Data scientist - technical
Location
Chandler, AZ | United States
Job description
Duties
As a Data Scientist at the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO) within the Office of the Chief Data Officer Directorate, you will play a pivotal role in utilizing your advanced technical expertise to address intricate data-related issues. This will involve crafting inventive solutions with a significant national reach, encompassing the creation and application of bespoke algorithms, methodologies, and strategies for data collection, management, and analysis. Your contributions will be vital in developing highly efficient solutions that bolster essential DHS initiatives.
Depending on your career level and role, DHS Cybersecurity Service employees in the Technical Career Track will generally apply their expertise to perform a range of tasks, including:
- Applying technical expertise and knowledge to develop data management standards, policies, and procedures and facilitate and implement effective data mining and warehousing programs for collecting, cleaning, converting and standardizing complex data for analysis.
- Providing specialized technical leadership to conduct hypothesis testing using statistical processes, and applying quantitative techniques (e.g., descriptive and inferential statistics, sampling, experimental design) to assess the validity of source data and develop strategic insights from large data sets.
- Proactively collaborating with systems analysts, engineers, and programmers to design sophisticated applications for integrating data from several disparate sources and using different technologies to provide a unified data view.
- Applying expertise to use a variety of tools, including Google Analytics, to monitor web data, log data, and threat data analytics, to provide a managed flow of relevant information based on cybersecurity mission requirements.
- Implementing or providing expert input into analyzing and defining data requirements and specifications for using various tools and methodologies (e.g., Statistical Package for Social Sciences [SPSS], Statistical Analysis System [SAS], R Analytics, Statistics and Data [STATA]) to discover new patterns and behaviors and provide DHS Headquarters (HQ) and/or Component stakeholders actionable recommendations.
- Planning for anticipated changes in enterprise data capacity requirements and effectively allocating storage capacity in the design of new data management systems, technologies, and architectures.
- Providing technical and nontechnical support for collecting metrics and trending data using enterprise data management systems (e.g., SPLUNK) and cloud-based systems (e.g., AWS).
- Using data visualization tools (e.g., R, Tableau, Flare, Google Visualization Application Programming Interface [API], RGIS) to design charts and exhibit graphic representations for the purposes of providing actionable recommendations to critical leadership officials and stakeholders.
- Using various tools (e.g., SPSS, SAS, R, STATA) and methodologies for analyzing and interpreting complex data to discover new patterns and behaviors and provide usable information to decision makers and other users.
- Monitoring national and international events as well as advances in the field of data science, mathematics, and statistics to keep expertise fresh.
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 Secret security clearance.
- 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.
- Telework/Remote work may be available for some positions.
Qualifications
These positions are in the Technical Track at the Principal and Senior Principal Cybersecurity Specialist career levels. At these levels, individuals generally:
- Have between 12-15 years of cybersecurity work experience.
- Range from experienced professionals who apply technical expertise and independent judgement to perform cybersecurity work - to - recognized Federal cybersecurity technical authorities with uncommon technical expertise who advise on cybersecurity challenges impacting DHS and the Nation.
DHS Cybersecurity Service employees with a technical capability in Data Science will generally:
- Examine data with the goal of providing new insight for the purposes of cybersecurity.
- Design and implement custom algorithms, flow processes and layouts for complex, enterprise-scale data sets used for modeling, data analytics, and research purposes.
- Apply understanding of cybersecurity field to inform analytical methodologies and algorithms selected for implementation.
- Design, build, implement, integrate, and maintain systems and tools for data trend and pattern analysis of cyber data.
- Apply knowledge of statistics and mathematical theory to develop and integrate new and emerging technologies, such as machine learning and deep learning concepts and techniques.
- Communicate insights gained to mission user.
DHS Cybersecurity Service employees start at career levels and salaries matching their experience and expertise. In recruiting for these opportunities, DHS may hire employees at higher or lower career levels and associated salaries.
These positions are focused on Data Science.
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 reflect 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.
Principal Cybersecurity Specialist: $150,800 - $188,000
Senior Principal Cybersecurity Specialist: $166,400 - $207,500
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 Technical 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 4 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 - Un-proctored - you choose the time and location.
- Includes two 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.
- The two assessments take about 90 minutes (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 and 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, and some may be asked to participate in a Phase III: Advanced Technical Interview. This scenario-based interview is used to further assess an applicant's proficiency in a technical capability. More information will be provided to such applicants as they progress through the application process.
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 for this Technical Track position, 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 04/06/2024 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
[email protected]
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
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