Summary
As a Software Quality Engineer at the GS-2210-13, you will be part of Office of the Chief Information Officer, Office of Personnel Management. If selected, you will serve as a Software Quality Engineer ensuring enterprise applications and digital services meet quality, accessibility, and security standards through Section 508 Trusted Tester audits, AI-assisted and automated testing, and CI/CD quality gates.
Duties
Serve as a certified DHS Trusted Tester, executing Section 508 accessibility audits across web, desktop, and mobile platforms using assistive technologies and inspection tools (NVDA, JAWS, ANDI, axe DevTools, WAVE) for WCAG 2.1 AA conformance. Serve as the OCIO-wide authority for resolving novel Section 508 conformance questions; document and report accessibility defects and complete VPATs and Accessibility Conformance Reports, validating vendor-supplied VPATs. Lead the evaluation and piloting of AI-powered accessibility testing tools, determining which tools are approved for adoption across OCIO, and use AI to generate and prioritize test cases while defining human-in-the-loop review processes. Design, develop, and maintain automated test frameworks for functional, regression, integration, and accessibility testing using tools such as Selenium, Playwright, or Cypress, with test scripts in Python, JavaScript, or Java. Integrate automated test suites into CI/CD pipelines (Jenkins, GitHub Actions, GitLab CI, Azure DevOps), defining quality gates that block deployment of non-conforming builds. Serve as technical subject matter expert on software quality, test automation, and accessibility; deliver training and represent the agency in interagency 508 communities of practice.
Requirements
Must be a U.S. Citizen or National Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service Suitable for Federal employment, determined by a background investigation May be required to successfully complete a probationary period Candidates will not be hired based on their race, sex, color, religion, or national origin Complete the initial online assessment and USAHire Assessment, if required You will be required to report to an OPM assigned office. This position is not eligible for inclusion in a bargaining unit.
Education
There is no education requirement for this position. Under the Competency-Based Qualification Standard for the Information Technology Management Series, 2210, education may not be required, used in lieu of, or substituted as an alternative for demonstrating the required competencies or specialized experience. Transcripts are not required. Minimum Proficiency Level: *Applicants may qualify by meeting or exceeding the minimum proficiency level established for each of the required competencies. Below is a detailed explanation of the Proficiency Level Scale used to evaluate General Competencies for this position: Level 1 - Awareness: - Applies competency in the simplest or most structured situations. - Requires close and extensive guidance. - Demonstrates awareness but limited practical application. - Learning the foundational elements. Level 2 - Basic: - Applies the competency in somewhat routine or structured situations. - Requires frequent guidance. - Demonstrates familiarity with key concepts and practices. - Beginning to build confidence and independence. Level 3 - Intermediate: - Applies the competency in moderately difficult situations. - Requires occasional guidance. - Demonstrates solid understanding and consistent application. - Able to adapt to new or unfamiliar contexts. Level 4 - Advanced: - Applies the competency in considerably difficult or varied situations. - Requires little or no guidance. - Demonstrates broad and in-depth understanding. - May coach or guide others. Level 5 - Expert: - Applies the competency in exceptionally difficult or novel situations. - Serves as a key resource and trusted advisor to others. - Demonstrates mastery and deep insight into the competency area. - Often leads or mentors others in this area.
How you will be evaluated
You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. 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 Influencing/Negotiating Integrity/Honesty Interpersonal Skills Learning Reading Comprehension Reasoning Self-Management Stress Tolerance Teamwork The USA Hire Assessment 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. 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. Career Transition Assistance Programs: These programs apply to employees who have been involuntarily separated from a Federal service position within the competitive service or Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed. To receive selection priority for this position, you must: 1) meet CTAP or ICTAP eligibility criteria; 2) be rated well-qualified for the position (obtain a score of 85 or higher on the assessments); and 3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your CTAP or ICTAP eligibility. For more information visit: http://www.opm.gov/rif/employee_guides/career_transition.asp.