Illustrations are provided in this part as a tool to give insight into the meaning of the FLDs for Factors 1, 4, and 5. Consider each illustration in its entirety and in conjunction with the FLDs. Do not rely solely on these illustrations in evaluating positions.

For additional information about the proper use of illustrations, see the How To Use This Grading Information section of this PCS.

Factor 1 Illustrations

Level 1-7 Illustrations

Cluster 1 – IT Operations and Security

1. Knowledge of cybersecurity principles and enterprise infrastructure is sufficient to lead the implementation of a zero trust architecture across a hybrid cloud environment, ensuring secure access, continuous monitoring, and compliance with federal mandates.
2. Knowledge of performance monitoring tools and systems administration is sufficient to diagnose and resolve latency issues in a multi-site server environment by implementing automated patching and load balancing strategies.
3. Knowledge of incident response protocols and analytical methods is sufficient to investigate a multi-vector cyber intrusion, coordinate containment and recovery, and document lessons learned for future mitigation.
4. Knowledge of cloud migration strategies and IT infrastructure is sufficient to plan and execute the transition of legacy systems to a secure cloud platform, ensuring minimal disruption to mission-critical operations.
5. Knowledge of project management principles and cross-functional IT operations is sufficient to lead a team integrating customer support platforms with backend systems, coordinating efforts across helpdesk, network, and cybersecurity teams.

 

Level 1-7 Illustrations

Cluster 2 – IT Development and Analysis

1. Knowledge of secure coding practices and web development frameworks is sufficient to design and implement a responsive, accessible web application, ensuring compliance with Section 508 and agency cybersecurity standards.
2. Knowledge of data governance and metadata standards is sufficient to establish tagging and retention policies for an enterprise data warehouse, improving discoverability and compliance with federal data strategy.
3. Knowledge of microservices architecture and containerization tools is sufficient to refactor a legacy application into a modular, cloud-native solution, enhancing scalability and maintainability.
4. Knowledge of system integration testing and user acceptance protocols is sufficient to coordinate testing for a new analytics platform, ensuring seamless integration with existing databases and tools.
5. Knowledge of acquisition policies and cost-benefit analysis is sufficient to evaluate and recommend a commercial data visualization tool, lead its implementation, and train end users.

 

Level 1-7 Illustrations

Cluster 3 – IT Strategy and Planning

1. Knowledge of enterprise architecture frameworks and strategic planning is sufficient to develop a multi-year roadmap that aligns cloud adoption, cybersecurity modernization, and digital service delivery with agency mission goals.
2. Knowledge of IT investment planning and cost-benefit analysis is sufficient to evaluate proposed IT initiatives, prepare executive briefings, and advise leadership on prioritization and alignment with strategic objectives.
3. Knowledge of IT governance models and policy development is sufficient to establish an IT governance board, define project intake processes, and implement performance measurement standards.
4. Knowledge of risk management and emerging technologies is sufficient to analyze the impact of AI and blockchain on agency operations, and develop mitigation strategies for integration into the digital transformation plan.
5. Knowledge of interagency collaboration and digital policy frameworks is sufficient to represent the agency in a federal working group, contribute to shared digital identity standards, and ensure internal alignment with enterprise architecture.

Level 1-7 Illustrations 

Knowledge of, and skill in applying:

• Systems analysis concepts and methods
• Customer business requirements
• Life-cycle management concepts, cost benefit analysis
• Policy and planning formulation process
• Requirements analysis methods, and COTS products and components
• Applications software design concepts and methods
• Requirements for certification and accreditation
• Network architecture principles and concepts
• Network optimization techniques
• Internet and cloud protocols
• Database management concepts and principles
• The organization’s data assets, storage, and project management
• Installed operating systems, network systems, applications, protocols, and equipment
• Applications software development, methods for integrating and optimizing components, and infrastructure requirements, customer support principles, concepts, and methods
• Analytical reasoning

sufficient to:

