How we work | United States Digital Service

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We work across multiple agencies and bring best practices from our various disciplines.</p> </div> </div> </section> <hr aria-hidden="true"> <section class="site-c-section"> <div class="site-c-section-heading"> <h2 class="site-c-section-heading__heading">Building a team with a broad range of experiences to transform government.</h2> <div class="site-c-section-heading__text usa-prose"> <p>With tours of service lasting no more than four years, the U.S. Digital Service brings fresh perspectives on technology and delivery to the government. To build the best possible team, we focus on the same values in our hiring as we do in our work.</p> <ul> <li> <p><strong>Hire and empower great people.</strong> We work to address some of our nation鈥檚 most critical needs. We hire people with the experience, skills, compassion, curiosity, and tenacity to find new paths forward.</p> </li> <li> <p><strong>Design with users, not for them.</strong> We build better solutions when our team reflects the people we serve, including people from communities that are traditionally underserved.</p> </li> <li> <p><strong>Go where the work is.</strong> We prioritize our work based on how much we鈥檙e needed鈥攁nd how much impact we can make. We go where we鈥檙e needed most to do the greatest good for the greatest number of people in the greatest need.</p> </li> </ul> <p>Learn more about who we hire and how we work below. If you don鈥檛 find a description that fits you, but think you can help push our mission forward, <a href="../apply">we encourage you to apply</a>.</p> </div> </div> <div class="site-c-section__body"> <div class="grid-row margin-top-8"> <div class="grid-col-12"> <h3 class="margin-top-0">Engineering</h3> </div> <div class="grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-8 tablet:padding-right-4 desktop:padding-right-0 order-3 tablet:order-2 usa-prose"> <p>Engineers will rarely find the opportunity to work on systems that are more mission-critical than those you鈥檒l encounter at USDS, where we build, scale, and troubleshoot systems of huge reach. The technology we work on is not bleeding edge, and USDS is not an engineering-first organization; we are most successful advocating for modern software practices when we work alongside product managers, UX designers, and acquisition specialists.</p> <p><em>Skills you might bring to the engineering community:</em> programming, modern architecture, incident response, technical communication, project and team management, or collaborative engineering practices.</p> </div> <div class="grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-4 order-2 tablet:order-3 margin-bottom-3"> <img class="width-full" src="/assets/img/graphic-how-we-work-engineering.svg" alt=""> </div> </div> <div class="grid-row margin-top-8"> <div class="grid-col-12"> <h3 class="margin-top-0">Design and user experience</h3> </div> <div class="grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-8 tablet:padding-right-4 desktop:padding-right-0 order-3 tablet:order-2 usa-prose"> <p>USDS designers know that people using government services come from an endless range of experiences and contexts, so we design alongside those people to make sure content is easily understood, and experiences are simple, consistent, and useful. We often introduce human-centered design practices to the government.</p> <p><em>Skills you might bring to the design community:</em> design process, systems thinking, leadership, user research, interaction design, service design, design operations, content strategy, visual design, front-end development, or art direction.</p> </div> <div class="grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-4 order-2 tablet:order-3 margin-bottom-3"> <img class="width-full" src="/assets/img/graphic-how-we-work-design.svg" alt=""> </div> </div> <div class="grid-row margin-top-8"> <div class="grid-col-12"> <h3 class="margin-top-0">Data science</h3> </div> <div class="grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-8 tablet:padding-right-4 desktop:padding-right-0 order-3 tablet:order-2 usa-prose"> <p>USDS data scientists tap into deep reservoirs of unrefined government data in search of the insights that power our teams. We might pinpoint opportunities to fix broken processes, predict the effects of policy change, or identify inequities in government services. We do our best work when we collaborate with qualitative researchers and subject matter experts to build shared understanding.</p> <p><em>Skills you might bring to the data community:</em> statistical analysis, machine learning and AI, data engineering, data visualization and communication, data ethics, or public policy analysis.