Duties

Start your Cybersecurity career here with us at the Coast Guard's Deputy Commandant for Mission Support (DCMS), Engineering Services Division (ESD). We are among the best places to work in the U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Government.

As an IT Cybersecurity Intern within the Engineering Services Division (ESD) - Sensors and Electronics Branch (SEB), you will assist with designing, developing, testing, and evaluating information systems throughout the systems development life cycle.

Being a CG civilian makes you a valuable member of the CG team. Typical work assignments include:

Building, testing, and modifying product prototypes using working models or theoretical models;
Utilizing models and simulations to analyze or predict system performance under different operating conditions;
Supporting the configuration management processes;
Providing input to implementation plans, standard operating procedures, maintenance documentation, and maintenance training materials.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement.

Key Requirements:

Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.

Must be registered or exempt from the Selective Service. See www.sss.gov

A probationary period is required for the duration of the internship.

Suitable for Federal employment determined by background investigation.

This position requires a Secret clearance.

Be currently enrolled as a freshman, sophomore, or junior at an institution of higher learning, with a particular focus on Minority Serving Institutions - specifically, Historically Black College or University.

Have a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.2 on a 4.0 scale and remain in good academic standing (3.2 GPA or higher) throughout the duration of the fellowship program.

Have a declared major in a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM), Information Technology (IT), cybersecurity, or intelligence-related field.

Be a sophomore, junior, or senior by the start of appointment, and maintain enrollment on a full-time basis.

Unofficial transcripts are required at the time of application.

Qualifications

Basic Eligibility:
In order to be eligible as an intern under the Intelligence and Cybersecurity Diversity Fellowship Program (ICDF), you must be currently enrolled as a sophomore, junior, or senior at a qualifying educational institution defined as a college and/or university and educational institutions or curricula accredited by the U.S. Department of Education. Candidates also:

Must remain in good academic standing as defined by the school, with a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.2 on a 4.0 scale;

Must have declared a major in a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM), Information Technology (IT), cybersecurity, or intelligence-related field;

Must maintain enrollment on a full-time basis and remain in good academic standing throughout the duration of the fellowship program, if selected;

Meet the DHS developed qualifications standards prior to appointment and any physical, suitability, security requirements and if applicable medical clearance; and

If selected, must commit to twelve (12) consecutive weeks of full-time summer employment from the date of onboarding.

To qualify at the GS-03 grade level, applicants must possess 6 months of general experience OR 1 year of successfully completed education above high school, and applicants must have at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-03 grade level in the federal sector. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the particular ability, skill, and knowledge to successfully perform the duties of this position and is typically in or related to this line of work.

Specialized experience must include the following:

Operating Computer equipment

To qualify at the GS-04 grade level, applicants must possess 1 year of general experience OR 2 full years of successfully completed education above the high school level in any field for which high school graduation or the equivalent is the normal prerequisite, and

Specialized experience which must include the following:

Operating Computer equipment

Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the particular ability, skill, and knowledge to successfully perform the duties of this position and is typically in or related to this line of work.

Attention to Detail - Is thorough when performing work and conscientious about attending to detail.

Customer Service - Works with clients and customers (that is, any individuals who use or receive the services or products that your work unit produces, including the general public, individuals who work in the agency, other agencies, or organizations outside the Government) to assess their needs, provide information or assistance, resolve their problems, or satisfy their expectations; knows about available products and services; is committed to providing quality products and services.

Oral Communication - Expresses information (for example, ideas or facts) to individuals or groups effectively, taking into account the audience and nature of the information (for example, technical, sensitive, controversial); makes clear and convincing oral presentations; listens to others, attends to nonverbal cues, and responds appropriately.

Problem Solving - Identifies problems; determines accuracy and relevance of information; uses sound judgment to generate and evaluate alternatives, and to make recommendations.

NOTE: Education cannot be substituted for experience at any grade level.
NOTE: Transcripts must be submitted with your application.

National Service Experience (i.e., volunteer experience): 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.

