Software Testing Specialist

About the role

PLEASE NOTE: Based on the current hiring restrictions, selectees may be subject to additional approvals prior to an offer being extended. This position is located at Bureau of the Fiscal Service, Debt Solutions Support Division.

As a Software Testing Specialist, you will be responsible for managing assignments in the delivery of a variety of services relating to software testing in disbursing and debt management.

What you will do

• Report on the status and progress of assigned software testing assignments, ensuring that the supervisor's instructions on work priorities, methods, deadlines, and quality have been met.
• Research, learn, and apply a wide range of qualitative and or quantitative methods to identify, assess, analyze, and improve test team effectiveness, efficiency and work products.
• Develop automated test scripts using automated off-the-shelf software or other programming methods to conduct routine personnel transactions testing (e.g., scenarios, scripts, data, and expected results for functional and performance testing).
• Analyze and provide performance testing considerations and expected performance impact on existing functionality for all directly related activities associated with Change Request (CR) or modification deployment.

Requirements

• All newly appointed employees to the competitive (or excepted) service are subject to a probationary (or trial) period.
• During this time, your performance, conduct, and suitability for continued employment will be evaluated.
• You will not automatically convert to permanent status at the end of the probationary (or trial) period.
• Your supervisor must affirmatively determine that continued employment is in the best interest of the Federal service.
• If no certification is made before the probationary (or trial) period ends, your appointment will be terminated.
• You are encouraged to actively engage with your supervisor, seek feedback, and understand role expectations.
• Additional guidance and support will be provided during onboarding.
• Must successfully complete a background investigation.
• Periodic reinvestigation is required no later than five years after selection and at least every succeeding five years.
• Complete a Declaration for Federal Employment to determine your suitability for Federal employment, at the time requested by the agency.
• Have your salary sent to a financial institution of your choice by Direct Deposit/Electronic Funds Transfer.
• If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System or are exempt from having to do so.
• Go through a Personal Identity Verification (PIV) process that requires two forms of identification from the Form I-9.
• Federal law requires verification of the identity and employment eligibility of all new hires in the U.S. Obtain and use a Government-issued charge card for business-related travel.
• File a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report within 30 days of appointment and annually from then on.
• Key Requirements: Please refer to the "Additional Information" section for additional Conditions of Employment.
• Click "Print Preview" to review the entire announcement before applying.
• To preview the application questionnaire: *** Must be U.S. Citizen or U.S. National

How you will be evaluated

Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (ex: resume and supporting documents), your responses to the application questionnaire, and the results of the online assessments required for this position. Be sure your resume includes enough detail to support your qualifications.

You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics): Attention to Detail Customer Service Decision Making Flexibility Integrity/Honesty Interpersonal Skills Learning Reading Comprehension Reasoning Self-Management Stress Tolerance Teamwork To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process.

In addition to the application and questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment that measures critical general competencies needed to perform the job. Overstating your qualifications or experience in your application materials or questionnaire may result in removal from consideration. Cheating on the online assessment may also result in removal from consideration.

Referral: All candidates who meet all the qualifications and other eligibility requirements may be referred for consideration. This announcement uses the Rule of Many, a numerical ranking process under which eligible applicants receive a numeric score based on the assessment process for the position.

Only applicants who are eligible for veterans' preference receive 5- or 10-point veterans' preference points, which are added to passing scores, as applicable. Applicants are then listed on the certificate in score order, and preference-eligible applicants are listed ahead of non-preference eligibles with the same score.

Qualified preference eligibles with a compensable service-connected disability of 10 percent or more are listed at the top of the certificate in rating order. This announcement uses the cut-off score referral method under 5 CFR 332.402(b)(1). Applicants who achieve or exceed the established cut-off score of 95 will be referred for consideration.

If fewer than three eligible and available candidates per vacancy are available, we may lower the cut score in accordance with our pre-announced supplement strategy and applicable policy until a minimum of three candidates per vacancy are eligible to be referred. When a new cut score is established, all applicants tied at that cut score will also be referred.

