Information Technology Specialist (APPSW), Engineer, GS-2210-15 (Direct Hire), FPL 15

Full Job Description

This position is located in FSA supporting various program offices.

Join us to transform how millions of students and partners access financial aid, innovate how borrowers repay their student loans, and play a leading role in implementing the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA).

Minimum Qualification Requirements You may meet the minimum qualifications for the GS-15, if you possess the specialize experience.

Specialized Experience for the IT Specialist (APPSW), Engineer, GS-2210-15: One year of experience in either federal or non-federal service that is equivalent to at least a GS-14 performing two (2) out of three (3) of the following duties or work assignments: 1.

Experience serving as the principal engineer or engineering manager in the development of a scaled technology platform. 2.

Experience serving as a lead engineer or senior software developer, overseeing internal and external software development, integration, and operation. 3.

Experience communicating technical concepts to non-technical audiences and translating user needs into technical architecture.

Basic Experience Requirements You must possess IT related experience (paid or unpaid experience and/or completion of specific, intensive training (e.g., IT certification), as appropriate) demonstrating each of the four competencies listed below.

1. Attention to Detail - Is thorough when performing work and conscientious about attending to detail. 2.

Customer Service - Works with clients and customers (i.e., 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.

3.

Oral Communication - Expresses information (e.g., ideas or facts) to individuals or groups effectively, taking into account the audience and nature of the information (e.g., technical, sensitive, controversial); makes clear and convincing oral presentations; listens to others, attends to nonverbal cues, and responds appropriately.

4. Problem Solving - Identifies problems; determines accuracy and relevance of information; uses sound judgment to generate and evaluate alternatives, and to make recommendations.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) The quality of your experience will be measured by the extent to which you possess the following knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs). 1.

Ability to lead engineering teams to deliver high-quality outcomes for users. 2. Knowledge of software application best practices and tooling. 3.

Ability to build, mentor, and inspire a high-performing engineering culture. 4. Ability to navigate bureaucracy and drive change. 5.

Knowledge of building and operating large-scale, mission-critical student aid or comparable financial systems. Major Duties:

APPLICATION LIMIT: This vacancy announcement is limited to the first 200 applications received and will close at 11:59PM Eastern Time on the day that we receive the 200th application, or at 11:59PM Eastern Time on the listed closing date, whichever occurs first.

We encourage you to read this entire vacancy announcement prior to submitting your application.

As an IT Specialist (APPSW), Engineer, GS-2210-15, you will be responsible for: • Leading the technical direction for FSA engineering by applying deep knowledge of modern software engineering practices to ensure systems are robust, reliable, and user-friendly.

Keep the team focused on outcomes that directly improve the experience for millions of students and families.

• Evaluating, adopting, and championing new development tools, technologies, and methods that improve both productivity and software quality across the FSA and FAFSA lifecycle.

Elevating the work of contractors and set a higher standard for product excellence across the organization.

• Fostering a culture that combines technical excellence with a relentless focus on mission outcomes.

Provide coaching, feedback, and growth opportunities for both government staff and contractors, raising the bar for what good engineering looks like in a federal environment.

• Taking ownership of improving not just the product but also the internal processes that surround it.

Proactively identifying and fixing inefficient, outdated, or overly bureaucratic practices that slow down delivery.

Serving as a catalyst for change by removing obstacles, building alignment across stakeholders, and modeling a bias toward action.

• Applying deep experience in building and managing products that serve millions of users at scale, with high stakes for accuracy, security, and reliability.

Ensuring FSA systems meet the demands of peak traffic periods, protect sensitive personal and financial data, and delivering seamless experiences for students, families, and institutions.