Diplomatic Security: Foreign Service Security Engineering Officer (FS-2550)
About This Position
The U.S. Department of State is developing a rank-ordered list of eligible hires for a limited number of Foreign Service Security Engineering Officer vacancies based on the needs of the Department. Learn more about a career in the Foreign Service and about the Bureau of Diplomatic Security by clicking provided links. There is more to joining the Foreign Service than just salary. Refer to the Benefits section for more information on total compensation. A recruitment incentive may be available.
Qualifications
Specialized Experience:
In addition to meeting the education requirement, candidates must meet the experience requirements below for the following grade levels: FP-06 0-2 yrs of experience FP-05 3-4 yrs of specialized experience; or Masters in one of the required degrees and at least one year of specialized experience FP-04 4+ yrs of specialized experience; or PhD in one of the required degrees and at least one year of specialized experience Candidates for this position should have academic achievements and/or job-related experiences that reflect the following knowledge and skills. For experienced candidates, showing progressively increasing levels of performance and responsibility is required. Examples of specialized experience include but are not limited to: Knowledge of networks and cyber security assessments and testing.
Understanding of the electromagnetic spectrum, and RF interrelationships and characteristics as it relates to the design and operation of electronic and electromagnetic systems. Hands-on experience in the operation and use of electronic instrumentation such as multimeters, oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzer, sound pressure level meters, time-delay reflectors, network analysis and similar equipment that may be applied to test, certify, and troubleshoot electrical, electronic, mechanical, electromechanical and computer systems. Knowledge and hands-on familiarity of computer systems, computer security, and familiarity with operating systems, hardware platforms, and networks.
Ability to read, interpret, create electrical and electromechanical schematics and architectural drawings, including electrical/mechanical building systems drawings. Knowledge of project management to include root cause analysis, project planning and process management. Applying technical security policies, guidance, and standards to risk analysis and risk management.
Managing a budget to include cost analysis, logistics and travel requirements. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) The Department bases its hiring decisions on extensive job analysis research to identify the Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities and other attributes that lead to successful performance in this position. Hiring officials will evaluate each candidate's education, work experience, and other qualifications against these KSA-based criteria.
For experienced candidates, showing progressively increasing levels of performance and responsibility is desirable. Knowledge of Engineering and Technology Knowledge of engineering principles and practices, including relevant disciplines such as electronics and the electromagnetic spectrum. Knowledge of information technology equipment, networks and network protocols, and basic cybersecurity concepts.
Ability to use and understand computer programs and apply risk analysis to technical systems and operations. Technical Skills Ability to read, interpret, and develop schematic diagrams, electrical drawings, and building plans. Skill in selecting, operating, and maintaining electronic equipment and related tools.
Ability to use and, when necessary, help develop test equipment and diagnostic tools. Skill in surveying, evaluating, and documenting technical conditions or systems. Ability to use computer software for analysis, documentation, and reporting.
Project Management Skills Ability to plan and organize projects, including defining scope, timelines, and deliverables. Skill in developing action plans and setting schedules, priorities, and goals. Ability to identify and solve problems using sound judgment and structured analysis.
Skill in making informed decisions under time and information constraints. People Management and Interpersonal Skills Ability to supervise, motivate, and lead employees or project teams. Skill in fostering teamwork and collaboration across diverse groups.
Ability to resolve conflicts and maintain productive relationships. Skill in delivering effective customer service to internal and external stakeholders. Ability to work effectively with individuals from diverse cultural and professional backgrounds.
Intellectual and Communication Skills Ability to think logically and objectively, analyze complex problems, and apply sound judgment to evaluate solutions. Skill in adjusting to changing priorities and meeting tight deadlines. Ability to present technical findings clearly and concisely to non‐technical audiences, both orally and in writing.
Skill in preparing reports, briefings, and other written products that are accurate, well-organized, and tailored to the audience. Ability to conduct research, manage information and knowledge resources, and pursue continuous self-development. Professionalism and Independence Ability to work effectively with others, build cooperation, and earn the confidence of co‐workers, supervisors, subordinates, and non‐technical stakeholders.
Ability to work with minimal supervision and accept responsibility for outcomes and decisions. International Career Readiness Willingness and ability to pursue and sustain an international career. Ability to respond flexibly to worldwide assignment opportunities based on organizational needs.
Ability to manage the demands of frequent global travel, including working in varied and sometimes challenging environments. Upon completing orientation and initial training in Washington, D.C., employees are assigned to two sequential tours, typically two years each, directed by the Department. These entry-level assignments may be overseas or in the United States.
