I did an interview with these folks about a year and a half ago—if you can make the pay and location work it seems like a great way to do socially meaningful work.

I sadly had to pass—I couldn’t make the salary or move work with health issues in the family—but the interview process was very open and the interviewers I spoke with were fantastic.

As I gathered these folks are effectively a floating software team that partners with other governmental organizations to fix problems that benefit from their skill sets. The last project I’m aware of was them revamping systems to allow veterans to more easily receive health care.

Good luck to them and whoever applies, we need more places like the USDS.

What salary did they offer?

The GS schedule capped out below what I was making at the time. Other commenters here have pointed out what the dollar value is, but I forget the designation for the salary band.

GS pay scale is capped at ~$150k.

I believe the current number is $183,500. https://www.federalpay.org/gs/locality/washington-dc

Although if that's still too low, check out DHS. They are finding ways of increasing salaries above that limit. (https://www.usajobs.gov/job/709656500)

    Senior Cybersecurity Specialist: $115,400 - $123,700
    Staff Cybersecurity Specialist: $140,400 - $150.200
    Principal Cybersecurity Specialist: $167,400 - $177,800
    Senior Principal Cybersecurity Specialist: $184,700 - $196,000

    In some geographic areas, average starting salaries will be higher because of a local cybersecurity labor market supplement (e.g., metro Washington, D.C. +10%).

If I'm parsing that correctly, $196k+10%=$215k as the cap.

> To work at USDS, you must be a U.S. citizen

No mentioning of alien residents, so I guess, they're out.

Will the permission to be remote continue for someone who is hired now? The only thing that stopped me from applying in the past is the requirement to relocate.

Per provided link https://www.usds.gov/apply: "During the COVID-19 pandemic, most people at USDS are working remotely from many locations across the country. During normal times, we ask that you make Washington, D.C. or the surrounding area your base during the work week."

So remote is pretty deceptive

Agreed. If this was a truly remote position permanently, I'd apply right now and take a pay cut. I'm at the point in my career where social impact at this scale would be a higher priority than pay for me. But remote is the highest.

There are also government contractors who often pair with USDS doing this kind of work! Ad Hoc (my employer), Nava, Civic Actions, etc. are all part of a new generation of companies with related missions trying to bring modern software practices into the US government. While USDS is often on the inside cutting through bureaucracy, the contractors are often doing most of the technical build and implementation.

FWIW places like 18F are frequently hiring engineers, product people, and designers, the pay is similar, the work is related, and they are 100% remote.

I would love to join, as a kid I felt working at the post office would be great. But the DC requirement is a hard sell.

DC on $150k is a tough sell, especially if you have a family.

I have really mixed feelings about this. Not a fan of typical government jobs, but the FAQ reads so much more like a startup. Is it true? What does the compensation look like (broadly)?

Per provided link https://www.usds.gov/apply: "Salaries in government change every year. For 2023, you may be paid up to $183,500 depending on where you are located in the United States."

The federal government pays pretty well for scientists and engineers.

I've got a few friends at JPL and they are paid around that.

I was a researcher under UC Regents many years ago, run by the state of California. That pay, however, was terrible. When I left for private industry I asked for double what I had been making and they considered me a bargain.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the pay can also be considerably higher if you work at a federally funded research lab but are not a direct federal employee. Employee of an implementing contractor company. Such as various positions at Hanford, Idaho National Lab, Los Alamos, Brookhaven, Argonne, Sandia, Livermore, etc.

This is definitely true. Most employees at national labs are not paid according to the GS schedule.

They are also not federal employees.

they should hook up military discounts

Eeeh, not really, no it doesn't lol.

Not compared to what private companies could be paying them.

Do you have to be a citizen or just a green card is OK?

Citizens only.