Digital Forensic Examiner

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.

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.

Salary

• $52,727 - $82,938/year

Conditions of Employment

• 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.
• 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. Much of the time is spent inventorying and processing evidence which requires walking, bending, stretching, crawling and lifting.

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.

Qualifications

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, 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.

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

1. 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.
2. Other supporting documents (if applicable):

• College transcripts, if qualifying based on education or if there is a positive education requirement.
• Former civilian Federal employees must submit a copy of your MOST RECENT SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action) showing your tenure, grade and step, salary, and type of position occupied (i.e., Excepted or Competitive); or similar Notification of Personnel Action documentation, i.e., Transcript of Service, Form 1150, etc. This is a requirement to verify your Time in Grade (TIG). Actions such as promotion, within grade increase, or reassignment actions must be submitted as your most recent SF 50.
• 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.

How to Apply

To apply for the Digital Forensic Examiner position, please click here.