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, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.

Program Completion and Placement Process:
Those who successfully complete the program, and who are eligible, may enter the placement process for employment within DHS in an excepted service or competitive service position. Permanent placement is not guaranteed, but the expectation is that projected growth within DHS in intelligence and cybersecurity will provide a variety of employment opportunities.

To be eligible for the placement process, participants must have completed the following:

Obtained a bachelor's degree in a STEM, IT, cybersecurity, or intelligence field;
GPA of at least a 3.2 on a 4.0 scale;
Completed 480 hours of work at the Department;
Participated in designated technical and core training;
Collaborated with subject matter expert mentors in intelligence and cybersecurity; and
Completed a challenge project (as designated by the agency).

Veterans' preference does not apply to selection for positions in the ICDF Program per Pub. Law No. 116-260.

Program Benefits:

First-hand, practical experience in intelligence or cybersecurity disciplines;
Individual Development Plans (IDP) providing a roadmap for professional development;
Participation in high priority challenging projects;
Formal and informal training in core and technical competencies;
Access to mentors who will provide advice and support; and
May be eligible for tuition assistance.

Recruitment incentives may be authorized. Must sign a service agreement.

Since the selection is made below the full performance level, the student intern may be promoted up to the target grade without further competition, if all legal and regulatory requirements are met and when recommended by the supervisor. However, promotion to the full performance level is not guaranteed and is dependent on successful performance at the lower grade level(s). All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit.

Must sign a program participant agreement and mobility agreement.

If selection is made below the full performance level, the incumbent may be promoted up to the target grade without further competition, if all legal and regulatory requirements are met and when recommended by the supervisor. However, promotion to the full performance level is not guaranteed and is dependent on successful performance at the lower grade level(s).

Education

This position does have a positive education requirement. If you are including education on your resume, report only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. See Required Documents section for detail.

Only experience and education obtained by the closing date of this announcement will be considered.

FOREIGN EDUCATION: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet Federal qualification requirements if you can show that your foreign education is comparable to education received in accredited educational institutions in the United States. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence with your application. See Recognition of Foreign Qualifications click here

Additional information

Any Offers of employment made pursuant to this announcement will be consistent with all applicable authorities, including Presidential Memoranda, Executive Orders, interpretive U.S. Office of Personnel Management guidance and U.S. Office of Management and Budget plans and policies concerning hiring. These authorities are subject to change.

E-Verify
DHS uses E-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities.

Fair Chance Act
The Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act prohibits the Department of Homeland Security and its Components from requesting an applicant's criminal history record before that individual receives a conditional offer of employment. In accordance with 5 U.S. Code § 9202(c) and 5 C.F.R § 920.201 certain positions are exempt from the provisions of the Fair Chance to Compete Act. Applicants who believe they have been subjected to a violation of the Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act, may submit a written complaint to eva.perez@uscg.mil.

Suitability Statement
If you receive a conditional offer of employment for this position, you will be required to complete an Optional Form 306, Declaration for Federal Employment, and to sign and certify the accuracy of all information in your application, prior to entry on duty. False statements on any part of the application may result in withdrawal of offer of employment, dismissal after beginning work, fine, or imprisonment.

Shared Certificates Statement
Applying to this announcement certifies that you give permission for DHS to share your application with others in DHS for similar positions.

Special Employment Consideration
The Department of Homeland Security encourages persons with disabilities to apply, to include persons with intellectual, severe physical or psychiatric disabilities, as defined by 5 CFR 213.3102(u), and or Disabled Veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30 percent or more as defined by 5 CFR 315.707. Veterans, Peace Corps, VISTA volunteers, and persons with disabilities possess a wealth of unique talents, experiences, and competencies that can be invaluable to the DHS mission. If you are a member of one of these groups, you may not have to compete with the public for federal jobs. To determine your eligibility for non-competitive appointment and to understand the required documentation, click on the links above or contact the servicing Human Resources Office listed at the bottom of this announcement.

