DIGITAL FORENSIC EXAMINER, 2210

POSITION OVERVIEW

This position advertised has been exempted from the federal civilian hiring freeze.

Current FBI employees are ineligible to apply if serving under the same conditions as that for which is advertised, including:

• Appointing organization (FBI)
• Type of position (full-time, part-time, etc.)
• Same or higher grade
• Duty location (city or state)
• Type of appointment (permanent, temporary, etc.)

Job Opening: 62440
Opening Date: December 1, 2025
Closing Date: December 15, 2025 at 11:59 pm (ET)

Job Title Digital Forensic Examiner, GS-7/9/11/12

Full Performance Level GS-13

Division All 56 Field Office locations

Location All 56 Field Office locations

Working Hours 8:15 A.M. - 5:00 P.M. (varies based on operational needs)

Job Type Full Time/Permanent

Who May Apply All U.S. Citizens

Number of Positions Available
Varies by location availability

This position is contingent upon the incumbent vacating the position

Questions
HR Specialist A. Butera /

HR Specialist K. DeMicco /

Salary
GS-7: $42,679.00 - $55,486.00

GS-9: $52,205.00 - $67,865.00

GS-11: $63,163.00 - $82,108.00

GS-12: $75,706.00 - $98,422.00

**NOTE: The salaries listed above are the base rate of pay for federal employees on the General Schedule (GS) pay scale.

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, 999F, 99AA, 99AH, and 99AP may be used based on location and/or grade.

To attract and retain highly qualified candidates, selectees may be eligible for a recruitment incentive of up to 20% or, for eligible current federal employees, a relocation incentive of up to 10%. Eligibility for a relocation incentive requires proof of a change in residence and an assignment at a worksite in a different geographic area greater than or equal to 50 miles from the prior worksite. Employees must sign a written service agreement completing a specified period of employment with the FBI at the new duty station. Recruitment and relocation incentives cannot be combined.

Additional selections may be made from this announcement to fill positions within the same division when the position includes substantially the same duties, responsibilities, and qualifications.

The following highlighted Field Office locations have been identified to have an immediate or anticipated need:

• Albuquerque
• Cleveland
• Jackson
• Kansas City
• Los Angeles
• Sacramento
• San Diego
• San Francisco
• Seattle

Please ensure your top three (3) location preferences are updated under the "Federal Preferences" tab in your application prior to submission. If there is only one (1) division you are interested in then you should mark that division for all three (3) of your choices.

You will only be considered for the divisions you have selected. This job announcement will be used to select candidates for current and future vacancies; therefore, you are encouraged to select any of the 56 divisions in your top three (3) location preferences. Your application will only be reviewed if vacancies exist among your three (3) choices. If a hiring manager is interested in pursuing your application, they will contact you directly.

Please note: Due to the merger of the legacy Memphis and Knoxville Field Offices (FO) and the establishment of the Nashville FO, some positions may be permanently relocated at a future date. Please consider this when applying to this position.

JOB SUMMARY

Are you interested in a career with the FBI as a Digital Forensic Examiner (DFE)? 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.

KEY REQUIREMENTS

• Must be a U.S. citizen
• Must have (or be able to obtain) a valid driver's license
• May be required to obtain a Top Secret-SCI clearance
• Some travel may be required
• All new Digital Forensic Examiners must attend the in-residence Digital Forensic Examiner Certification course at the FBI Redstone Arsenal Campus.
• 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.

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.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work may involve regular, recurring exposure to hazardous materials, toxic substances, and bloodborne 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 may require incumbents to view pictures, video, or review graphic text which is Child Exploitative in nature.

MAJOR DUTIES:

• Plans, coordinates, and directs forensic science activities to include expert examinations, reporting of results, training, and research that involve all aspects of digital evidence.
• Inventories, examines, retrieves, and performs comprehensive technical analyses of digital evidence without altering original.
• Prepares evidence for examination from crime scene.
• Serves as technical consultant by providing up-to-date training in computer examinations detailing the latest technology, supporting information, and reviews of new products to agents, federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.
• May be required to testify in court as to the procedures and methods used to obtain data.
• Prepares and furnishes authoritative oral and written reports on opinions and findings to stakeholders with the law enforcement community.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EVALUATIONS

Please ensure that your specialized experience and requirements are clearly identifiable in your resume. Your application will be evaluated using the FBI's Candidate Rating Procedures. Your resume and supporting documents will be reviewed to verify that you meet the job qualifications listed in this announcement and will be compared against your responses to the online assessment questionnaire. If your self-assessment in the vacancy questions is not supported by details in your resume or supporting documents, you may be disqualified from the Most Competitive category. Veterans' preference will be applied. Applicants must meet the qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

If you are deemed Most Competitive, you will be referred to the selecting official for further consideration.

All applicants will be rated on the following Competencies:

• Analytic Thinking
• Collaboration
• Communication
• Customer Service
• Problem Solving/Judgment
• Technology Awareness

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.

