IT Specialist (Systems Administration)

at  US Federal Aviation Administration

QUALIFICATIONS

Qualifications Reference: EMP-1.7 & OPM General Schedule Qualification Standards. U.S. Office of Personnel Management Information Technology (IT) Management Series, 2210 (Alternative A): https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/2200/information-technology-it-management-series-2210-alternative-a/
FV-G through K (or equivalent): For all positions individuals must have IT-related experience demonstrating each of the four competencies listed below. The employing agency is responsible for identifying the specific level of proficiency required for each competency at each grade level based on the requirements of the position being filled.
To qualify at the FV-G, you must demonstrate in your application that you possess at least one year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to FV-F (FG/GS 5/7/9).
Specialized experience includes collecting, recording and analyzing data; scheduling, monitor and verifying the integrity of systems backups and restore files related to Computer Aided Drafting (CAD) software on a local level.
OR
Education: Successful completion of a Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university in computer science, engineering, information science, information systems management, mathematics, operations research, statistics, or technology management or a degree that provided a minimum of 24 semester hours in one or more of the fields identified above and required the development or adaptation of applications, systems or networks.
To qualify at the FV-H, you must demonstrate in your application that you possess at least one year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to FV-G (FG/GS 10/11) Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. Specialized experience: includes recommending additional components to improve overall systems performance. Identifies server performance, availability, capacity or configuration problems and initiates corrective action related to Computer Aided Drafting (CAD) software on a regional level. Ability to work with server and/or desktop support.
OR
Education; Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree.
To qualify at the FV-I, you must demonstrate in your application that you possess at least one year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to FV-H (FG/GS-12). Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. Specialized experience includes generating and running simulation models for future applications and evaluates and verifies impact related to Computer Aided Drafting (CAD) software on a national level. Experience writing automation scripts or coding.
1. Attention to Detail - Is thorough when performing work and conscientious about attending to detail.
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.
3. 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.
4. Problem Solving - Identifies problems; determines accuracy and relevance of information; uses sound judgment to generate and evaluate alternatives, and to make recommendation.
Applicants should include specific examples of specialized experience in their Work History.
Qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this vacancy announcement.

EDUCATION

Schools must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Accreditation may be verified at the following website: www.ed.gov/accreditation.
Foreign education must be evaluated by a private professional organization specializing in interpretation of foreign education credentials or an accredited U.S. educational institution in terms of equivalence to a degree acquired at an American college or university. A copy of the evaluation results must be included, otherwise your foreign education will not be considered.
Preview Job Questionnaire
Make sure your resume includes detailed information to support your qualifications and answers to the job questionnaire.

IF YOU ARE RELYING ON YOUR EDUCATION TO MEET QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

• How to Apply

Faxed, mailed and e-mailed applications cannot be accepted.
You must apply online to receive consideration. Your application must be submitted by 11:59 PM Eastern Time on the Close Date for it to be accepted. If you are applying for positions associated with FAA registers, your application must be submitted at the time a referral list is created in order to receive consideration for positions associated with a register.

DETERMINING LENGTH OF GENERAL OR SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE IS DEPENDENT ON THE ABOVE INFORMATION AND FAILURE TO PROVIDE ALL OF THIS INFORMATION MAY RESULT IN A FINDING OF INELIGIBLE.

You may upload completed documents to your USAJOBS Account. This will provide you the opportunity to utilize the uploaded information again when applying for future vacancies. Please see this guide, Document Upload Guide, for more information on uploading and re-using the documents in your applications.

IF YOU ARE RELYING ON YOUR EDUCATION TO MEET QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
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DUTIES

The paramount requirement is knowledge of IT principles, concepts, and methods; e.g, data storage, software applications, and networking. Information technology refers to systems and services used in the automated acquisition, storage, manipulation, management, movement, control, display, switching, interchange, transmission, assurance, or reception of information. Information technology includes computers, network components, peripheral equipment, software, firmware, services, and related sources.

DUTIES AT THE FV-G:

Work in the Technical Category at this pay band is characterized by such assignments as:

• Collects, records and analyzes data/information; identifies problems; performing limited analyses;
• Coordinates with a manager project/program manager, team leader, or more experienced specialist to plan time and use assigned resources to accomplish assignments;
• Performs several, or all of the steps necessary for collecting data after the initial planning has been completed by a senior specialist, lead or the supervisor and when technical supervision is readily available;
• Processes according to exacting but clearly stated standards;
• Schedules, monitors and verifies the integrity of system backups and restore files, as needed;
• Corrects security vulnerabilities in assigned systems in response to problems identified in vulnerability reports;
• Serves as a member of a team responsible for planning and managing large scale server deployment.

DUTIES AT THE FV-H:

• Work in the Technical Category at this pay band is characterized by such assignments as: Collects, records, and analyzes data/information; identifies problems; and performs analysis;
• Plans and carries out projects for collecting detailed data or information from primary sources. Such projects are typically a part of a large and continuing program. Plans and analyzes data. May suggest data sources and prepare interpretive reports of limited scope;¿
• Recommends additional components to improve overall systems performance;
• Plans and carries out projects for collecting detailed data or information from primary sources;
• Plans and analyzes data
• Recommends additional components to improve overall systems performance;
• Plans and coordinates the installation of new products or equipment; e.g., servers;
• Works closely with customer officials to ensure seamless implementation of any software or hardware changes;
• Resolves routine installation problems;
• Identifies and mitigates security vulnerabilities and risks;
• Maintains server integrity and availability;
• Identifies server performance, availability, capacity or configuration problems and initiates corrective or preventative actions.

DUTIES AT THE FV-I:

Work in the Technical Category at this pay band is characterized by such assignments as:

• Provides guidance to lower-level staff on how to solve difficult analytical problems. Provides policy guidance and instruction to others both internally and externally;
• Performs assignments that may include shared responsibility for project/program management. Assignments typically require solutions be derived by interpreting and extrapolating from situations faced in the past. Provides recommendation to improve procedures;
• Contributes to the preparation of complex reports;
• May act as a key point of contact for internal and external audiences;
• Often represents FAA as a senior technical point of contact on projects, programs, and other work activities; Proposes preventive actions and methods for ensuring FAA policies and practices align with emerging changes to transportation industry operations
• Generates and runs simulation models for future applications and evaluates and verifies impacts on the current and planned enterprise IT architecture;
• Provides recommendations to improve work progress.