• Develop technical requirements for new or modified applications.
• Evaluate the feasibility of proposed new system development.
• Evaluate the impact of changes in business needs on current policy.
• Translate functional requirements into design specifications.
• Determine and properly configurate systems components.
• Plan and conduct security accreditation review for installed systems and networks.
• Establish connectivity between remote sites.
• Perform network diagnostics, analyzing network traffic patterns.
• Develop data models, produce database design schema for integrating source data into data management systems.
• Troubleshoot database problems, maintain version control of database entities; and advise customers on new database features.
• Establish network access protocols to enable customers to gain local or remote access.
• Provide technical guidance in designing, coding, testing, debugging, and maintaining programs.
• Apply computer assisted software engineering (CASE) tools to the design and development process.
• Test, install, implement, document, and maintain software.
• Analyze and determine optimal hardware and software configurations.
• Provide technical guidance in the design, coding, testing, and debugging process.
• Assist customers in installing applications.
• Troubleshoot post-installation problems.
• Coordinate the technical support of deployed applications.

 

Level 1-8 Illustrations

Cluster 1 – IT Operations and Security

1. Mastery of cybersecurity frameworks (e.g., NIST, FISMA) and enterprise infrastructure is sufficient to develop and implement a zero-trust architecture strategy across a multi-cloud environment, ensuring secure access, continuous monitoring, and alignment with federal mandates.
2. Mastery of hybrid cloud orchestration and systems administration is sufficient to lead the modernization of legacy infrastructure, integrating AI-driven automation and software-defined networking to improve operational resilience and reduce downtime.
3. Mastery of IT governance and risk management principles is sufficient to advise senior executives on cyber risk posture, including the development of enterprise-wide incident response strategies and investment in post-quantum cryptographic readiness.
4. Mastery of cross-domain IT operations and technical communication is sufficient to brief agency leadership on the implications of emerging technologies, such as AI-enabled threat detection, and recommend strategic shifts in IT service delivery models.
5. Mastery of project management and enterprise architecture is sufficient to lead a cross-agency initiative to consolidate data centers, improving service efficiency, reducing costs, and enhancing cybersecurity compliance.

 

Level 1-8 Illustrations

Cluster 2 – IT Development and Analysis

1. Mastery of application architecture and secure coding standards is sufficient to design and lead the implementation of a low-code/no-code platform, enabling rapid development of secure, scalable applications across business units.
2. Mastery of data governance and analytics frameworks is sufficient to develop and institutionalize a federated data strategy, enabling secure, real-time data sharing across agencies while ensuring compliance with privacy and ethical AI standards.
3. Mastery of AI/ML integration and agile development practices is sufficient to lead the deployment of intelligent automation tools that streamline business processes and improve decision-making across mission-critical systems.
4. Mastery of digital service design and user experience principles is sufficient to advise senior leadership on modernizing public-facing platforms, ensuring accessibility, performance, and alignment with digital government goals.
5. Mastery of enterprise IT architecture and technical communication is sufficient to present a comprehensive digital transformation roadmap to executive stakeholders, aligning application modernization with long-term strategic objectives.

 

Level 1-8 Illustrations

Cluster 3 – IT Strategy and Planning

1. Mastery of enterprise architecture frameworks and strategic planning is sufficient to develop a multi-year IT modernization strategy, integrating cloud-native platforms, AI governance, and cybersecurity resilience into the agency’s digital transformation agenda.
2. Mastery of IT investment analysis and governance models is sufficient to advise senior executives on prioritizing technology portfolios, balancing innovation with risk and aligning IT initiatives with mission and policy objectives.
3. Mastery of interagency collaboration and digital policy development is sufficient to lead the creation of a government-wide framework for ethical AI use, ensuring interoperability, transparency, and accountability across federal systems.
4. Mastery of risk management and emerging technology evaluation is sufficient to conduct strategic assessments of post-quantum readiness, advising leadership on necessary shifts in cryptographic infrastructure and procurement planning.
5. Mastery of strategic communication and IT governance is sufficient to brief executive and interagency audiences on digital risk posture, influencing national IT policy and shaping the agency’s role in cross-government digital initiatives.

