The SSA Recent Graduates Program provides Recent Graduates with entry-level developmental experience and is designed to lead to a career in the Federal government. Program participant(s) are placed in excepted service appointments, not-to-exceed 1 year.
Note: This position is being filled on a full-time basis. This is a 1-year developmental program. After successful completion of the program, you may be non-competitively converted to a term (not to exceed 1-4 years) or permanent appointment.
Summary
The SSA Recent Graduates Program provides Recent Graduates with entry-level developmental experience and is designed to lead to a career in the Federal government. Program participant(s) are placed in excepted service appointments, not-to-exceed 1 year.
Note: This position is being filled on a full-time basis. This is a 1-year developmental program. After successful completion of the program, you may be non-competitively converted to a term (not to exceed 1-4 years) or permanent appointment.
Provide support in implementing systems security measures in accordance with established procedures to ensure, confidentiality, integrity, availability, authentication, and non-repudiation for all of SSA.
Manage and administer the updating of rules and signatures (e.g., intrusion detection/protection systems, anti-virus, and content blacklists) for specialized cyber defense applications.
Perform system administration on specialized cyber defense applications and systems (e.g., anti-virus, audit and remediation) or Virtual Private Network (VPN) devices, to include installation, configuration, maintenance, backup and restoration.
Assist in identifying, prioritizing and coordinating the protection of SSA’s network by building, installing, configuring, and testing dedicated cyber defense hardware.
Create, edit, and manage network access control lists on specialized cyber defense systems (e.g., firewalls and intrusion prevention systems).
Identify potential conflicts with the implementation of cyber defense using tools, signature testing and optimization.
Provide cybersecurity guidance on significant threats and vulnerabilities via bulletins, newsletters and written reports.
Evaluate security controls using NIST guidelines (e.g., 800-53) and implement measures to ensure agency system confidentiality, integrity, availability, authentication, and non-repudiation.
Work with agency and external stakeholders to resolve computer security incidents and vulnerability compliance.
Work with agency and external stakeholders to analyze candidate architectures to provide cybersecurity guidance on security services, and select security mechanisms to comply with agency security requirements.
Must have a qualifying degree or certificate at the time of appointment.
Fingerprinting and background and/or security investigation may be required.
Job offers are contingent on fingerprinting and background / security investigation results.
Selectees are required to serve a trial period.
Relocation expenses will not be paid.
Selective Service Registration, if applicable (www.sss.gov).
All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement.
Candidates will not be hired based on their race, sex, color, religion or national origin.
Qualifications
Resumes exceeding two pages in length will not be considered, please visit the new resume guidance for more information.
To be considered for selection, you must be eligible for the Recent Graduate Program AND meet the qualifications specified for the posted position(s).
Recent Graduate Program Eligibility
To qualify for appointment to the Recent Graduates Program, you must have completed all requirements of an academic course of study leading to an associate's, bachelor's, master's, professional, doctorate, vocational, or technical degree or qualifying certificate program from an accredited educational institution. Your graduation (degree conferred) date must be within the 2 years preceding your application to this announcement.Note: See Required Documents section to ensure you provide the correct documentation to prove your Recent Graduates Program eligibility.
Preference-eligible veterans who, due to military service obligations, were precluded from applying to the Program during any portion of the 2-year eligibility period are entitled to a full 2-year period of eligibility upon release or discharge from active duty. In no event, however, may the eligibility period extend beyond 6 years from the date on which the preference eligible veteran completed the requirements of an academic course of study, when a qualifying degree or certificate was conferred. Note: See Required Documents section to ensure you provide the correct documentation to prove your
Recent Graduates Program and preference eligibility.
Qualifications
You must also meet the below qualifications for the posted position(s) by the closing date of this announcement, 04/27/2026.
Applicants must qualify for the series and grade of the posted position. Your resume must provide sufficient experience and/or education, knowledge, skills, abilities, and proficiency of any required competencies to perform the specific position for which you are applying. Experience must be IT-related; the experience may be demonstrated by paid or unpaid experience and/or completion of specific, intensive training (for example, IT certification), as appropriate.
Your resume is essential for evaluating your qualifications for this position. Ensure it addresses the evaluation criteria and describes your relevant duties, not just your skills. List each position separately with full dates, hours per week, grade (if federal), and a detailed description of your responsibilities. Submit a thorough resume directly related to this position; incomplete or unrelated applications will not be considered.
To qualify for the 2210 IT Specialist series, applicants must demonstrate the following IT-related competencies:
Attention to Detail - Is thorough when performing work and conscientious about attending to detail.
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.
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.
Problem Solving - Identifies problems; determines accuracy and relevance of information; uses sound judgment to generate and evaluate alternatives, and to make recommendations.
