Software Engineer and Data Automation Specialist

US U. S. Sentencing Commission; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

The U.S. Sentencing Commission is seeking a Software Engineering and Data Automation Specialist to join the Information Systems team. You will design, develop, integrate, and maintain applications, data workflows, and analytics systems with a focus on document and data extraction and automation.

Role emphasizes end-to-end data processing, OCR-based parsing, and reliable production workflows, requiring collaboration with staff and subject-matter experts to deliver robust solutions.

Qualifications

• Production Python applications with modular design, testing, documentation, and secure practices.
• Transform, validate, reconcile, and load data using relational databases.

Responsibilities

• Extract and process information from PDFs, text documents, or scanned images with OCR or parsing techniques.
• Develop and support ETL/ELT or automated data-processing workflows and integrate applications and databases.

Skills

Python Development

Data Transformation

Document Processing

Automation

Reliability & Testing

Collaboration & Design

Job description

The Commission is seeking a Software Engineering and Data Automation Specialist who will work within the Information Systems team of the Office of Administration and Technology. The incumbent will design, develop, integrate, and maintain applications, data-processing workflows, data warehouse solutions, and analytics systems, with an emphasis on document and data extraction, processing, transformation, validation, integration, and automation.

Specialized Experience

• Software Development: Experience developing and maintaining production Python applications using modular design, source control, testing, documentation, and secure development practices.
• Data Processing and Transformation: Experience using relational databases to transform, validate, reconcile, and load data, and translating business requirements and documented coding rules into maintainable software.
• Document Processing: Experience extracting and processing information from PDFs, text documents, or scanned images using text parsing, regular expressions, OCR, or comparable techniques, with attention to document structure, context, and accuracy.
• Automation and Integration: Experience developing and supporting ETL/ELT or automated data-processing workflows and integrating applications, databases, APIs, or other enterprise systems.
• Production Reliability: Experience implementing logging, exception handling, automated testing, monitoring, and recovery procedures, and troubleshooting application, database, or data-quality issues.
• Collaboration and System Design: Experience analyzing user needs, designing maintainable technical solutions, documenting business logic and system behavior, and working with technical staff and subject-matter experts.

Competencies

• Attention to Detail - Performs work thoroughly and accurately, with careful attention to detail.
• Customer Service - Assesses customer needs, provides effective assistance, resolves issues, and delivers quality service.
• Decision Making - Makes sound, objective decisions and takes appropriate action to achieve organizational goals.
• Information Management - Identifies, gathers, organizes, and maintains information and information systems effectively.
• Interpersonal Skills - Builds effective working relationships and communicates with courtesy, tact, empathy, and professionalism.
• Oral Communication - Clearly communicates information, findings, recommendations, and viewpoints and effectively persuades others when appropriate.
• Problem Solving - Identifies problems, evaluates constraints, and develops practical solutions using available technology and resources.
• Teamwork - Promotes cooperation, trust, and team commitment while working effectively with others to achieve shared goals.
• Technical Competence - Applies job-related technical knowledge and experience to perform duties, evaluate technical information, and provide technical guidance.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Oracle databases, SQL and PL/SQL development, data modeling, query optimization, and enterprise data integration.
• Advanced document processing, including OCR, layout analysis, context-preserving segmentation, and extraction from varied or complex document formats.
• Applied machine learning, natural-language processing, or LLM-based information extraction, including evaluation of accuracy, error analysis, and workflows for human review.
• Locally hosted AI models or application deployment in air-gapped, restricted-network, or other controlled environments.
• Data warehouses, business intelligence, analytics, and application support, including tools such as ODI, OAS/OBIEE, Oracle APEX, or comparable platforms.
• AI-enabled database and application capabilities, including vector search or integration of models through APIs, where relevant to document processing and data analysis.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

• The selected applicant must reside in or relocate to the Washington DC Metropolitan area.
• This position is in the excepted service and does not carry the tenure rights of positions in the competitive Civil Service.
• All information is subject to verification. Applicants are advised that false answers or omissions of information on application materials or inability to meet the following conditions may be grounds for non-selection, withdrawal of an offer of employment, or dismissal after being employed.
• Selection for this position is contingent upon completion of OF-306, Declaration for Federal Employment during the pre-employment process and proof of U.S. citizenship or, for noncitizens, proof of authorization to work in the United States and proof of entitlement to receive compensation. Additional information on the employment of non-citizens can be found at: https://help.usajobs.gov/working-in-government/non-citizens For a list of documents that may be used to provide proof of citizenship or authorization to work in the United States, please refer to http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/i-9.pdf.
• The Commission participates in E-Verify and will confirm your authorization to work in the United States.
• A background security investigation is required for all selectees. Appointment will be subject to a selectee's successful completion of a background security investigation and favorable adjudication. Failure to successfully meet these requirements may be grounds for appropriate personnel action. A background security reinvestigation or supplemental investigation may be required at a later time.
• All new Commission employees must identify a financial institution for direct deposit of pay before appointment, mandated by the Federal Compensation Act.

All new Commission employees, those converted from a temporary appointment to a permanent appointment, and all rehired former Commission employees are required to serve a one-year probationary period. The probationary period begins on the effective date of the employee's appointment, conversion, or rehire.