After the initial two tours, employees have greater choice as to the location, length, and substantive nature of assignments. Essential Physical Requirements Some essential functions of this position are physically demanding. Candidates must be able to perform these duties with or without reasonable accommodation.
This position requires the ability to: Vision and Hearing See objects at near and far distances, and when required, at night or in low‐light conditions. Hear speech and other sounds clearly, including low volume sounds or sounds in noisy environments. Speech and Communication Speak clearly so others can understand, including when addressing groups.
Mobility and Access Walk moderate distances. Access workstations and vehicles. Climb stairs, ladders, and other inclines. Crawl under, around, or over objects as needed. Strength, Flexibility, and Dexterity Lift, push, pull, carry, and balance objects, with or without assistance.
Climb ladders while maintaining balance. Bend, stretch, stoop, twist, and reach. Manipulate small objects with hands and fingers. Endurance Perform physical movements repeatedly or continuously. Stand for extended periods.
Take frequent or extended trips by plane or car. Maintain attention and concentration for extended periods and work long or irregular hours. Environmental Tolerance Tolerate exposure to heat, cold, noise, or pollution while performing job duties.
A physical exam of each candidate offered a position is required to ensure that the candidate meets the essential physical and medical requirements necessary to perform the essential functions of the job and can meet the required minimum medical qualification standards. In addition, candidates must have vision that is correctable to 20/20 in one eye and 20/40 in the other, no color blindness, adequate night vision, and good peripheral vision.
Note: Lasik surgery and implantable lens are permitted. Surgical and follow-up reports will be required. Candidates must also have good hearing with no loss of greater than 30 decibels at 500, 1000, or 2000, Hz level.
Note: Use of hearing appliances is not allowed. The musculoskeletal system should have no deformities, diseases, or limiting conditions that would interfere with the performance of duties.
Note: The medical exam is required only after a candidate has successfully passed the assessments. It is not part of the initial application package.
Major Duties
Foreign Service Security Engineering Officers (SEOs) are members of the Diplomatic Security team who protect U.S. Department of State personnel, facilities, and sensitive information against acts of crime, terrorism, and technical espionage. SEOs carry out this mission at over 275 U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide, as well as offices in the metropolitan Washington, D.C. area and Fort Lauderdale, FL.
SEOs are deemed essential security personnel whose duties can vary according to the size of the U.S. presence, the requirements of the specific diplomatic facility, and known threats. The following are the duties and tasks of all the SEO jobs in the Department at all locations and levels to provide a complete understanding of work throughout a career based on the most recent job analysis. Managing Engineering Offices Oversees security networks.
Plans the layout of facilities. Determines required work. Plans projects, oversees project planning on other areas, and documents completed activities. Distributes workload. Coordinates the flow of activities.
Identifies and monitors needed resources. Reports office activities. Evaluates assigned employees. Advocates employee concerns and recognizes employee contributions. Ensures and promotes equal employment opportunities.
Manages office safety program. Creates and maintains web sites. Manages accountable property. Providing Technical Support Throughout Geographic Region Serves as the security engineering subject matter expert in a geographic region.
Monitors the technical security status of constituent posts. Determines required support. Coordinates planned travel. Authorizes and directs regional travel. Designates team leaders. Identifies support and safety requirements.
Installs and replaces security equipment. Oversees equipment testing and maintenance. Addresses emergencies on a timely basis. Supports crisis management. Completing Assessments and Evaluations of Security Provides technical surveillance countermeasures (TSCM).
Performs TSCM inspections at embassies and consulates. Conducts annual technical security assessments. Completes computer security assessments. Ensures material and equipment security. Considers improvements in the technology of adversaries.
Completes inspection and assessment reporting. Serves as a non-professional diplomatic courier. Overseeing the U.S. Department of State's Regional Computer Security Officer Program Serves as a regional computer security officer.
Inspects regional computer facilities. Formally evaluates information technology assessments. Designs, improves, or modifies information technology networks. Manages cyber security programs. Directing Engineering Disciplines Works as a design engineer.
Works as a systems engineer. Works as a radio-frequency engineer. Works as a project engineer. Works as a network engineer. Works as an emanations engineer. Works as a biometrics countermeasures/verification engineer.
Develops requests for proposals. Serves on technical evaluation panels. Serves as a contracting officer's representative. Serves on interagency committees. Develops special projects for physical security in high threat posts.
