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Senior IT Specialist

Department of Transportation
Office of Inspector General

Summary

The Office of Inspector General (OIG), works within the U. S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to prevent or stop waste, fraud and abuse in departmental programs.  The OIG also consults with the Congress about programs in progress and proposed new laws and regulations.  The OIG carries out its mission by issuing audit reports, evaluations, and management advisories with findings and recommendations to improve program delivery and performance.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Location
Work site options
Telework eligible
Yes—This position may be eligible for situational telework. Telework approval will be determined by your immediate supervisor or manager following the agency’s telework policy and guidance. If participating in the telework program, you will be required to sign a telework agreement detailing agency telework policy requirements, working conditions, and expectations for the position.
Remote job
No
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Salary
$143,913 - $187,093 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 14
Promotion potential
14 - Position is at full performance level.
Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.
Work schedule
Full-time - This is a full-time position.
Travel Required
25% or less - Long distance travel for moderate periods of time is required for this position.
Appointment type
Permanent - This is a permanent position.
Occupations and job series
Supervisory status
No
Federal service type
This job is in the Competitive Service
Drug test
Yes
Security clearance
Secret
Position sensitivity and risk
Critical-Sensitive (CS)/High Risk
Jobs require a background check and some require a security clearance. The type depends on the job.
Background check type
Announcement number
JA-20-2026-0003
Control number
885769200

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

Current Federal employees serving under a career or career-conditional appointment in the competitive service; applicants with reinstatement eligibility; applicants eligible for appointment under special appointing authorities; special selection priority consideration under either the Career Transition Assistance Program or Interagency Transition Assistance Program for well-qualified displaced or surplus candidates

Duties

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This position is located in the Office of Inspector General, Principal Assistant Inspector General for Auditing and Evaluation, Assistant Inspector General for Financial, Information Technology and Procurement Audits. The incumbent is responsible for the planning, leading, supervision of highly complex analyses, assessments, audits and evaluations of sensitive information systems, information technology methods, controls and strategies, policies and procedures, and management practices. This includes providing independent assessments to determine the adequacy of the Department of Transportation’s cybersecurity posture for its systems, networks, telecommunications infrastructures, operational practices, utilization of information technology system resources, cyber-security operations to determine its efficiency and compliance with laws, regulations, policies, and/or contract; by conducting activities related to the detection and prevention of fraud, waste, and abuse.

As an Senior IT Specialist you will:

Provide technical skills, advice, guidance, and recommendations to management and other JA staff on critical IT security issues and makes decisions or recommendations that significantly influence important IT security policies and programs within DOT. The incumbent also provides strategic budget planning and Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) duties including contract administration, conducts risk assessments and penetration testing, prioritizes assets, allocates IT resources, and implements security measures in support of the JA-20 Lab.

Be responsible for conducting the performance of audits and serving as the senior IT specialist on an OIG Red Team by leading red team operations/penetration tests, social engineering campaigns and physical penetration of DOT modes to determine the effectiveness of organizations, IT programs and activities, and examining whether an entity is complying with all applicable laws and regulations.

Be responsible for performing and supporting team members that perform all phases of audit work in which red team engagements are performed including planning the audit and defining engagement scopes, managing testing timelines, overseeing junior testers and preparing the audit report. The incumbent must ensure that all phases of the audit are done in accordance with generally accepted Government auditing standards.

Lead in developing annual and long-range IT audit plans, provides technical advice, hands-on practical training and guidance to subordinate staff for red team/penetration test activities, audit activities and coordination functions, and maintains close liaisons with Department program and management officials in the areas of assigned responsibility.

Be responsible for creating, monitoring, renewing, and getting approval of the budget plan to ensure efficient allocation of resources for hardware, cybersecurity software, training, and contracts.

Plan and design the architecture of the lab and other services to support secure and scalable operations to include hardware, software, networking (such as routing and switches), security, and virtual machines.

Support report preparation and ensures effectiveness of presentation, adequacy of supporting data, and conformance with policies and standards. Conducts site visits to make sure that audits are being performed and supervised in an effective and timely manner.

Develop quality technical vulnerability assessments and penetration testing reports to create executive-level summaries for non-technical agency stakeholders.

Provide technical supports and serves as an Information System Security Officer (ISSO) for the JA-20 Lab while achieving and maintaining an Authority to Operate (ATO) for the OIG Lab General Support System (GSS) infrastructure.

Be required to lead the preparation of Congressional testimony. This includes leading (1) the preparation of the written and oral statements, (2) the research and assembly of supporting documentation, and (3) quality of the product all within established timeframes.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Must be a U.S. Citizen.
  • Submit application and resume online by 11:59 P.M. EST on the closing date.
  • This position is subject to a background investigation.
  • This position requires a secret clearance.

Federal employees must meet Time-In-Grade (TIG) requirements for merit promotion consideration.  TIG is the 52-week requirement Federal employees in competitive service, General Schedule (GS) positions at GS-5 and above must serve before they are eligible for promotion to the next grade level.  Applicants must meet qualifications and time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Qualifications

All documents must be received, and eligibility requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement.  Your resume must be well documented with the specialized experience, otherwise you may be deemed ineligible.

To meet the minimum qualifications for this position, you must meet the Basic Education Requirements & Specialized Experience qualifications for the grade(s) at which you are requesting consideration. Applicants must meet qualifications and time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this vacancy announcement.

To be eligible, applicants must meet the basic education and/or experience requirements below.

