Systems Engineer

Systems Engineer

Department: Department of Homeland Security

Location(s): Washington, District of Columbia

Salary Range: $121785 - $187093 Per Year

Job Summary: Organizational Location: This position is with the Department of Homeland Security, within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Acquisition, Systems Engineering Division, located in Washington, D.C.

Major Duties:

• Joining Customs & Border Protection (CBP), Office of Acquisition, will allow you to utilize your expertise in engineering to oversee various engineering projects, initiatives, and policies that support the entire Acquisition workforce. This position starts at a salary of $121,785.00 (GS-13, Step 1) to $187,093.00 (GS-14, Step 10). Apply for this exciting opportunity to strengthen the Department's ability to perform homeland security functions. In this Systems Engineering position you will become a key team member of Homeland Security professionals involved in performing analysis and evaluation of System Engineering activities; supporting the preparation and presentation of authoritative advice and recommendations; and formulating and exploring new theories as well as developing, advising, testing new approaches, providing expertise, and writing policy. Typical Work assignments include: Providing Systems Engineering oversight of CBP Programs to ensure their technical aspects are viable and completed in accordance with DHS and CBP policies and procedures; including working across DHS, CBP and applicable components to establish and/or strengthen the application of Systems Engineering in CBP Acquisition Programs across the Systems Engineering Life Cycle. Providing support and guidance to officials, program managers, and the acquisition workforce on the implementation, management, and operation of the systems engineering (SE) process within the Component-with particular emphasis on Research and Development (R&D), System Engineering Life Cycle (requirements, design, interoperability, Test and Evaluation (T&E), Risk Management, Configuration Management etc.), and lifecycle logistics processes. Utilizing SE industry and government best practices including Modeling and Simulation, Model Based Systems Engineering, and Systems Architecture to provide support to acquisition programs; involving overseeing, analyzing, and reporting on the plans, monitoring, management, and conduct of SE work for the acquisition of prototype, new, fielded, or modified systems-including information technology (IT) systems. Overseeing the creation, analysis, assessment, and evaluation of SE plans, reports, and other related program documentation; developing and recommending changes, as appropriate, to existing Component SE policies, procedures and guidelines, and preparing policies and directives relating to SE matters for signature by Component leadership. Providing analysis and assessment of the performance and trends in individual programs such as Analysis of Alternatives and Program Implementation Reviews, as well as across the Component's portfolio, supporting the Office of Acquisition, and may act as liaison to other offices within CBP, DHS, other Government entities, and/or industry.

Qualifications: Basic Requirement: You must provide supporting documentation in your application to show you meet the basic requirement below. A. 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 B. 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. Absent other means of qualifying under this standard, those applicants who achieved such registration by means other than written test (e.g., State grandfather or eminence provisions) are eligible only for positions that are within or closely related to the specialty field of their registration. For example, an applicant who attains registration through a State Board's eminence provision as a manufacturing engineer typically would be rated eligible only for manufacturing engineering positions. 2. Written Test -- Evidence of having successfully passed the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE)2 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. Ordinarily there should be either an established plan of intensive training to develop professional engineering competence, or several years of prior professional engineering-type experience, e.g., in interdisciplinary positions. (The above examples of related curricula are not all-inclusive.) You qualify for this position if you meet the basic requirement listed above and possess one year of specialized experience, as described below. Specialized Experience: GS-13: You qualify for the GS-13 grade level if you possess 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, performing duties such as: Utilizing directives and guidebooks to run Analysis of Alternatives or Program Implementation Reviews; Interpreting and implementing Systems Engineering Policies and Processes; Developing and providing systems engineering artifacts, reviews, and assessments; Conducting analysis to support evidence-based decisions by program offices responsible for acquisitions; and Executing Systems Engineering activities (engineering technical reviews, tailoring plans, design reviews, functional breakdowns, etc.) under supervision of the lead systems engineer or branch chief. GS-14: You qualify for the GS-14 grade level if you possess 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, performing duties such as: Developing directives, policies, and guidebooks for the execution of acquisition lifecycle activities; Reviewing and developing Systems Engineering Policies and Processes; Receiving and providing feedback on systems engineering artifacts, reviews, and assessments; Developing analysis to support evidence-based decisions by program offices responsible for acquisitions; and Executing Systems Engineering activities (tailoring plans, design reviews, functional breakdowns, etc.) with minimal supervision. NOTE: Your resume must explicitly indicate how you meet this requirement, otherwise you will be found ineligible. Please see the "Required Documents" section below for additional resume requirements. 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 qualification requirements, including education if applicable to this position, subject to verification at any stage of the application process by 04/28/2026. 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. Background Investigation: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is a federal law enforcement agency that requires all applicants to undergo a thorough background investigation prior to employment in order to promote the agency's core values of vigilance, service to country, and integrity. During the screening and/or background investigation process, you will be asked questions regarding any felony criminal convictions or current felony charges, the use of illegal drugs (e.g., marijuana, cocaine, heroin, LSD, methamphetamines, ecstasy), and the use of non-prescribed controlled substances including any experimentation, possession, sale, receipt, manufacture, cultivation, production, transfer, shipping, trafficking, or distribution of controlled substances. For additional information on the preemployment process, review the following link: Applicant Resources | CBP Careers CONTINUED IN EDUCATION SECTION

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 for additional information. All application materials, including transcripts, must be in English. 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 Time on 04/28/2026. 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 and you must again upload it by the closing date Please upload your resume under the "Resume" document type. Any other relevant supporting documents should be uploaded under their appropriate document types as mentioned above. Only resumes up to a total of two pages will be accepted. Applicants with resumes exceeding two pages will be removed from consideration. Do not submit documents as a PDF Portfolios. You may submit a curriculum vitae (CV) and attach in the "other document" option. DHS offers competitive salaries and an attractive benefits package, including: health, dental, vision, life, and long-term care insurance; retirement plan; Thrift Savings Plan [similar to a 401(k)]; Flexible Spending Account; Employee Assistance Program; personal leave days; and paid federal holidays. Other benefits may include: flexible work schedules; tuition reimbursement; transportation subsidies; uniform allowance; health and wellness programs; and fitness centers. DHS is committed to employee development and offers a variety of employee training and developmental opportunities. For more information, go to the DHS Careers website and select "Benefits." Disabled veteran leave will be available to any Federal employee hired on or after November 5, 2016, who is a veteran with a service-connected disability rating of 30 percent or more. When U.S. Customs and Border Protection completes their selections, the remaining list of qualified candidates may be shared with hiring managers and Human Resources specialists at additional agencies who are hiring for similar positions. There is no guarantee of further consideration, and you can continue to explore other job opportunity announcements. 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 hc-recordsmgmt@cbp.dhs.gov. View common definitions of terms in this announcement.

Application Deadline: 2026-04-28