Level 1-8 Illustrations 

Mastery of, and skill in applying:

• Interrelationships of multiple IT disciplines
• System analysis principles and techniques
• Enterprise IT architecture and, policies and planning concepts and principles
• Performance management and measurement methods and tools, implements business requirements of customer organizations
• Operating system theories and concepts, internet, cloud technologies
• System’s security principles and concepts
• Internet services architecture
• Data mining, storage, and warehousing methods systems development principles and approaches
• Information systems security principles and concepts
• Applications software design concepts and methods
• Network management methods including advanced network technologies
• Customer support principles, methods, and practices
• Project management methods

sufficient to:

• Lead IT systems development projects from design to support.
• Evaluate the impact of the design policies and assess new system design methodologies to improve software quality.
• Establish priorities for IT investments and metrics and associated performance measurement tools.
• Upgrade from hubs to switches, consolidate regional network, and redesign network infrastructure.
• Identify internet policy needs and priorities.
• Lead, plan, coordinate the development of data structures and access.
• Evaluate impact of new and proposed applications on the operating environment.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of installed systems and services.
• Provide advice on and devise solutions to a wide range of IT issues.

 

Factor 4 Illustrations

Level 4-4 Illustrations

Nature of Assignment

Work may consist of any and/or all but not limited to:

• Conducting audits of IT systems development, operations, and management to ensure agency compliance with all applicable laws and regulations.
• Resolving difficult customer support requests, e.g., those involving integration or configuration-related issues.
• Analyzing, evaluating full and/or portion of the enterprise IT, and recommending solutions to meet architectural requirement.
• Implementing and maintaining IT security system.
• Performing end-to-end development of design specifications to include new applications.
• Providing full range of application development for major software projects.
• Install, test, and implement operating system modifications according to vendor’s specifications.
• Serving as local area network (LAN) administrator.
• Implementing new database, structure and format, converting legacy data to new format.
• Managing and optimize Internet protocol (IP) servers to ensure high availability and optimal performance of the organization’s website.
• Developing standard operating procedures and user guides with detailed instructions for implementing IT systems security policies.
• Implementing and maintaining IT security systems that are applied to a variety of applications.

What Needs to Be Done

Performs the following duties:

• Defines client requirements for new and modified systems and services based on analysis of business needs and practices.
• Identifies and breaks down problems using structured problem resolution approaches.
• Identifies system objectives, functions, and customer requirements, and evaluate hardware and software alternatives and systems design strategies.
• Analyzes existing systems capabilities, compatibility, and interoperability, and prepare technical specifications.
• Evaluates current IT systems, including performance, security, capacity, scalability, cost, and other relevant factors.
• Applies widely used architecture reference models to describe systems components, functions, and interrelationships.
• Selects and applies load-balancing tools to provide faster throughput increase server link resiliency and enhance reliability.
• Reviews system documentation including IT project implementation plans, security policies and procedures, hardware, software, and network diagrams and configuration management controls, database administration controls, and contractual agreements for technical support for compliance with applicable standards.
• Coordinates, installs, maintains, troubleshoots, and fine-tunes the LAN including all hardware, software, telecommunications, and networking components.
• Ensures confidentiality, integrity, and availability of systems and data accessible on the LAN.
• Tests and validates the operating environment.
• Designs input and output forms and documents.
• Monitors, evaluates, and reports on the status and condition of IT security programs.
• Describes the organization, format, and database content; and determines physical storage requirements based on analysis of volume, size of records and files, expected growth, access methods, and available data compression methods.
• Assists in planning and coordinating systems design, acquisition, testing, installation, and support.
• Serves as primary liaison with clients on all matters related to systems operations and support.
• Assists in planning and coordinating systems design, acquisition, testing, installation, and support.
• Serves as primary liaison with clients on all matters related to systems operations and support.

