The Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia (PDS) is a federally funded, independent organization governed by an eleven-member Board of Trustees. PDS provides legal representation to individuals who are facing a loss of liberty in criminal, delinquency, and mental health legal matters in the local District of Columbia legal system but who are financially unable to obtain adequate representation. PDS’s approximately 200 attorneys, social workers, investigators, and administrative and technical staff collaborate with each other to advance the PDS mission. PDS’s main office is located at 633 Indiana Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. District of Columbia residency is not a requirement for employment. PDS is funded by federal appropriations, and all employees are entitled to participate in the federal health and life insurance plans, the federal retirement plans, and the Thrift Savings Plan. Transferring employees will receive recognition of creditable federal service for leave accrual and retirement purposes. Employment at the Public Defender Service is neither federal nor District of Columbia government employment, and all employees are at-will.

This position is located in the Information Technology Office of the Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia. The Information Technology Office is responsible for the planning, development, implementation, maintenance, security, and management of all information technology systems and services that support PDS programs, case-related operations, administrative functions, and management operations. The Information Technology Office assesses agency technology requirements; analyzes potential return on technology investment for internal systems and PDS interfaces with external systems; and designs, administers, and secures systems configuration and architecture, including hardware and software, telecommunications, network operations, desktop systems, cloud services, cybersecurity, identity services, and system security.

The Information Technology Specialist serves as an advanced network services and infrastructure specialist responsible for supporting, administering, maintaining, and improving the agency’s enterprise network infrastructure and related systems. The incumbent supports LAN, WAN, wireless, voice, security, virtualization, storage, backup, cloud-connected services, identity services, messaging, and related enterprise technologies.

PDS currently operates a predominantly on-premises enterprise environment and is expected to pursue modernization initiatives involving cloud services, hybrid infrastructure, cybersecurity improvements, identity modernization, lifecycle replacement, and business continuity improvements. The incumbent plays a key role in evaluating, planning, implementing, and supporting these initiatives while ensuring reliable operation of existing systems. The incumbent reports to the Chief Information Officer or designee.

• Administers, maintains, and supports the agency’s enterprise network infrastructure and associated hardware, software, communications, security, and cloud-connected resources.
• Supports the development, maintenance, and improvement of enterprise infrastructure services, including LAN, WAN, wireless, voice, switching, routing, firewalls, virtualization, storage, backup, identity, messaging, endpoint management, and related systems.
• Evaluates hardware, software, cloud services, cybersecurity tools, telecommunications resources, and related technology solutions. Assists in developing cost estimates, technical specifications, implementation plans, and acquisition-support documentation.
• Participates in the testing, certification, installation, upgrade, configuration, lifecycle replacement, and integration of network, infrastructure, security, communications, and cloud-connected technologies.
• Develops or assists in developing plans and procedures for infrastructure security, business continuity, backup, disaster recovery, system availability, and operational resiliency.
• Conducts risk assessments, vulnerability assessments, security reviews, technical reviews, and infrastructure evaluations. Identifies technical issues, recommends corrective actions, and assists with remediation efforts.
• Develops, updates, and maintains technical standards, procedures, configuration documentation, operational runbooks, diagrams, system inventories, and other infrastructure documentation.
• Administers and supports Active Directory, Microsoft Entra ID, DNS, DHCP, Group Policy, Microsoft 365, Exchange, virtualization, storage, backup, endpoint services, and related enterprise infrastructure platforms.
• Provides advanced technical guidance and Tier III escalation support for complex networking, infrastructure, cloud, identity, cybersecurity, and systems administration issues.
• Collaborates with the Chief Information Officer, IT staff, division representatives, contractors, vendors, and technical staff to assess infrastructure requirements and support solutions aligned with agency operational needs.
• Creates, updates, and maintains network diagrams, infrastructure documentation, disaster recovery procedures, system architecture documents, configuration baselines, and operational procedures.
• Conducts research on network, infrastructure, cloud, cybersecurity, identity, and enterprise systems technologies to identify opportunities for improved performance, security, efficiency, reliability, and maintainability.
• Monitors network and infrastructure performance, system health, service availability, capacity utilization, and security indicators. Troubleshoots and resolves complex technical problems affecting enterprise services.
• Supports enterprise infrastructure services, including virtualization, storage, messaging, identity, backup, core networking, firewall, endpoint protection, and security monitoring platforms.
• Performs infrastructure asset management, inventory management, lifecycle planning, documentation, and technical evaluation of infrastructure components.
• Participates in the administration and improvement of firewalls, multi-factor authentication, endpoint security, vulnerability management, security monitoring, access controls, patching, incident response, and related cybersecurity activities.
• Serves as a technical contributor, and when assigned, technical lead for defined portions of infrastructure modernization, cloud adoption, cybersecurity improvement, identity modernization, lifecycle replacement, and business continuity projects.
• Coordinates with vendors, contractors, consultants, and service providers to evaluate technical solutions, resolve technical issues, and support effective delivery of technology services.
• Serves as Contracting Officer’s Technical Representative when assigned, including monitoring contractor performance, reviewing deliverables, providing technical input, and assisting with acquisition-related technical requirements.
• Participates in an on-call support rotation and responds to urgent operational issues, outages, cybersecurity incidents, maintenance needs, and system recovery requirements.
• Performs other duties as assigned. Such duties are generally not expected to exceed five percent of normal work activities.

