Information Technology Specialist (Information Security)

USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS); Fort Collins (CO); On-site; USD 126,000 - 164,000; Full time

Job summary

The incumbent at USDA APHIS participates in administering a program that integrates cybersecurity throughout the IT solution development lifecycle and provides full lifecycle vulnerability assessment for all MRP IT systems as a senior engineer in the Cybersecurity Services Directorate.

Position focuses on designing and implementing defensive capabilities, conducting threat analysis, and aligning with federal IT security guidelines to safeguard information systems.

Qualifications

• Attention to Detail – Is thorough when performing work and conscientious about attending to detail.
• Customer Service – Works with clients and customers to assess their needs, provide information or assistance, resolve their problems, or satisfy their expectations; knows about available products and services.
• Oral Communication – Expresses information to individuals or groups effectively, considers audience and information nature; makes clear and convincing oral presentations; listens to others.
• Problem Solving – Identifies problems; determines accuracy and relevance of information; uses sound judgment to generate and evaluate alternatives, and to make recommendations.

Responsibilities

• Serves as a technical authority responsible for designing, engineering, and recommending implementation of advanced defensive capabilities and integrating cutting-edge security technologies.
• Conducts complex analysis, correlates threat intelligence with telemetry, and develops detection logic that shapes enterprise-level defensive posture.
• Applies authoritative knowledge of federal and industry IT security guidelines.
• Provides leadership to and coordinates with IT system owners, investment managers and project managers to provide full lifecycle vulnerability assessment for all MRP IT systems using a variety of techniques.
• Optimizes the effectiveness and efficiency of the IT security engineering and architecture programs based on meaningful operational and performance metrics.
• Develops policies, procedures, and processes to ensure information systems reliability and accessibility and to prevent and defend against unauthorized access to systems, networks, and data.
• Conducts risk and vulnerability assessments of planned and installed information systems to identify and mitigate vulnerabilities, risks, and protection needs.
• Remains abreast of all applicable laws, regulations, policies, standards, and guidelines affecting information technology security engineering within MRP, including any periodic changes and amendments to those documents.
• Publishes and maintains security engineering metrics on an MRP ITD assessable IT Security Executive Dashboard.

Skills

Attention to Detail

Customer Service

Oral Communication

Problem Solving

Job description

Find Your Future With Us at USDA — Animal Plant Health Inspection Service

The incumbent participates in administering a program that integrates cybersecurity throughout the IT solution development lifecycle (SDLC), provide full lifecycle vulnerability assessment for all MRP-ITD IT systems, and serves as a senior engineer within the Cybersecurity Services Directorate.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement, including specialized experience and/or education, as defined below. FOR THE GS-14 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-13 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors which demonstrates:

• 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.

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 and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Major Duties

The duties may include, but are not limited to:

• Serves as a technical authority responsible for designing, engineering, and recommending implementation of advanced defensive capabilities and integrating cutting-edge security technologies.
• Conducts complex analysis, correlates threat intelligence with telemetry, and develops detection logic that shapes enterprise-level defensive posture.
• Applies authoritative knowledge of federal and industry IT security guidelines.
• Provides leadership to and coordinates with IT system owners, investment managers and project managers to provide full lifecycle vulnerability assessment for all MRP IT systems using a variety of techniques.
• Optimizes the effectiveness and efficiency of the IT security engineering and architecture programs based on meaningful operational and performance metrics.
• Develops policies, procedures, and processes to ensure information systems reliability and accessibility and to prevent and defend against unauthorized access to systems, networks, and data.
• Conducts risk and vulnerability assessments of planned and installed information systems to identify and mitigate vulnerabilities, risks, and protection needs.
• Remains abreast of all applicable laws, regulations, policies, standards, and guidelines affecting information technology security engineering within MRP, including any periodic changes and amendments to those documents.
• Publishes and maintains security engineering metrics on an MRP ITD assessable IT Security Executive Dashboard.

Position Start Date

11/03/2026

Position Close Date

11/09/2026

Salary Offered

125776 – 163514 USD Per Year

You can make a difference! The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Marketing and Regulatory Programs (MRP) needs bright, energetic and committed professionals to facilitate the domestic and international marketing of U.S. agricultural products and to protect the health and care of animals and plants in the United States. We operate in domestic and global markets. Be part of an organization that protects the health and agriculture of the American people. Join our team! To learn more about what it’s like to work at the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, what the agency does, and the types of careers, please visit the APHIS careers site. APHIS is an emergency response agency. This means that all Agency employees may be asked or assigned to participate in rotating temporary duty assignments to support emergency programs at some time during their careers with APHIS.