Emerging Technology Fellowship
We’re looking for purpose-driven technologists and innovators to join this unique fellowship experience with xD at the Census Bureau. The Emerging Technology Fellowship (ETF) recruits the best and brightest technologists with expertise in emerging data technology trends to build a better government for everyone.
Application Period Closed
The application period for the Emerging Technology Fellowship has closed.
Position Details
2024 Cohort
Pay Scale & Grade
GS-15
Location
TBD Upon Selection
Travel Required
Minimal
This is a full-time, non-supervisory, excepted service appointment for a minimum of two years (with the possibility to extend an additional two years). The application period for the 2024 cohort is now closed.
Our Next Cohort
Applications for the 2024 Cohort of the ETF are now closed. Future openings will be listed on this page when we have more information to share.
We’re looking for teammates who are motivated by curiosity and have a desire to make lasting positive impact. Emerging Technology Fellows bring an entrepreneurial spirit and expertise in emerging technologies to solve some of the most pressing federal data challenges of the 21st century. If you love a challenge, have demonstrated leadership in your career, and you’re looking to apply your talents towards high-impact projects, you may be a great fit for the Emerging Technology Fellowship!
Being an Emerging Technology Fellow with xD at the Census Bureau has been such an honor. I get to work with the best and brightest in America. I'm challenged to think outside of the box and discover creative solutions to drive improvement. The best part about being an xD Fellow would be the camaraderie amongst the cohort of fellows. Each fellow has helped broaden my perspective on how to solve such complex issues while being a safe space to ask questions when I don't know what to do next.
Diamond Nwankwo, 2023 Fellow. Technologist, Problem Solver, Adjunct Instructor of Data Analytics, Mom, Wife, Author
Qualified candidates demonstrate experience exercising a high degree of creativity and seasoned judgment and apply agile, lean, open-source, and human-centered design principles to develop new concepts, products, and services in response to challenges faced by the Census Bureau and other Federal agency partners; writing code in programming languages such as Python, SQL, R, Java, JavaScript, Go, Scala, C, C++, Julia, or MatLab; drafting policy for emerging technologies such as data science, privacy-enhancing technologies, and AI/machine learning; authoring publications and presenting at conferences; and managing technical projects as a project manager, technical lead, product manager, or team lead.
If you have the specialized experience above, please ensure it is reflected in your resume as it will be used to determine your qualifications.
Ideal candidates have professional experiences in the following categories:
Don’t worry too much about the content of the email. We’re only looking at what’s in your attached resumé. Please use the subject line “2024 Emerging Technology Fellowship Application” in your email and email your application to etf@census.gov.
Give us an honest read on what makes you a great candidate! Don’t undersell yourself and try to use descriptive language about each of your listed roles (i.e. What did you do? What skills/programming languages did you use there? Did you manage a team? etc.). And, be sure to demonstrate leadership in technology projects, especially projects that have leveraged any of the topics listed in the “How will my resumé be evaluated?” question below in the FAQs. While we do not require a specific format, your resumé will be reviewed by federal HR specialists. So if you’d like to get a sense of how typical federal resumés are formatted, we encourage you to visit USAJobs to take a look.
We know you’re more than a resumé so here are some other things we’re looking for. You have an entrepreneurial mindset, are open to trying new things, being wrong, and consistently improving. You are independent yet collaborative, you enjoy working with a variety of technical and non-technical stakeholders, you’re passionate about using your skills to solve real-world problems, and you excel at implementing new techniques from ML/AI/Data Science research into your work. You’re flexible, you like a challenge, and you’re motivated to find creative solutions while guiding/inspiring others along the way. Don’t worry if you don’t have as much technical expertise; we are looking for project managers and policy experts too!
Specialized Experience: For the GS-15, you must have one year of experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-14 in the Federal Service. Qualified candidates demonstrate experience exercising a high degree of creativity and seasoned judgment and apply agile, lean, open-source, and human-centered design principles to develop new concepts, products, and services in response to challenges faced by the Census Bureau and other Federal agency partners; writing code in programming languages such as Python, SQL, R, Java, JavaScript, Go, Scala, C, C++, Julia, or MatLab; drafting policy for emerging technologies and processes such as data science, privacy-enchancing technologies, and AI/machine learning; authoring publications and presenting at conferences; and managing technical projects as a project manager, technical lead, product manager, or team lead.
We typically accept applications for the Fellowship once a year in Fall.