IT Specialist (APPSW) - Test Automation Engineer

Summary The position description number for this position is PD6F0150. A summary of the major duties are listed below. You may also view the full position description on the Agency intranet at the following link: PD Search

The incumbent works with stakeholders within the Agency and occasionally with other federal organizations to support IT architecture and contribute to the modernization of digital services SSA delivers to citizens and business. Duties Provides technical direction in the planning, design, development, testing, and support of business applications and technology solutions aligned with agency goals. | Contributes to the adoption of modern software development methodologies, systems architecture, cloud platforms, and IT modernization efforts. | Proposes best practices to help improve how systems development tasks are completed and to enhance the quality of work methods. | Serves as a technical resource on software engineering and application development. | Supports the integration of technology solutions in alignment with Agency objectives and needs. | Participates in the design, execution, and maintenance of adaptable applications and platforms utilizing modern tools and approaches. | Contributes to the development and roll-out of user interfaces, data systems, and automated workflows to enhance Agency functions.

Qualifications

Resumes exceeding two pages in length will not be considered. Visit the 'Required Documents' section below for more information.

Your SSA-45/resume must provide sufficient experience, knowledge, skills, abilities, and proficiency of any required competencies to perform the specific position for which you are applying. Your SSA-45/resume is the key means we have for evaluating your experience, education, knowledge, skills, abilities and competencies as they relate to this position. Your resume and supporting documents must specifically address the evaluation criteria for the position. Describe duties you perform (not just knowledge, skills and abilities) as they relate to the specialized experience required for this position. Be clear, accurate and specific when describing your experience; e.g., list all positions separately, include full start and stop dates for each position, your component and grade, and a comprehensive description the relevant duties you performed in each position.

YOUR RESUME OR SSA-45 MUST INCLUDE YOUR OFFICIAL DUTY STATION AND YOUR COMPONENT (DC-LEVEL DOWN TO OFFICE-LEVEL) OR YOU MAY BE FOUND INELIGIBLE.

This information is instrumental in determining the highest quality candidates to be referred to the Selecting Official. Please submit a thorough SSA-45/resume that directly relates to this position. If your application materials do not demonstrate the knowledge, skills, abilities, experience needed for this position, your application will be ineligible for consideration.

To qualify for the 2210 IT Specialist series, applicants must demonstrate the following competencies: must be IT related; the experience may be demonstrated by paid or unpaid experience and/or completion of specific, intensive training (for example, IT certification), as appropriate.

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 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; know about available products and services; and am committed to providing quality products and services.

Oral Communication (Level 3, Intermediate)- Express 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); make clear and convincing oral presentations; listen to others, attend to nonverbal cues, and responds appropriately.

Problem Solving (Level 4, Advanced) - Identify problems; determine accuracy and relevance of information; use 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.

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.

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.

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-13 level, you must have specialized experience at the GS-12 level, or equivalent. This experience must demonstrate proficiency in the following:

• Providing technical guidance in software development and test automation, developing and maintaining automated test scripts using tools such as Selenium, Cucumber, and BDD practices

• Implementing testing solutions in cloud platforms like AWS or Azure, and applying Agile project management methods.

• Experience must also include troubleshooting defects, integrating automated tests into CI/CD pipelines, preparing technical documentation, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to support modernization initiatives.

The specialized experience is REQUIRED and must be explicitly documented/described in your resume, or you will be disqualified from further consideration.

Qualification standards and additional information for this position can be found here: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/2200/information-technology-it-management-series-2210-alternative-a/

NOTE: You cannot be credited for experience unless you clearly show your grade level at the time the experience was gained, as well as the dates you were at that grade level. If you combine career-ladder experience into a single description of duties, you may be eliminated from consideration based on failure to clearly document the required experience at the required grade level for the required period of time.

Qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

Applicants for promotion must have 52 weeks at GS-12.

