QA Automation Engineer

Summary

IT positions located in the Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Office of Technology and Survey Processing (OTSP) provide IT support to all aspects of BLS data development initiatives. BLS measures labor market activity working conditions price changes and productivity in the U.S. economy to support public and private decision making.

Duties

This is not a software development position. The role focuses on maintaining system reliability and sustaining existing systems rather than building new software capabilities.

OTSP QA Automation Engineers are responsible for the following:

• Software Delivery:
  • Leading end-to-end software delivery in an Agile and/or Agile-Waterfall environment.
  • Using CI/CD platforms (e.g. Jenkins GitLab CI) to automate builds and deployments and apply DevOps practices to strengthen security and delivery.
• Database Configuration Management:
  • Running SQL scripts in Oracle production environments
  • Following strict configuration and change management processes to ensure system integrity and traceability
  • Using project tracking tools (e.g. JIRA Agility Redmine) version control platforms (e.g. GitLab) and database development tools (e.g. Toad SQL Developer).
• System Validation:
  • Conducting system testing including web applications databases and integrated components to validate functionality and reliability.
  • Identifying and documenting issues and risks maintaining technical artifacts and developing clear requirements and user-friendly guides for both technical and non-technical staff.

Requirements

Conditions of employment

• Must be at least 16 years old.
• Must be a U.S. Citizen.
• Candidate required to obtain the necessary security/investigation level.
• Requires a probationary period if the requirement has not been met.

Qualifications

Qualification requirements include meeting minimum proficiency levels for required competencies and demonstrating one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level i.e. GS-12 in the Federal Service.

Competencies

1. Attention to Detail - is thorough when performing work and conscientious about attending to detail. ( Advanced-level proficiency or higher ).
2. Customer Service - works with clients and customers (that is any individuals who use or receive the services or products that your work unit produces including the general public individuals who work in the agency other agencies or organizations outside the Government) to assess their needs provide information or assistance resolve their problems or satisfy their expectations; knows about available products and services; is committed to providing quality products and services. ( Advanced-level proficiency or higher ).
3. Decision Making - makes sound well-informed and objective decisions; perceives the impact and implications of decisions; commits to action even in uncertain situations to accomplish organizational goals; causes change. ( Intermediate-level proficiency or higher ).
4. Information Management - identifies a need for and knows where or how to gather information; organizes and maintains information or information management systems. ( Advanced-level proficiency or higher ).
5. Interpersonal Skills - shows understanding friendliness courtesy tact empathy concern and politeness to others; develops and maintains effective relationships with others; may include effectively dealing with individuals who are difficult hostile or distressed; relates well to people from varied backgrounds and different situations. ( Advanced-level proficiency or higher ).
6. Oral Communication - expresses information (for example ideas or facts) to individuals or groups effectively taking into account the audience and nature of the information (for example technical sensitive controversial); makes clear and convincing oral presentations; listens to others attends to nonverbal cues and responds appropriately. ( Intermediate-level proficiency or higher ).
7. Problem Solving - identifies problems; determines accuracy and relevance of information; uses sound judgment to generate and evaluate alternatives and to make recommendations. ( Advanced-level proficiency or higher ).
8. Teamwork - encourages and facilitates cooperation pride trust and group identity; fosters commitment and team spirit; works with others to achieve goals. ( Advanced-level proficiency or higher ).
9. Technical Competence - uses knowledge that is acquired through formal training or on-the-job experience to perform ones job; works with understands and evaluates technical information related to the job; advises others on technical issues. ( Advanced-level proficiency or higher ).

Specialized Experience

Specialized experience serves as evidence that an applicant possesses the knowledge skills and abilities/competencies required for successful performance in the position. For this position specialized experience is defined as one year of the following:

Demonstrated experience supporting end-to-end SDLC operations across Agile-Waterfall Agile or DevOps environments. Examples of experience indicators at this level may include supporting any of the following:

• Agile flexibility (i.e. iterative-based work with Agile practices) and Waterfall controls (e.g. change requests structured release gating deployment checklists); or
• Agile (e.g. Scrum SAFe); or
• DevOps automation (e.g. CI pipelines automated testing environment deployments)

Education

Education may not be substituted for experience at this level.

Additional information

The mission of the Department of Labor (DOL) is to protect the welfare of workers and job seekers improve working conditions expand high-quality employment opportunities and assure work-related benefits and rights for all workers.

Refer to these links for more information: GENERAL INFORMATION REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION FORMER FEDERAL EMPLOYEES

As a condition of employment all personnel must undergo a background investigation for access to DOL facilities systems information and/or classified materials before they can enter on duty: BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION

For more information click Telework Position Information. This is not a remote work position. The selectee will report to an assigned DOL office location on a regular basis and is eligible for participation in telework as determined by management in accordance with DOL policy.

Based on agency needs additional positions may be filled using this vacancy.

The Department of Labor may use certain incentives and hiring flexibilities currently offered by the Federal government to attract highly qualified candidates. Click here for Additional Information.

The Fair Chance Act (FCA) prohibits Federal agencies from requesting an applicants criminal history information before the agency makes a conditional offer of employment. If you believe a DOL employee has violated your rights under the FCA you may file a complaint of the alleged violation following our agencys complaint process Guidelines for Reporting Violations of the Fair Chance Act. Note: The FCA does not apply to some positions specified under the Act such as law enforcement or national security positions.

All Department of Labor employees are subject to the provisions of the Drug-Free Workplace Program under Executive Order 12564 and Public Law 100-71.

Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e. physical or mental) covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position after notification of the adjudication of your request you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments.

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.

Required Experience:

IC