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 REQUIREMENT

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 require 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 certificates/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 Digital Forensic Examiner certification, are up-to-date with all requirements for a current FBI Digital Forensic Examiner, and have been continuously certified as an FBI Digital Forensic Examiner for more than one (1) year.

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.

Specialized Experience (SE)

GS-7: Applicant must possess at least one (1) year of SE equivalent to the GS-5 grade level. SE 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: Applicant must possess at least one (1) year of SE equivalent to the GS-7 grade level. SE 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: Applicant must possess at least one (1) year of SE equivalent to the GS-9 grade level. SE 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, 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: Applicant must possess at least one (1) year of SE equivalent to the GS-11 grade level. SE is defined as follows:

• Planned, coordinated and directed activities related to the examination, analysis, and 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.
• Communicated findings and/or opinions to stakeholders of IT related examinations conducted.

Education

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 in lieu of experience at this grade level.

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.

HOW TO APPLY

For detailed instructions related to applying, uploading documents, withdrawing an application or updating your application, please review instructions on . If applying online is a hardship, please use the contact information listed in the vacancy announcement prior to the closing date for assistance.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

To apply to this position, interested applicants must provide a complete application package by the closing date which includes:

A two-page resume that outlines relevant work experience and associated start and end dates. Resumes exceeding two pages will not be considered.

A complete assessment questionnaire
Other supporting documents (if applicable):

• College transcripts, if qualifying based on education or if there is a positive education requirement
• Notification of Personnel Action, SF-50; not applicable to current FBI employees
• Most recent Performance Appraisal; not applicable to current FBI employees
  Veterans: DD 214; Disabled Veterans: DD 214, SF-15, and VA letter dated 1991 or later
• Memorandum for Record (MFR): 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:
  • 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

Attach the Memorandum for Record to your application in the "Cover Letters and Attachments" section of My Career Tools on the Careers Home page. Please upload the attachment as type "Other."

While applicants might see these documents in their profile, HR Specialists may be unable to access them. Therefore, all applicants MUST upload another copy to ensure that staffing units can review the complete application.

Please note: Failure to provide the necessary and relevant information required by this vacancy announcement may disqualify you from consideration. Incomplete applications will not be supplemented with additional requests for information; your application will be evaluated solely on the information you submit. You must complete the application process and submit all required documents by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on the announcement's closing date.

WHAT TO EXPECT NEXT

Once your complete application is received, we will conduct an evaluation of your qualifications and determine your ranking. The Most Competitive candidates will be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration and possible interview. You will be notified of your status throughout the process.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• The FBI is in the Executive Branch of the federal government. It is one of the components of the Department of Justice (DOJ). The FBI is the principle investigative arm of the DOJ. All FBI positions are in the excepted service.
• Applicants must be U.S. citizens and consent to a complete background investigation, urinalysis, and polygraph. You must be suitable for Federal employment; as determined by a background investigation.
• Positions with fitness for duty requirements or those that require international travel may require proof of certain vaccinations.
• Management may select any grade for which this position has been announced.
• Identification of promotion potential in this announcement does not constitute a commitment or an obligation on the part of management to promote the employee selected at some future date. Promotion will depend upon administrative approval and the continuing need for an actual assignment and performance of higher-level duties.
• If you are selected, you will be required to serve a two-year probationary period. Probationary employees are precluded from being considered for all job opportunities until 12-months of their 24-month probationary period has concluded. Probationary Employees may be considered for competitive vacancies that are advertised within their respective division or field office after serving 90 days within the FBI.

Veterans' Preference

If you are entitled to veterans' preference, you should indicate the type of veterans' preference you are claiming on your resume and application. Your veterans' preference entitlement will be verified by the employing agency.

Nepotism

Nepotism is the act of favoring relatives in the hiring process and is prohibited by law. Public officials are prohibited from hiring or promoting relatives or relatives of officials in their chain of command, as well as actively or indirectly endorse a relative's appointment or promotion. During the hiring process, all selected candidates and FBI hiring managers will be required to certify they are not related to anyone involved in the hiring process.

Reasonable Accommodation

The FBI provides reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants with disabilities. If you require a reasonable accommodation during the application and/or hiring process, please contact the Office of Equal Employment Opportunity Affairs (OEEOA) Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Program by email at REASONABLE_ACCOMMODA@fbi.gov, phone at 202-324-2158, or fax at 202-324-3976. This email address is for reasonable accommodation requests only. Do not send applications or unrelated inquiries to this address, as they will not be considered.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The FBI is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for this vacancy. Unless explicitly authorized by law, selection will be made without regard to, and there will be no discrimination because of, color, race, religion, national origin, marital status, parental status, physical or mental disability, genetic information, age (40 or over), sex, pregnancy and related conditions, or on the basis of personal favoritism, or any other non-merit factors.

Benefits

The Bureau matches your dedication with a commitment to professional growth, a supportive work environment, and a robust benefits package that prioritizes you. As a member of our team, you'll enjoy comprehensive health and life insurance benefits, paid vacation, sick leave, and federal holidays. For more details about benefits available to all federal employees, visit the Office of Personnel Management's .