Chief Technology Officer

Summary

The Chief Technology Officer (CTO) is the agency’s lead expert on technology strategy, innovation, and modernization initiatives to the Social Security Administration’s Commissioner and the Chief Information Officer (CIO). The CTO provides hands-on technical leadership; actively participates in architecture, design, coding, debugging, and code reviews across CIO product portfolio; and provides real-time guidance to engineering teams on complex challenges.

Duties

• The CTO strategically advances the modernization of mission-critical systems, digital services, cloud and platform technologies, cybersecurity architecture, data and AI enablement, and enterprise infrastructure supporting the administration of Social Security programs and services to the public.
• The CTO collaborates with the agency's CIO and senior agency officials to communicate SSA's technology vision and strategy ensuring that agency architecture can support the growing and evolving needs of the enterprise.
• Additionally, the CTO defines the agency's overall technology strategy and vision, ensuring alignment with the agency's mission, business goals, and objectives.
• The incumbent sets policy, provides governance and oversight, and delivers technical expertise in the following areas: Modernization of mission-critical systems and digital services
• Data and artificial intelligence (AI) enablement
• Solution engineering and technology integration
• Technology governance, standards, and best practices –Data & Systems
• Excellence: Guides database design, SQL optimization, transaction management, ACID properties, distributed transactions, consistency models, and data-intensive applications. –Innovation with
• Al/ML: Champions the adoption of
• Al technologies, including
• Models (LLMs), machine learning pipelines, and
• Al-powered development tools (e.g., GitHub
• Opus 4.6, etc.).
• Integrates these capabilities to accelerate development, improves product features, and enhances internal tooling. –Engineering Culture: Fosters a high-performing, collaborative engineering culture focused on craftsmanship, continuous learning, and delivery of high-quality software.
• Eliminates unnecessary process overhead while maintaining rigor. –Risk & Quality Management: Oversees technical risk, security, scalability, and performance across all products.
• Leads incident response and long-term reliability improvements. —Talent & Team Development: Attracts, retains, and grows top technical talent.
• Conducts technical interviews, coding assessments, and ongoing skills evaluations.

Requirements

• To be considered minimally qualified for this position, candidates must have had responsible professional experience at a senior level (equivalent to the GS-15 in either the General Schedule (GS) or a comparable pay plan).
• Must be a U.S.
• Citizen or National.
• May be subject to a 1-year probationary period (unless already completed).
• Federal employees must be in good standing.
• Federal employees must have a successful performance rating.
• Complete a Declaration for Federal Employment to determine your suitability for Federal employment, at the time requested by the agency
• If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, certify that you have registered with the
• Selective Service System or are exempt from having to do so.
• May be subject to pre-employment and random drug tests Must file an Executive Financial Disclosure Report OGE-278e within 30 days of appointment and annually from then on.
• This position is covered under the post-employment restrictions of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 (PL 95-521).
• You may be required to obtain and maintain an interim and/or final security clearance prior to entrance on duty.
• Failure to obtain and maintain the required level of clearance may result in the withdrawal of a job offer or removal.
• There are three key documents that contain important information about your rights and obligations.
• Please read and retain these documents: Noncriminal Justice Applicant's Privacy Rights, for those who undergo an FBI fingerprint-based criminal history record check for personnel vetting, which includes Rap Back; FD-258 Privacy Act Statement
• FBI (this is the same statement used when your fingerprints are submitted as part of your background investigation); and SEAD-3-Reporting-U.pdf (dni.gov), (applicable to those who hold a sensitive position or have eligibility for access to classified information).

Required Documents

• A complete application includes items described below.
• Please note that if you do not provide all required information, as specified, and by the closing date of the announcement, you may not be considered for this position (or may not receive the special consideration for which you may be eligible).
• Resume (2-page maximum)
• All applicants are required to submit a resume limited to two (2) pages (i.e., 1 page that is double-sided or 2 pages that are one-sided each) showing all relevant experience.
• Your resume must address your technical qualification for the position.
• PLEASE DO NOT USE USAJOBS RESUME BUILDER.
• If you are a current or former Federal employee, you must submit a Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50) that that reflects your grade/step (e.g., a Within-Grade Increase or Promotion/Reassignment), and career or career-conditional tenure in the competitive service.
• You may need to submit more than one SF-50 to prove possession of certain eligibilities.
• Current SSA employees are not required to submit an SF-50.
• If you are a former Federal employee with reinstatement eligibility, you must also submit your separation SF-50 showing your separation was not for performance or conduct reasons.
• If you are a current member of the SES, you must provide an SF-50 documenting your appointment, as well as an SF-50 showing satisfactory completion of the SES Probationary Period.
• You must also provide an SF-50 demonstrating proof of previous career/career conditional service in the competitive service.
• If you are a current Federal employee, you must submit a copy of your most recent performance appraisal.
• You must also include an explanation if you have changed agencies and have not yet received a performance appraisal from your new agency.
• If you are a new Federal employee who has not yet received a performance rating, you must upload an explanation.
• Current SSA employees and VEOA applicants are not required to submit performance appraisals.
• If you are a current Federal employee (non-SSA) applying under VEOA, you must submit a performance appraisal or explanation(s) as required above.
• VETERANS EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES ACT (VEOA) The
• Veterans Employment Opportunities Act (VEOA) includes those eligible for veterans' preference OR have been separated from the armed forces under honorable conditions after 3 or more years of continuous service, including veterans who were separated shortly before completing the required 3-year period.
• For more information visit the Vet Guide.
• If you are claiming veterans' preference, you must submit a copy of your military discharge certificate (DD-214 member 4 copy preferred) or an official statement of service from your command if you are currently on active duty.
• To be acceptable, the document must contain dates and show Character of Service.
• If you are claiming 10-point veterans' preference based on a service-connected disability, you must also submit an Application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference (SF 15) and the required documentation specified on the reverse of the SF-15.
• Preference will be granted based on the documents received.
• If you are a current active duty military member who does not have a DD-214 and are claiming preference under the
• Veterans Opportunity to Work (VOW) Act, you must submit certification from the Armed Forces indicating that you will be discharged or released under honorable conditions from active duty within 120 days of the date on the certification.
• Certifications must be on letterhead from the appropriate military branch and include the following information:
• Military dates of service and expected discharge or release date, the character of service, military rank, type of discharge, and date when terminal leave will begin.
• Certifications must be signed by or under the direction of military members' military personnel offices, unit commanders, or higher headquarters.
• If you are a current
• Federal employee eligible under
• VEOA, you must submit an
• SF-50 as required above. INTERAGENCY CAREER TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PLAN (ICTAP)
• If you are applying for selection priority under ICTAP, you must submit one of the following as proof of eligibility: a separation notice; a
• Action (SF-50) documenting your separation; an agency certification that you cannot be placed after injury compensation has been terminated; an OPM notification that your disability annuity has been terminated; or a
• Bureau notification that you are retired under 5 U.S.C. 8337(h) or 8456.
• Failure to submit any of the required documents by the closing date of the announcement (07/15/2026) will result in your removal from consideration for this position.