IT CYBERSECURITY SPECIALIST (INFOSEC) CES Recent Graduate

This program targets individuals who have graduated recently from qualifying educational institutions or programs. To be eligible, applicants must apply within 2 years of degree or certificate completion, except for veterans precluded from doing so due to their military service obligations, who will have up to 6 years after degree or certificate completion.

About the role

Successful applicants will be placed in a dynamic, career development program. As a participant, you will receive both formal and on-the-job training to develop the required knowledge and skill to successfully perform the duties of the position.

Responsibilities

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

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. Citizen.
• This national security position, which may require access to classified information, 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, which will be subject to future Cyber Workforce requirements as defined by the Manual.
• 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.
• Experience demonstrating the following competencies:
  • Attention to Detail: Reviewing your own information technology-related work or data to ensure accuracy, completeness, and consistency with standards.
  • Customer Service: Brief contact with customers to provide information about available IT products and services or providing standard products or routine services.
  • Oral Communication: Informing supervisors and other IT staff of the status of IT systems, projects, or daily operations, including communicating basic technical information to a non-technical audience.
  • Problem Solving: Identifying or selecting solutions to routine IT-related issues by gathering and applying information from standard sources that provide a limited number of solutions.

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 the 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; failure to do so will result in an ineligible rating. 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 of Education for Experience:

• GG-07: Bachelor’s degree with Superior Academic Achievement (SAA) or 1 academic year of graduate education (or law school). SAA is based on (1) class standing, (2) grade-point average, or (3) 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 Program participants are not eligible for conversion to a career/career-conditional appointment but are 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.
• Management has the prerogative to select at either grade level.
• Selectees will be required to sign a Recent Graduate Program Participant Agreement.
• This announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies within 90 days of the closing date.
• 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 (verify registration status).
• DoD policy on employment of annuitants will be used in determining eligibility.
• This position is in the Cyber Excepted Service; Veterans' Preference will be applied to eligible candidates. For more information, see:
  • Cyber Excepted Service Personnel System
  • Veterans' Preference
  • Qualifications Requirements
• You may submit a cover letter, which will be forwarded to the selecting official with your resume (not used to verify qualifications or eligibility).
• All applicants are encouraged to apply electronically. If unable to apply online, contact 317-212-0454 for assistance.
• If selected, the authorized rate of pay may exceed the stated maximum salary range under certain circumstances.
• The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 makes certain reimbursements/payments taxable. For information on these changes and the Relocation Income Tax Allowance (RITA), see here.
• Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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. Learn more about federal benefits.

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time, or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on specific benefits offered.