The position description number for this position is PD6F0110. A summary of the major duties are listed below. You may also view the full position description on the Agency intranet at the following link: PD Search
Serves as an IT Specialist and technical advisor for the Chief Information Officer and provides expert advice, guidance, and coordinative activities relating to software development and engineering.
Summary
The position description number for this position is PD6F0110. A summary of the major duties are listed below. You may also view the full position description on the Agency intranet at the following link: PD Search
Serves as an IT Specialist and technical advisor for the Chief Information Officer and provides expert advice, guidance, and coordinative activities relating to software development and engineering.
Provides Agency level guidance in the planning, design, development, testing, and maintenance
of complex business applications and technology solutions to support agency objectives.
Oversees the implementation of modern software development practices, systems and cloud
infrastructure, and IT modernization initiatives.
Advises on industry best practices and
recommends innovative approaches to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of systems
development activities. Offers expert guidance and coordination on software engineering and
application development.
Leads the development and integration of enterprise-level technology solutions, ensuring
alignment with organizational goals and requirements.
Directs the architecture, implementation,
and maintenance of scalable applications and platforms using contemporary technologies and
methodologies.
Manages the design and deployment of user interfaces, data management systems,
and automated processes to support agency operations.
Leads the adoption of new technologies, such as cloud computing and artificial intelligence,
to promote automation, efficiency, and innovation.
Troubleshoots and resolves technical issues
and applies modern project management practices (e.g., Agile). Uses tools for data analysis and
version control and oversees efforts to identify and fix issues and/or upgrade existing
systems.
Provides strategic oversight for the integration and management of advanced data systems and
architectures. Ensures the development of secure, reliable, and efficient data management
solutions that support enterprise-wide applications.
Guides the creation and maintenance of data structures and storage solutions to enable robust and scalable business operations.
Utilizes automated tools to test and monitor applications and implements best practices for testing and quality assurance.
Integrates testing into the development process to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of systems development activities. Analyzes test results and identifies and resolves problems to ensure maximum uptime and optimal performance.
Provides technical leadership, direction, and guidance for multiple products and projects, collaborating with developers, business analysts, and cross-functional teams to deliver new features and innovative solutions,
Prepares and maintains clear technical documentation, including architecture and system diagrams, program specifications, flowcharts, user guides, API documentation, testing plans, deployment guides, and/or operational runbooks.
Works with other recognized experts within the Agency and throughout the Federal government,
and with individuals throughout private industry, to develop a coordinated approach to
technology issues.
May include migration of legacy systems and applications to the cloud
or the leverage of artificial intelligence driven tools and technologies.
Provides high-level analytical expertise for a variety of complex assignments of enterprise-wide scope, such as technical assessment of proposed IT investments for alignment with and support of the Agency’s strategic plan.
May include IT modernization initiatives, cloud
migration efforts, or the leverage of artificial intelligence driven tools and technologies.
All application materials must be received by the closing date.
Applicants must be in good standing.
Applicants must have a fully successful rating of record.
Official Personnel Folders will not be reviewed.
Requests for copies of application documents will not be accepted.
All application forms submitted become the property of SSA Human Resources.
Qualifications
Resumes exceeding two pages in length will not be considered. Visit the 'Required Documents' section below for more information.
Your SSA-45/resume must provide sufficient experience, knowledge, skills, abilities, and proficiency of any required competencies to perform the specific position for which you are applying. Your SSA-45/resume is the key means we have for evaluating your experience, education, knowledge, skills, abilities and competencies as they relate to this position. Your resume and supporting documents must specifically address the evaluation criteria for the position. Describe duties you perform (not just knowledge, skills and abilities) as they relate to the specialized experience required for this position. Be clear, accurate and specific when describing your experience; e.g., list all positions separately, include full start and stop dates for each position, your component and grade, and a comprehensive description the relevant duties you performed in each position.
YOUR RESUME OR SSA-45 MUST INCLUDE YOUR OFFICIAL DUTY STATION AND YOUR ORGANIZATION (I.E., SECURITY AND RESILIENCY) OR YOU MAY BE FOUND INELIGIBLE.
