Defense Finance and Accounting Service Logo
Position Title
IT CYBERSECURITY SPECIALIST (APPSW/INFOSEC)
Agency
Defense Finance and Accounting Service
Announcement Number
DFAS-ML-12670243-25 Opens in new window
Open Period
Tuesday, January 21, 2025 to Tuesday, February 4, 2025
For preview purposes only. To apply, please return to the USAJOBS announcement and click the Apply button.
Eligibilities
1. Do you claim Veterans’ Preference? (limit characters)
2. Are you the spouse of a current member of the Armed Forces? If yes, confirm that you are married to the military member.

-OR-

Are you the spouse of a member of the Armed Forces who retired with a disability rating at the time of retirement of 100 percent or the spouse of a member of the Armed Forces who retired or separated from the Armed Forces and has a disability rating of 100 percent from the Department of Veterans Affairs?

-OR-

Are you the un-remarried widow or widower of a member of the Armed Forces killed while in active duty status?

For more information, review USAJOBS Veterans resources.
(limit characters)
3. Are you a current employee who has served continuously for at least one year under an appointment without time limit in a DoD Cyber Workforce excepted service position OR have you been involuntarily separated from a DoD Cyber Workforce position without personal cause within the preceding year?
(limit characters)
4. Are you a current, permanent Career or Career-Conditional DoD employee in the competitive service AND your highest permanent grade is LOWER than the highest grade of this position? (SF-50 block 24 must be a "1" or "2") (limit characters)
5. Are you a current, permanent Career or Career-Conditional DoD employee in the competitive service AND your highest permanent grade is the SAME or HIGHER than the highest grade of the position being filled OR I have held a permanent developmental position with promotion potential to the same grade of the position being filled? (SF-50 block 24 must be a "1" or "2") (limit characters)
6. Are you a veteran who is currently a Department of Defense (DoD) employee on a permanent Veterans Recruitment Appointment (VRA)? (SF-50 block 24 must be a "1" or "2" AND block 34 must be a "2") (limit characters)
7. I am an MR or NG Technician who will be or has been involuntarily medically retired due to a service-connected medical disability that disqualifies me from military membership or from holding my required military grade, and have applied for or am receiving a disability retirement annuity.  I am exercising my preference eligibility to DoD positions within my local commuting area.  I understand that the position for which I am applying must be at the same grade or equivalent level, tenure, and work schedule as the position held currently or upon separation. 
NOTE 1:  If you indicate "yes" to this question, you must submit a copy of the Military Reserve and National Guard Technician Disability PPP Self-Certification Checklist and copies of the appropriate documentation, such as the notification letter you received that states you are no longer eligible for Reserve membership due to a service-connected disability. 
NOTE 2:  By using this eligibility, you certify that you have not obtained permanent Federal employment, nor have you accepted or declined a PPP job offer.
(limit characters)
8. I am an MR or NG Reserve Technician who will lose or has lost my military membership through no fault of my own after completing at least 15 years of technician service and a minimum of 20 years of service creditable for non-regular retirement.  I am exercising my preference eligibility to DoD positions within my local commuting area in accordance with Section 3329(b) of Title 5, U.S.C.  This preference eligibility is valid for 1 year after separation. 
NOTE 1:  If you indicate "yes" to this question, you must submit a copy of the Military Reserve and National Guard Technician PPP Self-Certification Checklist and copies of the appropriate documentation, such as the notification letter you received showing you are no longer eligible for military or NG membership (through no fault of your own) and that you have completed at least 15 years of technician service and a minimum of 20 years of service creditable for non-regular retirement. 
NOTE 2:  By using this eligibility, you certify that you have not obtained permanent Federal employment, nor have you accepted or declined a PPP job offer.
(limit characters)
9. I am currently on retained grade based on receiving a written RIF notification letter of a change to lower grade, or a notification letter of a classification downgrade dated within the last 2 years.  I am exercising my preference eligibility to DoD positions within my local commuting area. 
NOTE 1:  If you indicate "yes" for this statement, you must submit a copy of the Retained Grade PPP Self-Certification Checklist and copies of the appropriate documentation, such as a RIF change-to-lower-grade notice, and an SF-50 reflecting your RIF change to lower grade. 
NOTE 2:  By using this eligibility, you certify that you have not accepted permanent Federal employment at your retained grade, nor have you accepted or declined a PPP job offer.
(limit characters)
10. I am a military spouse who is currently married to my active duty sponsor. I am exercising my preference eligibility for positions within the local commuting area of my sponsor's current duty station.  I certify that I have not accepted nor declined a permanent, continuing Federal appropriated or non-appropriated fund position in the local commuting area of our current duty location. 
NOTE 1:  Military spouses are eligible for one permanent noncompetitive appointment using their preference eligibility for the duration of the active duty sponsor's assignment to a permanent duty station, as long as the military spouse has not declined or accepted a permanent Federal or non-appropriated fund position in the commuting area of the sponsor's current duty location.  If you certify that you have not used your preference at your sponsor's current duty location and it is discovered to be untrue, you may be subject to loss of MSP and possible disciplinary action. 
NOTE 2:  You must include a copy of the Military Spouse PPP Self-Certification Checklist along with the documents identified on the checklist to verify your eligibility for MSP.
(limit characters)
Preferences
1. Select the location(s) you want to be considered for. You must choose at least one location. (limit characters)
2. Are you a retired Federal employee receiving an annuity from the Office of Personnel Management? NOTE: If you answered yes to this question, attach a copy of your retirement Standard Form 50 to your application. (limit characters)
3. Are you a current or former (within last five-years) Executive Branch political appointee; Schedule C excepted service appointee (confidential, policy or transitional role), or non-career or limited appointee in the Senior Executive Service (SES)?

Agencies must request OPM approval to appoint the following current or former (within five-years) Executive Branch political appointees to permanent competitive service, non-political excepted service, or career SES positions:
https://www.opm.gov/FAQs/QA.aspx?fid=023f2059-dff7-4307-89b4-c553c218af1d&pid=08248d29-d26e-44b6-9988-57655358d509
(limit characters)
4. To be eligible for Military Spouse Preference (MSP) under this vacancy announcement, you must have appointment eligibility under one of the following authorities and submit the appropriate, required documentation to verify your eligibility. Please select one or more eligibilities that apply to you. (limit characters)
There is a time-in-grade (TIG) requirement for this position for applicants who have held a General Schedule (GS) position in the previous 52 weeks. These applicants must meet TIG within 30 days of the closing date of the announcement. Your answer to this section will indicate you possess the time in grade requirement or if it does not apply. Please answer the following question(s) by selecting the most appropriate response.
(limit characters)
5. There is a time in grade (TIG) requirement for advancement to this position. Have you completed one year in a position at, above, or equivalent to the GS-11 level? Please indicate the appropriate response below: (limit characters)
6. This section is used to determine if your current performance rating is acceptable for further consideration. All current federal employees must have a minimum performance rating of at least Fully Successful (or equivalent) to be considered for placement. Current federal employees who have a current unacceptable performance rating will be excluded from consideration. NOTE: Failure to select one of the below responses will render you ineligible for further consideration.

