Information Technology Specialist (Applications Software)

U.S. Customs and Border Protection; Ashburn (VA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Information and Technology, Cargo Systems Program Directorate, Ashburn, VA, seeks a highly qualified IT professional for a GS-13 level position.

You will provide technical guidance, translate requirements into technical specs, and coordinate with teams and stakeholders to ensure successful software delivery. The role requires one year of specialized experience and adherence to federal qualification and time-in-grade rules.

Qualifications

• One year of specialized IT experience at the next lower grade level or equivalent.
• Ability to translate functional or business requirements into technical requirements for software design, testing, and implementation.
• Experience coordinating requirements between development teams, customers, vendors, and IT management.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical guidance for designing, coding, testing, debugging, maintaining, or enhancing software applications or programs.
• Interpret functional or business requirements and translate into technical specifications for design, development, testing, implementation, or enhancement.
• Serve as a liaison between application development teams, customers, vendors, IT management, or stakeholders to coordinate requirements, resolve issues, mitigate risks, or support implementation activities.

Skills

Attention to Detail

Customer Service

Oral Communication

Problem Solving

Job description

Organizational Location:

This position is with the Department of Homeland Security, within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Information and Technology, Cargo Systems Program Directorate, located in Ashburn, VA. Additional selections may be made for other organizational divisions and/or units within the duty location(s) listed above. Basic Requirement: Individuals qualifying based on experience must have Information Technology (IT) related experience 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 (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.
3. 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.
4. Problem Solving- Identifies problems; determines accuracy and relevance of information; uses sound judgment to generate and evaluate alternatives, and to make recommendations.

Along with the four competencies listed above you must possess at least one (1) year of specialized experience described below to qualify based on experience.

Experience:

You qualify for the GS-13 grade level if you possess 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, performing duties such as:

• Providing technical guidance for designing, coding, testing, debugging, maintaining, or enhancing software applications or programs.
• Interpreting functional or business requirements and translating them into technical requirements for software design, development, testing, implementation, or enhancement.
• Serving as a liaison between application development teams, customers, vendors, IT management, or stakeholders to coordinate requirements, resolve issues, mitigate risks, or support implementation activities.

NOTE: Your resume must explicitly indicate how you meet this requirement, otherwise you will be found ineligible. Please see the "Required Documents" section below for additional resume requirements.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

You must:

• Meet all qualification requirements, including education if applicable to this position, subject to verification at any stage of the application process; and
• Meet all applicable Time in Grade requirements (current federal employees must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade or equivalent grade band in the federal service) by 09/23/2026.

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.

Background Investigation:

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is a federal law enforcement agency that requires all applicants to undergo a thorough background investigation prior to employment in order to promote the agency's core values of vigilance, service to country, and integrity. During the screening and/or background investigation process, you will be asked questions regarding any felony criminal convictions or current felony charges, the use of illegal drugs (e.g., marijuana, cocaine, heroin, LSD, methamphetamines, ecstasy), and the use of non-prescribed controlled substances including any experimentation, possession, sale, receipt, manufacture, cultivation, production, transfer, shipping, trafficking, or distribution of controlled substances. For additional information on the preemployment process, review the following link: Applicant Resources | CBP Careers.

Residency:

There is a residency requirement for all applicants not currently employed by CBP. Individuals are required to have physically resided in the United States or its protectorates (as declared under international law) for at least three of the last five years. If you do not meet the residency requirement and you have been physically located in a foreign location for more than two of the last five years, you may request an exception to determine if you are eligible for a residency waiver by meeting one or more of the following conditions:

• Working for the U.S. Government as a federal civilian or as a member of the military
• A dependent who was authorized to accompany a federal civilian or member of the military who was working for the U.S. government
• Participation in a study abroad program sponsored by a U.S. affiliated college or university
• Working as a contractor, intern, consultant or volunteer supporting the U.S. government

Probationary Period:

All employees new to the federal government must serve a one year probationary period during the first year of his/her initial permanent federal appointment to determine fitness for continued employment. Current and former federal employees may be required to serve or complete a probationary period.

Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) Eligibles:

If you have never worked for the federal government, you are not CTAP/ICTAP eligible. View information about CTAP/ICTAP eligibility on OPM's Career Transition Resources website. To be considered well qualified under CTAP/ICTAP, you must be rated at a minimum score of 85 for this position. In addition, you must submit the supporting documents listed under the Required Documents section of this announcement.