COMPUTER SCIENTIST

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: 62427
Opening Date: December 4, 2025
Closing Date: December 18, 2025 at 11:59 pm (ET)

Job Title Computer Scientist - Field Ops

Full Performance Level GS-13

Division Atlanta Field Office, Baltimore Field Office, New York Field Office

Location Atlanta, GA; Baltimore, MD; New York, NY

Working Hours May vary based on the needs of the Division

Job Type Full Time/Permanent

Who May Apply All U.S. Citizens

Number of Positions Available Multiple

Questions chaught2@fbi.gov

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. A complete list of pay tables factoring in locality pay (based on geographical area) can be found on OPM.gov.

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.

KEY REQUIREMENTS

• Must be a U.S. Citizen
• Must have (or be able to obtain) a valid driver's license
• Must be able to obtain a Top Secret-SCI clearance
• Some travel may be required
• Required Training: Selectees must successfully complete a 10 week mandatory Computer Scientist Field Operations Training at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, AL within the first year of employment.

MAJOR DUTIES:

• Performs system and network procurement, installation, administration, and security; develops and uses basic computing environments for analysis.
• Develops and implements custom tools and methods, and uses, troubleshoots and modifies existing tools and methods to identify, isolate, preserve, and analyze digital data.
• Identifies, vets, and implements new tools and methods.
• Provides technical assistance in conducting interviews, searches, and other investigative and operational activity; performs liaison and outreach.
• Drafts documents on technical and other professional matters in varying degrees of difficulty and at the appropriate technical level.
• Stays current with major new advances in relevant technology-related topics; provides guidance on tools and methods related to these advances.
• Testifies in court.

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
• Communication
• Interpersonal Ability
• 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 at the time of application submission. 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.

BASIC REQUIREMENTS: All applicants must have a bachelor's degree in Computer Science or bachelor's degree with 30 semester hours in combination of mathematics, statistics, AND computer science (15 of the 30 semester hours MUST have been in any combination of statistics and mathematics that included differential and integral calculus). Courses designed to provide an introduction to computer science techniques and methodologies are acceptable; courses in teaching elementary, business or shop mathematics are NOT acceptable.

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:

• Used existing tools and methods to identify, preserve, and analyze digital evidence.
• Assisted with implementation of custom tools, techniques, and procedures used to address unique investigative situations.
• Provided basic technical and other professional assistance in conducting interviews, searches and other investigative, operational, liaison, and/or outreach activity.
• Assisted in drafting documents on basic technical and other professional matters.

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

• Troubleshot and modified as needed existing tools and methods to identify, preserve, and analyze digital evidence.
• Assisted with the development of custom tools and methods to identify, analyze, and preserve digital evidence.
• Assisted in drafting documents on more advanced technical matters.

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

• Assisted others with basic system and network procurement, installation, administration, and security.
• Used, troubleshot, and modified existing cyber tools and methods to identify, preserve, and analyze digital evidence.
• Assisted with the development and implementation of custom tools and methods.
• Provided basic technical and other professional assistance in conducting interviews, searches, and other investigative and operation activity.
• Drafted documents on basic technical and other professional matters, and assisted in drafting documents on advanced matters.
• Assisted in coordinating with the private sector and other divisions.

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

• Performed basic computer system and network procurement, installation, administration and security and assisted others on more complex matters.
• Used, troubleshot, and modified existing cyber tools and methods to identify, preserve, and analyze digital evidence.
• Developed and implemented basic custom tools.
• Provided technical and other professional assistance in conducting interviews, searches, and other investigative activity.
• Drafted documents on technical and other professional matters, and assisted in drafting documents on advanced matters.
• Performed liaison and outreach.

GS-13: Applicant must possess at least one (1) year of SE equivalent to the GS-12 grade level. SE is defined as follows:

• Performed advanced computer system and network procurement, installation, administration and security, and assisted others on more complex matters.
• Used, troubleshot, and modified existing cyber tools and methods to identify, preserve, and analyze digital evidence.
• Identified, developed, vetted, and implemented new tools and methods.
• Provided advanced technical and other professional assistance in conducting interviews, searches and other investigative activity.
• Coordinated with the private sector and other divisions to lead in the resolution of technical and other relevant issues.
• Acted as a subject matter expert, and testified as such in court.
• Remained current with major new advances in cyber and technology topics and provided guidance, tools, and methods on addressing these advances at the national level.

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 and GS-13: Education may not be substituted for SE at these grade levels.

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 .