Chief Technology Officer

About the role

The Chief Technology Officer (CTO) is the agency's lead expert on technology strategy, innovation, and modernization initiatives to the Social Security Administration's Commissioner and the Chief Information Officer (CIO). The CTO provides hands-on technical leadership; actively participates in architecture, design, coding, debugging, and code reviews across CIO product portfolio; and provides real-time guidance to engineering teams on complex challenges.

Responsibilities

• Strategically advances the modernization of mission-critical systems, digital services, cloud and platform technologies, cybersecurity architecture, data and AI enablement, and enterprise infrastructure supporting the administration of Social Security programs and services to the public.
• Collaborates with the agency's CIO and senior agency officials to communicate SSA's technology vision and strategy ensuring that agency architecture can support the growing and evolving needs of the enterprise.
• Defines the agency's overall technology strategy and vision, ensuring alignment with the agency's mission, business goals, and objectives.
• Sets policy, provides governance and oversight, and delivers technical expertise in the following areas:
• Data & Systems Excellence
• Innovation with Al/ML
• Engineering Culture
• Risk & Quality Management
• Talent & Team Development

Requirements

• To meet the minimum qualifications for this position, candidates must have had responsible professional experience at a senior level (equivalent to the GS-15 in either the General Schedule (GS) or a comparable pay plan).
• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• May be subject to a 1-year probationary period (unless already completed).
• Federal employees must be in good standing.
• Federal employees must have a successful performance rating.
• If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System or are exempt from having to do so.
• May be subject to pre-employment and random drug tests.
• Must file an Executive Financial Disclosure Report OGE-278e within 30 days of appointment and annually from then on.
• This position is covered under the post-employment restrictions of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 (PL 95-521).

Qualifications

• To be considered minimally qualified for this position, candidates must have had responsible professional experience at a senior level (GS-15 level or equivalent) which demonstrates ability to perform the duties of the position, including progressively responsible experience directly related to the skills and abilities outlined under the Mandatory Technical Qualifications (TQs) below, which includes serving as a lead expert on technology strategy, innovation, and modernization initiatives. Typically, experience of this nature will be gained in a related field; in a position held for at least one year at the GS-15, comparable pay band or level above in the federal government; or comparable position with a state or local government, or private sector organization.
• Mandatory Qualifications Requirements: All applicants are required to address each of the Mandatory Technical Qualifications (MTQs) below. Candidates must demonstrate that their experience meets the Mandatory Technical Qualifications for this position in their two-page resume and this experience must have been at a sufficiently high level of difficulty to clearly show the candidate possesses the required subject matter expertise and technical qualifications listed below. Candidates will not be considered for this position if each mandatory TQ requirement is not specifically addressed. Failure to meet any of the mandatory TQs will eliminate the candidate from further consideration.