Monitors the development of new equipment. Evaluates equipment proposed for controlled access areas. Designs installation guidance plans. Specifies equipment, supplies, and installation material. Applies systems engineering to the computerized maintenance management system.
Addresses computerized maintenance management system support requirements. Representing the U.S. Department of State on Committees Represents the U.S. Department of State on technical and physical security issues with allied nations.
Represents the U.S. Department of State and the Bureau of Diplomatic Security in committee work. Participates in international and interagency exercises. Evaluating Technical Security and Construction Projects for the Department or Other Government Agencies Reviews engineering drawings.
Performs quality assurance inspections. Participates in the accreditation process of facilities. Develops technical security standards and policies. Oversees compliance with department security standards.
Manages the security of construction sites. Leads in the commissioning of new embassies/consulates/missions. Prepares decommissioning plans.
Conditions of Employment
At the time of application, candidates must demonstrate a strong command of the English language to include grammar, spelling, and punctuation. A Foreign Service Specialist must consistently display a high standard of written and spoken English.
Education
Candidates must have a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree, Master of Science (MS), or Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Engineering, Computer Science, Cybersecurity, or Physics, from a school with at least one program accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET), or evidence of successfully passing the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) examination or any other written test required for professional registration by a state, District of Columbia, Guam, or Puerto Rico engineering licensure board. A current registration as an Engineer Intern (EI), Engineer in Training (EIT), or licensure as a Professional Engineer (PE) by any state, the District of Columbia, Guam, or Puerto Rico may also be used to fulfill the education requirement. Submit evidence of licensure at time of application, if applicable.
Candidates entering their junior year in the fall of 2026, in an engineering, computer science, cybersecurity, or physics program or beginning a master's degree program in one of those disciplines beginning in the fall of 2026 may apply as long as the school has at least one program accredited by ABET. Degrees must be granted by December 31, 2028. Education from a program or institution within the United States must be accredited at the time of program completion by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S.
Department of Education. Foreign Education Foreign education acquired outside of any state of the U.S., the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, a Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, or any territory or possession of the U.S. must be evaluated by a member organization of one of the two national associations of credential evaluation services (NACES or AICE) in order to be given credit towards qualification. The accredited interpretation must include the summary and the foreign education transcripts.
Foreign education transcripts that have not been evaluated by a credential evaluation service will not be accepted and the candidacy will be terminated. For further information on the evaluation of foreign education, please refer to the Office of Personnel Management, Foreign Education section, and the U.S. Department of Education.
The U.S. Department of State neither endorses nor recommends any individual evaluation service. OPM: www.opm.gov U.S. Department of Education: http://www.ed.gov Please refer to the Required Documents Section on how to submit the required educational documentation for this position.
How You Will Be Evaluated
Candidates will be evaluated on their total background including experience, education, awards, training, and self-development as it relates to the position. Selection for this position will be made only from among candidates possessing the best qualifications. Part-time work experience will be prorated.
The Department of State reserves the right to cancel and/or disqualify any application or to withhold test results when, in its judgment, a testing irregularity occurs. Testing irregularities include, but are not limited to, candidate misconduct, plagiarism, and/or misrepresentation of material fact, including in narrative descriptions of accomplishments. The Department may verify content provided by candidates by contacting references.
It also conducts extensive background checks of work and education history of candidates offered employment. REQUIRED TRAINING Selected candidates will complete approximately twelve months of specialized training
in addition to orientation. The selected candidate must complete the Technical Security Training Path (TSTP) in Springfield, VA. This specialized initial training provides the candidate with the knowledge and skills to operate, install, maintain, and repair technical security systems at post. The second phase of this training is at the Interagency Training Center in Fort Washington, Maryland. Failure to successfully complete any portion of the TSTP is grounds for separation.
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Additional Information
*EMPLOYMENT ELIGIBILITY VERIFICATION PROGRAM (E-Verify) – Verification of employment eligibility in the United States is required. U.S. law requires companies to employ only individuals who may legally work in the U.S. – either U.S. citizens, or foreign citizens who have the necessary authorization. This agency utilizes E-Verify to compare information from the Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, to data from U.S.
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Social Security Administration (SSA) records to confirm employment eligibility. If the employee's information does not match DHS and/or SSA records, the employee is given an opportunity to resolve the problem. If eligibility cannot be verified, employment will be terminated. **The U.S.
