Principal Al Software Engineer

About the role

As a Principal Al Software Engineer you will devise technical strategies and enterprise architectures to drive secure, ethical AI integration across federal agencies, while meeting cybersecurity and operational standards. This position is with the Office of Technology Transformation Services (TTS), Federal Acquisition Service (FAS), General Services Administration (GSA).

We are currently filling multiple vacancies, but additional vacancies may be filled as needed.

What you will do

• Serves as a technical expert contributing to high level, enterprise-wide engineering strategies for Al-enabled systems, computer hardware/software integration, and cloud-native architectures and platforms, delivering impactful solutions for the American people.
• Serves as a principal expert and formulates and directs high level, enterprise-wide Al engineering strategies for Al-enabled systems, computer hardware/software integration, and cloud-native architectures, ensuring compliance with federal mandates, executive orders, and/or other guidelines.
• Designs, develops, and evaluates advanced computer engineering solutions for secure Al system deployment, incorporating cybersecurity-by-design and other state-of-the-art technological advances.
• Leads and coordinates cross-agency Al engineering projects involving large-scale digital transformation, data platforms, and secure computing infrastructures.
• Oversees the integration of Al systems into platforms, ensuring interoperability, data integrity, and performance across cloud and legacy infrastructures.
• Formulates IT policies, procedures, and technical and programmatic guidance and documentation necessary for the implementation of agency IT systems.
• The Technology Transformation Services (TTS) is responsible for providing scalable software products and services to federal agencies.

Requirements

• The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees.
• If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C or Non­Career SES employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the HR Office.
• Failure to disclose this information could result in disciplinary action including removal from Federal Service.
• Position security requirements are dependent on the position for which selected, and may be designated at Top Secret, Secret, High Risk, Moderate Risk or Low Risk.
• Dependent on which position you are selected for you will be required to undergo and pass the appropriate Tier background investigation level.
• You must be granted this clearance before you can start the job.
• 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.
• Any applicant tentatively selected for this position will be required to submit to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment.
• Appointment to the position will be contingent upon a negative drug test result.
• Some positions may require 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.

How you will be evaluated

Your application will be evaluated against the basic qualifications which includes any specialized experience and/or education requirements (if applicable). Qualified candidates will be considered in accordance with the Office of Personnel Management Direct Hire Guidelines. Applications will not be rated or ranked.

Veterans' Preference is not applicable to the direct hire recruitment procedures.

Failure to submit a complete application or missing required supporting documentation may result in you not being considered for the position.

Falsification of your background, education, and/or experience is grounds for non-selection or dismissal if hired. Technical Assessment: Shortly after the job posting closes, eligible applicants will receive an email with a link to a technical assessment to complete.

Responses to the assessment will be used to measure the depth of knowledge in relation to the required competencies for the position. Candidates who pass the assessment will move to the next phase.

Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) Resume Review: Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) will review your resume to determine your technical qualifications for this position based on the required competencies, including the required IT competencies and the specialized experience based on a Pass/Fail process.

ICTAP/CTAP Candidates: The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies.

To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found “well-qualified" for this vacancy.

In addition to meeting the basic qualifications stated in the qualification section of this announcement, well qualified is defined as: experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position, demonstrated by meeting at least 3 out of 5 KSA's listed below: Ability to communicate technical IT, Al, emerging technologies, and related technical information to diverse audiences with various levels of technical expertise and understanding.

Knowledge of Al engineering methodologies to evaluate, design, and integrate Al into enterprise computing platforms. Ability to apply advanced IT principles, concepts, methods, standards, and practices sufficient to develop and interpret policies, procedures, and strategies governing the planning, delivery, and maintenance of projects.

Ability to utilize skill in advanced Al system design, machine learning engineering, cloud-native computing, and secure systems architecture. Ability to make decisions or recommendations that significantly influence important agency IT policies or programs. Demonstration of these KSA's must be supported by your resume.

You may preview questions for this vacancy.

Documents you must provide

• ALL required documents must be submitted before the closing date.
• Review the following list to determine what you need to submit.
• Resume: Must not exceed two pages.
• Refer to the Qualifications section for resume requirements.
• If you are ICTAP/CTAP eligible - submit a, b, and c: (a) proof of eligibility including agency notice; (b) SF-50, and (c) most recent performance appraisal.
• Current or Former Political Appointees: Submit SF-50.

Benefits

You will have access to many benefits including: Health insurance (choose from a wide range of plans) Life insurance coverage with several options Sick leave and vacation time, including 11 paid holidays per year Thrift Savings Plan (similar to a 401(k) plan) Transit and child care subsidies Flexible spending accounts Long-term care insurance Training and development

What to expect next

After the closing date/deadline: STANDING REGISTER The following process is used if your application is complete and active as of the cut-off date deadline. TECHNICAL ASSESSMENT: You will receive an email with instructions to complete a technical assessment. ELIGIBILITY/QUALIFICATIONS: Your application will be reviewed for all requirements.

REFERRAL TO MANAGEMENT: If you meet all the requirements, you may be referred to management for review and a possible interview. SELECTION/TENTATIVE JOB OFFER: If you are selected, you will receive a tentative offer and start the suitability and/or security background investigation process.

FINAL JOB OFFER: Once our security office determines you can come on board, you will be given a final offer, which is typically 40 days after the announcement closes Thank you for your interest in working for the U.S. General Services Administration!

Additional information

Candidates will not be hired based on their race, sex, color, religion, or national origin. Applicants are encouraged to make their resume searchable in their USAJOBS.gov profile. This will allow Federal hiring specialists and hiring managers across agencies to find their resume as part of agency recruitment campaigns or staffing searches.

If you apply to this position and are selected, we will not ask about your criminal history before you receive a conditional job offer. If you believe you were asked about your criminal history improperly, contact the agency or visit GSA's webpage. Relocation-related expenses are not approved and will be your responsibility.

Recruitment/Relocation Incentive On a case-by-case basis, the following incentives may be approved: · Recruitment incentive if you are new to the federal government · Relocation incentive if you are a current federal employee · Credit toward vacation leave if you are new to the federal government Management Rights Additional vacancies may be filled through this announcement in this or other GSA organizations within the same commuting area as needed; through other means; or not at all.

Standing Register Announcement This announcement will be used to fill positions on an ongoing-basis as job openings occur. Eligible applicants who have submitted a complete application by the initial cut-off date, will be considered first. If additional vacancies exist, remaining applicants will be considered as needed.

The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be 09/11/2026. Thereafter, the cut-off for applications received will be every 7 days on Friday unless a Holiday occurs until the job opportunity announcement closes on 12/31/2026.