Job Description

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Computer Scientist - Field Ops
Department of Justice
Federal Bureau of Investigation
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Summary
At the FBI our computer scientists work alongside technology professionals within a dynamic, state-of-the-art environment to prevent cyberattacks through counterterrorism, counterintelligence, fraud, identity theft, and other crimes. These programming experts regularly support special agents and intelligence analysts in their investigations by designing, developing, and testing tools and systems to protect the American people and our national security.
Summary
At the FBI our computer scientists work alongside technology professionals within a dynamic, state-of-the-art environment to prevent cyberattacks through counterterrorism, counterintelligence, fraud, identity theft, and other crimes. These programming experts regularly support special agents and intelligence analysts in their investigations by designing, developing, and testing tools and systems to protect the American people and our national security.
Overview
Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
12/04/2025 to 12/18/2025 Salary
$42,679 to - $117,034 per year
Salaries listed above are the base rate of pay GS pay scale. A complete list of pay tables factoring in locality pay can be found on OPM.gov Pay scale & grade GS 7 - 13
Locations
Many vacancies in the following locations:
Atlanta, GA
Baltimore, MD
New York, NY
Remote job
No Telework eligible
No Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position. Relocation expenses reimbursed
No Appointment type
Permanent Work schedule
Full-time Service
Excepted
Promotion potential
13
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No Security clearance
Drug test
Yes Financial disclosure
Bargaining unit status
Announcement number
DESTIMP-12845879-26-VL Control number 851632200
This job is open to
Clarification from the agency
All U.S. Citizens.
Duties

• Performs system and network procurement, installation, administration, and security; develops and uses basic computing environments for analysis.
• Develops and implements custom tools and methods, and uses, troubleshoots and modifies existing tools and methods to identify, isolate, preserve, and analyze digital data.
• Identifies, vets, and implements new tools and methods.
• Provides technical assistance in conducting interviews, searches, and other investigative and operational activity; performs liaison and outreach.
• Drafts documents on technical and other professional matters in varying degrees of difficulty and at the appropriate technical level.
• Stays current with major new advances in relevant technology-related topics; provides guidance on tools and methods related to these advances.
• Testifies in court.

Requirements
Conditions of employment

• Must be a U.S. Citizen
• Must be able to obtain a Top Secret-SCI clearance
• Some travel may be required
• Required Training: Selectees must successfully complete a 10-week mandatory Computer Scientist Field Operations Training at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, AL within the first year of employment.

Qualifications
GS-7: Applicant must possess at least one (1) year of SE equivalent to the GS-5 grade level. SE is defined as follows:

• Used existing tools and methods to identify, preserve, and analyze digital evidence.
• Assisted with implementation of custom tools, techniques, and procedures used to address unique investigative situations.
• Provided basic technical and other professional assistance in conducting interviews, searches and other investigative, operational, liaison, and/or outreach activity.
• Assisted in drafting documents on basic technical and other professional matters.

GS-9: Applicant must possess at least one (1) year of SE equivalent to the GS-7 grade level. SE is defined as follows:

• Troubleshot and modified as needed existing tools and methods to identify, preserve, and analyze digital evidence.
• Assisted with the development of custom tools and methods to identify, analyze, and preserve digital evidence.
• Assisted in drafting documents on more advanced technical matters.

GS-11: Applicant must possess at least one (1) year of SE equivalent to the GS-9 grade level. SE is defined as follows:

• Assisted others with basic system and network procurement, installation, administration, and security.
• Used, troubleshot, and modified existing cyber tools and methods to identify, preserve, and analyze digital evidence.
• Assisted with the development and implementation of custom tools and methods.
• Provided basic technical and other professional assistance in conducting interviews, searches, and other investigative and operation activity.
• Drafted documents on basic technical and other professional matters, and assisted in drafting documents on advanced matters.
• Assisted in coordinating with the private sector and other divisions.

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

• Performed basic computer system and network procurement, installation, administration and security and assisted others on more complex matters.
• Used, troubleshot, and modified existing cyber tools and methods to identify, preserve, and analyze digital evidence.
• Developed and implemented basic custom tools.
• Provided technical and other professional assistance in conducting interviews, searches, and other investigative activity.
• Drafted documents on technical and other professional matters, and assisted in drafting documents on advanced matters.
• Performed liaison and outreach.

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

• Performed advanced computer system and network procurement, installation, administration and security, and assisted others on more complex matters.
• Used, troubleshot, and modified existing cyber tools and methods to identify, preserve, and analyze digital evidence.
• Identified, developed, vetted, and implemented new tools and methods.
• Provided advanced technical and other professional assistance in conducting interviews, searches and other investigative activity.
• Coordinated with the private sector and other divisions to lead in the resolution of technical and other relevant issues.
• Acted as a subject matter expert, and testified as such in court.
• Remained current with major new advances in cyber and technology topics and provided guidance, tools, and methods on addressing these advances at the national level.

Education
Positive Education Requirement
This position has a specific education requirement; all applicants must verify completion of this basic educational requirement by submitting a copy of their college transcripts at the time of application submission. 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.
BASIC REQUIREMENTS: All applicants must have a bachelor's degree in Computer Science or bachelor's degree with 30 semester hours in combination of mathematics, statistics, AND computer science (15 of the 30 semester hours MUST have been in any combination of statistics and mathematics that included differential and integral calculus). Courses designed to provide an introduction to computer science techniques and methodologies are acceptable; courses in teaching elementary, business or shop mathematics are NOT acceptable.
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 and GS-13: Education may not be substituted for 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.
Additional information
To attract and retain highly qualified candidates, selectees may be eligible for a recruitment incentive of up to 20% or, for eligible current federal employees, a relocation incentive of up to 10%. Expand Hide additional information
Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
Benefits

Skills Required