Minimum Qualifications: Grade 9
To qualify at the GS-9 level, you must have one of the following:
A master's or equivalent graduate degree (see Education section); OR
Successful completion of two full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's or equivalent graduate degree (see Education section); OR
At least 52 weeks of specialized experience at the GS-7 level, or equivalent. Such IT-related experience must include:
Assisted in the development and implementation of IT products using basic product management principles and methodologies.
Supported product lifecycle activities, including ideation, development, and post-launch evaluation, under supervision.
Participated in gathering and documenting stakeholder requirements for IT projects.
Used programming languages and structured query languages to modify and maintain software applications with guidance.
Conducted preliminary analyses of user needs and system requirements to support application design.
Assisted in preparing presentation materials and reports for team meetings and stakeholders.
Demonstrated effective communication skills in providing updates and information to team members.
Education
Providing Proof of Education or Substituting Education
Proof of education or education substitutions must be submitted with your application package and received by the closing date of the announcement. You must submit your transcripts according to the application submission details of this announcement. Documents will not be accepted via email or regular mail. Note: See Required Documents section to ensure you provide the correct documentation.
Applicants selected for the position must provide an official transcript(s) including the date the degree or certificate was conferred prior to being appointed.
Foreign Education: If your transcripts show education completed in foreign colleges or universities, you must also provide documentation that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in a conventional/accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. Note: See Required Documents section to ensure you provide the correct documentation.
Additional information
Additional selections may be made for this vacancy six months from the closing date of this announcement.
This is a career-ladder position offering the opportunity for annual promotion based on performance leading up to the GS-12 grade level. Normally candidates are hired at step one unless they have prior federal experience with no break in service.Salary will be set in accordance with applicable Locality Pay.
This is a non-bargaining unit position.
Program participants serving on appointments for 1 year or less are generally ineligible for coverage under the Federal Employees Retirement System and unable to participate in the Federal Employees Group Life Insurance program, and the Thrift Savings Program.
Participants serving on appointments for more than 90 days may be eligible for coverage under the Federal Employees Health Benefits program.
Selective Service: If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. See www.sss.gov.
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 and Americans with Disabilities Act 1990 as amended, that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request an 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. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments here: https://help.usastaffing.gov/Apply/index.php?title=Reasonable_Accommodations_for_USA_Hire
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.
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.
The evaluation you receive is based on your responses to the questionnaire. Your resume and supporting documentation will be compared to your responses to the occupational questionnaire, which is designed to capture the desired competencies for this position. These competencies include:
Knowledge of systems analysis and programming principles, methods, and tools to analyze and develop software test and evaluation procedures.
Ability to prioritize and handle multiple tasks.
Ability to communicate orally.
Ability to communicate in writing.
Ability to analyze data and make recommendations.
The USA Hire assessment 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.
Please make sure you answer all questions and follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your evaluation. The questionnaire takes approximately 15 minutes to complete. To preview the questions, click the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12930354
Your application will be evaluated under the Category Rating method, based on your responses to the Assessment Questions. If you meet the basic requirements for the position, your application will be evaluated and placed into one of three categories:
1 - Qualified Category - Candidates who meet the Minimum Qualification Requirements.
2 - Well Qualified Category - Candidates who meet the Minimum Qualification Requirements and demonstrate a satisfactory level of the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the duties of the position.
3 - Best Qualified Category - Candidates who meet the Minimum Qualification Requirements and demonstrate a high level of the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the duties of the position.
Candidates eligible for veterans' preference will be placed ahead of other candidates in the appropriate category for which they have been rated. Additionally, preference eligibles who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent and who meet the Minimum Qualification Requirements will automatically be placed in the Best Qualified Category.
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.
Resumes exceeding two pages will not be considered.
You must submit all supporting documentation by the closing date of the vacancy announcement (04/27/2026) to support your eligibility for the Recent Graduates Program, meet specified qualifications for the posted position(s), and claim certain types of preference.
Note: Failure to provide required documents may result in non-consideration for the posted position(s).
RESUME: You must meet the basic qualification requirements for the position being filled, including any positive education requirements and/or selective placement factors. All applicants must submit a resume showing work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment, and duties performed. Your resume must provide specific details as to how your experience meets the qualifications for the posted position(s). When describing your experience in your resume, please be specific; we will not make assumptions regarding your experience. Ensure that your resume includes the grade (if you are a current or previous federal employee) and month, day, and year that you began and ended each position held. Without this information, the experience gained while in that position may not be credited toward meeting the qualifications requirements. The resume should indicate if the work is full-time or part-time. Part-time work is prorated (e.g., if you work 20 hours per week for a 12-month period, you will be credited with 6 months of experience).
