Full job description

Duties

DHS Cybersecurity Service (DHS-CS) uses a multi-phase assessment process to qualify applicants seeking employment through the DHS-CS. Given the ever-advancing nature of cybersecurity and the ongoing need for cybersecurity talent, DHS-CS uses "Talent Pools" to pull qualified applicants (i.e., individuals who have successfully completed the multi-phase assessment process for their capability and career track/level) for consideration for these jobs.

This announcement is being used to fill the Cybersecurity Research and Development Talent Pool. By applying to this job announcement, you are opting to be part of the DHS-CS Talent Pool for ongoing consideration for employment for relevant open jobs and will remain eligible for consideration for up to one year from the date of completion.

There are a variety of Cybersecurity Research and Development opportunities across the Department, including supporting several specialized programs at the DHS Office of Strategy, Policy, and Plans (PLCY), the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), DHS Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO), and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Depending on your career level and role, DHS Cybersecurity Service employees in the Leadership Career Track, with a technical capability in Cybersecurity Research and Development, will generally apply their expertise to perform a range of tasks, including:

Overseeing and/or leading a team(s) applying knowledge of networks, systems or applications and evidence-based research results to adopted technologies, especially for emerging technologies and threats.
Working with stakeholders to propose and/or develop highly effective systematic and rigorous research solutions, initiatives and projects addressing current and future security threats and vulnerabilities.
Leading or managing a team(s) that design, model develop, and create prototypes of capabilities to enhance cybersecurity infrastructures and detect vulnerabilities in networks, systems, or applications.
Proactively performing validations of specifications and requirements for testability and making recommendations based on test results to inform future research planning for DHS or Component offices.
Proposing, overseeing and/or organizing collaborative efforts to stay abreast of current events, marketplace developments, and emerging and projected threats to integrate new developments into planning activities.
Actively assessing developed cybersecurity capabilities against specifications and requirements to validate functionality at capability and sub-capability levels.
Using known information to prioritize research and development activities and set short and long-term strategic thresholds and objectives to achieve the greatest impact.
Customizing communications on research and development planning and initiatives for different levels of leadership and other appropriate parties in support of mitigating any issues compromising DHS or Component security.
Proactively Identifying and analyzing functional- and security-related features to find opportunities for new capability development and reduce risk.
Working with HQ and/or Component experts to troubleshoot prototype design and process issues throughout the product design, development, and pre-launch phases assisting others who are less seasoned.
Collaborating with internal and external DHS stakeholders to identify, develop and evaluate capabilities for alignment or congruence with existing environment.
Leading or managing a team(s) that perform technical and nontechnical testing on systems under development evaluating and verifying hardware and/or software to determine compliance with defined specifications and requirements.
Developing supporting documentation on research and development procedures applying a disciplined scientific approach in alignment with DHS or Component policies and procedures.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

You must be a U.S. Citizen or national.
You must be 18 years of age.
Must be registered for the Selective Service (if you are a male).
Must be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance. Security clearance levels may vary.
Must be able to submit to a drug test and receive a negative result.
Must be able to comply with ethics and standards of conduct requirements, including completing any applicable financial disclosure.
May be required to serve a 3 year probationary period.
While many of these positions are considered telework eligible, some individuals must live within 2 hrs driving distance to a DHS SCIF in either Chandler, AZ; Stennis, MS; Idaho Falls, ID; Arlington, VA; Pensacola, FL; Springfield, VA or D.C.
Remote work may be available for some positions.

Qualifications

This position is in the Leadership Track across a range of career levels. Employees in this career track generally:

Have between 5-15 years of cybersecurity work experience.
Have between 0-5 years of cybersecurity leadership experience.

DHS Cybersecurity Service employees with a technical capability in Cybersecurity Research and Development will generally:

Conduct technology and/or feasibility research, development, and assessments.
Provide, build, test and support a prototype capability and/or evaluates its security and utility.
Plan, conduct or oversee comprehensive technology research to evaluate potential vulnerabilities in cyberspace systems.
Ensure appropriate security measures are considered throughout each phase of the R&D lifecycle.

DHS Cybersecurity Service employees start at career levels and salaries matching their experience and expertise. In recruiting for this opportunity, DHS may hire employees at higher or lower career levels and associated salaries. To learn more about DHS Cybersecurity Service career tracks and levels, visit our application portal.

This position is focused on Cybersecurity Research and Development.

DHS Cybersecurity Service jobs are structured cybersecurity specializations - called technical capabilities. To learn more about technical capabilities, visit our application portal.

