USA Staffing

Position Title: Information Technology Specialist (Applications Software)
Agency: U.S. Census Bureau
Announcement Number: 23-ADSD-11799787-IMP-AL Opens in new window
Open Period: Thursday, March 16, 2023 to Thursday, March 30, 2023

For preview purposes only. To apply, please return to the USAJOBS announcement and click the Apply button.

Eligibilities

1. Are you a current or former federal employee displaced from the agency hiring for this position? If yes, confirm:

• you are located in the same local commuting area of the vacancy; AND,
• you are applying to a position that is at or below the grade level of the position from which you were or will be separated; AND,
• you are applying to a position that does not have greater promotion potential than the position from which you were or will be separated; AND,
• your last performance rating of record is at least fully successful or the equivalent.

For more information, review the USAJOBS Help Center.

To verify your eligibility, you must submit supporting documentation such as a Reduction in Force (RIF) separation notice or a Proposed Removal/Separation notice to include your latest performance rating (if the notice does not have this information included, you must submit a copy of your most recent performance appraisal) and a copy of your latest Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50.

A. Yes

B. No

2. Are you a current Department of Commerce employee in the competitive service?

Current Department of Commerce employee (includes any Bureau under Commerce) on a term, temporary or excepted service appointment with reinstatement eligibility. If eligible, submit a copy of your Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 or equivalent personnel action form reflecting your permanent, competitive status. Your Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (or equivalent personnel action form) must reflect career or career-conditional (Tenure 1 or 2) and Your Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (or equivalent personnel action form) must reflect your status was in the competitive service (Position Occupied is 1). Please note: Examples of appropriate SF-50s include promotions, with-in grade/range increases. While a General Adjustment and/or Award SF-50 may be your most recent SF-50 it typically DOES NOT show proof of Time in Grade. Thus, you may have to submit more than one SF-50 as proof of Time in Grade.

A. Yes

B. No

Preferences

1. Have you held a political appointment within the previous five-year period?

A. Yes

B. No

Assessment 1

You MUST submit a complete resume in order to be considered for this position. Please review the required documents section of the vacancy announcement for further information.

Select “Yes” or “No” to the following question(s).

1. GS-14: Do you have one year of specialized experience at the GS-13 level? For the GS-14, you must have one year of experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-13 in the Federal service. Experience for this position includes: Experience for this position includes: Assigning and reviewing employee work; leading teams in advanced systems software/hardware project efforts; and evaluating software and systems to identify and solve problems. (See the "Qualifications" section of this announcement for the definition of specialized experience and education)

A. Yes

B. No

2. Will you have one year of time-in-grade at the grade 13 level as of the closing date of this announcement?

A. Yes

B. No

3. Describe your experience with the designing, coding, testing, and support of new or existing applications software from the following:

A. Designing new applications software.

B. Coding new or existing applications software.

C. Testing new or existing applications software.

D. Supporting new or existing applications software.

E. None of the above

4. Describe your experience communicating with IT staff and subject matter expert (SME) staff to understand requirements and constraints of both and to determine appropriate courses of action related to IT system implementation or deployment.

A. No experience

B. I have experience communicating with IT staff on IT implementation or deployment projects but not with subject matter staff

C. I have experience communicating with IT staff and subject matter staff on IT implementation or deployment issues, but I was not responsible for recommending courses of action.

D. I have experience communicating with IT staff and subject matter staff on IT implementation or deployment projects, and I was responsible to recommending an appropriate course of action.

5. Indicate the level of experience you have leading a team.

A. I have planned and distributed work to team members.

B. I have set priorities for team members.

C. I have reviewed team members' work.

D. I have provided feedback to team members about their work.

E. I have led a team of diverse members.

F. None of the above.

6. Indicate your experience with software development knowledge and using relational databases like Oracle.

A. No experience.

B. I have some knowledge, but no job experience using/developing applications with relational databases.

C. I have some job experience using/developing/testing applications with relational databases.

D. I have independently designed, developed, and tested applications that use relational databases.

E. I have extensive experience with the design, development and testing of applications that use relational databases

F. I have experience supervising/managing the design, development and testing of applications that use relational databases

7. Indicate your level of experience in developing, deploying, testing, and supporting applications written in the Blaise, Java, C++, and/or Python languages.

A. No experience.

B. I have training but no job experience.

C. I have training and some job experience under the guidance of a supervisor.

D. I have designed and developed applications working independently.

E. I have extensive experience designing and developing applications.

8. Please select the option that more closely describes your professional experience designing, coding, and deploying large complex computer assisted interviewing applications:

A. I have at least one year of experience designing, coding, and deploying large complex computer assisted interviewing applications.

B. I have at least three years of experience designing, coding, and deploying large complex computer assisted interviewing applications.

C. I have at least five years of experience designing, coding, and deploying large complex computer assisted interviewing applications.

D. I do not possess any of the experience mentioned above.

9. Please select the response that best describes your information technology related experience that demonstrates your proficiency in the competency Problem Solving. Problem Solving is defined as identifying alternatives for or addressing information technology related issues or problems.

