A challenging career awaits those select few who qualify as Security Engineering Officers with the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Diplomatic Security.
These highly skilled professionals and their Special Agent colleagues in the Diplomatic Security Service are responsible for effective security programs at every U.S. embassy, mission, and consulate overseas.
Traditionally, U.S. embassies have been havens from violence and turmoil in foreign countries. Today, they are often a target for that violence. Attacks against American diplomats and missions have become more frequent and sophisticated, making the protection of our people, facilities, and national security information an urgent priority.
The Bureau needs top-flight men and women who can develop, implement, and manage technical security programs. We began our work in security technology more than 40 years ago by detecting and removing clandestine listening devices from State Department facilities. Since those early days, our job has grown to keep up with rapidly evolving technology in detection equipment, computer systems, intrusion detection systems, and access control equipment.
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Technical security systems development and installation is a major part of a Security Engineering Officer’s job. SEOs are increasingly called upon for their expertise as the Department’s dependence on computer systems grows. As a technical security expert, an SEO advises State Department managers on a wide variety of issues. An engineer’s knowledge must extend to the leading edges of electronic technology, physics, and computer science, yet officers must be willing to use their hands to investigate indications of a technical threat.
The Department has greatly expanded its security programs to combat espionage attacks and terrorism on our diplomatic facilities and personnel. For the security technology program, this expansion has increased our need to design, develop, and install sophisticated electronic detection systems. We need people who can analyze complex engineering problems and design effective systems to solve them.
QUALIFICATIONS
To apply, you must be a U.S. citizen, between 21 and 59 years of age, and available for worldwide assignment. Male applicants born after 1959 must be registered under the Military Selective Service Act.
All applicants must have the ability to understand and apply the physical and mathematical principles of electronics engineering techniques, standards, and practices related to the security engineering field. Applicants must have at least a Bachelor of Science degree in one of the following disciplines: electrical/electronics engineering, mechanical engineering, computer engineering, electrical/electronics engineering technology, or physics.
Before appointment, all applicants are required to pass a thorough background investigation and must also undergo a rigorous medical clearance process. All applicants must be eligible to receive a Top Secret security clearance.
A qualifications evaluation panel will review the experience and background of all applicants to determine if the candidate meets the basic requirements of the position. Successful applicants must also pass a writing skills assessment to be eligible to appear before an oral examination panel of the Board of Examiners for the Foreign Service. Those who pass the oral exam and final selection process are given probationary appointments as Foreign Service career candidates. Upon successful completion of this four-year probationary period, employees are offered career appointments.
TRAINING
Security Engineering Officers attend approximately seven months of specialized training in the Washington, DC area upon entering on duty. Each candidate must pass all phases of training. After training, an officer is assigned to a domestic or overseas position, usually with a senior Security Engineering Officer who provides on-the-job guidance and training.
Security Engineers are members of the Foreign Service and spend a substantial portion of their careers abroad. They are based in engineering services centers and offices located around the world. Travel to nearby countries to conduct engineering surveys and security inspections, install equipment, and manage technical security programs can occupy up to 50 percent of an officer’s time overseas.
BENEFITS
An excellent benefits package includes:
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT
U.S. Department of State
Application Evaluation Branch - 5th floor
Attention: DS Recruitment Office (SEO)
2401 E Street, NW
Washington, DC 20522
Telephone: 202-261-8941
Internet website: www.state.gov/m/ds
Released by the Bureau of Diplomatic Security
March 2003
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