Education

Degrees are not required for jobs in the DHS Cybersecurity Service, but DHS is interested in your level of education and the topics you studied. As you submit initial application information, you will be asked questions about your education.

Additional information

Salary: Listed salary ranges reflects typical starting salaries available to employees in most of the United States across applicable career levels. Within the provided range, average salaries vary for each career level.

Lead Cybersecurity Specialist: $120,600 - $154,500
Cybersecurity Manager: $139,800- $179,000
Senior Cybersecurity Manager: $163,600 - $203,500

In some geographic areas, average starting salaries will be higher because of a local cybersecurity labor market supplement (e.g., metro Washington, D.C. +10%).

Actual salaries of individual employees may be higher or lower than provided figures. For an overview of the salaries available in the DHS Cybersecurity Service, visit Resources.

Benefits: DHS Cybersecurity Service employees receive a range of federal employment benefits designed to support their professional and personal lives. To learn more about benefits, visit our application portal.

More information about the specific benefits available to you will be provided as you progress through the application process.

Background Investigation: To ensure the accomplishment of its mission, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) requires each and every employee to be reliable and trustworthy. To meet those standards, all selected applicants must undergo and successfully complete a background investigation for a security clearance as a condition of placement in this position. This review includes financial issues such as delinquency in the payment of debts, child support and/or tax obligations, as well as certain criminal offenses and illegal use or possession of drugs.

Pursuant to Executive Order 12564 and DHS policy, DHS is committed to maintaining a drug-free workplace and, therefore, conducts random and other drug testing of its employees in order to ensure a safe and healthy work environment. Headquarters personnel in safety- or security-sensitive positions are subject to random drug testing and all applicants tentatively selected for employment at DHS Headquarters are subject to drug testing resulting in a negative test result.

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 that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn 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 the specific benefits offered.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

All DHS Cybersecurity Service applicants participate in a multi-phase assessment process, which varies by career track. For the Leadership Career Track, applicants participate in a three-phase assessment process:

You must successfully complete each phase to advance to the next phase
The total time commitment for the three phases is approximately 5-6 hours (many applicants require less time!)
Before each phase, DHS will e-mail you instructions and information to help you prepare.
Assessments are time sensitive, so monitor your e-mail to ensure you have plenty of time to complete them prior to any deadlines

PHASE I: ONLINE ASSESSMENTS

Unproctored - Completed online within a prescribed period of time
Includes three assessments: (1) a work styles inventory that will take about 30 minutes to complete; (2) a work simulation that you will have up to 2 hours to complete; and (3) a leadership simulation that you will have up to 2.5 hours to complete
The three assessments take about 3 hours (on average) to complete
Requires a computer with audio (speakers or headphones) and a reliable internet connection
No knowledge of DHS or cybersecurity is required for these assessments, which measure non-technical capabilities that are important for professional success in the DHS Cybersecurity Service. This includes how you communicate, analyze information, and collaborate with others:
- The work styles inventory presents you with questions about your work-related interests and preferences.
- The work simulation presents you with realistic, work-related scenarios and asks you to respond to them.

PHASE II: TECHNICAL CAPABILITY ASSESSMENT

Proctored - must be scheduled in advance and completed at a designated assessment center
There is a different assessment for each DHS Cybersecurity Service technical capability (visit Jobs to learn more about the technical capabilities)
Most individuals only have a primary technical capability and complete only one Technical Capability Assessment, but in limited circumstances, you may complete a second Technical Capability Assessment
You will have up to 2.5 hours to complete each Technical Capability Assessment; each takes about 90 minutes (on average) to complete
Assessments present realistic, work-related cybersecurity scenarios/questions to assess technical skills
Cybersecurity knowledge is assessed, but no knowledge of DHS is required

Applicants who successfully complete Phase II will undergo a resume review to confirm required experience. Applicants who pass this review will be invited to participate in a Phase III: Advanced Technical Interview. More information will be provided to such applicants as they progress through the application process.

NOTE: Your resume must explicitly outline your cybersecurity experience.

PHASE III: ADVANCED TECHNICAL INTERVIEW

This interview is conducted on-demand (self-scheduled by you within a prescribed period of time) without live interviewers
Two types of questions will be presented: One type focuses on your previous experience and the other focuses on hypothetical situations or scenarios
This interview takes about 60 minutes (on average) to complete

Your proctored assessment results are valid for a period of one year after completion and will be kept and used toward future positions for which you might apply that require the same assessments.

