Job Opening: 67635
Opening Date: September 14, 2026
Closing Date: September 28, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. (ET)
Job Title IT Specialist - Digital Forensic Examiner Full Performance Level GS-13 Division Houston Field Office Location Houston, TX Working Hours Monday - Friday
8:15 A.M. - 5:00 P.M. (varies based on operational needs)
Job Type Full Time/Permanent Who May Apply Current, permanent FBI employees Number of Positions Available 1 Questions Email: [email protected] Salary GS-7: $60,348.00 - $78,455.00
GS-9: $71,181.00 - $92,541.00
GS-11: $86,123.00 - $111,966.00
GS-12: $103,225.00 - $134,195.00
GS-13: $122,749.00 - $159,575.00
For eligible current federal employees, a relocation incentive of up to 15% is available. 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 current, permanent FBI employee
• Must be able to obtain an SCI clearance
• Must have (or be able to obtain) a valid driver's license
• Some travel may be required
• Selectee will be required to complete a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report, OGE-450 annually
• 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.
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 & 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. 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 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:

• Analytic Thinking
• Customer Service
• Forensics - Digital/Computer
• Technology Awareness
• Communication

Positive Education Requirement
This position has a specific education requirement; all applicants must verify completion of this basic education requirement by submitting a copy of their college transcripts by the closing date of the vacancy announcement.
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.
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 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

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.
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, 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.

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, & 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.
• Communicates findings and/or opinions to stakeholders of IT related examinations conducted.

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

• Served as a technical expert, taking on a lead role in complex assignments, providing advice and guidance to internal and external stakeholders, conducting complex examinations of digital evidence, following established protocols and procedures.
• Served as an experience Digital Forensic Examiner responsible for planning, coordinating and directing forensic science evidence analysis.
• Prepared, furnished oral and written reports to internal & external stakeholders on findings of examinations.

In order to be considered for the GS-13 grade level, candidates MUST possess a current FBI CART Senior Digital Forensic Examiner Certification.
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-12/13: Education may not be substituted in lieu of 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.
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

• Positions with fitness for duty requirements or those that require international travel may require proof of certain vaccinations.
• Management may select at any grade for which this position has b