Security Engineering Officer

As a Foreign Service Security Engineering Officer in the Diplomatic Security Service (DSS), you will be responsible for the protection of U.S. Department of State personnel, facilities, and sensitive information from acts of crime, terrorism, and technical espionage.

This career is about more than providing protection — it’s also a way to contribute to changing the world. You will help keep the technical resources that U.S. diplomats use safe and secure, as they work to advance our nation’s interests overseas. By implementing and maintaining the most sophisticated technical security programs, and training the teams who work on them, you will provide the technical expertise to keep our facilities, personnel, and classified data from possible crime, terror, and espionage threats. Every day, you will meet new challenges that broaden your expertise in the face of rapidly evolving technologies. And as you travel abroad and experience new cultures, you’re contributing to clearing a path toward greater peace and prosperity for people worldwide. Now you, too, have an opportunity to impact the future of diplomacy.

In return for your service, you’ll have access to continued training and career development programs; health and medical coverage; federal retirement benefits; and generous paid leave. When serving overseas, you’ll be provided paid housing or an appropriate housing allowance, and paid K-12 education for dependent children.

Conditions of Employment

  • Be a U.S. citizen and available for worldwide service.*
  • Be able to obtain a Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information Clearance.
  • Be able to meet the appropriate Foreign Service Minimum Medical Qualifications and the Diplomatic Security Service Security Engineering Officer supplemental physical qualifications.
  • Be able to obtain a favorable Suitability Review Panel determination.**
  • Be at least 20 years old to apply; at least 21 years old to be appointed.
  • Be appointed prior to age 60 (preference eligible veterans accepted).***

Requirements

  • Applicants 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.
  • New this cycle:
    Applicants entering their junior year in the fall of 2023 or entering an engineering, computer science, physics or cybersecurity master’s degree program beginning the fall of 2023 may apply as long as the school has at least one program accredited by ABET. Degrees must be granted by December 31, 2025. Depending on experience, applicants may now enter at the following grade levels:
    • FP-06      0-2 years of experience
    • FP-05      3-4 years of specialized experience; or Masters in one of the required degrees and at least one year of specialized experience
    • FP-04      4+ years of specialized experience; or PhD in one of the required degrees and at least one year of specialized experience
  • Valid U.S. Driver’s license.

Learn more about the duties and find all the requirements for the position and the application process by visiting the USAJOBS listing.  This is for informational purposes only.  Candidates must adhere to the requirements listed in the open vacancy announcement at the time of their application. Sign up to receive a notification when the vacancy is open for application.

*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 United States – 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 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: http://careers.state.gov/faqs

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