Security technical specialists are assigned throughout the world to develop, implement, and maintain technical security programs at U.S. diplomatic missions.
Security technical specialists work for security engineering officers to support the Bureau of Diplomatic Security's worldwide technical security programs. These programs provide protection for Department of State facilities and personnel from technical espionage, acts of terrorism, and crime through the use of sophisticated electronic and electro-mechanical security systems.
Security technical specialists are members of the Foreign Service and spend a substantial portion of their careers abroad. Travel to nearby countries to conduct engineering surveys and security inspections, install equipment, and to provide electronic maintenance may occupy up to 50 percent of an overseas officer's time.
View the Security Technical Specialist brochure.
For more information, contact us at DSRecruitment@state.gov.
Qualifications
Training
Prior to their initial assignment, which is normally a 2-year tour of duty, each new security technical specialist will complete several months of specialized training. Technicians are then assigned to a team, led by an experienced security engineering officer, in any of our 38 engineering service centers around the world, at the Department of State in Washington, DC, or in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Responsibilities include corrective and preventative maintenance, and testing of technical security systems; equipment logistics and inventory; bench repair of defective technical security system equipment to the component level; and assisting security engineering officers with surveys, system specifications, and installations.
Salary and Benefits
Starting salaries will be at the Foreign Service grade FP-06/1. STS personnel will be promoted to the FP-05 level after one year of satisfactory performance, and to the FP-04 level after an additional 18 months of satisfactory performance. Further promotions are competitive, based on performance ratings and the recommendation of the annual promotion selection board.
An excellent benefits package includes:
A high level of responsibility, good opportunities for promotion, and an excellent benefits package await you. Make the most of your unique skills and abilities as a Diplomatic Security security technical specialist.
