Solutions Architect

Description:

IT Specialist (APPSW) Solutions Architect positions are being filled through the Office of Personnel Management's delegated Direct Hire Authority, open to all U.S. citizens. Selections made under this bulletin will be processed as new appointments to the civil service. Current civil service employees would, therefore, be given new appointments to the civil service. Under the provisions of the Direct Hire Authority, Veterans Preference and the "Rule of Many" do not apply.

Requirements:

Resumes exceeding two pages in length will not be considered. Please visit the new resume guidance for more information.

READ ALL SECTIONS OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IN ITS ENTIRETY. THIS INFORMATION IS CRUCIAL TO SUBMITTING A SUCCESSFUL APPLICATION.

Applicants must qualify for the series and grade of the posted position. Experience must be IT related; the experience may be demonstrated by paid or unpaid experience and/or completion of specific, intensive training (for example, IT certification), as appropriate. Your resume must provide sufficient experience and/or education, knowledge, skills, abilities, and proficiency of any required competencies to perform the specific position for which you are applying.

To qualify for the 2210 IT Specialist series , the applicant must demonstrate the following competencies:

• Attention to Detail - Is thorough when performing work and conscientious about attending to detail.
• 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; know about available products and services; and is committed to providing quality products and services.
• 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.
• Problem Solving - Identifies problems; determines accuracy and relevance of information; uses sound judgment to generate and evaluate alternatives, and to make recommendations.

Minimum Qualifications: Grade 14 To qualify at the GS-14 level, applicants must have 52 weeks of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-13 level or above, which is in or related to the work of the position to be filled, that has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. Such specialized experience must include:

• Designing, architecting, and maintaining enterprise-grade solutions using modern technologies and frameworks, including Java, Spring Boot, React, and Node.js.
• Developing and implementing architectural standards, patterns, and best practices for scalable, secure, and high-performance applications.
• Integrating cloud platforms, generative AI, and agentic AI into solution architectures to enhance automation and innovation.
• Architecting and integrating database technologies such as DB2, Oracle, Postgres, and SQL Server for robust data management.
• Collaborating with business analysts, developers, and stakeholders to translate business requirements into technical architectures.
• Ensuring architectural compliance with federal security, privacy, and data governance standards.
• Preparing and maintaining architectural documentation, including system diagrams, specifications, and user guides.
• Participating in code and design reviews to ensure quality, security, and alignment with enterprise standards.
• Supporting system migration, modernization, and digital transformation initiatives.
• Mentoring and guiding technical teams, fostering a culture of excellence and continuous improvement.
• Demonstrating experience in solution architecture, system design, and application development in large-scale enterprise environments.
• Applying knowledge of architectural frameworks (e.g., TOGAF, Zachman) and best practices.
• Participating in system integration, migration, and modernization projects, and supporting the software development life cycle (SDLC), Agile methodologies, and version control (e.g., Git).
• Demonstrating strong analytical, troubleshooting, and problem-solving skills, and excellent written and verbal communication abilities.

Minimum Qualifications: Grade 15 To qualify at the GS-15 level, applicants must have 52 weeks of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-14 level or above, which is in or related to the work of the position to be filled, that has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. Such specialized experience must include:

• Leading the design, architecture, and maintenance of enterprise-grade solutions using modern technologies and frameworks, including Java, Spring Boot, React, and Node.js.
• Developing and implementing architectural standards, patterns, and best practices for scalable, secure, and high-performance applications across the enterprise.
• Directing the integration of cloud platforms, generative AI, and agentic AI into solution architectures to drive automation, efficiency, and innovation.
• Architecting and overseeing the integration of database technologies such as DB2, Oracle, Postgres, and SQL Server to support robust data management and analytics.
• Collaborating with business analysts, developers, and stakeholders to translate complex business requirements into comprehensive technical architectures.
• Ensuring architectural compliance with federal security, privacy, and data governance standards, and providing expert guidance on regulatory requirements.
• Preparing and maintaining comprehensive architectural documentation, including system diagrams, specifications, and user guides.
• Leading code and design reviews to ensure quality, security, and alignment with enterprise standards.
• Supporting and directing system migration, modernization, and digital transformation initiatives at the organizational level.
• Mentoring and guiding technical teams, fostering a culture of excellence, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Demonstrating proven experience in solution architecture, system design, and application development in large-scale enterprise environments.
• Applying strong knowledge of architectural frameworks (e.g., TOGAF, Zachman) and best practices.
• Overseeing system integration, migration, and modernization projects, and ensuring alignment with the software development life cycle (SDLC), Agile methodologies, and version control practices (e.g., Git).
• Providing advanced analytical, troubleshooting, and problem-solving skills, and demonstrating excellent written and verbal communication abilities.

PLEASE NOTE: This Specialized Experience is REQUIRED and must be explicitly documented/described in your resume or you will be disqualified from further consideration. Qualification standards and additional information for this position can be found here: http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/2200/information-technology-it-management-series-2210-alternative-a/