To qualify for the 2210 IT Specialist series, the applicant must demonstrate the following competencies:
Attention to Detail (Level 4, Advanced) - Is thorough when performing work and conscientious about attending to detail.
Customer Service (Level 4, Advanced) - 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.
Decision Making(Level 3, Intermediate) - Makes sound, well-informed, and objective decisions; perceives the impact and implications of decisions; commits to action, even in uncertain situations, to accomplish organizational goals; causes change.
Information Management (Level 4, Advanced) - Identifies a need for and knows where or how to gather information; organizes and maintains information or information management systems.
Interpersonal Skills (Level 4, Advanced) - Shows understanding, friendliness, courtesy, tact, empathy, concern, and politeness to others; develops and maintains effective relationships with others; may include effectively dealing with individuals who are difficult, hostile, or distressed; relates well to people from varied backgrounds and different situations.
Oral Communication(Level 3, Intermediate) - 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 (Level 4, Advanced) - Identifies problems; determines accuracy and relevance of information; uses sound judgment to generate and evaluate alternatives, and to make recommendations.
Teamwork (Level 4, Advanced) - Encourages and facilitates cooperation, pride, trust, and group identity; fosters commitment and team spirit; works with others to achieve goals.
Technical Competence(Level 4, Advanced) - Uses knowledge that is acquired through formal training or on-the-job experience to perform one's job; works with, understands, and evaluates technical information related to the job; advises others on technical issues.
Specialized Experience: Applicants must have specialized experience that is directly related to the work of the position and have equipped them with the competencies required to successfully perform the duties of the role. These knowledge, skills, and abilities/competencies are normally attained through the equivalent of one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level of the position being filled.
To qualify at the GS-15 level, you must have specialized experience at the GS-14 level, or equivalent. This experience must demonstrate proficiency in the following:
Designing, developing, and maintaining large-scale web applications and APIs, utilizing advanced frameworks such as Angular, React.js, and Spring Boot, and programming languages such as Java or Node.js on platforms like AWS or PaaS.,
Object-oriented software design and implementation, including interfacing with databases such as DB2, SQL, MongoDB, and PostgreSQL, as well as leveraging DevOps technologies to meet modern development standards,
Leading and coordinating complex enterprise-level IT projects, facilitating technical discussions and conducting code reviews,
Collaborating with cross-functional teams to define, design, and deliver new features, and
Communicating complex technical concepts to executives and team members.
The specialized experience is REQUIRED and must be explicitly documented/described in your resume, or you will be disqualified from further consideration.
NOTE: You cannot be credited for experience unless you clearly show your grade level at the time the experience was gained, as well as the dates you were at that grade level. If you combine career-ladder experience into a single description of duties, you may be eliminated from consideration based on failure to clearly document the required experience at the required grade level for the required period of time. Qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.
Applicants for promotion must have 52 weeks at GS-14.
Time in grade requirement must be met by the closing date of this announcement.
Education
This job does not have an education qualification requirement.
Additional information
NONCOMPETITIVE CONSIDERATION DUE TO SPECIAL HIRING AUTHORITY
Applications for noncompetitive consideration will be accepted from SSA employees in the area of consideration who are currently serving under the following types of appointments: Schedule A, Reg. 213.3102 (U) appointments for individuals with disabilities; and time limited appointments for veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more. Applicants serving under these provisions do not need to submit copies of your disability or Veteran's documentation.However, you must submit a current SF-50 that provides information on the appointment authority under which you were hired. Otherwise, you will not receive non-competitive consideration.
NOTE: Excepted service employees serving under Schedule A appointments for Attorney positions or Pathways Programs appointments (Presidential Management Fellows, Recent Graduates, and Interns) are not eligible for consideration.
This is a non-bargaining unit position to be filled under the provisions of the Management Officials Promotion Plan. The best-qualified list for this vacancy may be used to fill the same or similar positions in a component(s) under the same Deputy Commissioner. Additional selections may be made within 6 months of the date the best qualified list is issued.
LOCALITY PAY: Salary will be set in accordance with locality pay provisions. Candidates currently receiving a higher locality pay than the office applied for are advised that should they be selected, they will lose entitlement to the higher locality pay.
OTHER NOTES:
The selectee will be required to file an OGE form 450, Confidential Financial Disclosure Report, in accordance with 5 CFR section 2634, subpart i.
