IT Specialist (Operating Systems)

Transportation Security Administration•Herndon, VA

About The Position

The IT Specialist (Operating Systems) works in the Transportation Security Administration’s Information Technology Division within the Department of Homeland Security, with positions in the Enterprise Support and Security Engineering branches. The role supports IT infrastructure operations, engineering, and systems projects, including the installation of operational technical environments and the engineering support of systems capabilities, patches, upgrades, and releases. It performs technical analysis and reviews information systems through design, development, implementation, approval, and periodic evaluation, providing operational systems support with minimal supervision. The specialist incorporates IT security and cybersecurity requirements, technologies, and processes into engineering projects and activities, collaborates with internal and external offices and agencies, and conducts IT asset management and inventory as well as cost-benefit, economic, and risk analyses. In the Systems Deployment & Integration Branch, the specialist contributes technical support across the full systems life cycle, including planning, analysis, development, implementation, maintenance, testing, and enhancement of enterprise-wide information systems. In the Enterprise Support Branch of the End User Services Division, the position provides technology support for the TSA Freedom Center and Continuity of Operations facility, helping maintain reliable 24x7x365 Watch Floor operations and working with government interagency partners to support IT and audio/visual systems. The role also participates in planning, procurement, deployment, and maintenance of TSA information systems. Duties are described at the full-performance SV-I band level.

Requirements

U.S. citizenship or U.S. national status.
Must be at least 18 years old at the time of application.
Must complete a favorable background investigation and obtain and maintain a Secret Clearance.
Selective Service registration is required.
Must possess a FAC COR Level II certification or obtain it within 18 months of appointment.
IT-related experience demonstrating attention to detail, customer service, oral communication, and problem solving.
For the SV-I band (equivalent to GS-13): one year of specialized experience at the SV-H band or GS-12 in federal service, or equivalent private-sector experience.
For the SV-H band (equivalent to GS-12): one year of specialized experience at the SV-G band or GS-11 in federal service, or equivalent private-sector experience.
SV-H specialized experience includes supporting deployment and configuration of IT systems, applications, or infrastructure services for end users, devices, or locations; monitoring backup and recovery operations and helping correct recurring job failures; and collaborating with technical teams, vendors, or program offices to troubleshoot and resolve IT integration or performance issues.
SV-I specialized experience includes leading or supporting enterprise IT system installation, configuration, testing, maintenance, patching, upgrades, and releases; contributing to technical projects across the specified platforms and infrastructure; identifying, documenting, and presenting recommendations on technical and functional requirements; and creating reports and dashboards for management and stakeholders.
Experience is credited based on a 40-hour workweek; part-time experience is credited proportionally, with no additional credit for overtime.
Qualification requirements must be met by the vacancy announcement closing date.

Responsibilities

Support IT infrastructure operations, engineering, and systems projects, including installation of operational technical environments and support for system capabilities, patches, upgrades, and releases.
Analyze and review information systems in design, development, implementation, approval, and periodic evaluation, and provide operational systems support with minimal supervision.
Lead support functions and incorporate IT security and cybersecurity requirements, technologies, and processes into engineering projects and activities.
Collaborate with internal and external organizational offices and agencies to support and maintain the operational environment.
Manage and inventory IT assets and evaluate cost-benefit, economic, and risk factors in decision-making.
Contribute to planning, analyzing, developing, implementing, maintaining, testing, and enhancing enterprise-wide information systems across the systems life cycle.
Support technology for the TSA Freedom Center and Continuity of Operations facility, including reliable Watch Floor operations and IT and audio/visual systems, in collaboration with government interagency partners.
Participate in the planning, procurement, deployment, and maintenance of TSA information systems.
For the SV-I qualification level, lead and support installation, configuration, testing, maintenance, patching, upgrading, and release of enterprise IT systems and services.
Contribute to technical projects involving Microsoft-based and UNIX/Linux environments, database platforms, storage, backup and recovery, mobile device management, and data-center infrastructure.
Identify and document technical and functional IT system requirements, including interfaces, dependencies, performance requirements, and integration considerations, and present recommendations.
Gather reporting requirements, identify business rules and reporting criteria, and create reports, dashboards, data visualizations, and written products for management and stakeholders.