A. I have identified alternatives to address unique, highly complex, or sensitive information technology related issues. I have anticipated information technology related problems and have identified and evaluated potential sources of information to generate alternative solutions.

B. I have identified alternatives to address complex information technology related issues by gathering and applying information from a variety of sources that provide a number of potential solutions.

C. I have identified or selected from a number of alternatives to address routine information technology related issues by gathering and applying information from standard sources that provide a limited number of solutions.

D. I have not had experience identifying alternatives for or addressing information technology related issues or problems.

10. Indicate your experience in systems engineering and implementing systems following the Systems Development Life Cycle:

A. I have developed engineering-related artifacts (e.g., templates, design documents).

B. I have implemented and integrated engineered solutions.

C. I have developed systems engineering policies and procedures.

D. None of the above.

11. Describe your experience with software release configuration management processes.

A. Participate in a software release process, including the use of code management tools and attending software release meetings, as part of a project team.

B. Deploy software applications to various environments, including the use of code management tools to facilitate that process.

C. Log, track, and/or prepare reports on software releases.

D. Coordinate and communicate with software developers, testers, project managers, management and other staff for purposes of facilitating the deployment of software applications.

E. Function as a support contact for other staff regarding using tools and following software release processes and procedures, answering questions, and resolving issues.

F. None of the above

12. From the following list of interpersonal communication skills, please identify those that reflect your strongest capabilities.

A. Interacting and performing effectively in situations where frequent changes, delays or unexpected events arise that cause major shifts in priorities, timetables, or work assignments.

B. Facilitating the resolution of competing or conflicting interests among co-workers whose cooperation is essential to the success of a project.

C. Using consensus-building techniques to persuade representatives of outside groups that hold opposing views or positions to reach agreement on important issues.

D. Administering consequences, holding others accountable and enforcing program policies and standards in the workplace.

E. None of the above

13. Indicate your experience related to large-scale survey or census processing.

A. Software Design

B. Software Development

C. Software Testing

D. System Architecture Design

E. System Architecture Developement

F. System Architecture Testing

G. None of the above

14. Indicate your experience related to IT policies, regulations, and procedures.

A. Coordinate development of IT standards, guidelines, or policy

B. Apply bureau policies and data processing standards and knowledge of technical data to evaluate alternate approaches to problem solutions.

C. Interpret of policies, procedures, and regulations in accord with mission objectives

D. Utilize IT policies, standards, precedents, technical manuals, and literature to use considerable judgement relating to technical developments and/or requirements to specific activities or projects.

E. Perform software design concepts and methods sufficient to lead multifunctional developmental projects utilizing project management principles and methods.

F. None of the Above

15. Please select the response that best describes your experience involving the design, documentation, development, modification, testing, installation, implementation and support of new or existing applications software.

A. I have experience as a member of a team responsible for the design, documentation, development, modification, testing, installation, implementation and support of new or existing applications software.

B. I have experience as a senior member of a team responsible for the design, documentation, development, modification, testing, installation, implementation and support of new or existing applications software.

C. I have experience as a team lead or sometime manager of a group responsible for the design, documentation, development, modification, testing, installation, implementation and support of new or existing applications software.

D. I have experience supervising/managing the design, documentation, development, modification, testing, installation, implementation and support of new or existing applications software.

E. I do not have the experience described above.

16. Indicate your experience developing/maintaining applications on Linux or windows platform using the following:

A. Java (Design patterns, JPA, etc)

B. C++/C

C. Python using various libraries

D. UNIX/Linux

E. Blaise

F. None of the above

17. From the list below, please the statement(s) that describe your experience with computer-assisted survey data collection automation activities. Select all that apply.

A. I have developed requirements and/or specifications for automated survey questionnaires (instruments).

B. I have programmed survey-related instruments.

C. I have tested survey-related instruments.

D. I have programmed case management systems for surveys using computer-assisted interviewing.

E. I have programmed survey data processing systems.

F. None of the above.

Select the one statement that most accurately describes your training and experience carrying out each task using the scale provided.

18. Describe your experience with performing software design concepts and methods sufficient to lead multi-functional developmental projects utilizing project management principles and methods.

A. I have not had education, training, or experience in performing this task.

B. I have had education or training in how to perform this task, but have not yet performed it on the job.

C. I have performed this task on the job. My work on this task was monitored closely by a supervisor or senior employee to ensure compliance with proper procedures.

D. I have performed this task as a regular part of a job. I have performed it independently and normally without review by a supervisor or senior employee.

E. I am considered an expert in performing this task. I have supervised performance of this task or am normally the person who is consulted by other workers to assist or train them in doing this task because of my expertise.

Select “Yes” or “No” to the following question(s).

19. Do you have experience formulating projects or studies such as those to substantially alter major systems?

A. Yes

B. No

Your session will expire due to inactivity in 60 seconds.

Unsaved data may be lost if you allow this session to expire.

Warning! The announcement has now closed.

Failure to continue will prevent you from completing and submitting the application.

Click the Stay Connected button below to continue your session.

Terms & Conditions

Your Session is About to Expire!