Information Technology Specialist (Software Engineer)

What You'd Actually Do

Key Duties

• The following are the duties of this position at the full working level.
• If this vacancy includes more than one grade and you are selected at a lower grade level, you will have the opportunity to learn to perform these duties and receive training to help you grow in this position.
• Design, develop, test, deploy, and maintain secure application components that support IRS business and mission needs.
• Analyze and refactor codebases to derive undocumented requirements, modernize architecture, and align systems with current frameworks, accessibility and security standards.
• Work across multiple software layers and languages, including front-end, Application Programming Interface (API), service, and data layers, potentially spanning multiple products.
• Collaborate across one or more delivery teams with technical and non-technical stakeholders to clarify requirements, triage issues, validate implementation plans, and ensure technical cohesion and consistent standards across the enterprise.
• Participate in incident response and support operations, including proactive identification and correction of software defects through code inspection, telemetry analysis and log review.
• Conduct root-cause analysis and implement corrective actions to prevent recurrence.
• Solicit, refine, and document functional and technical requirements, and maintain reusable technical patterns, architectural decisions, and troubleshooting playbooks to support knowledge sharing across teams.

Qualifications

• Federal experience is not required.
• Experience may have been gained in the public sector, private sector or through Volunteer Service.
• One year of experience refers to full-time work; part-timework is considered on a prorated basis.
• To ensure full credit for your work experience, please indicate dates of employment by month/day/year, and indicate number of hours worked per week, on your resume.
• You must meet the following requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
• Basic Qualifications Basic requirements, all grades.
• Applicants must have Information Technology related experience demonstrating each of the following four competencies: 1) Attention to Detail, 2) Customer Service, 3) Oral Communication, and 4) Problem Solving.
• Specialized Experience GS-13 Level: In addition to meeting basic requirements, to be eligible for this position at this grade level, you must have one (1) year of specialized experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-12 grade level in the Federal service, specialized experience includes: Independently applying IT principles, concepts, methods, and practices to plan, analyze, implement, maintain, troubleshoot, or enhance IT systems, services, hardware, software, applications, interfaces, scripts, or related technology environments.
• Performing computer projects, operational, or application-related assignments involving IT requirements and techniques, including resolving technical issues; validating system, application, or code testing and configuration; preparing technical documentation; and applying federal cybersecurity, privacy, or regulatory requirements.
• Working directly with customers, stakeholders, users, and technical teams to define business or technical requirements, advising on feasible IT approaches, and implementing secure, reliable, scalable IT solutions, including application enhancements where applicable.
• Assessing system, service, or application performance, availability, reliability, usability, and operational effectiveness; identifying risks, recurring issues, or defects; and recommending or implementing corrective actions consistent with established policies and procedures.
• Analyzing multiple technical alternatives and advising management or IT specialists on the selection, configuration, implementation, or improvement of IT solutions, including application components where applicable, to support mission and operational requirements.
• Applying software engineering principles, methods and practices to design, develop, modernize, integrate, test or maintain software applications and systems to analyze and resolve technical issues and improve IT systems and processes.
• Developing, integrating or supporting front-end, back-end, API, cloud-based, or enterprise application solutions using programming languages, frameworks and development tools.
• Applying software engineering, system development life cycles (SDLC), Agile, DevOps or CI/CD methodologies along with AI-powered tools, to improve development velocity, automate documentation, and increase overall engineering productivity.
• Evaluating and implementing emerging technologies, including cloud-based architecture, containerization, infrastructure-as-code, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) assisted development.
• Applying secure coding principles, cybersecurity requirements, technical standards or compliance requirements during software development, implementation or maintenance activities.
• Developing or implementing technical guidance, procedures or solutions related to software engineering, application modernization, systems integration or IT service delivery.
• Supporting IT software development projects by assisting with planning activities, defining milestones and deliverables, monitoring progress and communicating information or recommendations to customers, stakeholders and team members.
• Applying project management principles, methods, and practices including developing plans and schedules, identifying resource requirements, reporting project status and providing training to support IT projects or initiatives.
• Communicating technical information both orally and in writing to technical and non-technical audiences AND You must also meet the following requirements: MINIMUM AGE REQUIREMENT: Minimum age for federal employment is 18 years old, or at least 16 years old and have: Graduated from high school or been awarded a certificate equivalent to graduating from high school; or Completed a formal vocational training program; or Received a statement from school authorities agreeing with your preference for employment rather than continuing your education.
• For more information on qualifications please refer to OPM's Qualifications Standards.

Benefits

Standard federal benefits including FEHB, FERS pension, TSP with matching, annual and sick leave.