Applicants must demonstrate experience, education, and/or training sufficient to perform the duties of the position. Candidates must possess specialized experience in enterprise network services, infrastructure administration, systems support, cybersecurity support, cloud-connected services, and related information technology functions.

Applicants must have demonstrated experience in the following areas:

• Administering, maintaining, troubleshooting, and supporting enterprise network infrastructure, including LAN, WAN, wireless, switching, routing, firewall, and voice technologies.
• Supporting enterprise infrastructure platforms, including Windows Server, Active Directory, DNS, DHCP, Group Policy, Microsoft 365, Exchange, virtualization, storage, backup, and identity services.
• Providing advanced technical support for complex networking, infrastructure, cloud, identity, cybersecurity, and systems administration issues.
• Supporting infrastructure security, including vulnerability management, endpoint security, multi-factor authentication, access controls, patching, backup and recovery, and incident response activities.
• Developing or maintaining technical documentation, network diagrams, operational procedures, configuration records, system inventories, and disaster recovery documentation.
• Evaluating technical requirements, identifying risks, recommending solutions, and supporting implementation of approved technology changes.
• Communicating technical concepts clearly to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Working collaboratively with management, users, vendors, contractors, and technical staff to support technology operations and resolve complex issues.

Candidates must have strong written and oral communication skills, analytical and problem-solving abilities, sound technical judgment, a strong customer service orientation, and the ability to work both independently and collaboratively.

Qualifications Required for the PDS Grade 13

For the PDS-13 (GS-13 equivalent): Your resume and work experience must show that you have at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 level in the Federal service or equivalent and it must include:

Performing advanced network services, infrastructure administration, cybersecurity support, systems administration, or related information technology work. The ability to administer, maintain, troubleshoot, and support enterprise infrastructure systems and services, including experience with network operations, server administration, identity services, backup and recovery, security tools, technical documentation, and resolution of complex infrastructure issues.

At the Grade 13 level, the incumbent is expected to perform as an advanced specialist, independently resolving complex technical issues, supporting modernization initiatives, and providing Tier III technical support under the general supervision of the Chief Information Officer or designee.

Qualifications Required for the PDS Grade 14

For the PDS-14 (GS-14 equivalent): Your resume and work experience must show that you have at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-13 level in the Federal service or equivalent and it must include: Experience performing senior-level enterprise network services, infrastructure engineering, systems administration, cybersecurity support, cloud-connected services, and technology modernization work. Specialized experience must demonstrate the ability to serve as a senior technical expert or technical lead for complex enterprise infrastructure systems; evaluate competing technical, operational, security, and business requirements; develop technical plans and recommendations; lead or oversee implementation of infrastructure modernization or cybersecurity improvement initiatives; and advise management on technical risks, solutions, and operational impacts.

At the Grade 14 level, the incumbent is expected to perform with a high degree of independence as a senior technical expert, providing authoritative guidance and leading significant technical efforts that affect agency-wide infrastructure, cybersecurity, system availability, business continuity, and access to critical systems and information.