Difficulty and Originality Involved

Exercises judgment to:

• Evaluate and determine optimal systems development approaches.
• Integrate a variety of systems development activities.
• Determine when to reconfigure and upgrade IP servers.
• Analyze missions, plans, organization structure, current and planned infrastructures, and other related factors affecting enterprise network requirement.
• Independently determine the feasibility of installing vendor-supplied modifications.
• Solve a wide range of operational and support problems and issues.
• Ensure that changes in client requirements are addressed.

 

Level 4-5 Illustrations

Cluster 1 – IT Operations and Security

Nature of Assignment

Work consists of a variety of duties requiring the application of many different, diverse, and unrelated processes and methods to a broad range of IT activities or functions, such as digital infrastructure, systems integration, and enterprise-wide technologies. Assignments often involve in-depth analysis of IT issues related to interoperability, cybersecurity, and performance optimization across hybrid and multi-cloud environments.

What Needs to Be Done

The employee makes decisions that involve significant uncertainties regarding the most effective approach or methodology to apply, such as selecting a digital strategy, enterprise architecture model, or technical methodology. These decisions are shaped by:

• Ongoing evaluation of stakeholder and customer business requirements.
• Rapidly evolving and emerging technologies, such as zero-trust architecture, AI-driven automation, or edge computing.

Difficulty and Originality Involved

The employee:

• Develops new IT standards, methods, and techniques for operations, support, and security.
• Evaluates the impact of technological change across IT infrastructure domains, including legacy modernization and system life-cycle management.
• Conceives solutions to highly complex technical issues involving governance, resilience, user experience, or cross-functional integration.

The work frequently involves integrating the activities of multiple IT functional areas, such as cybersecurity, systems administration, and network engineering.

 

Level 4-5 Illustrations

Cluster 2 – IT Development and Analysis

Nature of Assignment

Work consists of a variety of duties requiring the application of many different, diverse, and unrelated processes and methods to a broad range of IT activities or functions, such as full-stack development, data architecture, and enterprise-wide web services. Assignments often involve in-depth analysis of IT issues related to system interoperability, data integrity, and performance optimization across distributed platforms.

What Needs to Be Done

The employee makes decisions that involve significant uncertainties regarding the most effective approach or methodology to apply, such as selecting a development framework, data architecture model, or integration strategy. These decisions are shaped by:

• Ongoing evaluation of stakeholder and customer business requirements.
• Rapidly evolving and emerging technologies, such as AI-assisted development, low-code/no-code platforms, and real-time analytics.

Difficulty and Originality Involved

The employee:

• Develops new standards, methods, and techniques for application development, data management, and web services.
• Evaluates the impact of technological change across application and data ecosystems, including cloud migration and platform modernization.
• Conceives solutions to highly complex technical issues involving user experience, data governance, and cross-functional integration.

The work frequently involves integrating the activities of multiple IT functional areas, including development, data engineering, and cybersecurity.

 

Level 4-5 Illustrations

Cluster 3 – IT Strategy and Planning

Nature of Assignment

Work consists of a variety of duties requiring the application of many different, diverse, and unrelated processes and methods to a broad range of IT activities or functions, such as digital strategy, enterprise architecture, and IT governance. Assignments often involve in-depth analysis of IT issues related to interoperability, security, and performance optimization across enterprise-wide systems and platforms.

What Needs to Be Done

The employee makes decisions that involve significant uncertainties regarding the most effective approach or methodology to apply, such as selecting an enterprise architecture model, modernization roadmap, or governance framework. These decisions are shaped by:

• Ongoing evaluation of stakeholder and customer business requirements.
• Rapidly evolving and emerging technologies, such as multi-cloud environments, AI integration, and zero-trust security models.

Difficulty and Originality Involved

The employee:

• Develops new IT standards, methods, and techniques for strategic planning, architecture, and policy.
• Evaluates the impact of technological change across IT strategy and infrastructure domains, including legacy modernization and digital transformation.
• Conceives solutions to highly complex technical issues involving governance, resilience, and cross-functional integration.

The work frequently involves integrating the activities of multiple IT functional areas, including architecture, cybersecurity, operations, and policy.

