Public Notice - Information Technology Specialist (Direct Hire)

NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration; Hampton (VA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

NASA Langley Research Center is seeking qualified IT professionals to support information technology management across diverse mission needs. Roles span GS-11 through GS-15 levels, with responsibilities tailored by grade and organizational need.

Candidates will plan, design, and deliver IT services, develop documentation, and lead or support projects, while advising leadership on IT strategy and security controls. Expect performance measures and potential supervisory duties as part of the role.

Qualifications

• Specialized IT experience across one or more IT disciplines (e.g., systems analysis, service delivery, cybersecurity).
• Ability to create and maintain technical documentation and artifacts for evidence and compliance.
• Experience coordinating with customers and SMEs to align IT solutions with mission requirements.

Responsibilities

• Plan, design, and deliver IT services and solutions across one or more specialties.
• Develop and maintain technical documentation and ensure traceability through system life cycle.
• Analyze performance, capacity, reliability, and cyber risk to drive improvements and compliance.

Skills

Systems analysis

IT service delivery

Documentation

Cybersecurity

Project management

Leadership

Stakeholder communication

Job description

Summary

Positions are available across NASA Langley Research Center supporting information technology, systems, and mission needs. NASA may fill GS-2210 (Information Technology Management) positions at the GS-11 through GS-15 levels. Responsibilities will vary by position, grade level, and organizational need.

Duties

• Duties described below are at the highest grade advertised. Duties assigned at lower grade levels will be of more limited scope, performed with less independence and limited complexity; duties will be commensurate with the grade of selected employee.
• Plan, design, and deliver IT services and solutions across one or more specialties (e.g., systems analysis, applications, operating systems, network services, security), ensuring alignment with organizational mission, architecture, and policy.
• Develop and maintain technical documentation (requirements, architectures, configurations, SOPs, test plans, runbooks) and ensure configuration/change-management traceability throughout the system lifecycle.
• Conduct analyses and evaluations (e.g., performance, capacity, reliability, cybersecurity risk) and recommend improvements or remediation to meet service levels and compliance standards.
• Administer and integrate platforms (servers/operating systems, cloud services, databases, network infrastructure) including installation, configuration, patching, monitoring, and incident/problem resolution.
• Lead or support projects, define scope and milestones, coordinate stakeholders, manage risks and dependencies, and brief leadership on status and technical decisions.
• Advise customers and leadership on IT strategies, standards, investment/capital planning, enterprise architecture alignment, and information security controls.
• Implement and enforce cybersecurity practices to protect confidentiality, integrity, and availability of systems and data (e.g., planning, analysis, development, maintenance, and enhancement of security programs and tools).
• Measure service performance and customer outcomes using metrics and analytics; drive continuous improvement and skills-based practices consistent with OPM’s competency-based standard.
• Perform a full range of supervisory duties which includes assigning and evaluating work; recommending personnel actions; taking disciplinary actions; and identifying training needs and developing employees.

Requirements

• This position is open to U.S. citizens, nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.
• This position may require a one-year probationary period. If selected, the requirement to serve such period will be determined by Title 5 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 11. **See Additional Information section**
• You must meet qualifications requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
• Position subject to pre-employment background investigation or higher-level clearance. Investigation/Clearance may differ and be required based on the duty location/NASA Center requirements.
• Financial Disclosure, Drug Testing, and/or the Travel Requirements for this position may differ and be required based on the duty location/NASA Center requirements.
• To be considered for employment, you must submit your complete application by 11:59 PM ET on September 15, 2026.
• If you are placed in a supervisory position, you may be required to serve a 1 year supervisory probationary period.
• Duty location will be determined upon selection. This position is not designated as remote; however, may be authorized to perform work from an approved duty location based on mission needs and supervisory approval, consistent with Agency policy.

Qualifications

Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the particular ability, skill, and knowledge to successfully perform the duties of this position and is typically in or related to this line of work.

To qualify for the GS-11,

• Independently executing segments of IT work (e.g., configuring platforms, developing scripts/components, conducting system tests, or performing systems analysis) and documenting results to support operational readiness and compliance.
• Resolving incidents/problems by analyzing logs and performance data, proposing corrective actions, and coordinating with customers and SMEs to restore services.
• Preparing technical artifacts (requirements, design notes, SOPs/runbooks) and communicating findings/recommendations to stakeholders, demonstrating the four core competencies.

