Information Technology Specialist (appsw), Engineer, Gs - 2210 - 15 (direct Hire), FPL 15

IT Specialist (APPSW), Engineer, GS-2210-15

This position is located in FSA supporting various program offices. Join us to transform how millions of students and partners access financial aid, innovate how borrowers repay their student loans, and play a leading role in implementing the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA).

Responsibilities:

1. Leading the technical direction for FSA engineering by applying deep knowledge of modern software engineering practices to ensure systems are robust, reliable, and user-friendly.
2. Evaluating, adopting, and championing new development tools, technologies, and methods that improve both productivity and software quality across the FSA and FAFSA lifecycle.
3. Fostering a culture that combines technical excellence with a relentless focus on mission outcomes.
4. Taking ownership of improving not just the product but also the internal processes that surround it.
5. Applying deep experience in building and managing products that serve millions of users at scale, with high stakes for accuracy, security, and reliability.

Requirements:

Conditions of Employment:

• Must be a US Citizen
• Relocation will not be paid.
• You may be subject to serve a one-year probationary period.
• Must complete a Background Investigation and Fingerprint check.
• Males 18 and over must be registered with the Selective Service.

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualification Requirements:

You may meet the minimum qualifications for the GS-15, if you possess the specialize experience.

Specialized Experience for the IT Specialist (APPSW), Engineer, GS-2210-15:

• One year of experience in either federal or non-federal service that is equivalent to at least a GS-14 performing two (2) out of three (3) of the following duties or work assignments:
• Experience serving as the principal engineer or engineering manager in the development of a scaled technology platform.
• Experience serving as a lead engineer or senior software developer, overseeing internal and external software development, integration, and operation.
• Experience communicating technical concepts to non-technical audiences and translating user needs into technical architecture.
• Basic Experience Requirements:
• You must possess IT related experience (paid or unpaid experience and/or completion of specific, intensive training (e.g., IT certification), as appropriate) demonstrating each of the four competencies listed below:
• Attention to Detail - Is thorough when performing work and conscientious about attending to detail.
• Customer Service - Works with clients and customers (i.e., 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 (e.g., ideas or facts) to individuals or groups effectively, taking into account the audience and nature of the information (e.g., 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.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs):

• Ability to lead engineering teams to deliver high-quality outcomes for users.
• Knowledge of software application best practices and tooling.
• Ability to build, mentor, and inspire a high-performing engineering culture.
• Ability to navigate bureaucracy and drive change.
• Knowledge of building and operating large-scale, mission-critical student aid or comparable financial systems.

Education:

Education cannot be substituted for experience for this position and grade level.

Additional Information:

Veterans' Career Counseling: If you are a veteran interested in receiving tips on preparing a Federal resume and/or how to prepare for an interview, you may email careers@ed.gov to schedule a session with a career counselor ("Veterans Counseling Session" should be placed in the subject line of the email).

Student Loan Default: If selected for this position, we will verify that you have not defaulted on any loan funded or guaranteed by the U.S. Department of Education. If you are found to be in default, we will contact you to make arrangements for repayment prior to making an official offer of employment.

Suitability and Investigation: If selected for this position, you will be required to complete the Declaration for Federal Employment (OF-306) to determine your suitability for federal employment and successfully complete a pre-appointment investigation/background check.

Essential/Non-Essential: This position is considered non-essential for purposes of reporting to work during federal government closures.

Financial Disclosure: This position does not require financial disclosure.

Bargaining Unit: This position is not included in the bargaining unit.

Selections: Agencies have broad authority under law to hire from any appropriate source of eligibles and may fill a vacancy in the competitive service by any method authorized. We may make additional selections from this vacancy announcement within 90 days from the date the selection certificates are issued, should vacancies occur. We may also share selection certificates amongst program offices across the agency.