 

Level 4-5 Illustrations

Nature of Assignment

Work may consist of any and /or all the assignments below but not limited to:

• Plan and coordinate multilayer projects that involve multiple stages in the systems development life cycle management process (e.g. system analysis, software development, data administration and customer support).
• Lead agency-wide IT policy development efforts, and/or agency-wide development of enterprise architecture development that includes future plans.
• Establish, interpret and implement all requirements for agency infrastructure compliance.
• Plan and coordinate agencywide implementation of process improvement methods.
• Develop and standardize system designs methods to improve the quality of software products.
• Manage major changes to the systems environment (e.g., implementation of major new applications or conversion to new operating systems).
• Coordinate work for a multidisciplinary team in diagnosing sources of system interruption, develop and implement corrective actions.
• Develop and translate data models into workable databases, and/or design enterprise database strategies for various functions such as backup, migration and correction of complex operational and performance problems.
• Plan, design, develop, test, implement, and manage internal and external websites to optimize communication with relevant clientele.
• Develop agencywide procedures that respond to threats to the systems confidentiality, integrity, and availability, e.g., checking key files for problems and reviewing running operations to ensure that only authorized processes are running, and/or exercise overall responsibility for continued functionality of all servers in the enterprise LAN.
• Serve as client manager and advocate in all aspects, e.g. ensuring customers services are customized to meet specific customers requirement, to include but not limited during the system development process and from translation functional requirement through system testing.

What Needs to Be Done

Performs the following duties:

• Defines overall project requirements.
• Plans and coordinates systems design, development, and implementation.
• Oversees support of installed systems and services.
• Resolves a wide range of technical and management issues to include reviewing and evaluating agency infrastructure protection programs, policies, guidelines, tools, methods, and technologies.
• Identify current and potential problem areas and update and/ or establish new requirements.
• Develops plans for transitioning from current environment to target environment.
• Conference with IT managers to discuss progress, attainment of goals and timeframe.
• Reviews agency strategic plans to ensure plans for the target infrastructure environment continue to be integrated with agency strategic goals.
• Reviews and refines final products prior to final submission.
• Serves as agency’s principal advocate for the application of process improvement consulting with appropriate agency authority or authorities.
• Identifies and evaluates an effective system design methodologies and benchmark best practices.
• Develops, tests, and evaluates prototypes and the result, and selects methods most appropriate with high customer satisfaction.
• Develops project plans after review and approval of the technical requirements.
• Serves as the expert technical advisor to team members, and as the primary point of contact (POC) between the customers, vendors, and IT management throughout the process.
• Plans and coordinates operating system changes and/or activities with applications developers, telecommunications specialists, facilities managers, vendors, and customers.
• Carefully manages the implementation and deployment.
• Quickly and accurately isolates, identifies and implements corrective action or actions involving network service problems.
• Generates models capable of accommodating new and unanticipated business requirement.
• Selects appropriate modeling methodologies and tools (e.g., CASE data modeling products).
• Maps the overall Web design, structure, functionality, integrity and security.
• Analyzes website statistics and direct on-going maintenance and enhancement efforts.
• Makes recommendations for a fully compliant infrastructure protection program to be implemented throughout the agency.

Difficulty and Originality Involved

Exercises considerable judgment, originality, and resourcefulness in developing, defining plans and implementation strategies to:

• Ensure that systems and services are developed and delivered in accordance with customer requirements and current technology.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of current enterprise architecture framework and ensure recommendations are aligned with agency’s mission and goals.
• Monitor agency’s compliance with infrastructure protection requirements and adjust program guidelines in response to changing technologies.
• Champion the implementation of standardized methods throughout the agency, and advocate the benefits of implementing business-driven quality and process improvement.
• Ensure applications are thoroughly tested, results documented; and security certifications are obtained prior to deployment.
• Resolve all operating system technical and management problems/issues.
• Recommend actions to management to avert future Network challenges to the integrity and availability of the network.
• Ensure selected data models are adaptable, and capable of responding to changing requirements.
• Lead a multi-disciplinary website team, serving as technical consultant in developing web-based applications to include Web-based database management.
• Develop performance standards that can be applied uniformly throughout the LAN, and identify actions necessary to correct performance deficiencies.
• Provide authoritative technical advice and guidance to any and/or the following areas but not limited to system administrators, evaluating new internet, designing and implementing agency-wide software application, database management, diagnosing sources of service interruptions, and /or establishing, implementing, and interpreting the requirements for agency compliance directives and Executive Orders, updating agency’s strategic plans for IT programs.
• Maintain regular contact with all customers and stakeholders and initiate appropriate service modification to meet customer changing requirements.