</p> </div> <div class="grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-4 order-2 tablet:order-3 margin-bottom-3"> <img class="width-full" src="/assets/img/graphic-how-we-work-data-science.svg" alt=""> </div> </div> <div class="grid-row margin-top-8"> <div class="grid-col-12"> <h3 class="margin-top-0">Product, strategy, and operations</h3> </div> <div class="grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-8 tablet:padding-right-4 desktop:padding-right-0 order-3 tablet:order-2 usa-prose"> <p>Product folks at USDS focus on data to make product decisions based on reality, not politics. We鈥檙e not necessarily the project leads; we may write tickets and prioritize backlogs, identify strategy, negotiate contracts, or present to high-level stakeholders. We work with our teams to identify the possible paths to success based on user research and technical feasibility, and deliver the best solution, together.</p> <p><em>Skills you might bring to the product community:</em> execution, communication, leadership, user focus, grit, product delivery, product strategy, capacity building, government expertise, or data analysis.</p> </div> <div class="grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-4 order-2 tablet:order-3 margin-bottom-3"> <img class="width-full" src="/assets/img/graphic-how-we-work-product.svg" alt=""> </div> </div> <div class="grid-row margin-top-8"> <div class="grid-col-12"> <h3 class="margin-top-0">Procurement</h3> </div> <div class="grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-8 tablet:padding-right-4 desktop:padding-right-0 order-3 tablet:order-2 usa-prose"> <p>USDS acquisition strategists make buying digital services for the government more efficient and effective. Often, agencies don鈥檛 have the capacity or expertise to build their own digital services, so they partner with technical experts outside the government. From jumping in on short discovery sprints to acquisition strategy across product portfolios, our biggest strengths are in market intelligence, innovating on evaluation methods, and creating contracts that focus on results over requirements.</p> <p><em>Skills you might bring to the procurement community:</em> digital market knowledge, federal procurement process, strategic advice, or technical acumen.</p> </div> <div class="grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-4 order-2 tablet:order-3 margin-bottom-3"> <img class="width-full" src="/assets/img/graphic-how-we-work-procurement.svg" alt=""> </div> </div> </div> </section> <hr aria-hidden="true"> <section class="site-c-section"> <div class="site-c-section-heading"> <h2 class="site-c-section-heading__heading">Bringing private sector best practices to the Federal Government</h2> <div class="site-c-section-heading__text usa-prose"> <p>Private industry knows how to work fast, lean, and keep the focus on the user. Now government does too.</p> </div> <div class="site-c-section-heading__links"> <a class="usa-button usa-button--outline" href="https://playbook.cio.gov/">Digital Services Playbook</a> </div> </div> <div class="site-c-section__body"> <div class="grid-row tablet:margin-x-neg-2"> <div class="grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-4 tablet:padding-2 margin-bottom-5"> <div class="site-c-mask padding-right-7"> <img class="width-full" src="/assets/img/graphic-how-we-work-hcd.svg" alt=""> </div> <h3 class="font-sans-md">Put users first</h3> <div class="usa-prose"> <p>Good design is design that works for everyone. We want our users to feel informed, empowered, prepared, and in control.</p> </div> </div> <div class="grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-4 tablet:padding-2 margin-bottom-5"> <div class="site-c-mask padding-right-7"> <img class="width-full" src="/assets/img/graphic-how-we-work-build-iteratively.gif" alt=""> </div> <h3 class="font-sans-md">Build iteratively</h3> <div class="usa-prose"> <p>We build services using adaptive and iterative practices, leveraging modern infrastructure and automation to rapidly and frequently release new features with minimum risk.</p> </div> </div> <div class="grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-4 tablet:padding-2 margin-bottom-5"> <div class="site-c-mask padding-right-7"> <img class="width-full" src="/assets/img/graphic-how-we-work-decisions.svg" alt=""> </div> <h3 class="font-sans-md">Let data drive decisions</h3> <div class="usa-prose"> <p>Focusing on data allows us to make choices that reflect reality while minimizing bias and politics.</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <hr aria-hidden="true"> <section class="site-c-section"> <div class="site-c-section-heading"> <h2 class="site-c-section-heading__heading">Prioritizing the greatest good for the greatest number of people in the greatest need</h2> <div class="site-c-section-heading__text usa-prose"> <p>We select critical projects based on what makes the greatest impact on everyday people.