IT Specialist (Infrastructure Engineer)

Performs a key role in very difficult assignments with responsibility and accountability as a technical authority and advisor in a special functional area covering a wide range of technology and applications., Help

• Plans, analyzes, designs, develops and implements software test engineering services and technology for SSA programmatic administrative and management information systems.
• Serves as a principal planner and advisor to the Systems top management, working with senior technical and managerial representatives in the development of Systems-wide directives, standards, specifications, policies and implementing strategies.
• Designs and conducts comprehensive agency-wide studies and evaluations, and plans, organizes, and directs studies to develop long range (e.g., 5 to 10 year) ADP forecasts and recommendations affecting broad areas of future operations.
• Identifies issues and discusses issues with other government agencies and the private sector. Considers legislative developments and assesses trends.
• Serves as team leader for advanced system software/hardware project efforts; directs development of overall plans, criteria, and programming specifications; coordinate team efforts in accomplishing the work.
• Chairs agency committees concerned with hardware/software acquisition; serves as ADP expert on interagency or national committees, boards, and working groups concerned with implementing computer state-of-the-art advancements.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• 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.

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-14 level, you must have specialized experience at the GS-13 level, or equivalent. This experience must demonstrate proficiency in three of the following:

• Designing, managing, and optimizing IT environments: Experience planning, analyzing, and overseeing IT infrastructure projects, applying industry standards and best practices for platform implementation and automation. This includes developing and maintaining configuration management systems and scripting solutions, which demonstrates Technical Competence, Information Management, Attention to Detail, and Problem Solving.
• Integrating and deploying IT solutions to meet organizational needs: Experience leading the coordination and implementation of complex IT systems, including cross-functional team integration and major system configuration changes. This includes deploying new technologies and ensuring seamless integration across environments, which reflects Technical Competence, Teamwork, Information Management, and Decision Making.
• Configuring, maintaining, and troubleshooting networked systems: Experience applying advanced networking concepts to administer and resolve issues in internetworking environments, including OSI model protocols, network topology, and performance optimization. This includes supporting connectivity and reliability across Windows and Linux platforms, which demonstrates Technical Competence, Problem Solving, and Information Management.
• Communicating technical information and recommendations: Experience preparing and delivering clear, audience-appropriate reports, presentations, and documentation on IT topics. This includes distilling complex information for stakeholders and collaborating effectively with team members, which reflects Oral Communication, Interpersonal Skills, and Information Management.
• Supporting and troubleshooting web server environments: Experience implementing, administering, and resolving issues in web services such as Apache, Nginx, IIS, or similar platforms. This includes deploying applications and ensuring robust service delivery to meet business and customer requirements, which demonstrates Technical Competence, Customer Service, and Problem Solving.
• Managing and maintaining virtualized server environments: Experience deploying, administering, and troubleshooting Windows and Linux systems on platforms such as VMware or Hyper-V, including automating administrative tasks and optimizing performance. This includes working with IP Virtual Server (IPVS) and ensuring reliability in virtualized environments, which reflects Technical Competence, Information Management, and Problem Solving.

The specialized experience is REQUIRED and must be explicitly documented/described in your resume, or you will be disqualified from further consideration., This job does not have an education qualification requirement., 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.

This position is temporary not-to-exceed 1 year. Temporary promotions or reassignments may be extended or become permanent.

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.

This is a non-critical sensitive. The selected employee will be required to complete a Standard Form 86, Questionnaire for Sensitive Positions, in order to have the appropriate investigation conducted, unless the employee has been previously certified eligible to occupy a position at this level., Help

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.

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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.