Digital Forensics Investigator Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Summary
This vacancy is for a Criminal Investigator (Digital Forensics) in the Seized Computer Evidence Recovery Unit, Office of Export Enforcement (OEE), Office of the Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement (EE), Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) within the Department of Commerce.
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Duties
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As a Criminal Investigator (Digital Forensics), you will perform the following duties:

• As a Seized Computer Evidence Recovery Specialist (SCERS), provide support and advice to OEE concerning the search and seizure of computers and computer related media, the processing of seized electronic evidence and the investigation of criminal activity involving the use of computer technology.
• Conduct 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.
• Receive, develop and evaluate leads, original requests, complaints and allegations. Find and develop evidence sufficient to prove or disprove allegations of actual or attempted violations. Develop an investigative plan designed to obtain essential facts and proof and performs accurate and impartial fact- finding to execute that plan.
• Conduct interviews, interrogations, and examination/procurement of pertinent records. Conduct 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.
• Study and review laws, regulations and legal opinions.
• Coordinate findings with other law enforcement agencies, other regulatory agencies, and other DOC program areas, and the United States Attorney's Office, as appropriate.
• Summarize and report all investigative activities efficiently in a clear, logical and impartial manner.
• Serve 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 Job Opportunity Announcement may be used to fill other Criminal Investigator (Digital Forensics), GS-1811-13, Full Performance Level (FPL) GS-13 positions within the Department of Commerce in the same geographical locations with the same qualifications and specialized experience.
Requirements
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Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this position.
• This position requires a TOP SECRET/SCI CLEARANCE: Any required investigations and clearances must be completed before the selectee can be placed in the position.
• You must successfully pass a background investigation. This may include a credit check, a review of financial issues, as well as certain criminal offenses and illegal use or possession of drugs.
• A probationary period may be required.
• Selective Service: Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see https://www.sss.gov/).
• If you receive a conditional offer of employment for this position, you will be required to complete an Optional Form 306, Declaration for Federal Employment, and to sign and certify the accuracy of all information in your application.
• All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choosing.
• Bargaining Unit Position: No
• Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE form 450): Yes
• License required: Yes, Valid State Motor Vehicle Operator's License.
• Drug Test Required: Yes. This position is subject to pre-employment drug testing and random drug testing thereafter
• Pre-employment medical/physical required: Yes. All applicants tentatively selected for this position must successfully pass all required physical/medical examinations prior to appointment. Selectee must be able to successfully pass, as applicable, annual and periodic physical/medical examinations, and psychological screenings to maintain a level of physical fitness in accordance with the standards and policies of this agency.
• Basic Training: You must complete or have completed the basic criminal investigator course at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, Glynco, GA (or equivalent training determined by the agency).
• Travel: Frequent temporary travel may be required.
• Mobile Workforce: You will be expected to work "on the road" meaning from and/or out of their vehicles; work from and/or out of non-traditional locations; work in-transit from either aircraft or motor vehicle.
• Mobility Agreement: Youmust sign a mobility agreement to accept, on direction of the Director of the Office of Export Enforcement (OEE), assignment to any one of OEE's offices.
• Permanent Change of Duty Station (PCS) Expense: will not be paid
• Time-in-grade/band requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement.

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.
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:

• Performing 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; and
• Authoring comprehensive, court-ready investigative reports that synthesize acquisition processes, in-depth technical analyses, artifact interpretations, timelines, and conclusions to withstand rigorous scrutiny; and
• Leading 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.

Additional information:
Law Enforcement Availability Pay (LEAP): Incumbent is required to work an average of two or more LEAP hours per scheduled workday, which may include evenings, nights and weekends. The incumbent is subject to work unscheduled duty hours and must be available for unscheduled duty based upon the needs of the Agency. Therefore, the incumbent is eligible for LEAP of an additional 25% and is subject to the provisions of the LEAP Act of 1994.
Maximum Entry Age: This position is covered by the special retirement provisions for Federal Law Enforcement Officers (FLEO). FLEO must retire at age 57 upon completing 20 years of law enforcement service. If 20 years of service are not attained at age 57, mandatory retirement is required upon completion of 20 years of service. The day immediately preceding an individual's 37th birthday is the last date for original appointment to a position as a law enforcement officer. This requirement does not apply to a) Preference-eligible veterans; OR b) Individuals who have previously served in a Federal civilian (not military) law enforcement position covered by Title 5 U.S.C. Section 8336 (c) provisions. Maximum entry-age requirement may be waived.
Telework: Criminal Investigators in the Office of Export Enforcement are not eligible for telework.
Education
There is no positive education requirement for this position.
Additional information
The following links provide information on various hiring authorities that do not fall under competitive examining procedures; however, they may enable you to apply through merit assignment procedures, or be eligible for a non-competitive appointment.

1. Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP)
2. Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP)
3. Military Spouse Non-Competitive Hiring Authority
4. Veterans Employment Opportunities Act (VEOA)

ICTAP and CTAP Eligibles: CTAP and ICTAP candidates will be eligible if it is determined that they have exceeded the minimum qualifications for the position by attaining at least a rating of 85 out of 100. Information about ICTAP eligibility is on the Office of Personnel Management's Career Transition Resources website at: Employee Guide to Career Transition
Military Spouse: The spouse of a member of the armed forces seeking eligibility under the non-competitive hiring authority of certain military spouse MUST submit various required documentation by the closing date of the announcement in accordance with one of the three below eligibilities:

• Spouse of a member of the armed forces serving on active duty,
• Spouse of service member who incurred a 100% disability, or
• Un-remarried widow or widower of a service member killed while performing active duty.

Please review the "Required Documents" Section for specific documents pertaining to each of the above eligibilities that MUST be included with your application, if you are applying as a Military Spouse.
Current or Former Political Appointees: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES, or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.
Reasonable Accommodations (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire