COBOL Developer

SummaryIT Specialist (APPSW) COBOL Developer positions are being filled through the Office of Personnel Management's delegated Direct Hire Authority, open to all U.S. citizens. Selections made under this bulletin will be processed as new appointments to the civil service. Current civil service employees would, therefore, be given new appointments to the civil service. Under the provisions of the Direct Hire Authority, Veterans Preference and the "Rule of Many" do not apply.OverviewHelpAccepting applicationsPosted 03/05/26 Apply by 09/03/26Due by 11:59 p.m. ET on September 3, 2026LocationMany vacancies in the following location:Woodlawn, MDNo matching locations found.Work site optionsTelework eligible Yes—as determined by the agency policy. Employees required to be on-site 75% of duty time. Remote job No Relocation expenses reimbursed No Salary $143,913 - $197,200 per year Pay scale & gradeGS 14 - 15Promotion potential NoneLearn more about pay scale and gradePay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.Work schedule Full-time Travel Required Not requiredAppointment type PermanentOccupations and job series 2210 Information Technology Management Supervisory status No Federal service type This job is in the Competitive Service Represented by a union NoDrug test No Security clearance Not Required Position sensitivity and risk High Risk (HR)Jobs require a background check and some require a security clearance. The type depends on the job.Background check typeSuitability/FitnessFinancial disclosure required YesSome jobs require financial disclosure to identify conflicts of interests.Announcement number SSA12901349-DHA-CIO Control number 859750900This job is open toHelpThe publicU.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.Clarification from the agencyAll U.S. CitizensDutiesHelpThis announcement serves as public notice. Applications submitted be placed into a pool and will remain on file for selection as positions become available.Vacancies may be filled for up to 6 months after the closing date of this announcement. Applicants may not receive notifications of referral status until the full 6-month eligibility period has elapsed.Positions filled with applications from this pool will be placed into positions where cybersecurity duties occupy the majority of the work performed.RequirementsHelpConditions of employmentU.S. Citizenship requiredSelective Service Registration, if applicable (www.sss.gov)Fingerprinting and background and/or security investigation may be requiredJob offers are contingent on fingerprinting and background / security investigation resultsSelectees may be required to serve a 1 year probationary periodRelocation expenses will not be paidAll qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcementCandidates will not be hired based on their race, sex, color, religion, or national origin.QualificationsResumes exceeding two pages in length will not be considered, please visit the new resume guidance for more information.READ ALL SECTIONS OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IN ITS ENTIRETY. THIS INFORMATION IS CRUCIAL TO SUBMITTING A SUCCESSFUL APPLICATION.Applicants must qualify for the series and grade of the posted position. Experience must be IT related; the experience may be demonstrated by paid or unpaid experience and/or completion of specific, intensive training (for example, IT certification), as appropriate. Your resume must provide sufficient experience and/or education, knowledge, skills, abilities, and proficiency of any required competencies to perform the specific position for which you are applying.To qualify for the 2210 IT Specialist series, the applicant must demonstrate the following competencies:Attention to Detail - Is thorough when performing work and conscientious about attending to detail.Customer Service - Works with clients and customers (that is, any individuals who use or receive the services or products that your work unit produces, including the general public, individuals who work in the agency, other agencies, or organizations outside the Government) to assess their needs, provide information or assistance, resolve their problems, or satisfy their expectations; know about available products and services; and is committed to providing quality products and services.Oral Communication - Expresses information (for example, ideas or facts) to individuals or groups effectively, taking into account the audience and nature of the information (for example, technical, sensitive, controversial); makes clear and convincing oral presentations; listens to others, attends to nonverbal cues, and responds appropriately.Problem Solving - Identifies problems; determines accuracy and relevance of information; uses sound judgment to generate and evaluate alternatives, and to make recommendations.Duties:Architect, develop, and maintain high-performance business applications using modern COBOL, CICS, JCL, DB2, VSAM, and IDMS on our enterprise server platform.Optimize SQL queries and data management for lightning-fast access and reliability in DB2 databases.Implement and support batch processing jobs, leveraging advanced job scheduling and monitoring tools.Engineer robust data storage and retrieval solutions using VSAM, ensuring integrity and speed.Utilize sophisticated file handling techniques for sequential, indexed, and relative files.Design and maintain data structures that support scalable, enterprise-grade applications.Build and support Online Transaction Processing (OLTP) systems using CICS and TSQ for real-time, high-volume transactions.Troubleshoot and resolve application issues to ensure maximum uptime and performance.Collaborate with business analysts, QA, and fellow developers to deliver innovative solutions.Prepare and maintain technical documentation, including program specifications, flowcharts, and user guides.Participate in code reviews and uphold best practices for quality and security.Support application testing, deployment, and post-implementation activities in a fast-paced environment.Identify and pursue opportunities to leverage AI-driven tools and technologies to improve development efficiency, automate processes, and enhance application capabilities.Stay informed about advancements in AI and related technologies and recommend ways to incorporate them into SSA's business systems where appropriate.Minimum Qualifications: Grade 14 To qualify at the GS-14 level, you must have specialized experience at the GS-13 level, or equivalent, designing, developing, and maintaining mainframe applications using COBOL, CICS, VSAM, and JCL; supporting data integration and migration with DB2, SQL, and IDMS; and assisting in the architecture or modernization of legacy systems. Experience must also include providing guidance to technical teams, preparing technical documentation, and collaborating with stakeholders to support modernization initiatives.Minimum Qualifications: Grade 15 To qualify at the GS-15 level, you must have specialized experience at the GS-14 level, or equivalent, designing, developing, and maintaining mainframe applications using COBOL, CICS, VSAM, and JCL; managing data integration and migration with DB2, SQL, and IDMS; and architecting or modernizing legacy systems. Experience must also include leading technical teams, preparing technical documentation, and collaborating with stakeholders to support modernization initiatives.PLEASE NOTE: This specialized experience is REQUIRED and must be explicitly documented/described in your resume, or you will be disqualified from further consideration.Qualification standards and additional information for this position can be found here: http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/2200/information-technology-it-management-series-2210-alternative-a/EducationThis job does not have an education qualification requirement.Additional informationSee announcement cutoff dates below under How to Apply.This announcement serves as public notice. Applications submitted be placed into a pool and will remain on file for selection as positions become available. Vacancies may be filled for up to 6 months after the closing date of this announcement. Applicants may not receive notifications of referral status until the full 6-month eligibility period has elapsed. Applications may be gathered from additional recruitment sources.Are you ready to power the digital backbone of America? The Social Security Administration's technical team is looking for business systems application developers to join us in delivering high-performance solutions on our world-class, enterprise-grade infrastructure, boasting over 424,000 MIPS of processing power. Whether you're a seasoned expert in COBOL or an early-career developer eager to master mission-critical systems, this is your chance to help shape the future of digital services for over 330 million Americans.Forget everything you think you know about COBOL-this isn't your father's programming language! The latest COBOL release (2023) is packed with modern features, robust capabilities, and the flexibility to tackle today's most demanding business challenges. COBOL is the engine behind some of the world's most reliable, secure, and high-throughput applications, and it's running on some of the coolest, most powerful hardware in the industry. Our COBOL application development environment leverages the most modern Generative AI-driven coding tools in the industry to accelerate the modernization and enhancement of our most strategic business applications. This AI-driven development environment is part of SSA's modern development lifecycle process to enable an agile CI/CD pipeline.We encourage our developers to actively seek opportunities to integrate and collaborate with Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies, exploring innovative ways to enhance business applications and processes.If you're ready to take your career to the next level-whether you're a proven expert or an ambitious learner-apply today and discover just how cool, modern, and powerful COBOL can be as you help us build the future of digital government services!Additional selections may be made for this vacancy six months from the closing date of this announcement. This Direct Hire announcement may be used to fill the same or similar position in another office.Selective Service: If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. See www.sss.gov.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: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and 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.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.HelpA career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.Review our benefitsEligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.How you will be evaluatedYou will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.The evaluation you receive is based on your responses to the online assessment questions completed during the application process.Please make sure you answer all questions and follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your evaluation.Information not specifically stated in your resume cannot be assumed. Information that is copied or restated language from the vacancy announcement or rating criteria will not be considered. If this occurs, you may be found ineligible.HelpA career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.Review our benefitsEligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.Required DocumentsHelpTo apply for this position, you must submit a complete Application Package which includes:Your resume showing work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment and duties performed.Other documents supporting qualifications and/or preference, if applicable.Resumes exceeding two pages will not be considered. To be considered, your resume must:Clearly demonstrate your qualifications for the positionInclude your contact informationWe recommend using a clear, easy-to-read format and focusing on information most relevant to the job announcementYou must also submit ALL supporting documentation by the closing date of the vacancy announcement to claim certain types of preference.INTERAGENCY CAREER TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PLAN (ICTAP): ICTAP provides eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority for competitive service vacancies. To receive selection priority, candidates must meet the requirements for the Well Qualified. Well-qualified is defined as having knowledge, skills, and abilities that clearly exceed the minimum qualification requirements for the position. Candidates must also provide:proof of eligibility with your application. Such proof may include a copy of your written notification of ICTAP eligibility or a copy of your separation Notice of Personnel Action, (SF-50); andproof of your most recent performance rating of at least "fully successful" (Level III) or equivalent.For more information visit http://www.opm.gov/rif/employee_guides/career_transition.asp.Veteran's preference does not apply under this Direct Hire Authority for these positions.Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.HelpPlease read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply for this position, you must complete the initial online application, to include submission of the required documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration. The application process is as follows:To begin the application process, click the Apply Online button.Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all necessary supporting documentation.Click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59PM (ET) on the announcement closing date.Announcement Cutoff Dates:March 12, 2026March 19, 2026March 26, 2026April 2, 2026April 9, 2026April 16, 2026April 23, 2026April 30, 2026May 7, 2026May 14, 2026May 21, 2026May 28, 2026June 4, 2026June 11, 2026June 18, 2026June 25, 2026July 2, 2026July 9, 2026July 16, 2026July 23, 2026July 30, 2026August 6, 2026August 13, 2026August 20, 2026August 27, 2026September 3, 2026You may update your application, including supporting documentation, at any time during the announcement open period by returning to your USAJOBS account. There you will find a record of your application, the application status, and an option to Update Application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed.To verify the status of your application both during and after the announcement open period, log into your USAJOBS account. All of your applications will appear on the Welcome page. The application record in your USAJOBS account provides an Additional Application Information page that provides information regarding the documentation you submitted and any correspondence we have sent related to this application. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/.If you use assistive software or an adaptive device, or you are experiencing some other type of technical difficulty and/or otherwise require assistance with the application process, please contact Careers at SSA at Careers@ssa.gov.Individuals with disabilities may also call us via Federal Relay using the (voice) contact telephone provided.Due to our security procedures, our office will not accept any applications submitted via email or standard mail. The email address is listed only for inquiries about the position or the How to Apply process.Agency contact informationCareers at SSAEmail Careers@ssa.gov Address CIO Front Office6401 Security BoulevardBaltimore, MD 21235USNext stepsOnce you have successfully submitted your application materials, you can expect to receive an email notification acknowledging receipt of application.The hiring office will contact candidates directly for interviews. Interviews may be conducted via video conferencing software, if technically feasible.To check the status of your application or return to a previous or incomplete application, log in to your USAJOBS account, select Application Status, and click on the more information link under the application status for this position.The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.Criminal history inquiries Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) PolicyFinancial suitability New employee probationary periodPrivacy Act Reasonable accommodation policySelective Service Signature and false statementsSocial security number requestRequired DocumentsHelpTo apply for this position, you must submit a complete Application Package which includes:Your resume showing work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment and duties performed.Other documents supporting qualifications and/or preference, if applicable.Resumes exceeding two pages will not be considered. To be considered, your resume must:Clearly demonstrate your qualifications for the positionInclude your contact informationWe recommend using a clear, easy-to-read format and focusing on information most relevant to the job announcementYou must also submit ALL supporting documentation by the closing date of the vacancy announcement to claim certain types of preference.INTERAGENCY CAREER TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PLAN (ICTAP): ICTAP provides eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority for competitive service vacancies. To receive selection priority, candidates must meet the requirements for the Well Qualified. Well-qualified is defined as having knowledge, skills, and abilities that clearly exceed the minimum qualification requirements for the position. Candidates must also provide:proof of eligibility with your application. Such proof may include a copy of your written notification of ICTAP eligibility or a copy of your separation Notice of Personnel Action, (SF-50); andproof of your most recent performance rating of at least "fully successful" (Level III) or equivalent.For more information visit http://www.opm.gov/rif/employee_guides/career_transition.asp.Veteran's preference does not apply under this Direct Hire Authority for these positions.Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.How to ApplyHelpPlease read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply for this position, you must complete the initial online application, to include submission of the required documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration. The application process is as follows:To begin the application process, click the Apply Online button.Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all necessary supporting documentation.Click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59PM (ET) on the announcement closing date.Announcement Cutoff Dates:March 12, 2026March 19, 2026March 26, 2026April 2, 2026April 9, 2026April 16, 2026April 23, 2026April 30, 2026May 7, 2026May 14, 2026May 21, 2026May 28, 2026June 4, 2026June 11, 2026June 18, 2026June 25, 2026July 2, 2026July 9, 2026July 16, 2026July 23, 2026July 30, 2026August 6, 2026August 13, 2026August 20, 2026August 27, 2026September 3, 2026You may update your application, including supporting documentation, at any time during the announcement open period by returning to your USAJOBS account. There you will find a record of your application, the application status, and an option to Update Application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed.To verify the status of your application both during and after the announcement open period, log into your USAJOBS account. All of your applications will appear on the Welcome page. The application record in your USAJOBS account provides an Additional Application Information page that provides information regarding the documentation you submitted and any correspondence we have sent related to this application. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/.If you use assistive software or an adaptive device, or you are experiencing some other type of technical difficulty and/or otherwise require assistance with the application process, please contact Careers at SSA at Careers@ssa.gov.Individuals with disabilities may also call us via Federal Relay using the (voice) contact telephone provided.Due to our security procedures, our office will not accept any applications submitted via email or standard mail. The email address is listed only for inquiries about the position or the How to Apply process.Agency contact informationCareers at SSAEmail Careers@ssa.gov Address CIO Front Office6401 Security BoulevardBaltimore, MD 21235USNext stepsOnce you have successfully submitted your application materials, you can expect to receive an email notification acknowledging receipt of application.The hiring office will contact candidates directly for interviews. Interviews may be conducted via video conferencing software, if technically feasible.To check the status of your application or return to a previous or incomplete application, log in to your USAJOBS account, select Application Status, and click on the more information link under the application status for this position.Fair and transparentThe Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.Criminal history inquiries Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) PolicyFinancial suitability New employee probationary periodPrivacy Act Reasonable accommodation policySelective Service Signature and false statementsSocial security number request