Fbi Biologist Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Job Opening: 66471
Opening Date: August 25, 2026
Closing Date: September 8, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. (ET)
Job Title Physical Scientist- Forensic Examiner (FE) Full Performance Level GS-14 Division Laboratory Division (LD) Unit Firearms/Toolmarks Unit (FTU) Location Quantico, VA or Huntsville, AL Working Hours 8:00am-4:30pm (Flexible) Job Type Full Time/Permanent Who May Apply Current, permanent FBI Laboratory Division employees Number of Positions Available 1 Questions Email: HRS Robert White at rlwhite@fbi.gov Salary Salary shown is the BASE SALARY for the grade level. Appropriate locality pay will be applied according to the location of the official duty station.
GS-14 $107,446.00 - $139,684.00
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.
UNIT DESCRIPTION
The FTU applies valid scientific procedures to the forensic examinations of firearms, ammunition components, toolmarks, serial number restoration, gunshot residue, bullet trajectories, and other closely-related physical evidence in support of the FBI and other law enforcement agencies and provide leadership to the forensic Firearm and Toolmark community through training and research.
KEY REQUIREMENTS

• Must be a current, permanent FBI employee in the LD
• Travel is required

PHYSICAL DEMANDS
Work performed in the office is mostly sedentary. Work in laboratories and classrooms may involve long periods of standing. Work at field sites may involve strenuous walking, stooping, bending, carrying of heavy instruments and samples, and extended periods of work in mobile laboratories. The work may involve frequent travel.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
Work is performed in offices, laboratories, and classrooms. Another portion of the work is performed at the sites of investigations where there is potential for exposure to hazardous materials requiring protective measures including the wearing of laboratory protective garments. The individual selected for this position could potentially be exposed to situations or information that depicts violent acts, lewd images, or involves isolated working conditions.
MAJOR DUTIES

• Ensure the quality assurance requirements are implemented and followed as applicable to the unit.
• Ensure nonconformities are identified, appropriately addressed, and recorded.
• Make recommendations for improving the quality system.
• Participate in revising quality system documents, as requested.
• Assist, as requested, in performing audits.
• Collaborate closely with the Forensic Analysis Support Unit on development and issuance of any Corrective Action Plans.
• Examine evidence, prepare case notes, and issue findings regarding evidence submitted for firearms toolmarks examinations.
• Prepare and issue comprehensive laboratory reports and testify as required.
• Provide assistance to federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies with shooting incident reconstruction.
• Maintain proficiency by participating in an annual proficiency testing program, reviewing current scientific and technical literature, and attending professional conferences.

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:

• Flexibility/Adaptability
• Problem Solving/Judgement
• Analytic Thinking
• Physical Science
• Quality Assurance

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.
A. Successful completion of a 4 year course of study in an accredited college or university bachelor's (or higher) degree in physical science, biology, chemistry, engineering, or mathematics that included 24 semester hours in physical science.
OR
B. Completion of education and experience - education equivalent to one of the majors shown in A above that included at least 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science, plus appropriate experience or additional education.
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.
Specialized Experience (SE)
GS-14: Applicant must possess at least one (1) year of SE equivalent to the GS-13 grade level. SE is defined as follows:

• Conducting examinations according to accepted protocols and in coordination with other entities.
• Utilizing instruments and equipment to examine evidence and overseeing the work of other examiners.
• Directing the activities of forensic examiners in the processing of crime scenes and in the collection of evidence.

