IT Specialist

The IT Specialist role supports the Patent Product Delivery Branch by promoting the adoption of new technology and translating it into business value for customers. In this hybrid position, you will help technical product teams carry work from design through deployment and ongoing operations, with a focus on secure software delivery across the DevSecOps lifecycle.

This position in Alexandria, Virginia supports systems testing, troubleshooting, technical documentation, and cybersecurity compliance and assessment. You will also participate in technical initiatives that require coordination across multidisciplinary teams and leadership on complex cloud and information-system efforts.

Key responsibilities

• Perform and coordinate technical product-team activities across the DevSecOps lifecycle, including requirements analysis, application and system testing, troubleshooting, implementation, technical documentation, and coordination with multidisciplinary stakeholders.
• Use cloud, systems analysis, software development, and technical expertise to develop and implement solutions, resolve technical issues, and help ensure assigned products and information systems are reliable, secure, scalable, and aligned with organizational requirements and standards.
• Conduct cybersecurity compliance and system assessment and authorization activities, and provide technical guidance to support secure development, deployment, monitoring, and maintenance of products and information systems.
• Support special projects and technical initiatives by coordinating with multidisciplinary teams, assisting with project planning and execution, resolving technical or security issues, and supporting acquisition, contract, or vendor-management activities.
• Lead complex technical product and system initiatives throughout the DevSecOps lifecycle by establishing technical approaches, evaluating requirements and alternatives, coordinating stakeholders, and resolving significant technical or production issues affecting product delivery.
• Serve as a senior technical advisor for cloud and information-system solutions by evaluating architecture, technologies, system performance, security, scalability, and operational requirements, then recommending technical solutions or improvements.
• Provide authoritative technical guidance for cybersecurity compliance and system assessment and authorization by evaluating technical and security risks and recommending corrective actions to ensure systems are securely developed, deployed, monitored, and maintained.
• Apply leadership skills by heading special projects or major technical initiatives, coordinating work across technical teams and stakeholders, providing technical direction, evaluating project risks and priorities, and representing the organization on technical matters as assigned.

Technologies and focus areas

• DevSecOps
• Cloud
• Information systems
• Software development

Location, schedule, and work model

• Physical worksite: Alexandria, Virginia.
• On-site presence is required for in-person functions at the Alexandria, VA campus.
• Situational telework may be available in accordance with agency policy and business unit discretion.
• The agency allows up to 52 hours of telework per calendar year.
• May require working off-duty and unscheduled hours as necessary to restore systems to a normal or production-ready state.

Eligibility and qualification requirements

• Applications accepted only from United States Citizens and Nationals.
• Resume and question responses must demonstrate job-related competencies.
• Must meet the definition of specialized experience, with one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level in the Federal service.
• Must pass a background investigation and fingerprint check.
• Must be registered for Selective Service if applicable (www.sss.gov), including certification requirements for male applicants born after December 31, 1959.
• Suitable for Federal employment.
• If selected, may be required to complete a one-year probationary period.
• Must meet all qualification requirements upon the closing date of the announcement.
• Education may not be substituted for specialized experience at this grade level.
• Selectee must obtain and maintain one of the professional IT certifications listed in Appendix A for an ISSO within 180 days of appointment.
• Specialized experience competency includes attention to detail, customer service, decision making, information management, interpersonal skills, oral communication, problem solving, teamwork, and technical competence.

Professional scope for specialized experience (GS-12 / GS-13)

• GS-12 specialized experience includes analyzing business or technical requirements and applying established systems analysis, software development, cloud, or cybersecurity methods to develop, implement, test, troubleshoot, or maintain information systems or applications within a DevSecOps environment; and supporting cloud-based system operations by identifying and resolving technical issues, monitoring system performance or resource utilization, and assisting as needed.
• GS-13 specialized experience includes leading DevSecOps teams and providing senior-level technical guidance for the analysis, design, development, implementation, or modernization of information systems or applications within DevSecOps and cloud environments, including recommending technical approaches for complex system or production issues; and evaluating technical, cloud, or cybersecurity risks and recommending solutions or improvements involving system risk.

Benefits and employment notes

• A comprehensive benefits package available to federal employees, with eligibility depending on position type (full-time, part-time, or intermittent).
• Public Trust position with risk level designation of moderate.
• USPTO participates in E-Verify.
• Federal salary payments require direct deposit.
• Relocation expenses are not authorized and will not be paid.
• Non-bargaining unit position.
• CTAP and ICTAP candidates may be eligible for selection priority if determined they exceed minimum qualifications by attaining at least a “well qualified” rating of 85 out of 100.
• More than one selection may be made from the announcement if additional identical vacancies occur within 90 days from the date the certificate was issued.
• All application materials become the property of the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
• Reasonable Accommodation (RA) requests can be submitted in the online application for USA Hire Competency Based Assessments; requests must be received before starting the USA Hire assessments, decisions are case-by-case, and if received after the close of the announcement all assessments must be completed within 48 hours of receiving the URL.

How this position will be evaluated

• Evaluation is based on qualifications in application materials, questionnaire responses, and required assessments.
• Assessed competencies include Accountability; Attention to Detail; Customer Service; Decision Making; Flexibility; Influencing/Negotiating; Integrity/Honesty; Interpersonal Skills; Learning; Reading Comprehension; Reasoning; Self-Management; Stress Tolerance; Teamwork.
• USA Hire assessments include a cut score based on minimum required proficiency.
• Applicants meeting minimum qualifications are categorized as gold, silver, or bronze.
• Resume evaluation includes a panel review for evidence of specialized experience and alignment to the announcement.
• Preference eligibles with a service-connected disability of 10% or more are listed at the top of the highest quality category (gold).

Required documents

• Resume: required and limited to two pages (not to exceed 2 pages).
• Professional or academic references: 2-3 references including name, phone, and email; one must be your current supervisor.
• Veterans’ Preference documentation (DD-214 and related documentation, if applicable).
• Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) documents for CTAP applicants, including required RIF/separation-related documents as specified in the announcement.

Compensation: USD 102,415 - 158,322 per year. Experience requirement: minimum 1 year. Open to: the public and U.S. Citizens, Nationals, and those who owe allegiance to the U.S., including CTAP/ICTAP and eligible federal priority applicants; the agency states applications will be accepted from all U.S. Citizens or Nationals.