</p> </div> <div class="site-c-section-heading__links"> <a class="usa-button usa-button--outline" href="/projects">See all projects</a> </div> </div> <div class="site-c-section__body"> <div class="grid-container"> <section class="site-c-section"> <div class="site-c-section__body"> <ul class="site-c-cards margin-x-neg-2 grid-row"> <li class="tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-4 padding-x-2 margin-bottom-4"> <a class="site-c-card site-c-card--linked" href="/projects/ssa"> <img class="site-c-card__image" src="/images/project-ssa-card.jpg" alt="" /> <div class="site-c-card__body"> <span class="site-c-flag">Social Security Administration</span> <h3 class="site-c-card__title">Continuously improving SSA.gov</h3> <div class="usa-prose margin-top-2"> <p>The Social Security Administration is building on the momentum from their partnership with the U.S. Digital Service by implementing iterative research, best practices, and a data-informed approach to ensure the website is usable and useful.</p> <p class="site-c-card__affordance" aria-hidden="true">Learn more</p> </div> </div> </a> </li> <li class="tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-4 padding-x-2 margin-bottom-4"> <a class="site-c-card site-c-card--linked" href="/projects/smeqa"> <img class="site-c-card__image" src="/images/project-smeqa-card.jpg" alt="" /> <div class="site-c-card__body"> <span class="site-c-flag">Cross-agency</span> <h3 class="site-c-card__title">Changing how the government hires technical talent</h3> <div class="usa-prose margin-top-2"> <p>We helped develop a process that allows HR to leverage subject matter experts to evaluate candidates for specialized roles. The result restores fair and open access for all applicants, shortens the hiring timeline, and ensures applicants are truly qualified.</p> <p class="site-c-card__affordance" aria-hidden="true">Learn more</p> </div> </div> </a> </li> <li class="tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-4 padding-x-2 margin-bottom-4"> <a class="site-c-card site-c-card--linked" href="/projects/va-dot-gov"> <img class="site-c-card__image" src="/images/project-va-va-dot-gov-card2.jpg" alt="" /> <div class="site-c-card__body"> <span class="site-c-flag">Veterans Affairs</span> <h3 class="site-c-card__title">Simplifying Veteran鈥慺acing services through VA.gov</h3> <div class="usa-prose margin-top-2"> <p>Each month, over 10鈥痬illion people attempt to access the digital tools and content at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and have historically struggled to find what they鈥檙e looking for. Digital modernization efforts needed to focus on improving the user experience.</p> <p class="site-c-card__affordance" aria-hidden="true">Learn more</p> </div> </div> </a> </li> </ul> </div> </section> </div> </div> </section> </div> </div><section class="site-c-billboard"> <div class="grid-container"> <p>We need you.</p> <p>Let鈥檚 help millions of people together.</p> <p><a class="usa-button usa-button--outline usa-button--inverse" href="/apply">Apply now</a></p> </div> </section> </main> <footer class="site-c-footer"> <div class="grid-container"> <div class="grid-row flex-justify"> <div class="grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col margin-bottom-7"> <img class="site-c-footer__logo" src="/assets/img/usds-logo-footer.svg" alt="USDS logo"> </div> <div class="grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-4 desktop:grid-col margin-bottom-7"> <h2 class="site-c-footer__heading">About USDS</h2> <ul class="site-c-footer__list tablet:padding-right-3"> <li><a href="https://www.usds.gov/impact-report/2024">2024 Impact Report </a></li> <li><a href="/assets/files/USDS-Overview.pdf" target="_blank">Press sheet [PDF, 2 pages]</a></li> <li><a href="/faq">Hiring FAQ</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-4 desktop:grid-col margin-bottom-7"> <h2 class="site-c-footer__heading">Resources</h2> <ul class="site-c-footer__list tablet:padding-right-3"> <li><a class="usa-link usa-link--alt usa-link--external" href="https://playbook.cio.gov/" target="_blank">Digital Services Playbook</a></li> <li><a class="usa-link usa-link--alt usa-link--external" href="https://sprint.usds.gov/" target="_blank">Discovery Sprint Guide</a></li> <li><a class="usa-link usa-link--alt usa-link--external" href="https://techfarhub.cio.gov/" target="_blank">TechFAR Hub</a></li> <li><a class="usa-link usa-link--alt usa-link--external" href="https://designsystem.digital.gov/" target="_blank">U.S. Web Design System</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="site-c-footer__site-info"> <a href="/privacy">Privacy policy</a> </div> </div> </footer> <script src="/assets/js/application.js"></script> <script src="/assets/js/vendor/uswds.min.js"></script> <script src="/assets/js/shims/svg4everybody.js"></script> <script>svg4everybody();</script> </body> </html>

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How we work | United States Digital Service