Transportation Security Officer

Summary

Transportation Security Officers are responsible for providing security and protection of travelers across all transportation sectors in a courteous and professional manner. Their duties may also extend to securing high‑profile events, important figures, and any activity that includes or impacts our transportation systems.

• Operate various screening equipment and technology to identify dangerous objects in baggage, cargo, and on passengers, and prevent those objects from being transported onto aircraft.
• Perform searches and screening, including physical interaction with passengers (pat‑downs, search of property, etc.), conducting bag searches and lifting or carrying bags, bins, and property weighing up to 50 lbs.
• Control terminal entry and exit points.
• Interact with the public, provide directions and respond to inquiries.
• Maintain focus and awareness while working in a stressful environment that includes noise from alarms, machinery, crowd distractions, time pressure, and disruptive and angry passengers, in order to preserve the professional ability to identify and locate potentially life‑threatening or mass‑destruction devices, and to make effective decisions in both crisis and routine situations.
• Engage in continuous development of critical thinking skills, necessary to mitigate actual and potential security threats, by identifying, evaluating, and applying appropriate situational options and approaches. This may include the application of risk‑based security screening protocols that vary based on program requirements.
• Retain and implement knowledge of all applicable Standard Operating Procedures, demonstrate responsible and dependable behavior, and be open to change, adapting to new information or unexpected obstacles.

• Experience:
  
  At least one year of full‑time work experience in the security industry, aviation screening, or as an X‑ray technician.
• Education:
  
  Have a high school diploma, GED, HiSET, or TASC high‑school equivalency certificate.

• U.S. citizenship or U.S. national.
• Minimum age 18 at the time of application.
• Selective Service registration required for male applicants.
• Must pass a structured interview, drug screening, medical evaluation, and background investigation.
• Subject to post‑employment random drug and/or alcohol testing.
• Must be proficient in English (reading, writing, speaking).
• Must be available for various shifts and overtime as needed.
• Must be willing to travel for training and for occasional travel may be required.
• Exposure to potentially lethal devices and dangerous chemicals is inherent in this position.
• Credit check:
  Applicants must not have delinquent federal or state taxes or past‑due child support payments.
• Residency:
  Must have resided within the United States for three of the last five years immediately prior to applying, unless an exception applies.

• Maintain physical agility to ensure the ability to squat and bend.
• Repeatedly lift and manipulate baggage, containers, and other objects weighing approximately 50 lbs.
• Walk up to three (3) miles during a shift and stand for prolonged periods (up to 4 hours) of time.

• Full‑time: 40 hours per week, shift work on any day from Sunday through Saturday, including irregular hours, nights, holidays, overtime, extended shifts, weekend shifts, changing shifts, split shifts, with at least two (2) hours between shifts for a split‑shift scenario.
• Part‑time: 16‑32 hours per week, shift work on any day from Sunday through Saturday with similar variable hours and split‑shift options.

• Competitive salaries and an attractive benefits package, including health, dental, vision, life, long‑term care insurance; retirement plan;
  Thrift Savings Plan.
• Flexible Spending Account;
  Employee Assistance Program; personal leave days; paid federal holidays.
• Flexible work schedules; telework; tuition reimbursement; transportation subsidies; uniform allowance; health and wellness programs; fitness center access.

TSA may apply a sex‑specific (male or female) hiring preference to fill TSO positions where it is necessary to meet security mission and same‑sex pat‑down job‑related requirements. Candidates of the required sex are provided preference in scheduling the computer‑based aptitude test, airport assessments, processing, and selection. The term “sex” refers to an individual’s immutable biological classification as either male or female;

it does not include the concept of gender identity.