Recruitment incentives may be authorized.

Student Loan

Selectee(s) for this position who are newly appointed to a permanent or term position may be eligible for student loan repayment up to $10,000 (pre-tax) for one calendar year. More than one loan may be repaid if the combined repayments do not exceed $10,000. Receipt of this incentive will require a three-year service agreement.

This is a term excepted service appointment not to exceed 4 years. However, interns may be considered for noncompetitive conversion to a permanent appointment within 180 days of completion of educational program requirements.

If you need a reasonable accommodation for the application and hiring process, please contact eva.perez@uscg.mil. Decisions on granting reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. Visit Reasonable Accommodation

Benefits

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

We will review your resume and supporting documentation to ensure you meet the basic qualification requirements. If you meet the minimum qualifications, your experience, education and training will be rated using the on-line assessment to place you in one of three categories. The necessary Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities to perform this job are:

Information Management
Oral Communication

If you meet the minimum qualifications, you will be placed in one of the following categories:

Best-Qualified: Applicants possessing experience that substantially exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position and demonstrate high proficiency in all of the critical competencies, including all Selective Placement Factors (SPF) and appropriate Quality Ranking Factors (QRF) as determined by the job analysis.

Well-Qualified: Applicants possessing experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position and demonstrates acceptable proficiency in all of the critical competencies, including all SPFs and appropriate QRFs as determined by the job analysis.

Qualified: Applicants possessing experience that meets the minimum qualifications of the position and demonstrate basic proficiency in most of the critical competencies, including all SPFs and appropriate QRFs as determined by the job analysis.

If you are best qualified, you may be referred to the hiring manager for consideration and may be called for an interview. Preview the job questionnaire https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12592498.

Veterans: Veterans' preference does not apply to selection for positions in the ICDF Program per Pub. Law No. 116-260.

Benefits

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
Required Documents
As a new or existing federal employee, you and your family may have access to a range of benefits. Your benefits depend on the type of position you have - whether you're a permanent, part-time, temporary or an intermittent employee. You may be eligible for the following benefits, however, check with your agency to make sure you're eligible under their policies.
- Your resume - showing relevant work/volunteer experience, education, and training. Include the start and end dates (from month/date/year to month/date/year) and the number of hours per week worked/volunteered.
- Your responses to the job questionnaire https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12592498-
- Are you a current or former federal employee? Submit a copy of your most recent SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action that demonstrates your eligibility for consideration, e.g., length of time you have been in your current grade; your highest grade held; your current promotion potential and proof of permanent appointment if applying based on an interchange agreement. Examples of appropriate SF-50s include promotions, within-grade increases and accessions.
- Are you qualifying based on education? Submit a copy of your college transcript (unofficial is acceptable) from an accredited institution. Once selected and prior to appointment, applicants must provide an official college transcript. Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet Federal qualification requirements if you can show that your foreign education is comparable to education received in accredited educational institutions in the United States. For example, specific courses accepted for college-level credit by an accredited U.S. college or university, or foreign education evaluated by an organization recognized for accreditation by the Department of Education as education equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. college or university. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence with your application. See Recognition of Foreign Qualifications for more information.
Submit the following:
- A copy of your agency notice,
- A copy of your most recent performance rating, and
- A copy of your most recent SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, noting your current position, grade level and duty location.
- Are you a current or former political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SESor Presidential Appointee employee? Submit a copy of your applicable SF-50, along with a statement that provides the following information regarding your most recent political appointment:
- Position title
- Type of appointment (Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES, or Presidential Appointee) Agency
- Beginning and ending dates of appointment
6. OPM must authorize employment offers for former or current Political Appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
How to Apply
To begin your online application, click "Apply Online" to create a USAJOBS account and follow the prompts or log in to your existing account. Your application packet must include a completed assessment questionnaire, a resume, and any applicable and or required supporting documentation. Please see the "Required Documents" section below for additional information. All application materials, including transcripts, must be in English. We encourage you to apply online.

