[3] In 1900, Carmody started his career in the steel industry, working as inspector for companies in Pennsylvania and Illinois, and abroad in Ontario in Canada, and in Havana in Cuba.

In 1921, he joined the Bituminous Coal Commission under US President Warren G. Harding, his first federal job.

From 1933 he held several government positions, starting as appointed chief engineer of the Civil Works Administration in 1933, member of the National Mediation Board in 1934/35, and in the National Labor Relations Board in 1935.

[4] As administrator of the FWA, Carmody appeared before a Senate committee on July 13, 1939, where he promised to the "Senate Banking and Currency Committee that the new $350,000,000 public works program would not interfere with private industry.

He pointed out that President Roosevelt's program made no specific provisions for federal loans to municipalities for acquisition of private utilities.