Summary Direct-Hire Authority (DHA) is a hiring authority granted by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to address critical hiring needs or severe candidate shortages. Responsibilities As an Information Technology Specialist (Network Engineer), GS-2210-13, you will serve as a senior Network Engineer responsible for designing, implementing, securing, maintaining, and modernizing the Civil Division's enterprise network infrastructure. You will provide technical expertise and develop secure, reliable, and resilient network solutions supporting mission-critical Department of Justice operations. Specific duties include: Designing, implementing, integrating, and maintaining enterprise LAN, WAN, wireless, VPN, SD-WAN, cloud networking, and hybrid infrastructure solutions. Configuring and optimizing enterprise routing and switching technologies, network virtualization, Quality of Service, IPv4/IPv6, and high-availability solutions. Diagnosing and resolving complex network performance, availability, connectivity, and security issues using packet analysis, traffic analysis, configuration reviews, and performance-monitoring tools. Integrating cybersecurity requirements into network architecture and operations consistent with Zero Trust Architecture, Defense-in-Depth, the Risk Management Framework, and applicable NIST guidance. Engineering and maintaining network security solutions, including firewalls, intrusion-prevention systems, secure gateways, network-access controls, VPNs, encrypted communications, and network segmentation. Conducting cybersecurity engineering reviews and vulnerability assessments and recommending mitigation strategies for identified risks. Supporting cybersecurity incident response, continuous monitoring, containment, remediation, and recovery activities involving network infrastructure. Providing technical guidance for cloud migration, telecommunications modernization, technology refresh, and other enterprise infrastructure initiatives. Evaluating emerging networking and cybersecurity technologies and recommending solutions that improve security, reliability, scalability, performance, and operational efficiency. Coordinating with cybersecurity personnel, system administrators, application teams, cloud engineers, contractors, vendors, and other stakeholders to ensure secure integration and interoperability. Developing network architecture documentation, engineering standards, implementation guides, operating procedures, technical briefings, and recommendations. Advising Office of Information Technology leadership and providing technical guidance and mentoring to other IT personnel. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications To qualify for the position of Information Technology Specialist (Network Engineer), at GS-2210-13, you must meet the basic qualification requirements listed below. Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 level in the Federal service that demonstrates experience in the following areas: Designing, engineering, implementing, maintaining, or troubleshooting enterprise network infrastructure and solutions; Applying network engineering principles to support LAN/WAN, wireless, VPN, cloud networking, and hybrid infrastructure environments; Integrating cybersecurity requirements into network architecture and operations, including Zero Trust Architecture, Risk Management Framework requirements, and vulnerability-mitigation practices; Supporting enterprise infrastructure modernization efforts, including cloud migration, technology refresh, or network transformation initiatives; Analyzing complex network performance, availability, or security issues and developing technical solutions; and Providing technical guidance and recommendations to leadership, stakeholders, and technical teams. You MUST meet all qualification requirements by the 08/18/2026 of this announcement.Your resume must support your responses to the application questionnaire and the qualification requirements. Failure to do so may result in an ineligible rating. See the Required Documents section for important notes about what must be included in your resume. Education Additional Information Additional selections may be made from this announcement. This announcement is being advertised under an agency specific OR a government-wide Direct-Hire Authority approved by OPM for filling vacancies when a severe shortage or critical hiring need exists. Veterans Preference and other Category Rating procedures do not apply to this announcement. Applicants must meet all qualification requirements of the position. The hiring office may interview and select any qualified candidate of their choosing from the qualified pool. See OPM, Direct Hire Authority for more information. Career Transition Programs (CTAP or ICTAP): These programs apply to Federal and/or DOJ employees who meet the definition of surplus or displaced from a position in the competitive service. To receive selection priority for this position, you must: Be rated well-qualified for the position based on the competencies listed above; and submit the appropriate documentation to support your CTAP or ICTAP eligibility. Well-qualified is defined as having knowledge, skills, abilities, and/or competencies clearly exceeding the minimum qualification requirements for the vacancy. Probationary Period: As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: 1) your performance and conduct; 2) the needs and interests of the agency; 3) whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and 4) whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your probationary period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. EEO Statement/Policy: The United States government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service or other non-merit factor. More information can be found here: U.S. Department of Justice Equal Employment Opportunity Policy Issued December 31, 2025 DOJ Reasonable Accommodation Statement: Federal agencies must provide reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the hiring agency directly. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. The DOJ Reasonable Accommodation policy can be found here: https://www.justice.gov/jmd/reasonable-accommodation#policy
