COMPUTER SCIENTIST

US Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency; Hanover (MD); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

US Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA) Acquisition and Technology, NBIS, seeks a Software Engineer to act as a technical expert across product management, enterprise architecture, infrastructure, software development, data management and governance for an enterprise system.

The role requires a Bachelor's degree in computer science or a degree with 30 semester hours in math/statistics/CS, including calculus, and transcripts must be provided for eligibility.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in computer science or bachelor's degree with 30 semester hours in mathematics, statistics, and computer science; at least 15 hours in calculus.
• Transcript required for eligibility; failure to provide transcripts will render you ineligible.

Responsibilities

• Experience engineering and maintaining complex, enterprise-level backend software architectures and data integration systems.
• Experience designing containerized micro-services and API-first integration frameworks.
• Experience developing scalable backend services, data ingestion pipelines, and secure auth layers.
• Experience managing high-volume API connections to external data providers; handling rate limits and tokens.
• Experience establishing coding standards and governance; using Agile methodologies.

Skills

Backend architectures

API integration

Data ingestion

Agile methodologies

Security/authentication

Education

Bachelors in CS or related (math/CS mix)

Job description

DCSA Acquisition and Technology, National Background Investigation Services (NBIS) is seeking a Software Engineer, to serve as a technical expert in the multidisciplinary fields of Product Management, enterprise architecture, infrastructure, software development, data management and governance, tool development, systems engineering, sustainment, and related subject matter areas as they pertain to an enterprise system. Visit www.dcsa.mil to learn more about DCSA, America's Gatekeeper! This position has a Basic Requirement for the 1550: Bachelor's degree in computer science or bachelor's degree with 30 semester hours in a combination of mathematics, statistics, and computer science. At least 15 of the 30 semester hours must have included any combination of statistics and mathematics that included differential and integral calculus. All academic degrees and course work must be from accredited or pre-accredited institutions.

*NOTE: Failure to provide transcripts will result in you being rated ineligible for this position.

The experience described in your resume will be evaluated and screened from the Office of Personnel Management's (OPMs) basic qualifications requirements. See: Computer Science Series 1550 for OPM qualification standards, competencies and specialized experience needed to perform the duties of the position as described in the MAJOR DUTIES and QUALIFICATIONS sections of this announcement by 09/14/2026

Applicant must have directly applicable experience that demonstrates the possession of the knowledge, skills, abilities and competencies necessary for immediate success in the position. Qualifying experience may have been acquired in any public or private sector job, but will clearly demonstrate past experience in the application of the particular competencies/knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to successfully perform the duties of the position.

You must have specialized experience sufficient to demonstrate that you have acquired all the competencies necessary to perform at a level equivalent in difficulty, responsibility, and complexity to the next lower grade GS/GG-14 in the Federal service and are prepared to take on greater responsibility.

Generally, this would include one year or more of such specialized experience.

Specialized experience for this position includes:

• Experience engineering and maintaining complex, enterprise-level backend software architectures and data integration systems.
• Experience designing containerized micro-services and Application Programming Interface (API)-first integration frameworks.
• Experience developing scalable core backend services, robust data ingestion pipelines, and secure authentication/authorization layers.
• Experience architecting and managing high-volume API connections to numerous external data providers (to include managing rate limiting, error handling, and token authentication).
• Experience establishing rigorous coding standards and technical debt governance.
• Experience utilizing Agile methodologies to iteratively develop, test, and release backend software solutions that support critical organizational or national security missions.

Specifically you will be evaluated on the following competencies

1. Artificial Intelligence: Knowledge of the principles, methods, and tools used to design systems that perform human intelligence functions.
2. Data Systems and Management: Plan, develop, implement, and administer the collection, storage, maintenance, integrity, and retrieval of data, using knowledge of computer hardware, software, and systems.
3. Engineering and Technology: Knowledge of engineering concepts, principles, and practices, and of equipment, tools, mechanical devices, and their uses to produce motion, light, power, technology, and other applications.
4. Requirements Analysis: Knowledge of the principles and methods to identify, analyze, specify, design, and manage functional and infrastructure requirements; includes translating functional requirements into technical requirements used for logical design or presenting alternative technologies or approaches.