IT Specialist (Solutions Architect)

Summary The position description number for this position is PD06F0110. View the PD at the following link: PD Search

Serves as an IT Specialist and technical advisor and provides expert advice, guidance, and coordinative activities relating to software development and engineering. Works with a diverse group of stakeholders across the Federal government to provide enterprise-level vision, discipline and consultancy for IT architecture, while modernizing digital services. Duties Provides Agency level guidance in the planning, design, development, testing, and maintenance of complex business applications and technology solutions to support agency objectives. | Oversees the implementation of modern software development practices, systems and cloud infrastructure, and IT modernization initiatives. | Advises on industry best practices and recommends innovative approaches to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of systems development activities. | Offers expert guidance and coordination on software engineering and application development. | Provides strategic oversight for the integration and management of advanced data systems and architectures. | Ensures the development of secure, reliable, and efficient data management solutions that support enterprise-wide applications. | Guides the creation and maintenance of data structures and storage solutions to enable robust and scalable business operations. | Leads the adoption of new technologies, such as cloud computing and artificial intelligence, to promote automation, efficiency, and innovation. Troubleshoots and resolves technical issues... | [cont'd] and applies modern project management practices (e.g., Agile). Uses tools for data analysis and version control and oversees efforts to identify and fix issues and/or upgrade existing systems. | Provides technical leadership, direction, and guidance for multiple products and projects, collaborating with developers, business analysts, and cross-functional teams to deliver new features... | [cont'd] and innovative solutions, as well as translate business requirements into technical architectures. Prepares and maintains clear technical documentation, including architecture... | [cont'd] and system diagrams, program specifications, flowcharts, user guides, API documentation, testing plans, deployment guides, and/or operational runbooks.

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 ORGANIZATION (I.E., CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER) 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, the applicant must demonstrate the following competencies:

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-15 level, you must have specialized experience at the GS-14 level, or equivalent. This experience must demonstrate proficiency in the following: leading and managing large-scale systems projects or organizations.

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: Competency-Based Qualification Standard for the Information Technology Management Series, 2210Qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

Applicants for promotion must have 52 weeks at GS-14

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:

• Ability to lead and manage large-scale systems projects or organizations.
• Ability to lead the design, development, and implementation of agency enterprise architecture efforts to support IT Modernization.
• Ability to negotiate and communicate orally and in writing.

Applicants will be assessed using the rating criteria listed in the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13100229 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 11/03/2026. 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 Jada Brewer at jada.brewer@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.