Systems Engineer
Job Location:
Washington, DC - USA
Yearly Salary:
Posted:
Application Deadline:
Vacancies:
Job Summary
Organizational Location: This position is with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) within U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) U.S. Border Patrol Headquarters (USBP-HQ) Program Management Operations Directorate (PMOD) located in Washington D.C.
In this position you will develop or oversee engineering projects initiatives and policies that support the CBP Office of Acquisition and the broader acquisition workforce. Your work directly impacts CBPs mission by providing authoritative systems engineering analysis recommendations and policy support that shape major system acquisitions and affect mission accomplishment across the Component.
This position starts at a salary of $143913.00 (GS-14 Step 1) to $187093.00 (GS-14 Step 10).
As a Systems Engineer you will be responsible for providing systems engineering oversight technical guidance and policy support for CBP acquisition programs across the systems engineering life cycle. Typical duties will include:
- Providing systems engineering oversight of CBP acquisition programs to ensure technical viability and compliance with DHS and CBP policies and procedures.
- Advising officials program managers and acquisition workforce personnel on systems engineering processes including requirements design interoperability test and evaluation risk management configuration management cybersecurity and lifecycle logistics.
- Reviewing analyzing and evaluating systems engineering plans reports and program documentation and providing recommendations to program officials and senior acquisition leaders.
- Developing and recommending changes to CBP systems engineering policies procedures guidelines and directives.
- Representing CBP and the Office of Acquisition in coordination with DHS components other government entities and industry on systems engineering matters.
- You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this position
- Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered with Selective Service
- Primary U.S. residency for at least three of the last five years (additional details below)
- All pre-employment processes will be conducted in English
- You may be required to pass a background investigation
- CBP follows the DHS Drug-Free Workplace Plan for drug testing procedures
- As an employee of CBP you will be joining a workforce that is dedicated to accomplishing our mission while maintaining the trust of our Nation by strictly adhering to all government ethics standards. Your conduct will be subject to the ethics rules applicable to all Executive Branch employees and to CBP employees specifically as well as the criminal conflict of interest statutes. Once you enter on duty these rules include obtaining approval for outside employment or business activity to ensure such employment or business activity is not prohibited and does not interfere or conflict with performance of your official duties. Please review further details via the following link.
- CBP employees demonstrate the highest level of commitment to protect and serve the United States of America and to exemplify the CBP Core Values of Vigilance Service to Country and Integrity. Learn more about CBPs mission core values and careers at uses E-Verify an Internet-based system to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more about E-Verify including your rights and responsibilities.
- Financial Disclosure is required.
- Bargaining Unit: This position is not covered under the bargaining unit.
This position has an Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR).
Basic Requirement(s):
A. Degree in Engineering. To be acceptable the program must: (1) lead to a bachelors degree in a school of engineering with at least one program accredited by ABET; or (2) include differential and integral calculus and courses (more advanced than first-year physics and chemistry) in (5) five of the following (7) seven areas of engineering science or physics:
-OR-
B. Combination of education and experience: College-level education training and/or technical experience that furnished (1) a thorough knowledge of the physical and mathematical sciences underlying engineering and (2) a good understanding both theoretical and practical of the engineering sciences and techniques and their applications to one of the branches of engineering. The adequacy of such background must be demonstrated by one of the following:
ALONG WITH THE BASIC REQUIREMENT/IOR LISTED ABOVE YOU MUST POSSESS AT LEAST ONE (1) YEAR OF SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE AS DESCRIBED BELOW TO QUALIFY BASED ON EXPERIENCE.
Specialized Experience: You qualify for the GS-14 grade level if you possess 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level performing duties such as:
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. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience including volunteer experience.
You must meet all qualification requirements including education if applicable to this position subject to verification at any stage of the application process by 09/04/2026.
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently or have been within the last 5 years a political Schedule A Schedule C Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.
Background Investigation: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is a federal law enforcement agency that requires all applicants to undergo a thorough background investigation prior to employment in order to promote the agencys core values of vigilance service to country and integrity. During the screening and/or background investigation process you will be asked questions regarding any felony criminal convictions or current felony charges the use of illegal drugs (e.g. marijuana cocaine heroin LSD methamphetamines ecstasy) and the use of non-prescribed controlled substances including any experimentation possession sale receipt manufacture cultivation production transfer shipping trafficking or distribution of controlled substances. For additional information on the preemployment process review the following link: Applicant Resources CBP Careers
Residency: There is a residency requirement for all applicants not currently employed by CBP. Individuals are required to have physically resided in the United States or its protectorates (as declared under international law) for at least three of the last five years. If you do not meet the residency requirement and you have been physically located in a foreign location for more than two of the last five years you may request an exception to determine if you are eligible for a residency waiver by meeting one or more of the following conditions:
Probationary Period: All employees new to the federal government must serve a one year probationary period during the first year of his/her initial permanent federal appointment to determine fitness for continued employment. Current and former federal employees may be required to serve or complete a probationary period.
Please see the Qualifications and Required Documents sections for more information if education is applicable to this position.
Security Clearance: You will be required to obtain and maintain a Top Secret clearance for this position.
Required Certification: This is a DHS acquisition certification-covered position. The incumbent must possess a DHS Level III certification in Systems Engineering (SE) or Test & Evaluation (T&E) within 24 months of placement.
Desired Certification: A secondary certification in Program Management Systems Engineering Test and Evaluation or Life Cycle Logistics is highly desired although not required.
Work Environment: The work is usually performed in an office setting. There may be occasional travel to field offices and contractor facilities including occasional outside work as necessary to perform assigned duties.
The vacancy questionnaire includes four short free-response essay questions. This provides an opportunity for you to highlight your dedication to public service for the hiring manager and agency leadership (or designee(s)). While your responses are not required and will not be scored we encourage you to thoughtfully address each question. Please provide a response of 200 words or less to each question. You will be asked to certify that you are using your own words and did not use a consultant or artificial intelligence (AI) such as a large language model (LLM) like ChatGPT or Copilot. Department of Homeland Security encourages persons with disabilities to apply to include persons with intellectual severe physical or psychiatric disabilities as defined by 5 CFR 213.3102(u) and/or Disabled Veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30 percent or more as defined by 5 CFR 315.707. Veterans Peace Corps/VISTA volunteers and persons with disabilities possess a wealth of unique talents experiences and competencies that can be invaluable to the DHS mission. If you are a member of one of these groups you may not have to compete with the public for federal jobs. To determine your eligibility for non-competitive appointment and to understand the required documentation click on the links above or contact the Servicing Human Resources Office listed at the bottom of this announcement.
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.
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.
Required Experience:
IC