If you are a current Federal employee, was your most recent performance rating of record (that is, the rating recorded in your official personnel folder) at least Fully Successful (or equivalent); OR a Pass rating on a Pass/Fail scale? Even if you have not received a rating of record in the past 12 months, you should still indicate your most recent performance rating of record.
(limit characters)
Assessment 1
Please accurately identify your level of training or experience when completing this questionnaire. Your responses will be evaluated and verified based on your submitted resume. Ensure that your resume accurately describes the level of education and/or experience claimed in the assessment questionnaire. Later steps in the selection process are specifically designed to verify your stated level of experience and demonstrated capability. By continuing in the application process, I acknowledge that my self-assessment questionnaire score may be reduced, and I may lose consideration for this position if the work experience described in my resume does not support my responses to the assessment questionnaire. (limit characters)
1. From the descriptions below, select the letter which corresponds to the highest level of experience or education which you fully possess and demonstrates your IT-related work experience addressing the four competencies, in the vacancy announcement, and your ability to perform the work of an IT Cybersecurity Specialist (APPSW/INFOSEC) at the GS-12 grade level. Select only one letter for each item. (limit characters)
For each item, select the one response that most accurately describes your current level of experience and capability using the scale below. (limit characters)
2. Implement testing practices that improve the overall software development processes and ensure basic information assurance principles
(limit characters)
3. Use knowledge of systems development to integration test software engineering solutions
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4. Maintain software specifically for enterprise applications from functional specifications using a variety of platforms
(limit characters)
5. Serve as an advisor to management on applications systems testing and evaluation techniques.
(limit characters)
6. Perform testing to ensure developed products meet design specifications and quality assurance standards.
(limit characters)
7. Review or update System Interface Agreements in order to meet individual customer and regulatory audit requirements
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8. Provide oversight and direct support for all focused formal security inspections and audits.
(limit characters)
9. Identify system problems, isolate, and analyze system impact to create timely resolutions.
(limit characters)
10. Troubleshoot software functionality to identify potential problems and research potential root cause(s).
(limit characters)
11. Adopt innovative methods and approaches to generate solutions to highly technical software process problems.
(limit characters)
12. Coordinate systems change proposals with other functional staff to ensure standard application for system wide usage.
(limit characters)
13. Resolve application failures and interruptions to maintain operational continuity.
(limit characters)
14. Provides security status reporting in response to security audits and alerts.
(limit characters)
15. Develop security requirements in the implementation of new systems and major system revisions.
(limit characters)
16. Conduct system security evaluations to ensure information assurance policies are being followed.
(limit characters)
17. Conduct validation procedures on AIS systems to ensure information assurance controls align with Security Technical Implementation Guides (STIG) and/or Risk Management Framework (RMF).
(limit characters)
18. Evaluate security systems for compliance with established security policies and procedures.
(limit characters)
19. Monitor existing information systems for security events and compliance with established policies and guidelines.
(limit characters)
20. Coordinate acquisition of appropriate systems software packages and hardware.
(limit characters)
21. Coordinate the work of other IT specialists in the design and implementation of major automated information systems.
(limit characters)
22. Develop milestones and schedule for a wide range of small to large scale Information Technology projects.
(limit characters)
23. Lead projects made up of cross functional team members while ensuring effective, economical, and accurate management of projects.
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24. Manage project resources to plan, direct, organize, analyze, and monitor a project from inception to completion/final delivery.
(limit characters)
25. Review and approve technical requirements for projects.
(limit characters)
26. Evaluate new applications and software technologies (such as commercial off-the-shelf applications, tools, and operating systems) through research and analysis for potential use in an organization.
(limit characters)
27. Develop systems administration standard operating procedures to codify processes and procedures.
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28. Develop standards and criteria for assessing server performance, availability, capacity, or configuration problems.
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29. Assess server performance, availability, capacity, or configuration problems for proposed changes or improvements.
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30. Develop test plans and test scripts (test impact controls) to test automated information systems.
(limit characters)
31. Identify program interrelationships to understand enterprise design and production impacts.
(limit characters)
32. Analyze functional requirements pertaining to the development of new software.
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33. Applies a thorough systemic knowledge to evaluate system change requests and to determine impact on production systems.
(limit characters)
34. Evaluate major financial management/accounting IT systems, operating concepts, system and security requirements in order to carry out comprehensive reviews of production operations.
(limit characters)
35. Implement and maintain software applications (groups of programs integrated to perform a specific function).
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36. Prioritize proposed system changes and/or developments to ensure target completion dates are met.
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37. Propose policies, standards, and guidelines for software development, and translate and interpret them into meaningful rules to be followed during the application design and coding process.
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Select “Yes” or “No” to the following question(s). (limit characters)
38. Do you certify, to the best of your knowledge and belief, all of the information submitted by you with your application for employment is true, complete, and made in good faith, and that you have truthfully and accurately represented your work experience, knowledge, skills, abilities, and education (degrees, accomplishments, etc.)? Do you understand that the information provided may be investigated? Do you understand that misrepresenting your experience or education, or providing false or fraudulent information in or with your application may be grounds for not hiring you or for firing you after you begin work? Do you also understand that false or fraudulent statements may be punishable by fine or imprisonment (18 U.S.C. 1001)?
(limit characters)