Applications and supporting documentation will not be accepted by mail or email. The address below is for inquiries only. You may apply more than once, but the most recent application is the only one that will be used. You must submit your resume, your online questionnaire, and any supporting documents by 11:59 PM eastern standard time on 11/05/2024.

It is your responsibility to verify that any information entered or uploaded is received and is accurate. Human Resources will not modify or change any part of your application. Determining your eligibility and qualifications is dependent on the supporting documentation and information provided, which may impact your referral for further consideration. If a document is not legible, you will not be able to view it in your application.

To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account (https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login), all of your applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/.
- If you are unable to apply online, you must request an alternative application which is available from the Human Resources Office. Please contact Eva Perez at eva.perez@uscg.mil to obtain an alternative application.
Agency contact information

Eva Perez
Email

eva.perez@uscg.mil
Address

C5ISC SENSORS and ELECTRONICS BRANCH
DO NOT MAIL
PORTSMOUTH, VA 23703
US

Next steps

Once you submit your application, we will assess your experience and training, identify the best-qualified applicants, and refer those applications to the hiring manager for further consideration and interviews. We will notify you by email after each of these steps has been completed. Your status will also be updated on USAJOBS throughout the process. To check your status, log on to your USAJOBS account, click on "Application Status," and then click "More Information." We expect to make a job offer within 60 days after the deadline for applications. If you are selected, we will conduct a suitability/security background investigation. View more information on applying for federal employment.
Fair and Transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
- Criminal history inquiries
- Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy
- Financial suitability
- New employee probationary period
- Privacy Act
- Reasonable accommodation policy
- Selective Service
- Signature and false statements
- Social security number request

Required Documents

Your resume - showing relevant work/volunteer experience, education, and training. Include the start and end dates (from month/date/year to month/date/year) and the number of hours per week worked/volunteered.
Your responses to the job questionnaire https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12592498-
Are you a current or former federal employee? Submit a copy of your most recent SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action that demonstrates your eligibility for consideration, e.g., length of time you have been in your current grade; your highest grade held; your current promotion potential and proof of permanent appointment if applying based on an interchange agreement. Examples of appropriate SF-50s include promotions, within-grade increases and accessions.
Are you qualifying based on education? Submit a copy of your college transcript (unofficial is acceptable) from an accredited institution. Once selected and prior to appointment, applicants must provide an official college transcript. Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet Federal qualification requirements if you can show that your foreign education is comparable to education received in accredited educational institutions in the United States. For example, specific courses accepted for college-level credit by an accredited U.S. college or university, or foreign education evaluated by an organization recognized for accreditation by the Department of Education as education equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. college or university. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence with your application. See Recognition of Foreign Qualifications for more information.

Submit the following:

A copy of your agency notice,
A copy of your most recent performance rating, and
A copy of your most recent SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, noting your current position, grade level and duty location.

Are you a current or former political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SESor Presidential Appointee employee? Submit a copy of your applicable SF-50, along with a statement that provides the following information regarding your most recent political appointment:
Position title
Type of appointment (Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES, or Presidential Appointee) Agency
Beginning and ending dates of appointment

6. OPM must authorize employment offers for former or current Political Appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

Help

This job is open to

The public

U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

Students

Current students enrolled in accredited educational institutions from high school to graduate level. Includes internships, pathways and other student programs.

Clarification from the agency

Intelligence and Cybersecurity Diversity Fellowship (ICDF) Subject position(s) will be filled through the Intelligence and Cybersecurity Diversity Fellowship (ICDF): https://www.dhs.gov/homeland-security-careers/intelligence-and-cybersecurity-diversity-fellowship-program

Duties

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

Qualifications

Education

Additional information

How You Will Be Evaluated

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Agency contact information

Next steps

Required Documents

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

This job is open to

Clarification from the agency

U.S. Coast Guard jobs

Student Trainee (IT CYBER SPEC SYSANALYSIS-INFOSEC) ICD Fellowship