This position is not eligible for telework.
Relocation expenses will not be paid.
This is a high-risk public trust position. The selected employee will be required to complete a Standard Form 85P, Questionnaire for Public Trust Positions, in order to have the appropriate investigation conducted, unless the employee has been previously certified eligible to occupy a position at this level.
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.
Applicants will be rated based on the following knowledge, skills, and abilities:
Mastery of skill in modern programming languages, frameworks, and platform tools (such as Java, JavaScript, Spring Boot, React.js, Node.js, Python, .NET Core, Linux, and Visual Studio Code), as well as industry best practices and approaches for the planning, design, development, testing, and maintenance of complex business applications and technology solutions to support agency objectives.
Skill in applying communication methodologies and techniques in order to prepare documentation, e.g., detailed project plans, presentations, technical papers; conduct and/or actively participate in meetings; convey complex material, both orally and in writing; and handle sensitive and complex issues with discretion and good judgment.
Skill in creating, conducting and leading complex technical analyses of product and project requirements to inform strategic decision-making and ensure alignment with organizational objectives.
Ability to translate organizational goals and disability program policies into effective technology strategies and solutions that drive innovation and operational efficiency.
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.
The following section provides information on supporting documentation that must be submitted. We encourage you to submit a two-page resume for OPM compliance, as well as the SSA-45 under "Other," to ensure that all your qualifications are fully considered.
We encourage you to submit a two-page resume for OPM compliance, as well as the SSA-45 under "Other," to ensure that all your qualifications are fully considered.
Per OPM's new resume guidance, resumes must be limited to 2 pages only. Additional documents such as the SSA-45 may be uploaded using the 'Other documents' option.
SSA-45 (all applicants) SF-50 that provides information on the appointment authority under which you were hired (applicants for Noncompetitive Consideration due to a Special Hiring Authority only)
Your SSA-45 must provide all of the information necessary to make qualifications determinations (e.g., all experience related to your qualifications for this position, full performance level of your current position, the dates at each grade level of your current or prior career-ladder position(s), etc.). These documents will be referred to the selecting official if you are eligible for the best qualified list. Employees' Official Personnel Folders will not be reviewed.
Your SSA-45 must specifically demonstrate, in your own words, the possession of the required experience related to the minimum qualifications, selective placement factors and/or evaluation criteria. Information that is copied or restated language from the vacancy announcement, rating criteria, KSAs and/or position description will not be considered. If this occurs, you may lose consideration for one or more grade levels or found ineligible.
Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your eligibility. When answering the questionnaire, remember that your experience is subject to verification by the selecting official. You may be asked to provide specific examples or documentation of experience to support your answers, or you may be required to verify a response by a practical demonstration of your claimed ability to perform a task.
Notice Concerning Materially False, Fictitious, or Fraudulent Statements
Anything you claim in the occupational questionnaire or in your SSA-45 may be subject to verification. By completing the electronic application process, you are certifying that any statements you make are true, complete, and correct to the best of your knowledge and belief and are made in good faith. Materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statements or representations are subject to disciplinary action.
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:
The Occupational Questionnaire: Click on the Apply Online button to create an account or log into your existing USAJOBS account and follow the prompts to complete the occupational questionnaire.
Additional Required Documents, if applicable (See Required Documents section).
The complete Application Package must be submitted before 11:59 p.m. (EST) on 07/24/2026. Failure to upload any required documents will disqualify your application from consideration.
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 Christin Barnes Wilson at christin.e.barnes.wilson@ssa.gov or 888-888-8888.
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
APPLYING FROM A PERSONAL COMPUTER OUTSIDE OF WORK
SSA employees may access Internal Vacancies On-Line (IVOL) postings and apply for vacancies from locations outside of SSA (e.g., from home, public computer, etc.). Please use the following link: https://www.ssa.gov/careers/ivol. Be sure to forward the link and other application materials (such as the SSA-45) to an email source accessible from outside of SSA (e.g., your personal computer, etc.).
Due to our security procedures, our office will not accept any applications submitted via email, standard mail, or facsimile sent directly to the Servicing Personnel Office. Applicants are required to file through the online application process. The email address is listed only for inquiries about the position or the How to Apply process.