 

Factor 5 Illustrations

Level 5-3 Illustrations

Scope of the Work

Work involves configuring systems, developing standard procedures, troubleshooting recurring problems, updating documentation, or implementing routine enhancements. The work is carried out under established guidelines and precedents, and supports the operation, maintenance, or improvement of organizational IT systems or services.

Effect of the Work

Work ensures accuracy, reliability, and acceptability of the services or products provided by the IT office or program. It directly impacts the efficiency and effectiveness of IT systems used by customers or other functional areas within the organization. While the work does not typically affect major activities of large organizations or outside agencies, it ensures that users have dependable access to required systems and data, and that minor to moderate problems are addressed promptly to maintain productivity and operational continuity.

 

Level 5-4 Illustrations

Cluster 1 – IT Operations and Security

Scope of the Work

Work involves the design, development, and implementation of new or significantly enhanced operational systems and security frameworks. The employee:

• Establishes operational and security criteria aligned with frameworks such as NIST, ITIL, and Zero Trust.
• Leads major segments of IT modernization efforts, including infrastructure upgrades, systems integration, and automation of operational workflows.
• Conducts in-depth analyses of hybrid cloud environments, emerging cyber threats, and complex incident response scenarios.
• Coordinates with cybersecurity, network, and operations teams to ensure alignment with enterprise risk management and compliance requirements.

Effect of the Work

Work can lead to:

• Cost savings through automation and improved infrastructure efficiency.
• Enhanced information assurance by implementing enterprise-level security controls.
• Improved business processes and service reliability across the organization.
• Better alignment of IT operations with mission and business objectives.

 

Level 5-4 Illustrations

Cluster 2 – IT Development and Analysis

Scope of the Work

Work involves the design, development, and implementation of new or significantly enhanced applications, data platforms, and digital services. The employee:

• Establishes development, data, and web service criteria aligned with frameworks such as DevSecOps, Agile, and data governance models.
• Leads projects involving application modernization, process automation, and digital transformation.
• Conducts in-depth evaluations of cross-platform integration, real-time data streaming, and AI-assisted development environments.
• Coordinates with developers, data engineers, and user experience teams to ensure interoperability and compliance with accessibility and security standards.

Effect of the Work

Work can lead to:

• Cost savings through streamlined development and deployment processes.
• Improved digital service quality, accessibility, and performance.
• Enhanced decision-making through secure, reliable, and integrated data systems.
• Stronger alignment of application and data strategies with mission needs.

 

Level 5-4 Illustrations

Cluster 3 – IT Strategy and Planning

Scope of the Work

Work involves the design, development, and implementation of new or significantly enhanced IT strategies, governance models, and enterprise architectures. The employee:

• Establishes strategic and architectural criteria aligned with frameworks such as TOGAF, COBIT, and the Federal Enterprise Architecture.
• Leads projects involving digital transformation, IT governance modernization, and enterprise architecture development.
• Conducts in-depth analysis of evolving stakeholder needs, emerging technologies, and conflicting policy requirements.
• Coordinates with business units, technical teams, and policy stakeholders to ensure strategic alignment and compliance.

Effect of the Work

Work can lead to:

• Cost savings through optimized IT investments and streamlined governance.
• Improved business processes and strategic alignment across the enterprise.
• Enhanced adaptability to technological change and policy mandates.
• Stronger cross-agency collaboration and system interoperability.

