Transportation Security Officer

Job Description

Transportation Security Officer | Transportation Security Administration (TSA)

The Tone:
This is a full-time and part-time frontline role at the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), located in Knoxville, TN. As part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), TSA is committed to securing all transportation sectors across the nation. This role is crucial for providing security and protection to travelers, airports, and aircraft, directly contributing to national security by preventing dangerous items from being transported.

The TL;DR
• Role: Full Time
• Type: Full-time and Part-time shift-work, including irregular hours, nights, holidays, overtime, extended, changing, and split shifts.
• Location: In-person: Knoxville, TN
• Pay: $46105–$56844 yearly
• Team: Security Operations (SO)
• Mission: Secure air travelers, airports, and aircraft by identifying and preventing dangerous objects from being transported in a professional manner.
• Tech Stack: Various screening equipment and technology

What You’ll Actually Do
• Operate Screening Equipment: Utilize various screening equipment and technology to identify dangerous objects in baggage, cargo, and on passengers, preventing their transport onto aircraft.
• Conduct Security Screenings: Perform searches and screenings, which include physical interaction with passengers (e.g., pat-downs, search of property), conducting bag searches, and lifting/carrying bags, bins, and property weighing up to 50lbs.
• Control Access Points: Manage terminal entry and exit points to maintain secure areas within the transportation system.
• Interact with Public: Engage with the public by providing directions, responding to inquiries, and maintaining a courteous and professional demeanor.
• Apply Critical Thinking: Continuously develop and apply critical thinking skills to evaluate and mitigate actual and potential security threats, making effective decisions in both crisis and routine situations.

The Must-Haves
• Background: Minimum age of 18 at the time of application. Must possess U.S. Citizenship or be a U.S. National and be registered with Selective Service (if applicable).
• Experience: A high school diploma, General Educational Development (GED), High School Equivalency Test (HiSET), or Test Assessing Secondary Completion (TASC) high school equivalency certificate. Alternatively, one year of full-time work experience in the security industry, aviation screening, or as an X-ray technician.
• Skills: Proficiency in English (reading, writing, speaking, comprehending). Ability to operate screening equipment, perform physical screenings, interact effectively with the public, maintain focus in stressful environments, and apply critical thinking for threat identification and mitigation.