Computer Scientist

About the role

DCSA Acquisition and Technology, National Background Investigation Services (NBIS) is seeking a Software Engineer to serve as a technical expert in the multidisciplinary fields of Product Management, enterprise architecture, infrastructure, software development, data management and governance, tool development, systems engineering, sustainment, and related subject matter areas as they pertain to an enterprise system. Visit www.dcsa.mil to learn more about DCSA, America's Gatekeeper!

Responsibilities

• Design and implement containerized microservices and Application Programming Interface-first integration frameworks to support enterprise backend systems.
• Develop and maintain core backend services, including case management Application Programming Interfaces, data ingestion pipelines, and authentication layers.
• Manage Application Programming Interface connections to 80+ external providers, ensuring secure token authentication, rate limiting, and robust error handling.
• Establish strict coding standards, security controls, and technical debt governance across Agile software development teams.
• Integrate Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning capabilities into backend architectures while adhering to Responsible Artificial Intelligence standards and National Institute of Standards and Technology Risk Management Framework compliance.

Requirements

This announcement is open to: Current Federal employees in the competitive and excepted service; Retained Grade Preference (RGP) eligibles, and Military Reserve and National Guard Technician eligibles.

Qualifications

• This position has a Basic Requirement for the 1550: Bachelor's degree in computer science or bachelor's degree with 30 semester hours in a combination of mathematics, statistics, and computer science. At least 15 of the 30 semester hours must have included any combination of statistics and mathematics that included differential and integral calculus. All academic degrees and course work must be from accredited or pre-accredited institutions.
• The experience described in your resume will be evaluated and screened from the Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) basic qualifications requirements. See: Computer Science Series 1550 for OPM qualification standards, competencies and specialized experience needed to perform the duties of the position as described in the MAJOR DUTIES and QUALIFICATIONS sections of this announcement by 07/06/2026.
• Applicant must have directly applicable experience that demonstrates the possession of the knowledge, skills, abilities and competencies necessary for immediate success in the position. Qualifying experience may have been acquired in any public or private sector job, but will clearly demonstrate past experience in the application of the particular competencies/knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to successfully perform the duties of the position.
• You must have specialized experience sufficient to demonstrate that you have acquired all the competencies necessary to perform at a level equivalent in difficulty, responsibility, and complexity to the next lower grade GS/GG-14 in the Federal service and are prepared to take on greater responsibility.

Benefits

This position is a (DCIPS) position in the Excepted Service under U.S.C. 1601. Work Schedule: Full Time. Overtime: Occasionally. Tour of Duty: Flexible. PCS (Permanent Change of Station): May be Authorized. Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA): Exempt.

Pay

Pay for the incumbent will be based on the STEM and/or Cyber Pay Table.

Schedule

Position is a (DCIPS) position in the Excepted Service under U.S.C. 1601.

Skills

None provided in the given text.

Benefits

None provided in the given text.

Application Instructions

Resume and supporting documents received by 11:59PM EST will be considered. This is a Drug Testing designated position. Applicants that do not meet this requirement are eligible to be hired but must obtain an Engineering and Technical Management Practitioner certification within 5 years (60 months) after the first day of starting in the position.

Contact Information

If selected, the incumbent must obtain and maintain appropriate security clearance as indicated in job announcement. This position requires Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act Practitioner certification in Engineering and Technical Management and is expected to meet all related certification requirements per the Department of Defense Instruction 5000.66.