommendations/identifying alternatives to solve complex problems such as utilizing various sources to conduct research to determine proper alternatives and providing recommendations to resolve project/program level issues that impact the work and outcomes of an organization.

AND

Specialized Experience

Applicants must have 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, i.e. GS-12, in the Federal Service. Specialized experience is defined as both of the following:

1. Demonstrated experience contributing to end-to-end operational SDLC support in a hybrid Agile-Waterfall or DevOps environment. Examples of experience indicators at this level include supporting either (a) or (b) as follows:

(a) Agile flexibility (i.e. iterative-based work) and Waterfall controls (e.g. change requests, structured release gating, deployment checklists); or
(b) DevOps automation (e.g. CI pipelines, automated testing, environment deployments).

2. Demonstrated experience executing automation scripts in cross-platform environments (Linux/Unix and Windows) using scripting tools. Examples of experience indicators may include the following:

- Running automation using Bash on Linux/UNIX and PowerShell on Windows systems
- Executing Python and Perl scripts deployed on both Windows and Linux hosts

Education

Education may not be substituted for experience at this level.

Additional information

Applicants must meet all legal and regulatory requirements. Reference the Required Documents section for additional requirements.

The mission of the Department of Labor (DOL) is to protect the welfare of workers and job seekers, improve working conditions, expand high-quality employment opportunities, and assure work-related benefits and rights for all workers.

Refer to these links for more information: GENERAL INFORMATION, REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS, ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION, FORMER FEDERAL EMPLOYEES

As a condition of employment, all personnel must undergo a background investigation for access to DOL facilities, systems, information and/or classified materials before they can enter on duty: BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION

For more information, click Telework Position Information. This is not a remote work position. The selectee will report to an assigned DOL office location on a regular basis and is eligible for participation in telework as determined by management in accordance with DOL policy.

Based on agency needs, additional positions may be filled using this vacancy.

The Department of Labor may use certain incentives and hiring flexibilities, currently offered by the Federal government to attract highly qualified candidates. Click for more information on Pay, Leave, and Workforce Flexibilities.

The Fair Chance Act (FCA) prohibits Federal agencies from requesting an applicant's criminal history information before the agency makes a conditional offer of employment. If you believe a DOL employee has violated your rights under the FCA, you may file a complaint of the alleged violation following our agency's complaint process Guidelines for Reporting Violations of the Fair Chance Act.

Note: The FCA does not apply to some positions specified under the Act, such as law enforcement or national security positions.

All Department of Labor employees are subject to the provisions of the Drug-Free Workplace Program under Executive Order 12564 and Public Law 100-71.

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.

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.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Click Application of Veterans Preference for more information.

You may preview application questions for this vacancy here: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12922064

If you meet the minimum qualifications, you will be evaluated against the evaluation factors below and will be placed into a category based on your vacancy question responses.

Category A - Meets the minimum qualifications requirements and demonstrates superior proficiency in applying critical competencies required by this position.

Category B - Meets the minimum qualifications requirements and demonstrates satisfactory proficiency in applying critical competencies required by this position.

Category C - Meets the minimum qualifications requirements and demonstrates familiarity in applying critical competencies required by this position.

Click here for Evaluation details.

USA Hire

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 Comprehension
  • Reasoning
  • Self-Management
  • Stress Tolerance
  • Teamwork

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.

The information you provide may be verified by a review of your paid, unpaid, volunteer, as it demonstrates the competencies or skills required for the position to be filled. Your evaluation may include an interview, reference checks, or other assessment conducted by HR specialists, subject matter experts, or panel members and may include other assessment tools (ex. interview, structured interview, written test, work sample, etc.).

INFORMATION FOR ICTAP/CTAP ELIGIBLE(S) ONLY: If you are eligible for special priority selection under ICTAP/CTAP, you must be well-qualified for the position to receive consideration. ICTAP/CTAP eligible(s) who are Category B or higher will be considered well-qualified. Be sure to review the eligibility questions to reflect that you are applying as an ICTAP or CTAP eligible and submit supporting documentation.

To view the announcement status or your application status: Visit https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/howto/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.

Bureau of Labor Statistics

Begin a challenging career with the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), and you will help shape the workforce of tomorrow. DOL offers rewarding opportunities to contribute to a noble mission; to serve and protect American workers, prepare them for new and better jobs, and to ensure the safety and fairness of American workplaces.

The Department of Labor values its customers. Every DOL employee is responsible for delivering good customer service through accurate, courteous, efficient, and effective transactions.

The Department of Labor does not make unfavorable hiring decisions on the basis of an applicant's previous or current unemployment, or the fact that an applicant has experienced financial difficulty through no fault of his/her own and has undertaken good faith efforts to meet his/her financial obligations. Consideration is given to financial status in relation to appointments only where required by law, regulation, or Executive Order.

Applicants with disabilities can contact the vacancy point of contact listed on the job vacancy announcement to request reasonable accommodations needed for the application process.

Agency contact information

Kyle Zagorski
Phone
202-693-7668
Email
zagorski.kyle.2@dol.gov
Address
Bureau of Labor Statistics
200 Constitution Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20210
US

Visit our careers page

Learn more about what it's like to work at Bureau of Labor Statistics, what the agency does, and about the types of careers this agency offers.

https://www.bls.gov/jobs/

Your session is about to expire!

Your USAJOBS session will expire due to inactivity in 8 minutes. Any unsaved data will be lost if you allow the session to expire. Click the button below to continue your session.