IT Specialist (APPSW) (Recent Graduate)

Full Job Description

The SSA Recent Graduates Program provides Recent Graduates with entry-level developmental experience and is designed to lead to a career in the Federal government.

Program participant(s) are placed in excepted service appointments, not-to-exceed 1 year. Note: This position is being filled on a full-time basis. This is a 1-year developmental program.

After successful completion of the program, you may be non-competitively converted to a term (not to exceed 1-4 years) or permanent appointment.

Resumes exceeding two pages in length will not be considered, please visit the new resume guidance for more information.

To be considered for selection, you must be eligible for the Recent Graduate Program AND meet the qualifications specified for the posted position(s).

Recent Graduate Program Eligibility To qualify for appointment to the Recent Graduates Program, you must have completed all requirements of an academic course of study leading to an associate's, bachelor's, master's, professional, doctorate, vocational, or technical degree or qualifying certificate program from an accredited educational institution.

Your graduation (degree conferred) date must be within the 2 years preceding your application to this announcement.

Note: See Required Documents section to ensure you provide the correct documentation to prove your Recent Graduates Program eligibility.

Preference-eligible veterans who, due to military service obligations, were precluded from applying to the Program during any portion of the 2-year eligibility period are entitled to a full 2-year period of eligibility upon release or discharge from active duty.

In no event, however, may the eligibility period extend beyond 6 years from the date on which the preference eligible veteran completed the requirements of an academic course of study, when a qualifying degree or certificate was conferred.

Note: See Required Documents section to ensure you provide the correct documentation to prove your Recent Graduates Program and preference eligibility.

Qualifications You must also meet the below qualifications for the posted position(s) by the closing date of this announcement, 04/20/2026.

Applicants must qualify for the series and grade of the posted position.

Your resume must provide sufficient experience and/or education, knowledge, skills, abilities, and proficiency of any required competencies to perform the specific position for which you are applying.

Experience 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.

Your 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 work schedule (number of hours per week), your grade (if your position is federal), and a comprehensive description of the relevant duties you performed in each position.

This information is instrumental in determining the highest quality candidates to be referred to the Selecting Official. Please submit a thorough resume that directly relates to this position.

If your application materials do not demonstrate the knowledge, skills, abilities, experience, and/or education needed for this position, your application will be ineligible for consideration.

To qualify for the 2210 IT Specialist series, applicants must demonstrate the following IT-related 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.

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.

Minimum Qualifications: Grade 9 To qualify at the GS-9 level, you must have one of the following: A master's or equivalent graduate degree (see Education section); OR Successful completion of two full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a master's or equivalent graduate degree (see Education section); OR At least 52 weeks of specialized experience at the GS-7 level, or equivalent.

Such IT-related experience must include: Assisted in the development and implementation of IT products using basic product management principles and methodologies.

Supported product lifecycle activities, including ideation, development, and post-launch evaluation, under supervision.

Participated in gathering and documenting stakeholder requirements for IT projects. Used programming languages and structured query languages to modify and maintain software applications with guidance.

Conducted preliminary analyses of user needs and system requirements to support application design. Assisted in preparing presentation materials and reports for team meetings and stakeholders.

Demonstrated effective communication skills in providing updates and information to team members.

Minimum Qualifications: Grade 11 To qualify at the GS-11 level, you must have one of the following: A Ph.D.

or equivalent doctoral degree (see Education section); OR Successful completion of 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D.

or equivalent doctoral degree (see Education section); OR At least 52 weeks of specialized experience at the GS-9 level, or equivalent.

Such IT-related experience must include: Participated in the planning, development, and delivery of IT products, applying product management tools and methodologies.

Coordinated with cross-functional teams to integrate stakeholder requirements into product strategies and plans.

Developed and maintained software applications, selecting appropriate programming languages based on project objectives.

Conducted analyses of market trends, user feedback, and performance metrics to identify opportunities for product improvement.

Assisted in organizing and facilitating meetings to build consensus among diverse stakeholders. Prepared and delivered presentation reports and briefings to senior leadership and stakeholders.

Applied problem-solving and decision-making skills to address product challenges and recommend solutions.

Supported the maintenance and analysis of software programs, providing technical guidance to users as needed. Major Duties:

• Evaluates, develops the technician design codes, and implements software using programming languages and command language. Creates new programs and/or modifies existing programs using programming and structured query languages.
• Translates systems requirements into application prototypes. Writes, debugs, and maintains code and implements programs or directs others in this phase of work.
• Performs computer programming in any of several languages. Selects the most effective language for the purpose based upon a thorough analysis of objectives, costs, compatibility of languages and long-term viability of programs.
• Reviews proposals for major projects, special studies or special computer programming requests. Determines the feasibility and cost effectiveness of such projects and recommends approval or denial to their line management.
• Directs the maintenance of all regional software programs used locally, regionally, and nationally. Conducts local analyses of systems resources utilization and performs or coordinates system software support as needed.
• Serves as a technical expert of locally developed software processes. Provides technical guidance and recommendations to RO, PSC, TSC, FO and CO components.
• Provides technical direction and guidance to lower graded programmers. Coordinates and integrates the work of multiple programmers responsible for segments of projects. Assists management in identifying training needs.