Information Technology Specialist (Cloud Engineer)

Summary

Help power the technology behind America's innovation system. Join the USPTO's Office of the Chief Information Officer, Enterprise Infrastructure Delivery Office, and Cloud and Network Services Division to support the secure, reliable, and innovative infrastructure that enables the agency's mission. You will work alongside professionals responsible for cloud and network services, engineering platforms, systems architecture, storage, firewalls, and other critical technology capabilities.

Duties

The physical worksite for this position is located in Alexandria, Virginia. Presence at the Alexandria, VA campus is required for this role, as it includes on site functions that must be performed in person. Position may be eligible for situational telework in accordance with agency policy/business unit discretion. The agency currently allows for 52 hours of telework per leave year. This is a key role position for you, if you... GS-09 Strive to join a mission-focused team and help shape the future of cloud and SI capabilities, assist management on plans for efficient cloud storage, lifecycle management, operational support, and AI enablement. Enjoy working with a technology team, participating with higher level managers in the creation of strategic plans for the development, revision, and management of cloud platforms, as well as the provision of cloud tenant support. Play a key role in advancing reliable and mission-focused cloud solutions, assists with the development and maintenance of cloud platform solutions that meet requirements and mission needs. Help promote secure, compliant, and effective cloud operations, assist in the deployment, implementation, and monitoring of cloud-based products to help ensure continuity, availability, and secure operation. Strengthen cloud capabilities across the organization, supporting and monitoring activities that help availability of cloud services. GS-11 Want to build hands-on experience with enterprise cloud technologies and mission-focused solutions, provide technical support for cloud services and architectures and assist in cloud-based projects from planning through completion, gaining hands-on experience with enterprise cloud technologies and mission-focused solutions. Are interested in helping deliver efficient, reliable, and secure cloud operations, supporting cloud storage, lifecycle management, operational support, and related cloud service activities under the guidance of higher-level staff, helping promote efficient, reliable, and secure cloud operations. Enjoy contributing to the delivery and continued improvement of cloud capabilities, assist in implementing cloud platform plans and supporting cloud tenant operations, contributing to the delivery and continued improvement of cloud capabilities. Value well-governed, consistent, and well-managed cloud services, support cloud governance processes by applying established policies, procedures, and standards to cloud service activities, helping to ensure consistent and well-managed cloud operations. Enjoy working with cloud service providers and supporting day-to-day technology operations. Coordinate with cloud service providers as needed to support service implementation and routine operational needs. Qualifications

You must meet the United States Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) qualification requirements (including specialized experience and/or educational requirements) for the advertised position. You must meet all eligibility and qualifications requirements by the closing date of the job announcement. OPM Qualifications Standards are available at Competency-Based Qualification Standard for the Information Technology Management Series, 2210. Specialized Experience is experience that has equipped applicants with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled. To be creditable, you must possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to next lower grade level in the Federal service. GS-09: For this position, the next lower grade level is a GS-07. The specialized experience for this position includes: 1. Experience supporting the development, deployment, configuration, monitoring, or troubleshooting of cloud applications and services, such as AWS compute, storage, databases, or serverless services; AND 2. Experience providing programming, scripting, automation, infrastructure-as-code, or CI/CD tools to support cloud operations, such as Python, Java, React, Terraform, CloudFormation, GitHub Actions, or Jenkins; AND 3. Experience applying established cloud security, governance, and operational procedures, such as access controls, configuration standards, change management, and system monitoring. GS-11: For this position, the next lower grade level is a GS-09. The specialized experience for this position includes: 1. Experience compiling business and technical requirements from stakeholders, development of AWS cloud solutions, while supporting cloud-based services and data-driven mission requirements such as Python, Java, React, Terraform, CloudFormation, GitHub Actions, or Jenkins; AND 2. Experience providing technical support for cloud services, architecture, and related projects, such as cloud migrations, application deployments, infrastructure implementations, or system integrations; AND 3. Experience applying cloud security, governance, and operational requirements, such as identity and access management, vulnerability remediation, compliance controls, configuration baselines, and incident-response procedures. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Education

Education may not be substituted for specialized experience at this grade level. How You Will Be Evaluated

Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses on the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position. You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics): Accountability Attention to Detail Customer Service Decision Making Flexibility Integrity/Honesty Interpersonal Skills Learning Reading Comprehension Reasoning Self-Management Stress Tolerance Teamwork The USA Hire Assessments includes a cut score based on the minimum level of required proficiency in these critical general competencies. You must meet or exceed the cut score to be considered. You will not be considered for the position if you score below the cut score or fail to complete the assessment. If you meet the minimum qualifications stated in the job opportunity announcement, you will be placed in one of three pre-defined categories. These categories are "gold," "silver," and "bronze." Candidates placed in the "gold" category will be identified for referral to the hiring manager and may be invited for an interview. How you will be evaluated for Veteran's Preference eligibility: Preference eligibles with a service-connected disability of 10% or more will be listed at the top of the highest quality category (gold). Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration. The best qualified candidates will be identified for referral to the hiring manager and may be invited for an interview. If referred all relevant documents submitted with your application package will be forwarded to the selecting official, due weight shall be given to performance appraisals and awards in accordance with 5 CFR § 335.103(b)(3), during the interview/selection process conducted by the hiring manager. Falsifying your background, education, and/or experience is cause for not hiring you or for changing your scored responses to questions you've answered, which may affect your overall final score. To preview the application questionnaire, click the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13094153 The United States Patent and Trademark Office is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including sexual orientation), national origin, political affiliation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, retaliation for engaging in protected activity, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factors. If you believe that you have been discriminated against and would like to file an EEO complaint, you must do so within 45 days of the date of the alleged discriminatory act. Claims of employment discrimination must be submitted to the attention of the USPTO's Office of Equal Employment Opportunity via email ([email protected]) or phone (571-272-8292). Other Information

If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System. If you are exempt from registration under Selective Service Law, you must provide appropriate proof of exemption. Please visit the Selective Service System website for more information. This is a Non-Bargaining Unit position. This is a Public Trust position and has a risk level designation of "moderate". Background Investigation - If selected for this position, you may be required to complete a Declaration for Federal Employment (OF-306), which includes a fingerprint and credit check, to determine your suitability for Federal employment and to authorize a background investigation. The USPTO participates in E-Verify. For more information on E-Verify, please visit the Department of Homeland Security Website. All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choice. Relocation Expenses are not authorized and will not be paid. CTAP and ICTAP candidates will be eligible for selection priority if it is determined that they have exceeded the minimum qualifications for the position by attaining at least a "well qualified" rating of 85 out of 100. Information about CTAP and ICTAP eligibility is on the Office of Personnel Management's Career Transition Resources website at: OPM CTAP/ICTAP. CTAP/ICTAP documentation requirements are listed in the 'Required Documents' section of this announcement. More than one selection may be made from this announcement if additional identical vacancies in the same title, series, grade, and unit occur within 90 days from the date the certificate was issued. All application materials become the property of the United States Patent and Trademark Office. 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.