 

Level 5-4 Illustrations

Scope of the Work

Work involves the design, development, and implementation of new or significantly enhanced information systems, policies, or security frameworks. The employee conducts in-depth analyses, evaluates alternative approaches, and applies a broad understanding of emerging IT trends and technologies. The work requires coordination with multiple stakeholders and consideration of interrelated technical and administrative requirements.

Projects may involve leading major segments of IT modernization efforts, establishing enterprise-level security controls, developing strategic IT plans, or implementing new platforms and services that require integration with existing systems and procedures.

Effect of the Work

Work can lead to cost savings, improved business processes, enhanced information assurance, and better alignment of IT with mission and business objectives.

 

Level 5-5 Illustrations

Cluster 1 – IT Operations and Security

Scope of the Work

Work involves:

• Isolating and defining unprecedented technological conditions, such as emergent threats from adversarial AI models or systemic vulnerabilities in legacy cloud infrastructures.
• Resolving critical, cross-domain problems that span cybersecurity, systems administration, and enterprise operations.
• Developing, testing, and implementing new technologies—such as intelligent automation platforms, cryptographic agility frameworks, or zero-trust orchestration—within mission-critical IT environments.
• Leading enterprise-wide initiatives that require coordination with senior leadership, law enforcement, and oversight bodies (e.g., OIG) to investigate and mitigate serious IT security violations.
• Providing authoritative guidance on the application of advanced technologies to support secure, scalable, and resilient service delivery.

Effect of the Work

Work affects technical decision-making by senior subject matter experts and contributes to the development and strategic implementation of major aspects of agency-wide IT programs. This includes:

• Influencing enterprise architecture modernization strategies.
• Shaping risk management frameworks and operational resilience policies.
• Enabling secure, scalable service delivery across the organization.
• Contributing directly to the protection of critical infrastructure and the agency’s ability to respond to major cybersecurity incidents.

 

Level 5-5 Illustrations

Cluster 2 – IT Development and Analysis

Scope of the Work

Work involves:

• Isolating and defining unprecedented technological conditions, such as synthetic data generation for AI training or integration challenges across federated data ecosystems.
• Resolving critical problems across application development, data architecture, and web service domains.
• Designing, testing, and deploying new technologies, such as intelligent automation platforms, adaptive user interfaces, or secure API gateways within enterprise-scale digital environments.
• Leading the development of enterprise data models and metadata strategies that support evolving business needs and regulatory requirements.
• Overseeing the implementation of e-Government platforms and digital services that require integration of diverse technologies and compliance with security and accessibility standards.

Effect of the Work

Work affects technical decision-making by senior IT and data leaders and contributes to the strategic implementation of major agency-wide initiatives, including:

• Federated data governance strategies.
• Enterprise-wide application modernization.
• Digital service transformation and user experience optimization.
• Improved ability to manage, discover, and apply data assets in support of mission-critical operations.

 

Level 5-5 Illustrations

Cluster 3 – IT Strategy and Planning

Scope of the Work

Work involves:

• Isolating and defining unprecedented technological and strategic conditions, such as systemic interoperability gaps, adversarial AI risks, or legacy system constraints in cloud-native transitions.
• Resolving critical problems that span enterprise architecture, IT governance, and digital transformation.
• Developing, testing, and implementing new technologies and frameworks—such as synthetic data ecosystems, cryptographic agility models, or AI governance protocols—within mission-aligned IT strategies.
• Leading cross-agency planning efforts and serving as the principal point of contact for external coordination on enterprise IT initiatives.
• Advising senior executives on the strategic implications of emerging technologies and policy shifts and integrating performance metrics into enterprise planning and investment decisions.

Effect of the Work

Work affects high-level technical and policy decisions by senior executives and contributes to the development and strategic implementation of major agency-wide IT programs, including:

• Enterprise architecture modernization.
• Strategic IT investment planning.
• Cross-agency digital risk and governance frameworks.
• The agency’s ability to adapt to technological changes and meet evolving mission and policy requirements.