Desired Skills
Desired Skills are NOT mandatory and will NOT be utilized to minimally qualify applicants.
Desired Skills are:

• Qualified for at least 3 years as an FBI Forensic Examiner in the Firearms and Toolmarks Discipline.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
To apply to this position, interested applicants must provide a complete application package by the closing date which includes:

1. Utilizing the Resume Builder, outline your relevant work experience and associated start and end dates. Uploaded resumes will not be reviewed or used for qualification purposes.
2. Other supporting documents (if applicable):
   • College transcripts, if qualifying based on education or if there is a positive education requirement
   • Memorandum for Record (MFR): Work performed outside assigned duties (that would not normally be documented on a SF-50, i. e., back-up duties), has to be documented in detail by an immediate supervisor in order to receive full credit for amount of time worked in that position. If no documentation is furnished no credit will be given for time worked in that position. The following notations must be specified in the documentation:
     • Percent of time worked in the particular position (cannot conflict with main duties)
     • The month/year work began
       Frequency worked (i.e., daily, monthly, etc.)
     • Specific duties performed

Attach the Memorandum for Record to your application in the "Cover Letters and Attachments" section of My Career Tools on the Careers Home page. Please upload the attachment as type "Other."
While applicants might see these documents in their profile, HR Specialists may be unable to access them. Therefore, all applicants MUST upload another copy to ensure that staffing units can review the complete application.
Please note: Failure to provide the necessary and relevant information required by this vacancy announcement may disqualify you from consideration. Incomplete applications will not be supplemented with additional requests for information; your application will be evaluated solely on the information you submit. You must complete the application process and submit all required documents by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on the announcement's closing date.
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.
• Limited Movement: Policy has been implemented wherein support employees entering a position may be precluded from moving to another position within the Bureau through reassignment or change to a lower grade for a minimum of 12 months. HRD will waive this limited movement policy for qualified employees, who have received an official notification letter that their current position is being relocated due to an organizational restructuring initiative, so those employees can compete for a position elsewhere. Voluntarily leaving a position with a relocation incentive may result in loss of that incentive. Please notate that you have received an official notification letter within your application.
• Probationary employees are precluded from being considered for all job opportunities until 12-months of their 24-month probationary period has concluded. Probationary employees may be considered for competitive vacancies that are advertised within their respective division or field office after serving 90 days within the FBI.
• Candidates will not be considered if currently on a Performance Improvement Plan (PIP); a Letter of Requirement (LOR); or have failed a PIP or LOR and are currently awaiting the final action by HRD.

a) Performance Improvement Plan (PIP) is a 90-day written developmental plan for an employee whose performance on one or more critical elements is rated "Unacceptable."
b) A Letter of Requirement (LOR) is issued when a supervisor identifies leave abuse and/or when frequent absences negatively impact operations of an office.

• Relocation expenses will be borne by the selectee, except FBI employees returning from LEGAT assignment. Employees returning from LEGAT assignments must advise the Staffing and Administrative Unit / International Operations Division of their application for this position.
• Current tax law may impact your transfer by making some of your moving expense reimbursements taxable. Please contact 304-625-9337 (304-625-XFER) for information regarding taxable expenses.
• Employees selected for promotions at the GS 12 level or higher, selected for a supervisory position at any grade level, or selected for positions where a transfer of location is required, will be processed through the name check program prior to being notified of their selection.

Nepotism
Nepotism is the act of favoring relatives in the hiring process and is prohibited by law. Public officials are prohibited from hiring or promoting relatives or relatives of officials in their chain of command, as well as actively or indirectly endorse a relative's appointment or promotion. During the hiring process, all selected candidates and FBI hiring managers will be required to certify they are not related to anyone involved in the hiring process.
Reasonable Accommodation
The FBI provides reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants with disabilities. If you require a reasonable accommodation during the application and/or hiring process, please contact the Office of Equal Employment Opportunity Affairs (OEEOA) Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Program by email at REASONABLE_ACCOMMODA@fbi.gov, phone at 202-324-2158, or fax at 202-324-3976. This email address is for reasonable accommodation requests only. Do not send applications or unrelated inquiries to this address, as they will not be considered.
Equal Employment Opportunity
The FBI is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for this vacancy. Unless explicitly authorized by law, selection will be made without regard to, and there will be no discrimination because of, color, race, religion, national origin, marital status, parental status, physical or mental disability, genetic information, age (40 or over), sex, pregnancy and related conditions, or on the basis of personal favoritism, or any other non-merit factors.
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