Time in grade requirement must be met by the closing date of this announcement. How you will be evaluated

Applicants will be rated based on the following knowledge, skills, and abilities:

• Skill in providing technical guidance and developing automated test scripts while applying Agile project management methods to ensure data integrity and scalability.
• Knowledge of systems architecture, cloud platforms, and IT modernization principles to troubleshoot test results, integrate automated tests into CI/CD pipelines, and translate business requirements into technical documentation.
• Ability to implement automated testing solutions in cloud platforms, communicate technical information effectively, analyze project needs, and lead teams in documenting test plans and results.

Applicants will be assessed using the rating criteria listed in the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13112344 How to apply Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your eligibility. When answering the questionnaire, remember that your experience is subject to verification by the selecting official. You may be asked to provide specific examples or documentation of experience to support your answers, or you may be required to verify a response by a practical demonstration of your claimed ability to perform a task.

Notice Concerning Materially False, Fictitious, or Fraudulent Statements

Anything you claim in the occupational questionnaire or in your SSA-45 may be subject to verification. By completing the electronic application process, you are certifying that any statements you make are true, complete, and correct to the best of your knowledge and belief and are made in good faith. Materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statements or representations are subject to disciplinary action.

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

• SSA-45
• The Occupational Questionnaire: Click on the Apply Online button to create an account or log into your existing USAJOBS account and follow the prompts to complete the occupational questionnaire.
• Additional Required Documents, if applicable (See Required Documents section).

The complete Application Package must be submitted before 11:59 p.m. (ET) on 11/18/2026. Failure to upload any required documents will disqualify your application from consideration.

If you use assistive software or an adaptive device, or you are experiencing some other type of technical difficulty and/or otherwise require assistance with the application process, please contact Albert Williams at Albert.Williams@ssa.gov.

Individuals with hearing or speech disabilities may use the listed email or 7-1-1 for TTY-based Telecommunications Relay Services to call the listed phone number. Additional Telecommunications Relay Services options are available in each state: https://www.fcc.gov/general/trs-state-and-territories

APPLYING FROM A PERSONAL COMPUTER OUTSIDE OF WORK

SSA employees may access Internal Vacancies On-Line (IVOL) postings and apply for vacancies from locations outside of SSA (e.g., from home, public computer, etc.). Please use the following link: https://www.ssa.gov/careers/ivol. Be sure to forward the link and other application materials (such as the SSA-45) to an email source accessible from outside of SSA (e.g., your personal computer, etc.).

Due to our security procedures, our office will not accept any applications submitted via email, standard mail, or facsimile sent directly to the Servicing Personnel Office. Applicants are required to file through the online application process. The email address is listed only for inquiries about the position or the How to Apply process.

To check the status of your application or return to a previous or incomplete application, log in to your USAJOBS account. Other information

NONCOMPETITIVE CONSIDERATION DUE TO SPECIAL HIRING AUTHORITY

Applications for noncompetitive consideration will be accepted from SSA employees in the area of consideration who are currently serving under the following types of appointments: Schedule A, Reg. 213.3102 (U) appointments for individuals with disabilities; and time limited appointments for veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more. Applicants serving under these provisions do not need to submit copies of your disability or Veteran's documentation. However, you must submit a current SF-50 that provides information on the appointment authority under which you were hired. Otherwise, you will not receive non-competitive consideration.

NOTE: Excepted service employees serving under Schedule A appointments for Attorney positions or Pathways Programs appointments (Presidential Management Fellows, Recent Graduates, and Interns) are not eligible for consideration.

This is a non-bargaining unit position to be filled under the provisions of the Management Officials Promotion Plan. The best-qualified list for this vacancy may be used to fill the same or similar positions in a component(s) under the same Deputy Commissioner. Additional selections may be made within 6 months of the date the best qualified list is issued.

LOCALITY PAY: Salary will be set in accordance with locality pay provisions. Candidates currently receiving a higher locality pay than the office applied for are advised that should they be selected, they will lose entitlement to the higher locality pay.

OTHER NOTES:

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.

The selectee will be required to file an OGE form 450, Confidential Financial Disclosure Report, in accordance with 5 CFR section 2634, subpart i.