Digital Forensic Examiner at Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Investigation - Multiple Locations

At the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), digital forensic examiners apply their technical skills and experience to preserve and analyze digital evidence related to FBI investigations. As key members of the Computer Analysis and Response Team (CART), digital forensic examiners work with advanced technologies, forensic concepts, software, and tools to solve the Bureau's most challenging cases.

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Conditions of Employment

Must be a U.S. citizen.
May be required to obtain a Top Secret - Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) clearance.
Must have (or be able to obtain) a valid driver's license.
Some travel may be required.
ALL applicants must verify completion of the basic education requirement by submitting a copy of college transcripts by the closing date of the vacancy announcement.

Working Conditions: The work may involve regular, recurring exposure to hazardous materials, toxic substances, and blood borne pathogens. Incumbents are expected to follow safe laboratory practices and wear protective clothing, including facial masks, safety glasses, gloves, and other protective equipment as necessary. The position of Digital Forensic Examiner (DFE) may require incumbents to view pictures, video, or review graphic text which is Child Exploitative in nature.

Physical Demands: The work requires manual dexterity, flexibility and some assignments which require considerable, strenuous physical exertion, which may require lifting of objects of up-to-fifty (50) pounds or more.

Qualifications

GS-7: Applicants must possess at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS 05 grade level. Specialized experience is defined as follows:

Performed routine data searches to retrieve data and/or digital evidence.
Provided oral and written communications to exchange and/or present IT related information.

GS-9: Applicants must possess at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS 07 grade level. Specialized experience is defined as follows:

Planned and completed assignments while adhering to established instructions, policies, practices and procedures.
Established and maintained working relationships with internal and external stakeholders to exchange information; assisting in research while providing recommendations to methods and techniques to evaluate data, digital evidence, a variety of technologies and/or analytical support.
Utilized computer related hardware and software to preserve, extract and analyze data and/or digital evidence.

GS-11: Applicants must possess at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS 09 grade level. Specialized experience is defined as follows:

Conducted routine examinations of data and/or digital evidence, using established policies, procedures and precedent techniques.
Utilized computer related hardware and software to identify, collect, examine, preserve, and duplicate data and/or digital evidence.
Communicated orally and in writing to prepare and present reports, briefings, of information and findings obtained during investigations.
Provided guidance to a variety of internal and external stakeholders in the examination and retrieval of data and/or digital evidence, ensuring proper established practices and protocols are followed.

GS-12: Applicants must possess at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS 11 grade level. Specialized experience is defined as follows:

Planned, coordinated and directed activities related to the examination, analysis, & reporting of data and/or digital evidence.
Served as a Subject Matter Expert, providing onsite technical guidance and collaborating with stakeholders to examine data and/or digital evidence to identify, diagnose, and resolve error and problem conditions.
Served as a mentor to others, providing guidance and training on technical matters related to the collection and analysis of data and/or digital evidence.
Communicates findings and/or opinions to stakeholders of IT related examinations conducted.

Education

Positive Education Requirement

This position has a specific education requirement; all applicants must verify completion of this basic educational requirement by submitting a copy of their college transcripts by the closing date of the vacancy announcement.

Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the above requirements provided you can show foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States.

If an applicant is a current FBI IT Specialist - Digital Forensic Examiner, please upload a copy of your CART Training Record. Applicants currently in this position are not required to attach their transcripts since they are already associated with the CART Program.

BASIC REQUIREMENTS:

All personnel must have at least 24 college level semester hours from an accredited college or university in one or more of the following disciplines:

Computer Science
Engineering
Information Science
Information Systems Management
Mathematics
Operations Research
Statistics
Technology Management
Information Systems Analysis
Computer/Digital/Electronic Forensics
Science/Technology (other than physical sciences)
- Acceptable:
  - Physics/Astrophysics
  - Chemistry/Organic Chemistry
- Unacceptable:
  - Astronomy
  - Geology
  - Biology
Management Information Systems
Information Technology Systems
Data Structure and Design

AND

A Baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university

OR

Technical Experience:

Four (4) years of full-time experience working as either a technician or forensic examiner (consistent with FBI digital evidence program definitions) within a digital evidence facility that supports criminal investigations, and has an external accreditation or internal quality assurance framework.

