This position is located in GAO's Science, Technology Assessment, & Analytics (STAA) Team, Innovation Lab. The STAA is devoted to enhancing & expanding its support to Congress in conducting technology assessments, oversight of federal science and technology programs, & development of innovative analytical techniques in carrying out audits and evaluations. The Innovation Lab aims to meet Congress's growing need to understand the science and technology of the future. To learn more visit: STAA

Duties

The STAA, Innovation Lab is seeking an experienced professional to serve as a Technologist (Emerging Technologies) to perform the following: Apply knowledge of software, computational, and/or engineering disciplines and interrelated advanced technology concepts to independently evaluate options as well as lead prototyping efforts across the innovation lifecycle on emerging technologies. These emerging technologies may include distributed ledger technologies (DLT or blockchain), Internet of Things, robotic process automation (RPA), virtual/augmented realities, cloud computing, and 5G technologies. Apply systems analysis and design methods and techniques (such as requirements gathering, feasibility studies, solutions modelling) during prototype development. Expand GAO's prototyping capabilities through a rigorous process of problem definition, ideation, review, revision, and execution to determine the most promising solutions and approaches which, if successful, could profoundly change the business of audit, investigations, and program evaluation for the future GAO. Conduct research across academia, public sector institutions, and commercial providers to collaborate with outside experts for foresights into emerging technologies and how they may impact oversight work in near-term, medium-term, and long-term horizons. Participate in forums, conference, seminars, and panels as expert speakers to articulate technical methodologies as well as oversight considerations. The incumbent may also be called to author or contribute contents for publication, review GAO products for supportable conclusions regarding sound methodological practices, and provide presentations to both internal GAO customers and external customers such as Congressional staff. Identify deficiencies in problem statements, proposed approaches, and/or data access issues which are significant to the design, development, execution, and reporting out of emerging technologies pilots of the Innovation Lab Facilitate change management across processes, methods, and team cultures to successfully integrate innovative emerging technologies (complete user journey and empathy maps). The incumbent needs to understand Generally Accepted Government Auditing Standards (GAGAS) and other standards relevant to GAO work to advise mission teams on best technical approaches to achieve quality results. Applies best practices in DevSecOps (Agile/Lean) to configure, integrate, containerize, orchestrate, and harden open source, web, and cloud-based services, tools, and other computational resources within established information security boundaries. Cloud-based services include Amazon Web Services (AWS) Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS, both GovCloud and standard accounts), Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS), Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), and other evolving as-a-service capabilities. Applies leading federal cybersecurity practices as described in the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) cybersecurity framework to secure prototype solutions, infrastructure, and services. Supports the Assistant Director for Emerging Technology in developing, defining, and driving GAO's strategy with regard to the exploration and deployment of emerging technologies for improved or novel business outcomes. Performs other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Qualifications

In addition to the education requirement, you must have 1 year (52 weeks) of specialized experience at the next lower band or level equivalent to the GS-12 in the Federal Service, or comparable private/public sector experience which has equipped you with the skills and knowledge to successfully perform the duties of the position. Specialized experience for this position is defined as: - technical experience across innovation lifecycle on development of prototype use cases across emerging technologies (e.g. distributed ledger (blockchain), Internet of Things, virtual/augmented realities, and 5G technologies); - developing and/or implementing next generation capabilities in support of audits, investigations, business operations, or other oversight activities; and - demonstrated experience applying best practices in DevSecOps under an Agile development framework. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. You must meet all requirements before the closing date of the announcement.

Education

This is an interdisciplinary, professional position which may be filled as an Computer Scientist or Computer Engineer.

This position has a positive education requirement. To qualify you must meet the requirements for either occupational series listed below. Documentation to verify your education MUST be submitted with your application in order to be considered.

All Engineering Professional Engineering Positions, 800 series (including 854 series):

Basic Requirements. To qualify for this occupational series, you must posses one of the following :

Degree: Engineering. To be acceptable, the program must: (1) lead to a bachelor's degree in a school of engineering with at least one program accredited by ABET; or (2) include differential and integral calculus and courses (more advanced than first-year physics and chemistry) in five of the following seven areas of engineering science or physics: (a) statics, dynamics; (b) strength of materials (stress-strain relationships); (c) fluid mechanics, hydraulics; (d) thermodynamics; (e) electrical fields and circuits; (f) nature and properties of materials (relating particle and aggregate structure to properties); and (g) any other comparable area of fundamental engineering science or physics, such as optics, heat transfer, soil mechanics, or electronics.

OR

Combination of education and experience -- college-level education, training, and/or technical experience that furnished (1) a thorough knowledge of the physical and mathematical sciences underlying engineering, and (2) a good understanding, both theoretical and practical, of the engineering sciences and techniques and their applications to one of the branches of engineering. The adequacy of such background must be demonstrated by one of the following:

1. Professional registration or licensure -- Current registration as an Engineer Intern (EI), Engineer in Training (EIT)1, or licensure as a Professional Engineer (PE) by any State, the District of Columbia, Guam, or Puerto Rico.
2. Written Test -- Evidence of having successfully passed the Fundamentals of Engineering examination or any other written test required for professional registration by an engineering licensure board in the various States, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico.
3. Specified academic courses -- Successful completion of at least 60 semester hours of courses in the physical, mathematical, and engineering sciences and that included the courses specified in the basic requirements under paragraph A. The courses must be fully acceptable toward meeting the requirements of an engineering program as described in paragraph A.
4. Related curriculum -- Successful completion of a curriculum leading to a bachelor's degree in an appropriate scientific field, e.g., engineering technology, physics, chemistry, architecture, computer science, mathematics, hydrology, or geology, may be accepted in lieu of a bachelor's degree in engineering, provided the applicant has had at least 1 year of professional engineering experience acquired under professional engineering supervision and guidance. (The above examples of related curricula are not all-inclusive.)

Computer Science Series, 1550 series:

Basic Requirements:

Bachelor's degree in computer science;

OR

Bachelor's degree with 30 semester hours in a combination of mathematics, statistics, and computer science. At least 15 of the 30 semester hours must have included any combination of statistics and mathematics that included differential and integral calculus. All academic degrees and course work must be from accredited or pre-accredited institutions.

Contacts

• Address Government Accountability Office Human Capital Office 441 G Street NW Washington, DC 20548 US
• Name: Ebonye Watson
• Email: [email protected]