Principal Software Engineer

Summary - Please apply directly through USAJOBS

Announcement amended to revise the close date to November 3, 2025

As an IT Specialist - Principal Software Engineer, you will serve as an expert software engineer and applications developer, providing technical leadership to cross-functional teams, architecting and deploying secure, scalable applications that advance services for the American people.

The Technology Transformation Services (TTS) is responsible for providing scalable software products and services to federal agencies.

This job is open toHelpThe publicU.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.Clarification from the agency

This position is located within the General Services Administration (GSA), Federal Acquisition Service, Technology Transformation Services (TTS), Office of TTS Delivery. We are currently filling 9 vacancies in any of the duty locations listed. Additional vacancies may be filled as needed.

DutiesHelp

Software Engineering/Applications Security Development

Serves as an expert software engineer and applications developer, managing and directing multiple highly complex and innovative IT and information security products, projects, and initiatives.

Employs modern software development languages and frameworks such as Python, Go, JavaScript, TypeScript, , React, Ruby on Rails, Terraform, , HTML+CSS, and/or Rust.

Serves as a principal authority on a diverse range of highly technical and complex software engineering, development, security, and usability issues, as well as more widespread issues affecting customer agencies' missions.

Provides authoritative subject matter expertise in software, security, and service design to internal agency, program office, and employing organization management and staff, as well as external government partners/customers and other stakeholders.

Works to determine product scope and approach, appropriate financial resources, personnel resources, and monitoring overall development and performance of IT products.

Provides Leadership to Product Delivery Teams

Provides leadership in the design, development, security, and deployment of IT software, applications, programs, and/or services leveraging current and emergent technologies and best practices.

Plans, develops, and executes large-scale critical IT software development/engineering security projects that transform the manner in which software engineering is accomplished.

Relationship Management

Establishes and maintains mutual understanding and cooperation with executive, management, and staff stakeholders within GSA and at customer agencies.

Employs creativity, builds coalitions, and maintains situational awareness to solve stakeholder software, security, and related engineering, development, and similar problems.

RequirementsHelpConditions of employment

• US Citizenship or National (Residents of American Samoa and Swains Island)
• Meet all eligibility criteria within 30 days of the closing date
• Register with the Selective Service if you are a male born after 12/31/1959

If selected, you must meet the following conditions:

• Receive authorization from OPM on any job offer you receive, if you are or were (within the last 5 years) a political Schedule A, Schedule C or Non-Career SES employee in the Executive Branch.
• Serve a one year probationary period, if required.
• Undergo and pass a background investigation (Tier 2 investigation level).
• Have your identity and work status eligibility verified if you are not a GSA employee. We will use the Department of Homeland Security's e-Verify system for this. Any discrepancies must be resolved as a condition of continued employment.
• Perform on-call duty outside typical scheduled duty hours, as needed, and directed to respond to and resolve issues related to fraud, platform, engineering, partnership, and/or other comparable issues.

Qualifications

For each job on your resume, provide:

• the exact dates you held each job (from month/year to month/year);
• number of hours per week you worked (if part time).

If you have volunteered your service through a National Service program (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps), we encourage you to apply and include this experience on your resume.

The GS-15 salary range starts at $146,481 per year.

If you are a new federal employee, your starting salary will likely be set at the step 1.

To qualify, you must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-14 level or higher in the federal service.

IT SPECIALIST COMPETENCY REQUIREMENTS:

• Attention to Detail - This skill is generally demonstrated by assignments where the applicant keeps abreast of latest technology, information, research, etc., to maintain knowledge in field of expertise (for example, reads trade journals, participates in professional/technical associations, maintains credentials).
• Customer Service - This skill is generally demonstrated by assignments where the applicant promotes or develops and maintains good working relationships with key individuals or groups.
• Oral Communication - This skill is generally demonstrated by assignments where the applicant serves on panels, committees, or task forces as a representative for the organization on technical or professional issues.
• Problem Solving - This skill is generally demonstrated by assignments where the applicant monitors current trends or events (for example, technological, economic, political, social, educational, or employment trends or events) and applies the information as appropriate.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE:

• Serving as a recognized authority in designing, developing, managing, and directing multiple highly complex IT and information security projects, including large-scale, public-facing applications serving a large number of users. This includes developing digital products using server-side programming, relational and/or non-relational databases, test-driven development, and modern frameworks or languages such as Python, Go, JavaScript, TypeScript, , React, Ruby on Rails, Terraform, , HTML/CSS, or Rust.
• Integrating security and privacy best practices throughout the software development lifecycle, performing technical risk assessments, resolving complex cybersecurity or compliance issues, and advising leadership and stakeholders on security strategy, identity and access management, and regulatory compliance.
• Leading and mentoring cross-functional teams at scale in highly complex, dynamic and agile environments to include planning, developing, and executing large-scale critical IT software projects.
• Serving as a principal technical liaison to internal and external stakeholders, including executive leadership and customer agencies to communicate highly technical information, develop cooperative relationships, resolve conflicting priorities, and provide authoritative guidance on software engineering, security, and IT program strategy.

In addition to the criteria indicated in the Qualifications section, you will be scored using a multiple hurdles approach as part of the application process which will measure your possession of the following competencies or knowledge, skills, and abilities:

• Mastery of, and skill in applying applications software development, design, and information security principles, concepts, methods, standards, and practices.
• Providing expert technical advice, guidance, and recommendations to management and other technical specialists on critical IT issues.
• Expert knowledge of, and skill in estimating resource requirements, defining milestones and deliverables, monitoring activities, and evaluating and reporting on accomplishments.
• Expert knowledge of, and related skill in systems engineering development, concepts and factors, sufficient to ensure applications are optimized for current/state-of-the-art technology and functionality.
• Expert knowledge, and related skill in employing state-of-the-art tools, methods, and methodologies for developing, testing, and deploying IT and information security products and services to evaluate technical advancements.
• Expert knowledge of IT product and project management principles, methods, and practices sufficient to lead ad hoc multifunctional development / cross-functional projects or other teams in software security analysis, design, development, and implementation for new or major enhancements to existing IT products, applications, and systems.
• Knowledge of, and skill in applying written and verbal communications sufficient to building and maintaining business relationships with customer agencies, stakeholders and/or other involved parties at various levels within customer agencies throughout the product life cycle.

Job Type: Full-time

Base Pay: From $146,000.00 per year

Work Location: In person