Federal Compass MCP

io.github.skivuhaPublished by GitHub account skivuhav0.1.10Updated Nov 3, 2026

AI compass from private sector to federal career — USAJobs search, salary, KSA

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Overview

AI-generated overview

Local MCP server that connects an assistant to the USAJobs API to search federal job openings, explain GS grades and clearances, and compare a CV against…

What you can do
  • Search federal job openings by keyword, location, salary, grade, agency or remote status, and pull full details for a posting.
  • Compare two to five postings side by side.
  • Save and read a CV stored locally, and find jobs matching skills extracted from it.
  • Check a CV against a specific posting and extract its KSA requirements.
  • Explain federal concepts such as GS grades, pay plans, clearances and hiring paths, and calculate GS salary with locality pay.
When to use it
Useful for people moving from private-sector tech roles into U.S. federal or government jobs who want plain-language help reading postings, judging qualifications and understanding grades and clearances. Not a substitute for the official announcement or an agency eligibility decision.
Requirements
Runs locally via npx, so Node.js v22 or newer is needed, plus an MCP-compatible client such as Claude Desktop, VS Code, Cursor or Windsurf. Requires a free USAJobs API key and the email used to request it, supplied as the USAJOBS_API_KEY and USAJOBS_EMAIL environment variables. Network access to USAJOBS is required.
Before you install
The CV is stored locally under the user's home directory, and the get_cv and check_qualification tools return its text to the client, which may forward it to an AI provider; find_matching_jobs sends keywords extracted from the CV to USAJOBS. Each user should register their own API credentials. Explanations and qualification matches are unofficial analysis, so verify requirements and deadlines on the official posting.

Installation

In SourceWeft

  1. Open Federal Compass MCP in the dashboard and add it to a workspace.
  2. Enable the server for the chats that should use its tools.

Desktop only via STDIO. STDIO servers start a local process, so they need the SourceWeft desktop host.

Other MCP clients

Follow the launch instructions in the repository.

README

federal-compass-mcp

Your AI compass from private sector to federal career

[npm version] [CI] [License: MIT] [MCP] [OpenSSF Scorecard]

Federal job descriptions are 5 pages of legal language. GS grades, clearance levels, hiring paths — none of this is explained anywhere. federal-compass-mcp connects Claude to the official USAJobs API and turns it into an AI advisor that speaks plain English.

Built for tech professionals transitioning from private sector to federal/government careers.

What it does

  • Searches federal job openings with optional filters — keyword, location, salary, clearance level
  • Translates federal job descriptions into plain language — what they actually want, without the jargon
  • Supports CV analysis by providing your CV and job requirements to your AI assistant for comparison
  • Explains federal concepts — GS grades, pay plans, security clearances, hiring paths
  • Saves your CV locally so Claude can reference it automatically

Getting started

1. Get your free USAJobs API key

Register at developer.usajobs.gov — takes about 3 minutes. Verify your email and you'll receive an API token.

2. Add to your MCP client

Claude Desktop (~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json):

json
{  "mcpServers": {    "federal-compass": {      "command": "npx",      "args": ["-y", "federal-compass-mcp@latest"],      "env": {        "USAJOBS_API_KEY": "your_api_key",        "USAJOBS_EMAIL": "[email protected]"      }    }  }}

VS Code / Cursor / Windsurf — same config, different config file path. See your client's MCP documentation.

3. Try it

Find me senior software developer jobs in Raleigh, NC
What is a GS-13 and how much does it pay?
Save my CV [attach file]
Look at this job posting — am I qualified?

Tools

ToolDescription
search_jobsSearch federal job openings. All filters optional — keyword, location, salary, grade, agency, remote
get_job_detailsGet full details for a specific job posting
compare_jobsCompare 2-5 job postings side by side
save_cvSave your CV locally for automatic use in analysis
get_cvRead your saved CV
explain_federal_conceptExplain GS grades, clearances, hiring paths, pay plans
calculate_salaryCalculate GS salary with locality pay for any grade, step, and location
find_matching_jobsFind jobs matching your CV — extracts skills and searches USAJobs
check_qualificationCompare your CV against a specific job posting
extract_ksaExtract KSA requirements from a job posting, optionally match against your CV

CV storage and privacy

Your saved CV is stored locally on your machine:

~/.federal-compass/  cv.json  codelists/     <- cached USAJobs reference data

The get_cv and check_qualification tools return your CV text to your MCP client. Depending on your client and its configuration, that text may be sent to an AI provider for processing. Review your client's and provider's privacy settings before sharing personal information.

The find_matching_jobs tool sends keywords extracted from your CV to USAJOBS to search for relevant vacancies.

Data source and independent analysis

Federal job announcements and API reference data come from USAJOBS. Use of the API is subject to the USAJOBS API Terms of Service. Each user should register for and use their own API credentials.

This is an independent project. It is not operated, sponsored, approved, or endorsed by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) or USAJOBS.

AI explanations, CV comparisons, and extracted requirement matches are unofficial analysis, not an agency determination of eligibility. Verify requirements, deadlines, and application instructions against the current official announcement on USAJOBS before applying.

Why federal jobs are confusing (and how this helps)

Coming from private sector, federal job postings feel like a different language:

  • GS-13 Step 1-10 — what grade am I? what does step mean?
  • TS/SCI with polygraph — do I need this? how long does it take?
  • Competitive vs Excepted Service — which one can I apply to?
  • HiringPath: fed-transition — what is this and why does it matter?

federal-compass-mcp answers all of these through natural conversation with Claude.

Requirements

  • Node.js v22+
  • Free USAJobs API key
  • Any MCP-compatible client (Claude Desktop, VS Code, Cursor, etc.)

Contributing

Issues and PRs welcome. See CONTRIBUTING.md.

License

MIT — see LICENSE

Built by @skivuha — a Senior Frontend Engineer navigating the private-to-federal transition firsthand.

Source: README.md at commit b3343fc

Tools

0
SourceWeft has not started this package in its sandbox yet, so its tools are not known.

Version history

1
  1. v0.1.10LatestSep 16, 2026

Score

50% of the applicable checks met

How complete this listing is, computed from the registry entry, the endpoint and public sources. Not a rating of the server and not a statement that it is safe or working today: reachability is a dated check, and no installs or reviews go into the score.

  • Reached in the last 30 days25 pts

    Keep the endpoint answering the MCP handshake; SourceWeft probes it every 30 days.

  • Auth declared10 pts

    Declare the credential headers in the registry entry, or keep the endpoint answering the probe so its auth can be classified.

  • Tools listed15 pts

    Answer tools/list without a credential, or ship a package that starts in a sandbox without one.

  • DescriptionRequired15 pts
  • Logo10 pts
  • Documentation15 pts
  • License10 pts