Experience statements (i.e., duties, specialized experience, or occupational assessment questionnaire) copied from this announcement and pasted into your resume will not be considered as a demonstration of your qualifications for this position. You resume must provide context and sufficient detail of your experience. Failure to provide details will result in an ineligible rating.
Your resume must also support your responses to the online questionnaire. Failure to provide support may result in a lower rating and/or you may be excluded from consideration.
TRANSCRIPTS: Unofficial transcripts from an accredited college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education are acceptable to verify that you meet Recent Graduate Program eligibility and specified qualifications requirements. You must submit a legible copy of transcripts or list of college courses with your name, school name, credit or semester hours, major(s), and grade-point average or class ranking. Copies of degrees, certificates, and diplomas are not considered acceptable documents to determine Recent Graduate Program eligibility.
Note: Your transcripts must show the date the degree was conferred. If you have recently graduated or will soon graduate and the date the degree is conferred is not yet on your transcript, your transcript must be accompanied by a letter from your educational institution (e.g., a letter from the Registrar, Student Counselor, Dean of College, etc.) verifying your degree completion and the date of completion in order to be acceptable. Failure to provide transcripts with proper accompanying documentation may result in non-consideration for this position.
Applicants selected for the position must provide an official transcript(s) including the date the degree or certificate was conferred prior to the effective date of their appointment.
VETERANS' PREFERENCE: If you are claiming veterans' preference, you must submit a copy of your military discharge certificate (DD-214 member 4 copy preferred) or an official statement of service from your command if you are currently on active duty. To be acceptable, the document must contain dates and show Character of Service. If you are claiming 10-point veterans' preference based on a service-connected disability, you must also submit an Application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference (SF 15)and the required documentation specified on the reverse of the SF-15. Applicants claiming derived preference must submit the SF-15 and the required documentation specified on the reverse of the SF-15. Preference will be granted based on the documents received.
Note: If you are a current active duty military member who does not have a DD-214 and are claiming preference under the Veterans Opportunity to Work (VOW) Act, you must submit certification from the Armed Forces indicating that you will be discharged or released under honorable conditions from active duty within 120 days of the date on the certification. Certifications must be on letterhead from the appropriate military branch and include the following information: military dates of service and expected discharge or release date, the character of service, military rank, type of discharge, and date when terminal leave will begin. Certifications must be signed by or under the direction of military members' military personnel offices, unit commanders, or higher headquarters.
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.
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:
Your two-page Resume
Transcript(s) and other educational documentation
Additional Required Documents, if applicable (see Required Documents section)
The complete Application Package must be submitted before midnight (EST) on 04/27/2026.
To begin the process, click the Apply Online button to create an account or log in to your existing USAJOBS account. Follow the prompts to complete the occupational questionnaire. Please ensure you click the Submit My Answers button at the end of the process.
The first cutoff date is April 17, 2026.
If you use assistive software or an adaptive device, or you are experiencing some other type of technical difficulty and/or otherwise require assistance with the application process, please contact Careers at SSA at Careers@ssa.gov or 000-000-0000.
Individuals with hearing or speech disabilities may use the listed email or 7-1-1 for TTY-based Telecommunications Relay Services to call the listed phone number. Additional Telecommunications Relay Services options are available in each state: https://www.fcc.gov/general/trs-state-and-territories
Individuals with disabilities may also call us via Federal Relay using the (voice) contact telephone provided.
Due to our security protocols, our office cannot accept applications submitted via email or standard mail. The provided email address is intended solely for inquiries regarding the position or questions about the application process.
To check the status of your application or return to a previous or incomplete application, log in to your USAJOBS account.
Security and Resiliency
6401 Security Blvd.
Woodlawn, MD 21235
US
Next steps
Once you have successfully submitted your application materials, you can expect to receive a least two or more of the following email notifications concerning your application status: (1) Receipt of application; (2) Qualifications status and whether your application has been Referred/Not Referred to the selecting official; and (3) Selection status for the position.
Selection interviews may be conducted with one or more of the candidates, but there is no requirement that interviews be conducted. The hiring office will contact candidates directly for interviews. Interviews may be conducted via video conferencing software, if technically feasible. Applicants referred for consideration will receive a final disposition notice after selections have been made.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
Resumes exceeding two pages will not be considered.
You must submit all supporting documentation by the closing date of the vacancy announcement (04/27/2026) to support your eligibility for the Recent Graduates Program, meet specified qualifications for the posted position(s), and claim certain types of preference.
Note: Failure to provide required documents may result in non-consideration for the posted position(s).