Department of State Suitability Review Panel and standards are defined in Chapter 3 of the Foreign Affairs Manual. For more information please visit: https://fam.state.gov/ ***For more information about Veteran's Preference and how it is applied in the selection process, please visit the link. No candidate will be considered who has previously been separated from the Foreign Service under sections §607, §608, or §610 or §612 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980, as amended, or who resigned or retired in lieu of separation under these provisions.
In addition, no candidate will be considered who has previously been separated for failure to receive a career appointment under section §306 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980, as amended, or who resigned or retired in lieu thereof. A Foreign Service Specialist separated pursuant to Sections 306, 607, 608, 610, 612, may not re-apply to be in the same skill code but may apply for another skill code or to be a Foreign Service Generalist. A Foreign Service Generalist separated pursuant to Sections 306, 607, 608, 610, 612 may not re-apply as a generalist but may apply to a Foreign Service Specialist vacancy.
Executive Branch agencies are barred by 5 U.S. Code 3303 as amended from accepting or considering prohibited political recommendations and are required to return any prohibited political recommendations to sender. In addition, as mandated by 5 U.S.
Code 3110, relatives of federal employees cannot be granted preference in competing for these employment opportunities. It is the policy of the Federal government to treat all employees with dignity and respect and to provide a workplace that is free from discrimination and retaliation, in accordance with the standards set forth by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
The U.S. Department of State provides reasonable accommodation to candidates with disabilities. Procedures vary by test type, and all candidates must request reasonable accommodations in advance. For more information visit Requesting Reasonable Accommodations.
Decisions for granting reasonable accommodations are made on a case-by-case basis. Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
How to Apply
The application submission deadline is 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the closing date of this announcement. It is the candidate's responsibility to complete and submit the application and all required documents before the closing deadline. There are no exceptions. Visit https://gov.pearsonvue.com/dsseot.html. Create a web account.
Follow the instructions to complete and submit the online application. Applications are automatically saved. Candidates may pause the application process and return as many times as needed until the application is submitted.
Follow the instructions to complete and submit the online application. Answer all self-assessment questions. Include work history with a description of your work duties, accomplishments, skills, and knowledge for the past ten (10) years.
Complete, review, and submit the application. Submitted applications cannot be edited. Application packages must be complete before candidates can register for the DSSEOT test. The submitted application will be used to evaluate your qualifications for this position.
Candidates have six months to complete the application and to register for and take the DSSEOT after submitting their eligibility verification. Candidates must restart the application process if they have not taken the DSSEOT within this six-month window. Select an appointment date to take the DSSEOT at one of Pearson Vue's test centers.
The test is an important part of the selection process, covering the Job Knowledge, English Expression, and Situational Judgment necessary to perform the functions of this position. If you are having technical difficulty with the application process, please contact the Pearson Customer Service Desk by calling 1-866-389-8339 (toll free), or by utilizing the Chat function at www.pearsonvue.com.
Required Documents
It is the responsibility of the candidate to ensure the application is complete before the closing deadline of this announcement. Incomplete applications will be disqualified. In the online application, candidates must answer all self-assessment questions, including 10 years of work history.
Applications missing any responses will be terminated. Education Documents When requested, candidates with qualifying DSSEOT scores must submit the following documentation to demonstrate they possess the educational level required for this position. Candidates should add *@state.gov as a trusted sender.
Neither the Department of State nor Pearson Vue are responsible for the failure of candidates' internet service provider to deliver e-mail messages. Official or unofficial college or university transcripts. Progress reports and grade reports will not be accepted.
Candidates should not submit university diplomas in lieu of higher education transcripts. All documents must comply with the following requirements to be accepted: Must be in PDF format. Any other format will be rejected.
Must be an attachment. Documents sent via link or secured message, in any other non-attachment format, or sent directly from credential evaluation services will be rejected. Must have no missing pages.
Must be legible. Transcripts must include candidate's full name, school's name, course credits, degree and date awarded/conferred. Candidates with a name change should submit an official document reflecting the change.
All foreign education transcripts must adhere to additional requirements. See the Foreign Education Information in the Education Requirements section. Submit Veteran's Preference documentation in PDF format for candidates aged 60 to 64 when requested.
If claiming Veteran's Preference, a copy of the candidate's DD-214 "Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty" that must include the candidate's Character of Service must be submitted when requested. If claiming a 10-point Veteran's Preference, the candidate's VA letter and SF-15 must be submitted
in addition to the DD-214. A certification from the armed forces is required only if a veteran has not yet received the DD-214. It must confirm that the service member is expected to be discharged under honorable conditions within 120 days and include service dates, expected discharge date, character of service, and any applicable disability rating.