IT CYBERSECURITY SPECIALIST (INFOSEC) CES Recent Graduate

This position is part of the Recent Graduates Program, targeting individuals who have graduated recently from qualifying educational institutions or programs. Eligible applicants must apply within 2 years of degree or certificate completion, except for veterans whose military service obligations precluded them from doing so, who have up to 6 years after degree or certificate completion.

About the role

Successful applicants will be placed in a dynamic, career development program that includes both formal and on-the-job training to develop the knowledge and skills required for the position.

Responsibilities

• Perform feasibility studies to develop or modify information systems to meet user requirements.
• Provide technical advice to users, evaluating alternative means of satisfying user requirements and suggesting technically feasible approaches.
• Review proposals for change, including objectives, scope, and user expectations, addressing problems requiring significant departure from established practice.
• Prepare testing and implementation plans, establishing test criteria and data to ensure all program modules and outputs are tested for completeness and accuracy.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. Citizen.
• This national security position requires a favorable suitability review and security clearance as a condition of employment. Failure to maintain security eligibility may result in termination.
• Current Federal Career/Career-Conditional employees will be placed on an Excepted appointment.
• This position is covered under DoD Manual 8140 and will be subject to future Cyber Workforce requirements.
• This is a drug-testing designated position.

Qualifications

Who May Be Considered:

• Individuals who have obtained a qualifying Associates, Bachelor's, Master's, Professional, Doctorate, Vocational, or Technical degree or certificate from a qualifying educational institution within the previous 2 years.
• Veterans (as defined in 5 U.S.C. 2108) who were unable to apply within 2 years of obtaining a qualifying degree due to military service obligation. Veterans have a full 2-year eligibility period upon release or discharge from active duty, within 6 years of degree completion. You must provide your DD-214 to support this claim.

Basic Requirement:

• Undergraduate or Graduate Education: Degree in computer science, engineering, information science, information systems management, mathematics, operations research, statistics, or technology management, or a degree that provided a minimum of 24 semester hours in one or more of these fields and required the development or adaptation of applications, systems, or networks.
• Attention to Detail: Experience reviewing your own information technology-related work or data to ensure accuracy, completeness, and consistency with standards.
• Customer Service: Experience providing information about available IT products and services or delivering standard products/routine services to address IT needs.
• Oral Communication: Experience informing supervisors and IT staff about the status of IT systems, projects, or daily operations, including communicating basic technical information to non-technical audiences.
• Problem Solving: Experience identifying or selecting solutions to routine IT-related issues by gathering and applying information from standard sources.

Qualifying Experience:

• GG-07: Identifying and resolving stable, routine technical problems by utilizing established guides, protocols, and standard operating methods.
• GG-09: Handling stable cybersecurity issues independently and evaluating and selecting appropriate standard methods to implement readily available solutions.
• GG-11: Independently planning and executing conventional IT Cybersecurity projects and assignments, or analyzing and resolving a variety of complex cybersecurity issues by adapting standard methods to specific situations.

Candidates must describe how they meet the qualifying experience within the body of their resume. Veterans must submit their DD-214. Transcripts are required, along with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.50. Candidates must meet the Recent Graduate eligibility requirement by the end of the Fall 2026 semester.

Education Substitution

• GG-07: Bachelor’s degree with Superior Academic Achievement or 1 academic year of graduate education (or law school). Superior Academic Achievement is based on class standing, grade-point average, or honor society membership.
• GG-09: Completion of a Master’s or equivalent graduate degree, or 2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree, or LL.B. or J.D.
• GG-11: Completion of a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, or 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree, or LL.M. in a directly related field.

Qualifying Education Institution: Any educational institution or curriculum accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education (http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/).

Foreign Education: If using education completed in foreign colleges or universities, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services at the time of application (National Association of Credential Evaluation Services).

Additional Information

• Recent Graduates are not eligible for conversion to a career/career-conditional appointment but may be eligible for non-competitive conversion to a term or permanent position in a designated organization.
• A trial period may be required if you have not previously completed a trial or probationary period in the excepted or competitive service.
• Selectees will be required to sign a Recent Graduate Program Participant Agreement.
• Moving costs will not be paid. Recruitment, relocation, or retention incentives are not authorized.
• Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service.
• Veterans' Preference will be applied to eligible candidates in accordance with DoD Instruction 1400.25, Volume 3005.

Benefits

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 designed to make your federal career rewarding. Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time, or intermittent.