EQUIPMENT SPECIALIST(GUNSMITH)

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: 63979
Opening Date: March 9, 2026
Closing Date: March 13, 2026 at 11:59 pm (ET)

Job Title EQUIPMENT SPECIALIST(GUNSMITH)

Full Performance Level GS--12

Division Training

Unit Defense Systems

Location Huntsville, AL

Working Hours 8:15 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.(Flexible)

Job Type Full Time/Permanent

Who May Apply All U.S. Citizens

Number of Positions Available
2

This position is contingent upon the incumbent vacating the position

Questions Email: Contact: Penny Reed at

Salary $93,216.00--$121,183.00 (w/Locality)

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

The Defensive Systems Unit (DSU) is responsible for the life-cycle management, from procurement to final disposition, of all FBI weapon systems, ammunition and ballistic protective equipment in an effort to promote the success and survivability of personnel. As such, DSU provides logistic and operational support to all entities within the FBI, as well as to trusted USIC and law enforcement partners. DSU is comprised of the Weapons Management Team and the Body Armor Team.

KEY REQUIREMENTS

• Must be a U.S. citizen
• Must have (or be able to obtain) a valid driver's license
• Some domestic and/or international travel may be required
• Applicants must complete a practicum application which will be part of the interview process. To complete the practicum, you will be required to travel to Redstone Arsenal, Huntsville, AL, at your own expense.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Work entails considerable walking and standing with frequent visits to other facilities in the FBI, indoor and outdoor.
• Maintenance and repair tasks require walking, standing, stooping, pushing, pulling and lifting of items often exceeding 70 pounds

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Work is typically performed in an office or shop setting and in other indoor as well as outdoor locations in visiting the various training and support facilities, and in performing miscellaneous repair and maintenance work. Employee travels to conduct maintenance support at unfamiliar locations both CONUS and OCONUS, with varying climatic and environmental conditions. Working conditions are generally performed within the FBI Weapons Maintenance Facility on Redstone, Arsenal Gun Vault that is without windows but otherwise well lighted, heated and ventilated. Incumbent stands on tile-covered concrete floors and is exposed to oil, solvents, danger of machining operations, flying fragments and noise from test firings. Areas may require protective gear and the observance of special safety precautions. Top Secret Security Clearance is required and must be maintained.

MAJOR DUTIES

• Serves as an FBI Gunsmith, technical expert and Instructor in the field of firearms technology.
• Performs diagnostic inspection, repair, preventive maintenance, and preparation of various weapons including rifles, carbines, shotguns, sub-machine guns, handguns, and gas guns.
• Researches and procures parts and accessories to perform detailed weapon repairs and testing as well as function fires and sights in all weapons prepared.
• Performs refinishing and repairs such as cutting, fitting and gauging barrels, cutting chambers, adjusting head space and hand fitting parts to factory tolerances.
• Develops and conducts instructional courses related to disassembly/assembly, cleaning, maintenance, and repair of a variety of weapons.
• Communicates with commercial vendors in addition to local, state, and federal law enforcement entities.

QAULIFICATIONS 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. Applicants must meet the qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

If you are found minimally qualified, your application will move forward to additional phases of the review process.

The first five competencies/The competencies will be used in a Structured Resume Review to objectively evaluate applicant resumes. Do not provide a separate narrative written statement. Rather you must describe in your resume how your past work experience demonstrates that you possess the competencies identified below. Your resume should demonstrate that you possess the following competencies.

Competencies:

• Equipment Maintenance
• Firearms Technology/Gunsmithing
• Customer Service
• Interpersonal Ability
• Teaching/Mentoring/Coaching

Education

• Education may NOT be substituted for Specialized Experience at the GS 12 or higher-grade level.

Selective Placement Factor

In order to be considered for this position, applicants must respond to the following selective placement factor question. All qualifying experience MUST be provided within the resume to be considered.

To be considered for this position, applicants must provide a certificate of completion in gunsmithing from an accredited Technical College/School or Service in the United States Armed Services in one or more of the following Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) codes listed on their Defense Department Form DD-214 where the positions were held for one year or more:

United States Marine Corps
MOS 2111 or 2161 and 2112 Small Arms Repairer/Technician or Machinist and Precision Weapons Repairer
United States Air Force
MOS 3P051B Combat Arms Instructor
MOS 3P071B Combat Arms/Security Forces
MOS 3P151A Combat Arms Training and Maintenance Journeyman
United States Army
MOS 45B or 91F and 44E or 91E Small Arms/Artillery Repairer or Machinist
United States Navy
Gunner's Mate Small Arms Technician
United States Coast Guard
Gunner's Mate Small Arms Technician.

In addition to the selective placement factor, please make sure your specialized experience/requirement(s) can be identified in your resume.

Applicants must meet the Selective Placement Factor above and the Specialized Experience listed below.

Specialized Experience (SE)

GS12-: Applicant must possess at least one (1) year of SE equivalent to the GS-11 grade level. SE is defined as follows:

• Performing all types of repairs and modifications to small arms used in law enforcement and most commercially available firearms including rifles, carbines, shotguns, sub-machine guns, handguns, and gas guns
• Possessing gunsmith level of experience in weaponry, above-average level of interior and exterior ballistics , and shooting ability
• Communicating verbally and in writing to provide instruction and information regarding all aspects of gunsmithing.
• Experience in the following weapons: Glock pistols, Remington shotguns, and Colt pattern rifles/carbines.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

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

Utilizing the Resume Builder, outline your relevant work experience and associated start and end dates. Uploaded resumes will not be reviewed or used for qualification purposes.

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.
• 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 .