To qualify for GS-12,

• Leading complete work packages or projects, defining scope/methods, integrating configurations across systems, conducting cybersecurity/control assessments, and ensuring conformance with standards and architecture.
• Serving as a technical resource, reviewing/approving submittals, adjudicating technical issues, and advising management on trade-offs, risk mitigations, and investment decisions using competency-based practices.
• Establishing and tracking service performance measures (availability, capacity, reliability, customer satisfaction) and driving process improvements.

To qualify for GS-13,

• Acting as a senior specialist/SME for one or more specialties (e.g., enterprise architecture, network services, security, applications), integrating cross-functional inputs and overseeing compliance and quality across projects.
• Leading multi-stakeholder initiatives, negotiating priorities, resolving complex integration issues, and aligning solutions with mission, architecture, and governance.
• Institutionalizing best practices and standards (e.g., architecture blueprints, secure configurations, change/asset management) and mentoring staff using competency-based frameworks.

To qualify for GS-14,

• Institutionalizing best practices and standards (e.g., architecture blueprints, secure configurations, change/asset management) and mentoring staff using competency-based frameworks.
• Steering complex modernization/acquisition efforts; approving technical baselines, adjudicating high-impact trade-offs, and overseeing verification/validation strategies within a competency-based hiring and assessment context.
• Driving organizational capability, defining competencies and metrics, championing skills-based practices, and representing the program to senior leadership and external partners.

To qualify for GS-15,

• Leading enterprise-level information technology programs, strategies, or modernization initiatives involving complex systems, services, infrastructure, cybersecurity, or emerging technologies.
• Directing the analysis of complex technical, operational, security, and business requirements and developing enterprise IT strategies and solutions that advance organizational priorities, mission effectiveness, and technology modernization.
• Serving as a senior technical advisor to executive leadership and key stakeholders on enterprise IT strategy, architecture, investments, cybersecurity risk, emerging technologies, and high-impact technology decisions.

You MUST also have IT-related experience in the competencies listed in the How You Will Be Evaluated section below.

Please visit https://www.nasa.gov/careers/how-to-apply/#Artificial-Intelligence to review NASA's guidance on the use of artificial intelligent (AI) or AI-assisted tools during the application process.

Your resume must include a clear and detailed narrative description, in your own words, of how you meet the required specialized experience. Experience statements copied from a position description, vacancy announcement or other reference material constitutes plagiarism and may result in disqualification and losing consideration for the job.

Promotion Potential:

The full performance level (FPL) will vary based on the position in which the selectee is placed and does not default to the highest grade advertised.

Education

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Additional information

In the Announcement Questionnaire, you will be prompted to select the lowest grade you wish to be considered for.

Supervisory and/or non-supervisory positions may be filled from this announcement at any applicable grade.

For purposes of ICTAP selection priority, well-qualified is defined as possessing knowledge, skills, abilities, and/or competencies which clearly exceed the minimum qualification requirements for the position, as determined through SME review of the resume/application. If you have special priority selection rights under ICTAP, you must:

• Indicate your eligibility when applying for a position.
• Exceed the minimum qualification requirements for the position.
• Submit proof that you meet the requirements for ICTAP as indicated in "Required Documents."

For additional information about CTAP/ICTAP eligibility, click here - https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/#ictap.

Any applicant that received a Voluntary Separation Incentive Payment (VSIP) from the federal government within the last five years based of the closing date of this announcement, if selected, may be required to repay the full amount prior to establishing a start date. For additional information on the VSIP repayment requirement, click here - https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/voluntary-separation-incentive-payments/.

Per Executive Order 14343, this position is not part of a bargaining unit.

Probationary Period

You may be required to serve a one-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. If selected, the requirement to serve such period will be determined by Title 5 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 11.

In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government;
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Supervisory probationary periods are not subject to the above process, although, if a standard probationary period is required. You are subject to the conditions of both a standard probationary period and the supervisory probationary period.

Other duty locations not specifically listed on this announcement may be considered at management's discretion.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.