Criminal Investigator (Digital Forensics)

Criminal Investigator (Digital Forensics)

Department: Department of Commerce

Location(s): Manassas, Virginia

Salary Range: $72977 - $158322 Per Year

Job Summary: This vacancy is for a Criminal Investigator (Digital Forensics) in the Bureau of Industry and Security within the Department of Commerce.

Major Duties:

• As a Criminal Investigator (Digital Forensics), you will perform the following duties: Receives, develops and evaluates leads, original requests, complaints and allegations from informants, industry, the U.S. Government and other sources. Plans for each phase of the investigation. The incumbent develops an investigative plan designed to obtain essential facts and proof and performs accurate and impartial factfinding to execute that plan. Conducts interviews, interrogations, and examination/procurement of pertinent records both in the U.S. and abroad. The incumbent conducts investigative activities including surveillance, writing and serving of subpoenas, taking sworn statements, preparing and serving search and arrest warrants, developing and utilizing informants and conducting detentions/seizures of shipments/items. Obtains pertinent records including (but not limited to) sales quotes and invoices, shipping declarations and records, bank/payment information and transaction correspondence. Investigations often require coordination with other U.S. and/or foreign investigative agencies (residing inside and outside the U.S.) to obtain evidence and investigative support. Conducts forensic investigations of personal computers, removable media, mobile phones and other electronic equipment that form the basis for investigative leads in complex, highly sensitive investigations of national and international dimensions. The incumbent also researches new computer forensic techniques and procedures and conduct projects to resolve developing technical issues which impact the seizure and examination of electronic storage devices. Serves as an expert witness to be called upon to testify before Grand Juries, courts, or administrative hearings on the facts of investigative cases; specifically, articulation of testimony on the results and technical evidentiary issues of forensic laboratory analysis and computer forensic related matters. This position is approved for primary law enforcement retirement coverage under 5 U.S.C. 8336(c) and 5 U.S.C. 8412(d). Must maintain requirements to qualify for LEO retirement coverage (5 USC 8336(c) and 5 USC 8412(d)). This Job Opportunity Announcement may be used to fill other Criminal Investigator (Digital Forensics) GS-1811-9/11/12/13, FPL 13 positions within the Department of Commerce in the same geographical location with the same qualifications and specialized experience.

Qualifications: Firearms: This position requires the incumbent to carry a firearm while performing duties and maintain firearm proficiency and successfully pass periodic firearm qualifications. Any person who has been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence cannot lawfully possess a firearm or ammunition in accordance with 18 USC 922 (Lautenberg Amendment). Applicants for the Criminal Investigator position who have been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence are not eligible for employment. Lautenberg Amendment: This position authorizes the incumbent to carry a firearm. Any person convicted of a felony or misdemeanor crime of domestic violence cannot lawfully possess a firearm or ammunition (Title 18, USC Section 992(g)). A felony or misdemeanor crime of domestic violence is generally defined under the statute as any offense involving the use or attempted use of physical force or the threatened use of a deadly weapon committed by the victim's current or former domestic partner, parent, or guardian. The term convicted, as defined in the statute, excludes any person whose conviction has been expunged, set aside, or pardoned, or any person whose civil rights have been restored, so long as such restoration does not restrict the shipping, transport, possession or receipt of firearms or ammunition. Candidates convicted of a felony or misdemeanor crime of domestic violence within the meaning of the referenced statutes are not eligible for the position. Individual Occupational Requirements - Medical Requirements: The duties in this position in this series require moderate to arduous physical exertion involving walking and standing, use of firearms and exposure to inclement weather. Manual dexterity with comparatively free motion of finger, wrist, elbow, shoulder, hip, and knee joints is required. Arms, hands, legs, and feet must be sufficiently intact and functioning for applicants to perform their duties satisfactorily. Sufficiently good vision in each eye, with or without correction, is required to perform the duties satisfactorily. Near vision, corrective lenses permitted, must be sufficient to read printed material the size of typewritten characters. As measured by an audiometer, hearing loss must not exceed 35 decibels at 1000, 2000, and 3000 Hz levels. Since the duties of these positions are exacting and responsible and involve activities under trying conditions, applicants must possess emotional and mental stability. Any physical condition that would cause the applicant to be a hazard to himself/herself or others is unqualifying. AND In addition to meeting Individual Occupational Requirements, candidates must also meet the additional specialized experience requirement. Qualification requirements in the vacancy announcements are based on the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards Handbook, which contains federal qualification standards. This handbook is available on the Office of Personnel Management's website located at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/#url=Occupational-Series Applicants must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to the next lower grade level in the Federal Service. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular competencies/knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. This experience need not have been in the federal government. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations e.g., professional; philanthropic, religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies; knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. To qualify at the GL-9 level: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: You must possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the GL-07 in the Federal service. Specialized experience is defined as: Assists in testing and validating forensic hardware, software, and procedures for computer acquisitions and analyses, then drafts initial reports on findings for review. Prepares basic, factual reports documenting computer forensic acquisitions, examinations, and investigative results for peer or supervisory review. Assists in identifying, seizing, or acquiring electronic data from basic devices (e.g., personal computers, laptops, external drives, flash media, optical discs) using established forensic principles, techniques, and tools under direct supervision. OR SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION: a master's or equivalent graduate degree or two (2) full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B. or J.D., if related. OR COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: a combination of the required experience and education for this grade level. To qualify at the GS-11 level: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: You must possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 in the Federal service. Specialized experience is defined as: Independently tests and validates forensic hardware, software tools, and procedures to confirm reliability for digital acquisitions and analyses, preparing draft reports on validation results for review. Prepares detailed, concise, and accurate reports of forensic acquisitions analyses, and related investigative findings suitable for peer review and case support. Assists in identifying, seizing, or acquiring electronic data from a variety of devices (personal computers, external drives, removable media, mobile devices) applying standard forensic methods with supervision. SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION: a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or three (3) full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree, or LL.M, if related; OR COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: a combination of the required experience and education for this grade level. To qualify at the GS-12 level: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: You must possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 in the Federal service. Specialized experience is defined as: Conducts validation testing of advanced forensic hardware, software, and custom procedures to ensure their suitability for acquisitions and examinations, authoring comprehensive validation reports. Prepares thorough, documented investigative reports that integrate forensic acquisition details, detailed analysis results, and findings to support prosecutions or agency actions. To qualify at the GS-13 level: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: You must possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 in the Federal service. Specialized experience is defined as: Performs forensic examinations and analyses of acquired digital evidence from sophisticated or damaged devices, networks, or large-scale data sets, applying advanced principles, specialized tools, and methods to recover and interpret hidden, deleted, or obfuscated data. Authors comprehensive, court-ready investigative reports that synthesize acquisition processes, in-depth technical analyses, artifact interpretations, timelines, and conclusions to withstand rigorous scrutiny. Leads identification, seizure, and acquisition of electronic data from diverse and challenging sources (e.g., networked systems, encrypted devices, multiple interconnected storage media) using advanced forensic techniques with minimal supervision.

How to Apply: Your complete application, including required documents, must be received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on the closing date of this announcement. To apply on-line, you must complete and submit an application by accessing the USAJOBS website at http://www.usajobs.gov. To begin, click the Apply button and follow the prompts to register/sign-in into your USAJOBS account, answer the questions, and submit all required documents. To return to your saved application, log in to your USAJOBS account at http://www.usajobs.gov and click on "Application Status." Click on the position title, and then select Apply to continue. For instructions on submitting your application in an alternate format, please contact the Agency Contact listed in this vacancy announcement.

Application Deadline: 2026-03-12