DIGITAL FORENSIC EXAMINER

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: 65202
Opening Date: May 20, 2026
Closing Date: June 4, 2026 at 11:59 pm (ET)

JOB SUMMARY

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. #LI-FBI

The following highlighted Field Office locations have been identified to have an immediate or anticipated need:

LOCATION: Baltimore, MD; Boston, MA; Dallas, TX; El Paso, TX; Houston, TX; New Haven, CT; New York, NY; Sacramento, CA; Salt Lake City, UT; Seattle, WA

Please ensure your top three (3) location preferences are updated under the "Federal Preferences" tab in your application prior to submission. If there is only one (1) division you are interested in then you should mark that division for all three (3) of your choices.

This job announcement will be used to select candidates for current and future vacancies; therefore, you are encouraged to select any of the advertised divisions in your top three (3) location preferences. Your application will only be reviewed if vacancies exist among your three (3) choices. If a hiring manager is interested in pursuing your application, they will contact you directly.

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.

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.

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
• 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 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. 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
• Collaboration
• Customer Service
• Problem Solving/Judgment
• Technology Awareness

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-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

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.

HOW TO APPLY

For detailed instructions related to applying, uploading documents, withdrawing an application or updating your application, please review instructions on