If you are a displaced or surplus Federal employee eligible for the Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP)/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP), achieve a well-qualified score of 85 or higher to receive priority consideration. A Subject Matter Expert (SME) may be used in the rating and ranking process.

When the Bureau of the Fiscal Service completes its hiring, the remaining list of qualified candidates may be shared with additional Treasury bureaus. You will have an opportunity to opt-in if you would like your name, application material, and assessment results shared to be considered for employment with additional Treasury bureaus.

There is no guarantee of further consideration, and you can continue to explore other job opportunity announcements. Optional Essay Questions Applicants may choose to respond to four short essay questions (200 words max each) to help us better understand your alignment with the agency's mission. These responses are optional and will not affect the applicant's eligibility.

Documents you must provide

• A complete application includes 1.
• Vacancy question responses, and 3.
• Submission of any required documents.
• Please note that if you do not provide all required information, as specified in this announcement, you may not be considered for this position (or may not receive the special consideration for which you may be eligible).Please ensure all required documents, including any required work samples, narratives, or other materials as stated in this announcement, are attached to your application package.
• All applicants are required to submit a résumé either by creating one in USAJOBS or uploading one of their own choosing.
• (Cover letters are optional.) Please limit your resume to two-pages.
• Applicants with resumes exceeding two-pages will be removed from consideration.
• To receive full credit for relevant experience, please list the month/date/year and number of hours worked for experience listed on your résumé.
• We suggest that you preview the online questions, as you may need to customize your résumé to ensure that it supports your responses to these questions.
• For resume writing guidance, please visit USAJOBS Help Center - How do I write a resume for a federal job?
• VETERANS' PREFERENCE DOCUMENTATION: If you are claiming veterans preference, please see applicant guide for required documentation.
• In order to be considered for veterans preference, you must submit all required documentation as outlined in the applicant guide.
• CAREER TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PLAN (CTAP) OR INTERAGENCY CAREER TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PLAN (ICTAP) DOCUMENTATION: If you are a displaced or surplus Federal employee, click CTAP/ICTAP for eligibility and a detailed list of required documents you must submit in order to be eligible.

What to expect next

Based on your application and your responses to the application questionnaire, you may be presented with instructions on how to access the USA Hire system to complete the online assessments. The online assessments must be completed within 48 hours following the close of this announcement.

You will have the opportunity to request a testing accommodation for the assessment should you have a disability covered under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended. Your assessment results will be kept on record for one year and used toward future positions for which you might apply that require the same assessments.

Additional information

OTHER INFORMATION: We may select from this announcement or any other source to fill one or more vacancies. Factors such as cost effectiveness, labor market conditions and difficulties in filling the position will be reviewed in determining if payment of relocation expenses is in the best interest of the Government. This is a non-bargaining unit position.

This position is a moderate risk position. We offer opportunities for telework. We offer opportunities for flexible work schedules.

This position requires that the successful candidate undergo personnel vetting, which includes a background investigation and enrollment upon onboarding into "Continuous Vetting." Enrollment in Continuous Vetting will result in automated record checks being conducted throughout one's employment with Treasury.

The successful candidate will also be enrolled into FBI's Rap Back service, which will allow Treasury to receive notification from the FBI of criminal matters (e.g., arrests, charges, convictions) involving enrolled individuals in near real-time.

For more information about individual rights, Noncriminal Justice Applicant's Privacy Rights - FBI, FD-258 Privacy Act Statement - FBI, and SEAD-3-Reporting-U.pdf (dni.gov). Our comprehensive benefits are very generous. Our benefits package includes: Challenging work, opportunities for advancement, competitive salaries, bonuses and incentive awards.

Eleven paid holidays, 13 days of sick leave, and 13 to 26 days of vacation time each year. Access to insurance programs that may be continued after you retire. A wide choice of health insurance plans, coverage for pre-existing conditions, and no waiting periods.

We pay a substantial amount (up to 75%) of the health insurance premiums. A retirement program which includes employer-matching contributions.

Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application.

Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA 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 USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision.

You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement.

To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments. (***)