IT Software Engineer (Tech Force)

Summary

The US Tech Force is an elite corps advancing federal technology. Backed by the White House, it deploys top Super Intelligence (SI) and engineering talent across government. GSA, SSA, OPM, State, Treasury, and HHS are among the participating agencies seeking innovators ready to tackle critical national challenges.

Duties

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Those selected will join a cohort of individuals that receive leadership training, get exposure to America's top technology CEOs and gain unparalleled exposure to policymaking and national-scale impact. This may include CEO fireside chats, networking events, coding training/certificates, and other opportunities.

The specific duties assigned to an IT Software Engineer may differ by hiring agency, Examples may include:

• Supporting the expansion and use of Super Intelligence (SI) across government. Leveraging SI-assisted development tools and prompt-engineering techniques to streamline delivery processes, enhance code quality, and automate documentation and defect detection.
• Full-stack engineering, which may include modern Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) implementation, automated and performance testing, observability, SI tool integration, cybersecurity applications, and delivery of robust, secure, and maintainable systems.
• Leads the planning, coordination, and execution of major IT applications software projects, including software design, development, testing, and implementation.
• Participates in interagency working groups, task forces, and strategic planning sessions to align IT initiatives with broader government priorities.
• Leads project teams composed of technical specialists, analysts, and support staff. Assigns tasks, monitors progress, and ensures deliverables meet quality expectations and stakeholder requirements.

Requirements

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Qualifications

This announcement will close at 11:59 PM (ET) on 10/23/2026. Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date.

Minimum Qualification Requirement:

Under the updated Competency-Based Qualification Standard for the IT Management Series (2210), applicants must:

1. Meet or exceed all required general competencies at the minimum proficiency level for the GS-14 grade,
2. Meet or exceed all required technical competencies established for this announcement for the GS-14 grade, and
3. Demonstrate you have the required specialized experience for the position.

You may be considered ineligible and removed from further consideration for the position, if you fail to meet any of the criteria above.

Required General Competencies

• 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 Competency: 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.

Required Technical Competencies:

• General Programming and Algorithms
• Debugging and Troubleshooting
• Requirement Understanding and Implementation
• Performance Optimization and Scalability

Specialized Experience

You must demonstrate the competencies required to successfully perform the duties of the position. These competencies are normally attained through one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level of the position being filled but may be obtained through other means. Experience may be paid or unpaid (internships, volunteerism). Experience must be validated through the assessment process, consistent with OPM's skills-based hiring policy.

Qualifying specialized experience includes:

• Solving problems with secure, scalable solutions, such as diagnosing issues (e.g., bugs, performance, integration), improving reliability, or building with security in mind (e.g., authentication/authorization, data protection) so systems can handle growth.
• Explaining technical ideas, such as sharing updates and tradeoffs with different audiences (e.g., engineers, product partners, and senior leaders) through briefings, reports, or documentation.
• Leading software efforts, such as designing, building, deploying, or maintaining reliable technical solutions that address user or mission requirements.

Specialized experience must show demonstrable competencies aligned to the position's job analysis and the IT-2210 standard.

Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing online assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the online assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the online assessment. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments.

Education

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Additional information

• Agencies recruiting from this job announcement may include but are not limited to: Social Security Administration (SSA), General Services Administration (GSA), Office of Personnel Management (OPM), Department of State (State), Department of Treasury (Treasury), and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
• Agencies with non-General Schedule (non-GS) pay plans or bands may hire from this announcement when the vacancy they are filling is equivalent to the GS grade advertised. The hiring agency's servicing HR office must verify grade-equivalency alignment with the advertised GS grade. Selections from this announcement must be for the GS grade (or equivalent pay plan or band) included in the announcement.
• Agencies may use this announcement to fill vacancies at additional duty locations. Specific duty locations outside of Washington, DC, Baltimore, MD, and Kansas City, MO are not known at the time of this announcement.
• The salary range posted in this announcement is an approximation and subject to locality. Final duty location and pay will be determined by the hiring agency.
• Recruitment, relocation or other incentives may be available, depending on the hiring agency's policies.
• Appointments are for 2-year periods. Appointments may be extended to a max of 4 years based on the needs of the hiring agency. There are no rights to further Federal employment in either the competitive or excepted service upon expiration of appointment.
• Current or Former Political Appointees: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, non-career SES, or Presidential appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.
• The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) provides eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. If your agency has notified you in writing that you are a displaced employee eligible for ICTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if: 1) this vacancy is within your ICTAP eligibility; 2) you apply under the instructions in this announcement; and 3) you are found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well qualified, you must satisfy all qualification requirements for the vacant position. You must provide proof of eligibility with your application. Such proof may include a copy of your written notification of ICTAP eligibility or a copy of your separation personnel action form.
• Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provides eligible surplus and displaced competitive service employees in the agency with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. If your agency component has notified you in writing that you are a surplus or displaced employee eligible for CTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if: 1) this vacancy is within your CTAP eligibility, 2) you apply under the instructions in this announcement, and 3) you are found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well qualified, you must satisfy all qualification requirements for the vacant position. You must provide a copy of your written notification of CTAP eligibility with your application.

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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.

Benefits

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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.

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.