Other requirements: (The incumbent may be required to participate in an on-call support rotation. Occasional evening and weekend work may be required for maintenance activities, infrastructure upgrades, security updates, incident response, outage resolution, and operational requirements. The incumbent may occasionally inspect telecommunications closets, cabling infrastructure, equipment rooms, and technology installations. Limited hands-on cabling activities may be required. Occasional lifting, movement, or transportation of technology equipment may be necessary.

All candidates are subject to a criminal background check.

The following knowledge, skills, abilities, education, and/or experience are deemed highly desirable:

• Experience supporting and modernizing legacy, on-premises, hybrid, and cloud-connected enterprise environments.
• Experience with Microsoft Azure, Microsoft 365, Microsoft Entra ID, Active Directory, Windows Server 2019/2022/2025, Exchange Server Subscription Edition, VMware vSphere, NetApp storage platforms, Veeam backup solutions, Cisco Catalyst and Nexus switching platforms, Cisco Firepower security appliances, and Cisco Unified Communications technologies.
• Experience with network security, identity and access management, vulnerability management, multi-factor authentication, endpoint security, security monitoring, incident response, backup and recovery, disaster recovery, and Zero Trust principles.
• Experience serving as a technical lead or senior technical contributor on infrastructure modernization, cloud adoption, cybersecurity improvement, identity modernization, lifecycle replacement, or business continuity projects.
• Experience coordinating with vendors, contractors, consultants, and service providers to resolve technical issues or support technology implementation.
• Experience serving as a Contracting Officer’s Technical Representative or providing technical input in support of IT acquisitions and contract administration.
• Education or training in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Information Systems, Cybersecurity, Data Science, Mathematics, Physics, or a related STEM discipline.

Applicants will be evaluated based on the quality of their application submissions, information provided by references that relates to the specific qualifications for the position, prior relevant experience, information obtained through the interview process, and their demonstrated commitment to public defense work and working with indigent populations.

2210

$117,962 - $148,689

PDS is funded by federal appropriations, and employees are entitled to participate in federal benefits plans, federal retirement systems, and the workers compensation program. Transferring federal employees will receive recognition of creditable federal service for leave accrual and retirement (if applicable) purposes. Benefits include:

• Federal Employees Retirement Systems (retirement annuity)
• Thrift Savings Plan (similar to a 401K program) 
• Federal Employees Health Benefits (health insurance)
• Federal Employees Group Life Insurance (life insurance)
• Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program
• Flexible Spending Accounts (for health care and dependent care)
• Long Term Care
• Public Transportation Subsidy (funding contingent)
• Parking garage space
• Employee Assistance Program
• Federal Occupational Health (access to health clinic and services) 

Applicants must submit1: (1) a cover letter; (2) a resume that includes a list of three references (name, address, telephone number, and a statement of how each reference is able to evaluate your skills).Your cover letter must address your qualifications as follows:

• Your knowledge of enterprise network infrastructure, including LAN, WAN, wireless, switching, routing, firewalls, voice, and related technologies.
• Your experience administering or supporting enterprise infrastructure platforms, including Windows Server, Active Directory, Microsoft Entra ID, Microsoft 365, Exchange, virtualization, storage, backup, and identity services.
• Your experience providing advanced technical support and resolving complex networking, infrastructure, cloud, identity, cybersecurity, or systems administration issues.
• Your experience supporting infrastructure security, vulnerability management, multi-factor authentication, endpoint security, backup and recovery, disaster recovery, and incident response activities.
• Your experience developing technical documentation, network diagrams, operational procedures, implementation plans, or disaster recovery documentation.
• Your experience supporting or leading infrastructure modernization, cloud adoption, cybersecurity improvement, identity modernization, lifecycle replacement, or business continuity projects.
• Your skill in communicating clearly, both orally and in writing, with technical and non-technical audiences.

Please send your application package in 1 PDF file if able. Applications MUST be emailed to [email protected]. To ensure your application receives proper consideration, the subject line of your application email MUST include the job announcement number and the position title, for example: PDS-2026-21: Information Technology Specialist, Network Services. Applications must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. on June 24, 2026, to [email protected]. All application materials become the property of PDS and will not be returned. PDS will not accept applications by postal mail, fax, or personal delivery. For applicants with disabilities, this organization provides reasonable accommodations which will be decided on a case-by-case basis. To request a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or interview process, please email your request to the Office of Human Resources at [email protected]. Applicants with Federal Benefits and Retirement Systems experience are strongly encouraged to apply.