Specialized Experience

GS-14: To qualify, you must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 grade level in the federal service including: expert knowledge of wide range of IT concepts, theory, computer methods and procedures; expert knowledge applying cyber- security and information security principles and concepts sufficient to plan, coordinate, and assess IT security operations and the security of data, networks, systems and applications; providing technical advice and guidance regarding IT security issues; conducting penetration testing, red teaming, audits and/or assessments of IT programs; conducting interviews with officials; conducting comprehensive analysis and studies requiring the application of complex analytical and statistical methods and techniques; and preparing audit assessment reports.

  • Experience in security penetration testing experience within enterprise or government environments (red teaming, cloud security, application security, mobile security and/or network security) 
  • Proven experience utilizing at least 3 of the following cybersecurity tools: Metasploit Pro, Kali Linux, Netsparker, Core Impact, Tenable, Burp Suite, AppDetective
  • Proven Experience utilizing common testing frameworks such as the NIST 800-115, NIST 800-53A, DoD 8140 / 8570, and/or the MITRE ATT&CK frameworks conducting penetration testing
  • Experience with server administration, TCP/IP networking, vulnerability identification and exploitation, vulnerability exploit code development, offensive security operation coordination and communication, vulnerability tracking and remediation, mobile testing    

And

Experience

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

GS-12 through GS-15 (or equivalent): For all positions individuals must have IT-related experience demonstrating each of the competencies listed below. The employing agency is responsible for identifying the specific level of proficiency required for each competency at each grade level based on the requirements of the position being filled.

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.

Decision Making - 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 - Identifies a need for and knows where or how to gather information; organizes and maintains information or information management systems.

Interpersonal Skills - 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 - 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.

Teamwork - Encourages and facilitates cooperation, pride, trust, and group identity; fosters commitment and team spirit; works with others to achieve goals.

Technical Competence – 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.

Your resume will be evaluated based on the following competencies:

1. Audit Planning and Execution -  Knowledge of audit planning and execution techniques using the GAGAS standard, the NIST Risk Management Framework (RMF) and other federal cybersecurity laws, publications, methods, principles, and information technology-based guidance to accomplish audit objectives through combined technical and administrative IT, privacy and cybersecurity program oversight.

2. Audit or Topic Specific Knowledge  -  Comprehensive knowledge of transportation related topics and the principles and policies of area(s) of responsibility to provide guidance and leadership in carrying out programs and strategies and to ensure policies and plans include a long-term outlook consistent with agency needs.

3. Written Communication - Relevant audit or professional writing experience, with demonstrated recognition for writing skills and efficiency.

4. Oral Communication - Relevant oral communication experience, with demonstrated recognition for oral skills and efficiency or extensive experience communicating with high level officials.

5. Critical Thinking and Analytical Skills - Experience in both critical thinking and analytical skills, including conducting audit analysis.

6. Teamwork/Working Relationships  - Experience in both teamwork and effective working relationships which resulted in successful project completion.

Preferred Qualifications: 

One or more of the following industry certifications or any equivalent:

o   GPEN (GIAC Penetration Tester)

o   GXPN (GIAC Exploit Researcher and Advanced Penetration Tester)

o   OSCP / OSCP+ (OffSec Certified Professional)

o   CPENT (Certified Penetration Testing Professional)

o   CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker)

Education

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Additional information

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT MAY BE USED TO FILL ADDITIONAL LIKE VACANCIES IN THE ANNOUNCED DUTY LOCATION.

Relocation expenses will not be paid. 

Best qualified candidates will be responsible for arranging and paying for their own travel expenses in conjunction with any required interviews, unless they are already employed by the Office of Inspector General at the U. S. Department of Transportation.

The Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act prohibits the Department of Transportation and its Operating Administrations 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 the Department of Transportation by email at, careers@oig.dot.gov

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.

All applicants: Your application will be reviewed in two phases to determine how you move forward in the hiring process.

Phase I: Your resume will be reviewed to determine your technical qualifications for this position based on the required specialized experience. ONLY two (2) pages of your resume will be reviewed. Additional information beyond your resume (e.g., cover letter, links embedded in your resume) will not be reviewed. Applicants who do not respond to the application questions may be rated ineligible.

GS- 14 Applicants passing “Phase I” will move on to the “Phase II” of the assessment process where your application will be reviewed and rated based on the KSAs/Competencies listed in the vacancy announcement by a Subject Matter Expert (SME). Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents). Applicants who do not respond to the application questions may be rated ineligible.

Federal employees must meet Time-In-Grade (TIG) requirements for merit promotion consideration.  TIG is the 52-week requirement Federal employees in competitive service, General Schedule (GS) positions at GS-5 and above must serve before they are eligible for promotion to the next grade level. TIG requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

Supporting documents may either be uploaded or faxed to 571-258-4052. The requested information MUST be received by fax within 48 hours prior to the closing date of the vacancy announcement (not including Saturdays, Sundays or government holidays).

NOTE: If you exaggerate or falsify your experience, education and/or your responses to questions, your ratings are subject to change or you may be removed from employment consideration.

Applicants who fail to submit all the required documentation listed in the announcement, in addition to their resumes, will be considered ineligible for further consideration for this announcement.


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Office of Inspector General

Agency contact information

Myra Clemens
Phone
202-366-1490
TDD
202-366-2136
Fax
571-258-4052
Email
Myra.E.Clemens@oig.dot.gov
Address
DOT, OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL
1200 New Jersey Ave SE
West Building, Room W71-123
Washington, District of Columbia 20590
United States

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https://www.oig.dot.gov/

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