To check the status of your application or return to a previous or incomplete application, log in to your USAJOBS account.
CIO Front Office
6401 Security Boulevard
Baltimore, MD 21235
US
Next steps
After all of the applications have been evaluated, you will receive notification via email explaining the status of your application. If you applied incorrectly or submitted an incomplete application, we will be unable to send you an electronic receipt of your application. Please read the How to Apply instructions carefully to ensure that you submit a complete application.
To check the status of your application or return to a previous or incomplete application, log in to your USAJOBS account, select Application Status, and click on the more information link under the application status for this 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.
The following section provides information on supporting documentation that must be submitted. We encourage you to submit a two-page resume for OPM compliance, as well as the SSA-45 under "Other," to ensure that all your qualifications are fully considered.
We encourage you to submit a two-page resume for OPM compliance, as well as the SSA-45 under "Other," to ensure that all your qualifications are fully considered.
Per OPM's new resume guidance, resumes must be limited to 2 pages only. Additional documents such as the SSA-45 may be uploaded using the 'Other documents' option.
SSA-45 (all applicants) SF-50 that provides information on the appointment authority under which you were hired (applicants for Noncompetitive Consideration due to a Special Hiring Authority only)
Your SSA-45 must provide all of the information necessary to make qualifications determinations (e.g., all experience related to your qualifications for this position, full performance level of your current position, the dates at each grade level of your current or prior career-ladder position(s), etc.). These documents will be referred to the selecting official if you are eligible for the best qualified list. Employees' Official Personnel Folders will not be reviewed.
Your SSA-45 must specifically demonstrate, in your own words, the possession of the required experience related to the minimum qualifications, selective placement factors and/or evaluation criteria. Information that is copied or restated language from the vacancy announcement, rating criteria, KSAs and/or position description will not be considered. If this occurs, you may lose consideration for one or more grade levels or found ineligible.
Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your eligibility. When answering the questionnaire, remember that your experience is subject to verification by the selecting official. You may be asked to provide specific examples or documentation of experience to support your answers, or you may be required to verify a response by a practical demonstration of your claimed ability to perform a task.
Notice Concerning Materially False, Fictitious, or Fraudulent Statements
Anything you claim in the occupational questionnaire or in your SSA-45 may be subject to verification. By completing the electronic application process, you are certifying that any statements you make are true, complete, and correct to the best of your knowledge and belief and are made in good faith. Materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statements or representations are subject to disciplinary action.
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:
The Occupational Questionnaire: Click on the Apply Online button to create an account or log into your existing USAJOBS account and follow the prompts to complete the occupational questionnaire.
Additional Required Documents, if applicable (See Required Documents section).
The complete Application Package must be submitted before 11:59 p.m. (EST) on 07/24/2026. Failure to upload any required documents will disqualify your application from consideration.
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 Christin Barnes Wilson at christin.e.barnes.wilson@ssa.gov or 888-888-8888.
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
APPLYING FROM A PERSONAL COMPUTER OUTSIDE OF WORK
SSA employees may access Internal Vacancies On-Line (IVOL) postings and apply for vacancies from locations outside of SSA (e.g., from home, public computer, etc.). Please use the following link: https://www.ssa.gov/careers/ivol. Be sure to forward the link and other application materials (such as the SSA-45) to an email source accessible from outside of SSA (e.g., your personal computer, etc.).
Due to our security procedures, our office will not accept any applications submitted via email, standard mail, or facsimile sent directly to the Servicing Personnel Office. Applicants are required to file through the online application process. The email address is listed only for inquiries about the position or the How to Apply process.
To check the status of your application or return to a previous or incomplete application, log in to your USAJOBS account.
CIO Front Office
6401 Security Boulevard
Baltimore, MD 21235
US
Next steps
After all of the applications have been evaluated, you will receive notification via email explaining the status of your application. If you applied incorrectly or submitted an incomplete application, we will be unable to send you an electronic receipt of your application. Please read the How to Apply instructions carefully to ensure that you submit a complete application.
To check the status of your application or return to a previous or incomplete application, log in to your USAJOBS account, select Application Status, and click on the more information link under the application status for this 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.
