IT Specialist (APPSW) "Software Engineer", GSFPL GS-15 (Direct Hire) (Open Continuous)

This is an open continuous announcement with cutoff dates. Applications will be referred based on receipt of application and established cutoff dates as follows:

1st cutoff date: 07/10/2026

2nd cutoff date: 07/20/2026

Last cutoff date: 07/24/2026

We encourage you to read this entire vacancy announcement prior to submitting your application.

As a IT Specialist (APPSW) GSyou will be responsible for:

• Leading the technical direction for FSA engineering by applying deep knowledge of modern software engineering practices to ensure systems are robust reliable and user-friendly while keeping the team focused on outcomes that directly improve the experience for millions of students and families.
• Evaluating adopting and championing new development tools technologies and methods that improve both productivity and software quality across the FSA lifecycle while elevating the work of contractors and setting a higher standard for product excellence across the organization.
• Fostering a culture that combines technical excellence with a relentless focus on mission outcomes while providing coaching feedback and growth opportunities for both government staff and contractors raising the bar for engineering practice and delivery across the federal government.
• Taking ownership of improving not just the product but also the internal processes that surround it while proactively identifying and fixing inefficient or outdated processes that slow down delivery serving as a catalyst for change by removing obstacles building alignment across stakeholders and modeling a bias toward action.
• Applying deep experience in building and managing products that serve millions of users at scale with high stakes for accuracy security and reliability while ensuring FSA systems meet the demands of peak traffic periods protect sensitive personal and financial data and deliver seamless experiences for students families and institutions.

• Must be a US Citizen.
• Must complete a Background Investigation and Fingerprint check.
• Males 18 and over must be registered with the Selective Service.
• Relocation will not be paid.
• You may be subject to serve a one-year probationary period.

Condition of Employment:

As a condition of employment for accepting this position you may be required to serve a probationary period or trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public 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; and
• Whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

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

You must meet all qualification requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this vacancy announcement.

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. We will consider all qualifying experience including any volunteer experience.

Minimum Qualification Requirements

You may meet the minimum qualifications for the GS-15 if you possess the specialize experience.

Specialized Experience for the GS-15:

One year of experience in either federal or non-federal service that is equivalent to at least a GS-14 performing two (2) out of three (3) of the following duties or work assignments:

1. Experience serving as the principal engineer or engineering lead in the development of a scaled technology platform.
2. Experience serving as a lead engineer or senior software developer overseeing internal and external software development integration and operation.
3. Experience communicating technical concepts to non-technical audiences and translating user needs into technical architecture.

Knowledge Skills and Abilities (KSAs)
The quality of your experience will be measured by the extent to which you possess the following knowledge skills and abilities (KSAs). You do not need to provide separate narrative responses to these KSAs as they will be measured by your responses to the occupational questionnaire (you may preview the occupational questionnaire by clicking the link at the end of the Evaluations section of this vacancy announcement).

1. Ability to lead engineering teams to deliver high-quality outcomes for users.
2. Knowledge of software application best practices and emerging technologies tooling including but not limited to AI and Data.
3. Ability to build mentor and inspire a high-performing engineering culture across the organization.
4. Ability to navigate complex systems and process while driving effective change management.
5. Knowledge of building and operating large-scale mission-critical financial system or comparable complex technology systems.