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Data Science - Technical

Department of Homeland Security
DHS Headquarters
This job announcement has closed

Summary

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is recruiting professionals to support a range of technical roles in Cybersecurity Data Science, including Data Scientist, Data Engineers, Artificial Intelligence (AI) Specialist, AI Operations Analyst, Data Modeler, Data Security Officer and Operations Research Analyst. All positions are in the DHS Cybersecurity Service.

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
01/22/2025 to 02/21/2025
Salary
$105,600 to - $212,500 per year

Range reflects typical low and high starting salaries available to employees in most of the U.S. See Additional information: Salary for more info.

Pay scale & grade
DC 2
Locations
Many vacancies in the following locations:
Chandler, AZ
Washington, DC
Pensacola, FL
Idaho Falls, ID
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position about 1 to 5 days a month.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Excepted
Promotion potential
None
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Sensitive Compartmented Information
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Special-Sensitive (SS)/High Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
25-12668229-CBWQ
Control number
829062500

Duties

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DHS Cybersecurity Service (DHS-CS) uses a multi-phase assessment process to qualify applicants seeking employment through the DHS-CS. Given the ever-advancing nature of cybersecurity and the ongoing need for cybersecurity talent, DHS-CS uses "Talent Pools" to pull qualified applicants (i.e., individuals who have successfully completed the multi-phase assessment process for their capability and career track/level) for consideration for these jobs.

This announcement is being used to fill the Data Science Talent Pool. By applying to this job announcement, you are opting to be part of the DHS-CS Talent Pool for ongoing consideration for employment for relevant open jobs and will remain eligible for consideration for up to one year from the date of completion.

There are a variety of Cybersecurity Data Science opportunities across the Department, including supporting several specialized programs at the DHS Office of Strategy, Policy, and Plans (PLCY), the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), DHS Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency (ICE).As a DHS Cybersecurity Service employee in the Technical Career Track, you will continually maintain and share your Cybersecurity Data Science expertise to perform a range of critical, complex, routine and non-routine tasks, including:

  • Applying knowledge of essential cybersecurity policies to data management to develop data standards, policies, and procedures to facilitate and implement data mining and data warehousing programs to collect, clean, convert and standardize complex data for analysis.
  • Conducting hypothesis testing using statistical processes applying quantitative techniques (e.g., descriptive and inferential statistics, sampling, experimental design) to assess the validity of source data and develop strategic insights from large data sets.
  • Proactively collaborating with systems analysts, engineers, and programmers to design applications integrating data from several disparate sources that is stored using different technologies to provide a unified view of the data.
  • Using a variety of tools, including Google Analytics, to monitor web data, log data, and threat data analytics, to provide a managed flow of relevant information based on cybersecurity mission requirements.
  • Analyzing and defining data requirements and specifications using various tools and methodologies (e.g., Statistical Package for Social Sciences [SPSS], Statistical Analysis System [SAS], R Analytics, Statistics and Data [STATA]) to discover new patterns and behaviors providing DHS Headquarters (HQ) and/or Component stakeholders actionable recommendations.
  • Planning for anticipated changes in enterprise data capacity requirements and effectively allocating storage capacity in the design of new data management systems, technologies, and architectures.
  • Providing technical and nontechnical support to collect metrics and trending data using enterprise data management systems (e.g., SPLUNK) and cloud-based systems (e.g., AWS).
  • Using data visualization tools (e.g., R, Tableau, Flare, Google Visualization Application Programming Interface [API], RGIS) to design charts and exhibit graphic representations for the purposes of providing actionable recommendations to critical leadership officials and stakeholders.
  • Using various tools (e.g., SPSS, SAS, R, STATA) and methodologies for analyzing and interpreting complex data to discover new patterns and behaviors and provide usable information to decision makers and other users.
  • Designing and implementing data pipelines for the analysis of cyber data into systems.
  • Structuring, cleaning, enriching, and validating data in preparation for discovery and use.
  • Building and maintaining scalable database architecture and data processing systems.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • You must be a U.S. Citizen or national.
  • You must be 18 years of age.
  • Must be registered for the Selective Service (if you are a male).
  • Must be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance. Security clearance levels may vary.
  • Must be able to submit to a drug test and receive a negative result.
  • Must be able to comply with ethics and standards of conduct requirements, including completing any applicable financial disclosure.
  • May be required to serve a 3 year probationary period.

Qualifications

This position is in the Technical Track across a range of career levels. Employees in this career track generally:

  • Have between 5-15 years of cybersecurity work experience.
  • Range from experienced cybersecurity professionals who apply technical expertise and independent judgement to perform cybersecurity work - to - recognized Federal cybersecurity technical authorities with uncommon technical expertise who advise on cybersecurity challenged impacting DHS and the Nation.
DHS Cybersecurity Service employees with a technical capability in Cybersecurity Data Science will generally:
  • Examine data with the goal of providing new insight for the purposes of cybersecurity.
  • Design and implement custom algorithms, flow processes and layouts for complex, enterprise-scale data sets used for modeling, data analytics, and research purposes.
  • Apply understanding of cybersecurity field to inform analytical methodologies and algorithms selected for implementation.
  • Design, build, implement, integrate, and maintain systems and tools for data trend and pattern analysis of cyber data.
  • Apply knowledge of statistics and mathematical theory to develop and integrate new and emerging technologies, such as machine learning and deep learning concepts and techniques.
  • Communicate insights gained to mission user.
DHS Cybersecurity Service employees start at career levels and salaries matching their experience and expertise. To learn more about DHS Cybersecurity Service career tracks and levels, visit our application portal.

