IT Specialist (Software Development)

BASIC REQUIREMENT: Experience must be IT related; the experience may be demonstrated by paid or unpaid experience and/or completion of specific, intensive training (for example, IT certification), as appropriate. For all positions individuals must have IT-related experience demonstrating each of the four competencies listed below.

The employing agency is responsible for identifying the specific level of proficiency required for each competency at each grade level based on the requirements of the position being filled. 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. To meet this requirement, you must demonstrate proficiency in each of the four competencies listed above as follows: GS-13: Advanced - You can perform the actions associated with each of these competencies without assistance.

You are recognized within your immediate organization as "a person to ask" when difficult questions arise regarding each of these competencies.

Focus is on broad organizational/professional issues; You have consistently provided practical/relevant ideas and perspectives on process or practice improvements which may easily be implemented; You are capable of coaching others in the application of each of these competencies by translating complex nuances relating to each competency into easy to understand terms; You participate in senior level discussions regarding these competencies; You assist in the development of reference and resource materials in these competencies.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS: A qualified candidate's resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-12) in the Federal service.

Specialized experience is defined as experience 1) designing, coding, testing, and modifying web-based applications using programming languages and frameworks such as .NET, Java, or modern client-side technologies; 2) developing and integrating RESTful web services or application interfaces to facilitate data exchange across systems; and 3) conducting systems analysis to define functional requirements, assess software quality, and resolve operational or technical issues across the systems development life cycle. "Experience" refers to paid and unpaid experience.

Examples of qualifying unpaid experience may include: volunteer work done through National Service programs (such as Peace Corps and AmeriCorps); as well as work for other community-based philanthropic and social organizations. 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 qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

As an IT Specialist (Software Development), you will: Lead end-to-end software development using modern enterprise frameworks (including .NET and Java). You will design scalable web applications, implement modular architectures, and build modern client-side user interfaces that power high-consequence grid operations.

Engineer robust RESTful APIs and real-time data services that seamlessly connect mission-critical control center systems, legacy electrical engineering databases, and high-volume utility operational feeds. Collaborate directly with transmission operators and engineers to transform complex electrical flow, telemetry, and system telemetry data into intuitive, lightning-fast visual interfaces and responsive web consoles. Drive project success from concept to production.

You will translate operational user requirements into technical blueprints, mentor multidisciplinary developer teams, conduct code reviews, and establish modern agile development workflows. Benchmark cutting-edge software practices, build prototypes to test new methodologies, and establish rigorous automated testing and continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipelines to elevate software reliability. Embed security-by-design into every layer of the software stack.

You will ensure critical control center applications comply with federal cybersecurity and bulk electric system reliability benchmarks (including NERC CIP and FISMA).