Hybrid:

Consideration for admission under the Hybrid path is a combination of education and work experience equal or greater than four (4) years. The Digital Evidence Staffing Education & Development Unit (DESED) will combine the full-time work experience, time given for Work Time Experience (WTE) based on certificates/certifications, and time given for academic credit hours to calculate the required four (4) years:

Full-time experience working as either a technician or forensic examiner (consistent with FBI digital evidence program definitions) within a digital evidence facility that supports criminal investigations, and has an external accreditation or internal quality assurance framework.
Technical and computer forensic industry accepted professional certifications/certifications will be reviewed and assign equivalent WTE based on difficulty of the certificate/certification received, DESED will document and maintain a list of accepted and denied certificates/certifications and their assigned WTE.
Two (2) weeks per credit hours will be given for any course over 200 level or equivalent in the following disciplines:
- Computer Science
- Engineering
- Information Science
- Information Systems Management
- Mathematics
- Operations Research
- Statistics
- Technology Management
- Information Systems Analysis
- Computer/Digital/Electronic Forensics
- Science/Technology (other than physical sciences)
- Management Information Systems
- Information Technology Systems
- Data Structure and Design

Current Certification:

Personnel who hold a current FBI DFE certification, and are up-to-date with all requirements for a current FBI DFE, and have been continuously certified as an FBI DFE for more than one (1) year.

In addition to meeting the above Basic Requirements, the applicant's grade determination will be based on one of two options listed in the Specialized Experience Requirements OR Education sections below. Please Note:

Applicants qualifying on specialized experience must address the bulleted points in their resume. A review of the resume and the responses to the questionnaire will determine the grade level(s) for which the applicant qualifies.
Applicants must list their education in their resume and ensure a copy of their transcripts are submitted with their application.

All degrees must be from an accredited college or university. Education may be substituted for specialized experience as follows:

GS-7: Applicant must have a bachelor's degree with superior academic achievement or one (1) full year of graduate level education. Superior academic achievement is the completion of all the requirements of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university, which is based on (1) class standing, (2) grade-point average of 3.0 or higher as recorded on an official transcript, or as based on courses completed during the final two years of the curriculum, or (3) honor society membership.

GS-9: Applicant must have a master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B. or J.D., if related.

GS-11: Applicant must have a Ph.D. OR equivalent doctoral degree OR 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree OR LL.M., if related.

GS-12: Education may not be substituted for specialized experience.

Additional information

Incentive: In order to recruit and retain highly qualified candidates, selectees may be eligible for relocation or recruitment incentives. To be eligible for a relocation incentive, proof of change in residency will be required. Prior to receiving a relocation or recruitment incentive, the selectee must sign a written agreement to complete a specific period of employment with the FBI at their duty station.

This job announcement will be used to select candidates for current and/or future vacancies across all of the Bureau's 56 Field Offices.

Current locality pay tables are available on OPM.gov. Please be advised that in some locations the IT Specialist - Digital Forensic Examiner position may fall under a Special Rate Table. Special Rate Tables 999B, 999C, 999D, 999E, 999F, 99AA, 99AH, and 99AP may be used based on location and/or grade.

As the federal agency whose mission is to ensure the fair and impartial administration of justice for all Americans, the Department of Justice is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment. To build and retain a workforce that reflects the diverse experiences and perspectives of the American people, we welcome applicants from the many communities, identities, races, ethnicities, backgrounds, abilities, religions, and cultures of the United States who share our commitment to public service.

Memorandum for Record: Work performed outside assigned duties (that would not normally be documented on an SF-50, i. e., back-up duties), has to be documented in detail by an immediate supervisor in order to receive full credit for amount of time worked in that position. If no documentation is furnished no credit will be given for time worked in that position. The following notations must be specified in the documentation (Memorandum for Record):

Percent of time worked in the particular position (cannot conflict with main duties).
The month/year work began.
Frequency worked (i.e., daily, monthly, etc.)
Specific duties performed.

Please Note: The Memphis Field Office and the Knoxville Field Office are in the process of consolidating to create one Field Office in Nashville, TN. Memphis and Knoxville will become Resident Agencies of Nashville. During this consolidation, some positions may be permanently relocated. Please consider this when applying to this position.

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Digital Forensic Examiner

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