RESUME: You must meet the basic qualification requirements for the position being filled, including any positive education requirements and/or selective placement factors. All applicants must submit a resume showing work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment, and duties performed. Your resume must provide specific details as to how your experience meets the qualifications for the posted position(s). When describing your experience in your resume, please be specific; we will not make assumptions regarding your experience. Ensure that your resume includes the grade (if you are a current or previous federal employee) and month, day, and year that you began and ended each position held. Without this information, the experience gained while in that position may not be credited toward meeting the qualifications requirements. The resume should indicate if the work is full-time or part-time. Part-time work is prorated (e.g., if you work 20 hours per week for a 12-month period, you will be credited with 6 months of experience).
Experience statements (i.e., duties, specialized experience, or occupational assessment questionnaire) copied from this announcement and pasted into your resume will not be considered as a demonstration of your qualifications for this position. You resume must provide context and sufficient detail of your experience. Failure to provide details will result in an ineligible rating.
Your resume must also support your responses to the online questionnaire. Failure to provide support may result in a lower rating and/or you may be excluded from consideration.
TRANSCRIPTS: Unofficial transcripts from an accredited college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education are acceptable to verify that you meet Recent Graduate Program eligibility and specified qualifications requirements. You must submit a legible copy of transcripts or list of college courses with your name, school name, credit or semester hours, major(s), and grade-point average or class ranking. Copies of degrees, certificates, and diplomas are not considered acceptable documents to determine Recent Graduate Program eligibility.
Note: Your transcripts must show the date the degree was conferred. If you have recently graduated or will soon graduate and the date the degree is conferred is not yet on your transcript, your transcript must be accompanied by a letter from your educational institution (e.g., a letter from the Registrar, Student Counselor, Dean of College, etc.) verifying your degree completion and the date of completion in order to be acceptable. Failure to provide transcripts with proper accompanying documentation may result in non-consideration for this position.
Applicants selected for the position must provide an official transcript(s) including the date the degree or certificate was conferred prior to the effective date of their appointment.
VETERANS' PREFERENCE: If you are claiming veterans' preference, you must submit a copy of your military discharge certificate (DD-214 member 4 copy preferred) or an official statement of service from your command if you are currently on active duty. To be acceptable, the document must contain dates and show Character of Service. If you are claiming 10-point veterans' preference based on a service-connected disability, you must also submit an Application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference (SF 15)and the required documentation specified on the reverse of the SF-15. Applicants claiming derived preference must submit the SF-15 and the required documentation specified on the reverse of the SF-15. Preference will be granted based on the documents received.
Note: If you are a current active duty military member who does not have a DD-214 and are claiming preference under the Veterans Opportunity to Work (VOW) Act, you must submit certification from the Armed Forces indicating that you will be discharged or released under honorable conditions from active duty within 120 days of the date on the certification. Certifications must be on letterhead from the appropriate military branch and include the following information: military dates of service and expected discharge or release date, the character of service, military rank, type of discharge, and date when terminal leave will begin. Certifications must be signed by or under the direction of military members' military personnel offices, unit commanders, or higher headquarters.
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.
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:
Your two-page Resume
Transcript(s) and other educational documentation
Additional Required Documents, if applicable (see Required Documents section)
The complete Application Package must be submitted before midnight (EST) on 04/27/2026.
To begin the process, click the Apply Online button to create an account or log in to your existing USAJOBS account. Follow the prompts to complete the occupational questionnaire. Please ensure you click the Submit My Answers button at the end of the process.
The first cutoff date is April 17, 2026.
If you use assistive software or an adaptive device, or you are experiencing some other type of technical difficulty and/or otherwise require assistance with the application process, please contact Careers at SSA at Careers@ssa.gov or 000-000-0000.
Individuals with hearing or speech disabilities may use the listed email or 7-1-1 for TTY-based Telecommunications Relay Services to call the listed phone number. Additional Telecommunications Relay Services options are available in each state: https://www.fcc.gov/general/trs-state-and-territories
Individuals with disabilities may also call us via Federal Relay using the (voice) contact telephone provided.
Due to our security protocols, our office cannot accept applications submitted via email or standard mail. The provided email address is intended solely for inquiries regarding the position or questions about the application process.
To check the status of your application or return to a previous or incomplete application, log in to your USAJOBS account.
Security and Resiliency
6401 Security Blvd.
Woodlawn, MD 21235
US
Next steps
Once you have successfully submitted your application materials, you can expect to receive a least two or more of the following email notifications concerning your application status: (1) Receipt of application; (2) Qualifications status and whether your application has been Referred/Not Referred to the selecting official; and (3) Selection status for the position.
Selection interviews may be conducted with one or more of the candidates, but there is no requirement that interviews be conducted. The hiring office will contact candidates directly for interviews. Interviews may be conducted via video conferencing software, if technically feasible. Applicants referred for consideration will receive a final disposition notice after selections have been made.
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
