DIGITAL OPERATIONS SPECIALST, 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: 62545
Opening Date: December 17, 2025
Closing Date: December 26, 2025 at 11:59 pm (ET)

Job Title Digital Operations Specialist

Full Performance Level GS-12

Division Albany Field Office, Indianapolis Field Office

Location Albany, New York; Indianapolis, Indiana

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 1 vacancy in each Division

Questions Email: 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 25% or, for eligible current federal employees, a relocation incentive of up to 15%. 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.

JOB SUMMARY

Are you interested in a career with the FBI as a Digital Operations Specialist (DOS)? The DOS uses their expertise of common and uncommon technologies and data platforms to assist investigative teams with identifying, seizing, and understanding digital evidence related to activities encountered during an investigation. #LI-FBI

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
• Selectee will be required to successfully complete a mandatory 10 week Digital Operations Specialist Training at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, AL within the first year of employment.

MAJOR DUTIES

• Plans and completes assignments while adhering to established instructions, policies, practices, and procedures.
• Establishes and maintains working relationships with internal and external stakeholders to exchange information, provide recommendations, and provide analytical support.
• Communicates with others to provide training while preparing and presenting reports and briefings.
• Utilizes computer related hardware and software to collect, examine, preserve, and duplicate digital evidence while adhering to all legal authorities, policies, and guidelines.
• Provide onsite technical guidance as a Subject Matter Expert by troubleshooting errors and problems in order to retrieve data/digital evidence, ensuring proper policies and procedures are followed, preventing data loss and equipment damage.

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
• Data Analysis
• Interpersonal Ability
• Problem Solving/Judgment
• Technology Application

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:

• Applied established policies and procedures involving the collection and preparation of technical data and/or digital evidence.
• Provided routine guidance to internal colleagues on performing analysis and review of technical data and/or digital evidence.
• Communicated orally, in writing, and through reports, briefings, and other methods of information exchange on matters involving technical data and/or digital evidence.
• Utilized computer related hardware and software to collect, examine, and preserve technical data while adhering to all legal authorities, policies, and guidelines.

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 involving digital evidence and/or technical data while adhering to established instructions, policies, practices, and procedures.
• Established and maintained working relationships with internal and external stakeholders to exchange information, provide recommendations and analytical support on matters related to technical data and/or digital evidence.
• Communicated orally, in writing, and through reports, briefings, formal/informal training sessions, and other methods of information exchange on matters involving technical data and/or digital evidence.
• Utilized computer related hardware and software to collect, examine, preserve, and duplicate technical data and/or digital evidence while adhering to all legal authorities, policies, and guidelines.
• Troubleshot errors and identified problems retrieving technical 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:

• Planned, interpreted, and refined the methods and technologies used to retrieve technical data and/or digital evidence to support digital operations.
• Established and maintained working relationships with internal and external stakeholders to exchange information, provide guidance, and recommend new procedures and techniques to better support digital operations.
• Communicated orally, in writing, and through reports, briefings, formal/informal training sessions, and other methods of information exchange on matters involving technical data and/or digital evidence.
• Utilized computer related hardware and software to identify, collect, examine, preserve, and duplicate technical data and/or digital evidence while adhering to all legal authorities, policies, and guidelines.
• Troubleshot errors and problems retrieving technical data and/or digital evidence ensuring proper policies and procedures are followed to prevent data loss and equipment damage.
• Provided onsite technical guidance as a Subject Matter Expert.

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

• Initiated, established and maintained working relationships with internal and external stakeholders to enhance information sharing and collaboration.
• Communicated orally, in writing, and through reports, briefings, formal training sessions, and other methods of information exchange on matters involving technical data and/or digital evidence.
• Utilized a variety of digital services and digital data storage systems to include equipment, processes, operating systems, software, programs, storage devices, and other digital operations products to extract technical data from complex digital devices.
• Identified, troubleshot, and corrected complex errors and problems retrieving technical data and/or digital evidence ensuring proper policies and procedures are followed to prevent data loss and equipment damage.
• Provided onsite technical guidance as a Subject Matter Expert.
• Established and maintained effective internal quality controls over search and retrieval methods to safeguard the collection of technical data and/or digital evidence and comply with appropriate laws and regulations.

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 for SE at this grade level.

Degrees must be in one of the following fields: computer science, engineering, information science, information systems management, mathematics, operations research, statistics, or technology management OR a degree that provided a minimum of 24 semester hours in one or more of the fields identified above and required the development or adaptation of applications, systems, or networks.

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 .