 

Level 5-5 Illustrations

Scope of the Work

Work may include the following but not limited to:

• Planning, developing, coordinating and delivering systems and services that are responsive to customer’s needs.
• Providing authoritative technical advice and guidance to senior management and stakeholders concerning emerging IT issues and impact of the issues and the appropriate application of technology in support of agency missions and programs.
• Representing agency in all investigations of serious IT security violations, such as integrity of the organization’s infrastructure (e.g., unauthorized access to financial systems).
• Cooperating, and coordinating with all internal investigation including OIG initiated and all law enforcement organizations.
• Identifying significant real or potential cybersecurity issues, problems, trends, and weaknesses.
• Proposing specific recommendations based on findings and developing strategies for corrective actions to include prevention of futures IT security challenges.
• Evaluating the feasibility of new systems design methodologies that meets agency system design requirements.
• Leading all phases of multiple design teams in the development of system specifications for new major applications.
• Developing and implementing plans, new applications development methods and models that incorporate new technologies, such as object-oriented design and analysis and software architecture.
• Conducting research on emerging technologies.
• Planning, developing, and organizing pilot tests in controlled environments.
• Recommending adoption of new methodologies based on favorable feasibility analyses.
• Leading an enterprise-level network project, such as establishing connectivity for new mission requirements or new customer organizations or accommodating changes in legislation.
• Implementing the full range of project management functions from project planning through evaluation and reporting of project accomplishments.
• Developing and maintaining enterprise data models that define the agency’s information needs and business processes.
• Updating models to reflect major changes in business requirements.
• Establishing and providing guidance in the application of standards and guidelines for the creation of metadata that address current and future.
• Identifying and evaluating both the tools for creating metadata, and designing metadata model format and templates.
• Participating, planning, developing, and implementing an e-Government site used to deliver services to the public.
• Coordinating the acquisition, installation, and configuration of the end-to-end infrastructure supporting the site.
• Ensuring the availability and security of applications installed on the site.
• Integrating diverse server platforms into the existing architecture.
• Serving as the principal point-of-contact with external planning groups.
• Developing policies and procedures for system administration that facilitate cross-agency system interoperability.
• Researching and evaluating new customer service management systems.
• Providing recommendation based on cost benefit analysis.
• Overseeing implementation of new systems and services.
• Integrating metrics within existing performance measurement systems.
• Monitoring and overseeing the implementation of the new system, developing training guides, and monitoring customer support supervisors and managers in their application.

Effect of the Work

• Ensures the agency’s ability to respond to major changes and meet mission requirements through the optimal application of IT systems and services.
• Responds to major business and technical changes which enable agency to make informed decisions on focus and directions.
• Affects agency’s ability to develop, implement and integrates its comprehensive EA program, and expand its advance technological initiatives.
• Contributes directly to the successful investigation of serious IT security violations and effectively protecting the systems infrastructure.
• Results enable continuous assessment and evaluation of new technologies, agency’s system design and development, and systems that support accomplishment of strategic business requirements.
• Enhances the design and development of software applications.
• Results ensure agency’s ability to leverage all advances in network technologies enabling improvement in delivery of services that support agency’s mission requirements.
• Results in agency ability to effectively identify, describe, locate and manage data in a manner that contributes towards the accomplishment of agency mission, while informing customers of the value, attributes and application of data maintained.
• Results provide agency the optimum advantage and opportunity through leveraging Internet technologies in accomplishing its mission and availing customer organizations the ability to deliver mission critical services to a broader and wider population efficiently and effectively.
• Integration of diverse server platform within existing architecture enhances agency ability to effectively and efficiently accomplish its vital business processes.
• Serves as the principal point-of-contact with external groups in the planning and coordination of efforts to enhance the agency’s potential to interoperate across agency lines.
• Researches and evaluates new customer service management systems and integrates metrics within existing performance measurement systems which enhances the quality and responsiveness of customer support services.
• Develops and institutes performance metrics to evaluate effectiveness, efficiency and economy that supports agency mission, goal and increased productivity.