To learn about the assessment process, visit our portal and read the "Assessment Process" guide.

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 that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn 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 the specific benefits offered.
Required Documents

As a new or existing federal employee, you and your family may have access to a range of benefits. Your benefits depend on the type of position you have - whether you're a permanent, part-time, temporary or an intermittent employee. You may be eligible for the following benefits, however, check with your agency to make sure you're eligible under their policies.
- Your resume. To help you prepare your resume before applying to the DHS Cybersecurity Service, visit our application portal and read the "Resume Tips" guide.
- If you are requesting a reasonable accommodation to the online assessments, submit documentation to support your request, including the Reasonable Accommodation Request Form found here.
- If you are a current or former political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee please submit a copy of your applicable SF-50, along with a statement that provides the following information regarding your most recent political appointment:- Position title- Type of appointment (Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES, or Presidential Appointee)- Agency- Beginning and ending dates of appointment.

How to Apply

To apply for this position, you must complete the initial online questionnaire, required assessments, and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 06/06/2024 to receive consideration. The application process will follow the bullets outlined below.

To begin the application process, click the Apply Online button.

Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all necessary supporting documentation.

Click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59PM (ET) on the announcement closing date.

After submitting an online application, you will be notified whether or not you are required to take additional online assessments through the USA HIRE platform. This message will be delivered via email notification.

If you are asked to take the online assessments, you will be presented with a unique URL to access the USA Hire system. Access to USA Hire is granted through your USAJOBS login credentials.

Be sure to review all instructions prior to beginning online assessments. Note: set aside at least 3 hours to take these assessments; however, most applicants complete the assessments in less time. If you need to stop the assessments and continue at a later time, you can re-use the URL sent to you via email and also found on the Additional Application Information page that can be located in the application record in your USAJOBS account.

Reasonable Accommodation Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended and Americans with Disabilities Act 1990 as amended, that would interfere with completing online assessments on the USA HIRE platform, you will be granted the opportunity to request a reasonable accommodation in your online application. Requests for Reasonable Accommodations for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for Reasonable Accommodation must be received prior to starting the online assessments. Decisions on requests for Reasonable Accommodations 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 online assessments. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the online assessments. To determine if you need a Reasonable Accommodation, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for online assessments here:

Agency contact information

DHS Cybersecurity Service Talent Team

Email

dhscsapplicants@hq.dhs.gov

Address

Cybersecurity Talent Management System
245 Murray Lane SW
Washington, DC 20528
US

Next steps

The DHS Cybersecurity Service application process is designed to both prioritize fairness to all applicants and identify qualified candidates to join the DHS Cybersecurity Service. Successful applicants proceed through the following steps and will receive notifications as each step is completed: Submit Initial Information

Upload resume
Answer questions about your expertise and experience

Assessment + Interview

Complete multi-phase assessment process
Interview with the team you might join

Tentative Job Offer + Background Investigation

Receive a tentative job offer, including your compensation and benefits package
Receive an invitation to start the background investigation process

Final Job Offer + Start Date

Receive a final job offer
Determine your start date

We will notify you by email after each of these steps has been completed. Your status will also be updated on USAJOBS throughout the process. To check your status, log on to your USAJOBS account, click on "Application Status," and then click "More Information."

Note: If you successfully complete the application process and receive a tentative DHS Cybersecurity Service job offer, applicable employment eligibility requirements, including those you must comply with throughout your appointment at DHS, will be communicated to you in writing.

Any offers of employment made pursuant to this announcement will be consistent with all applicable authorities, including Presidential Memoranda, Executive Orders, interpretive U. S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and U. S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) guidance, and Office of Management and Budget plans and policies concerning hiring. These authorities are subject to change.

DHS uses e-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities.(

To learn more about DHS Cybersecurity Service employment eligibility, visit our application portal.

Fair and Transparent

The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy
Reasonable accommodation policy
Financial suitability
Selective Service
New employee probationary period
Signature and false statements
Privacy Act
Social security number request

Required Documents

Your resume. To help you prepare your resume before applying to the DHS Cybersecurity Service, visit our application portal and read the "Resume Tips" guide.

If you are requesting a reasonable accommodation to the online assessments, submit documentation to support your request, including the Reasonable Accommodation Request Form found here.

If you are a current or former political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee please submit a copy of your applicable SF-50, along with a statement that provides the following information regarding your most recent political appointment:- Position title- Type of appointment (Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES, or Presidential Appointee)- Agency- Beginning and ending dates of appointment.

Help

This job is open to

The public

U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.