This position is focused on Cybersecurity Data Science.

DHS Cybersecurity Service jobs are structured cybersecurity specializations - called technical capabilities. To learn more about technical capabilities, visit our application portal.

Education

Degrees are not required for jobs in the DHS Cybersecurity Service, but DHS is interested in your level of education and the topics you studied. As you submit initial application information, you will be asked questions about your education.

Additional information

Salary: Listed salary ranges reflects typical starting salaries available to employees in most of the United States across applicable career levels. Within the provided range, average salaries vary for each career level.

Senior Cybersecurity Specialist: $105,600 - $134,000
Staff Cybersecurity Specialist: $128,400 - $161,500
Principal Cybersecurity Specialist: $153,100 - $194,500
Senior Principal Cybersecurity Specialist: $168,900 - $212,500

In some geographic areas, average starting salaries will be higher because of a local cybersecurity labor market supplement (e.g., metro Washington, D.C. +10%).

Actual salaries of individual employees may be higher or lower than provided figures. For an overview of the salaries available in the DHS Cybersecurity Service, visit Resources.

Benefits: DHS Cybersecurity Service employees receive a range of federal employment benefits designed to support their professional and personal lives. To learn more about benefits, visit our application portal.

More information about the specific benefits available to you will be provided as you progress through the application process.

Background Investigation: To ensure the accomplishment of its mission, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) requires each and every employee to be reliable and trustworthy. To meet those standards, all selected applicants must undergo and successfully complete a background investigation for a security clearance as a condition of placement in this position. This review includes financial issues such as delinquency in the payment of debts, child support and/or tax obligations, as well as certain criminal offenses and illegal use or possession of drugs.

Pursuant to Executive Order 12564 and DHS policy, DHS is committed to maintaining a drug-free workplace and, therefore, conducts random and other drug testing of its employees in order to ensure a safe and healthy work environment. Headquarters personnel in safety- or security-sensitive positions are subject to random drug testing and all applicants tentatively selected for employment at DHS Headquarters are subject to drug testing resulting in a negative test result.

How you will be evaluated

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

All DHS Cybersecurity Service (DHS-CS) applicants participate in a multi-phase assessment process, which varies by career track. For the Technical Career Track, applicants participate in a three-phase assessment process:

  • You must successfully complete each phase to advance to the next phase.
  • The total time commitment for the three phases is approximately 4 hours (many applicants require less time!).
  • Before each phase, DHS will e-mail you instructions and information to help you prepare.
  • Assessments are time sensitive, so monitor your e-mail to ensure you have plenty of time to complete them prior to any deadlines.
PHASE I: ONLINE ASSESSMENTS
  • Un-proctored - Completed online within a prescribed period of time.
  • Includes two assessments: (1) a work styles inventory that will take about 30 minutes to complete; (2) a work simulation that you will have up to 2 hours to complete.
  • The two assessments take about 90 minutes (on average) to complete.
  • Requires a computer with audio (speakers or headphones) and a reliable internet connection.
  • No knowledge of DHS or cybersecurity is required for these assessments, which measure non-technical capabilities that are important for professional success in the DHS-CS. This includes how you communicate, analyze information, and collaborate with others:
    • The work styles inventory presents you with questions about your work-related interests and preferences.
    • The work simulation presents you with realistic, work-related scenarios and asks you to respond to them.

PHASE II: TECHNICAL CAPABILITY ASSESSMENT

  • Proctored - must be scheduled in advance and completed at a designated assessment center within a prescribed period of time
  • There is a different assessment for each DHS-CS technical capability (visit Jobs to learn more about the technical capabilities).
  • Most individuals only have a primary technical capability and complete only one Technical Capability Assessment, but in limited circumstances, you may complete a second Technical Capability Assessment.
  • You will have up to 2.5 hours to complete each Technical Capability Assessment; each takes about 90 minutes (on average) to complete.
  • Assessments present realistic, work-related cybersecurity scenarios and questions to assess technical skills.
  • Cybersecurity knowledge is assessed, but no knowledge of DHS is required.
*Applicants who successfully complete Phase II will undergo a resume review to confirm required experience. Applicants who pass this review will be invited to participate in a Phase III: Advanced Technical Interview. More information will be provided to such applicants as they progress through the application process.

NOTE: Your resume must explicitly outline your cybersecurity experience

PHASE III: ADVANCED TECHNICAL INTERVIEW

  • This interview is conducted on-demand (self-scheduled by you within a prescribed period of time) without live interviewers.
  • Two types of questions will be presented: One type focuses on your previous experience and the other focuses on hypothetical situations or scenarios.
  • This interview takes about 60 minutes (on average) to complete.
Your proctored assessment results are valid for a period of one year after completion and will be kept and used toward future positions for which you might apply that require the same assessments.

To learn about the assessment process for this Technical Track position, visit our portal and read the "Assessment Process" guide.

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