IT Specialist (Data Engineer)

IT Specialist (Data Engineer) at CMS designs, builds, and maintains data infrastructure to collect, store, and transform raw data into accessible information for data scientists, analysts, and CMS stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Direct the architectural vision and establish enterprise standards for robust data infrastructure, including databases, data warehouses, and systems handling large healthcare data volumes.
• Serve as the principal technical authority for data storage solutions optimized for performance, reliability, and cost efficiency.
• Partner with cybersecurity leadership to author and enforce data protection rules, access controls, audit trails, and data retention policies.
• Design and implement enterprise disaster recovery and backup protocols to ensure uninterrupted data availability and business continuity.
• Architect complex, cross-enterprise automated pipelines to integrate, transform, and sanitize data from diverse internal and external sources into centralized repositories.

Requirements

• Citizenship: You must be a U.S. Citizen or National to apply for this position.
• Background check: You will be subject to a background and suitability investigation.
• Selective Service: Males born after December 31, 1959 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service.
• Probation: One-year probationary period may be required.
• I-9 verification: DHS Form I-9 documentation will be verified through the E-Verify system if selected.
• Direct deposit: All federal salary payments are made by direct deposit.
• Attention to Detail
• Customer Service
• Oral Communication
• Problem Solving
• Designing enterprise-scale data infrastructure, including databases, data warehouses, and cloud storage to support large-scale analytics and mission-critical operations.
• Building automated ETL/ELT pipelines to integrate data from multiple sources into centralized repositories, ensuring data consistency, reliability, and scalability.
• Developing disaster recovery and backup protocols for enterprise data systems to maintain business continuity.
• Collaborating with cross-functional teams and senior leadership to define data engineering standards and align solutions with organizational goals.

Open To

• The public
• U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.
• Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL)
• Federal employees whose job, agency or department was eliminated and are eligible for priority over other applicants

Education

• This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Additional Information

• Bargaining Unit Position: Yes - American Federation of Government Employees, Local 1923
• Tour of Duty: Flexible
• Recruitment Incentive: Not Authorized
• Relocation Incentive: Not Authorized
• Financial Disclosure: Not Required
• Additional Salary Information: Kansas City, MO: 108,173 - 140,627; Dallas, TX: 115,711 - 150,426; Philadelphia, PA: 117,284 - 152,471; Seattle, WA: 119,630 - 155,521; Woodlawn, MD: 121,785 - 158,322
• Workplace Flexibility: Regular and recurring reporting to the CMS office listed; CMS offers flexible arrangements and alternative work schedules at manager discretion
• ICTAP/CTAP: Eligible displaced federal employees may receive selection priority; requires documentation and well-qualified rating

How You Will Be Evaluated

• Evaluation based on how well you meet the listed qualifications and requirements.
• Consideration will use application materials, questionnaire responses, and online assessments; a Subject Matter Expert assists in resume review.
• Competencies assessed include Accountability, Attention to Detail, Customer Service, Decision Making, Flexibility, Influencing/Negotiating, Integrity/Honesty, Interpersonal Skills, Learning, Reading Comprehension, Reasoning, Self-Management, Stress Tolerance, and Teamwork.
• Completion of required steps, including online assessments, is necessary; a cut score may apply to determine eligibility.
• Overstating qualifications or cheating on assessments can lead to removal from consideration.
• Category rating considers Best Qualified, Well Qualified, and Qualified; top-qualified candidates may be referred for employment consideration.
• Process is a Delegated Examining Authority vacancy; new appointments are civil service positions with benefits preserved.
• Veterans' preference provisions apply where applicable.

Required Documents

• Complete Application Package: 1) Resume showing relevant experience; cover letter optional. Note: Resumes must be two pages or less and indicate citizenship and Selective Service status if male born after 1959; include work history and education as applicable.
• CMS Required Documents: SF-50, DD-214, SF-15, etc., as applicable.
• RPL Eligibility Documents: Most recent SF-50 showing position, tenure, grade, salary; separation/RI documentation if applicable.
• Reasonable Accommodation requests and supporting documentation for the USA Hire assessments, if applicable.

How to Apply

• Read the entire announcement and all instructions before applying.
• Submit a complete application package by the stated deadline, including all questionnaires and required documents.
• If USA Hire assessments are required, you will receive a notification with the assessment link and deadline after submission.
• Ace the USA Hire Assessments via the provided link; accommodations can be requested in advance if needed.
• Use USAJOBS to track application status and assessment progress, and to update your submission during the open period.