Job Opening: 57448

Open to ALL U.S. Citizens

Opening Date: October 4, 2024

Closing Date: October 18, 2024 11:59 pm (EST)

Questions regarding this opening should be directed to Xzasia Leftwich at (202) 323-1077or xleftwich@fbi.gov

Job Summary

Position: Electronics Engineer, GS 0855-9/11

Division: Operational Technology Division

Unit: Electronic Device Analysis Unit

Location: Quantico, Virginia  (No public transportation)                                            

Working Hours: 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m

Salary: GS-9: $68,405.00 - $88,926.00   

            GS-11: $82,764.00 - $107,590.00

Full Performance level: GS-14

Number of Positions Available: 1

Duration: Full Time

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.

Key Requirements

• Must be a U.S. citizen
• Must be able to obtain a Top Secret clearance

    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. (if applicable)

Mission Statement:

The mission of the FBI is to protect the American People and uphold the Constitution of the United States.

Major Duties:

GS-9 Level:

• Identify, evaluate, and characterize unknown electronic devices under the guidance of senior engineering staff.
• Reverse engineer proprietary data formats used by various consumer electronic devices.
• Develop basic vulnerability research and reverse engineering skills related to hardware and software security mechanisms on commercially available electronic devices in order to gain lawful access to their contents.
• Process evidence using specialized tools, with occasional requirements to testify to work done.

GS-11 Level:

• Create and execute examination plans in order to identify, evaluate, and characterize unknown electronic devices.
• Independently perform basic vulnerability research and reverse engineering tasks related to hardware and software security mechanisms on commercially available electronic devices in order to gain lawful access to their contents.
• Develop software tools to support repeatable execution of processes developed.

Qualifications and Evaluations

Please make sure your specialized experience/requirement(s) can be identified in your resume. Applicants must meet the qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Your application will be evaluated and rated under the FBI’s Candidate Rating Procedures. Your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the job qualifications listed in this announcement and will be compared to your responses to the online assessment questionnaire. High self-assessment in the vacancy questions that is not supported by information in your resume, and/or supporting documents may eliminate you from Most Competitive status.

Your application will then be placed in one of three categories: Most Competitive, Competitive, or Least Competitive. Names of candidates in the Most Competitive category will be sent to the hiring official for employment consideration. Veterans’ preference will be applied.

All applicants will be rated on the following Competencies:

• Organizing and Planning
• Problem Solving/Judgment
• Analytic Thinking
• Computers and Electronics

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 by the closing date of the vacancy announcement.

A.  All applicants must have the following basic degree requirement of a Degree:  professional engineering.  To be acceptable, the curriculum must:  (1) be in a school of engineering with at least one curriculum accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) as a professional engineering curriculum; or (2) include differential and integral calculus and courses (more advanced than first-year physics and chemistry) in five of the following seven areas of engineering science or physics:  (a) statistics, dynamics; (b) strength of materials (stress-strain relationships); (c) fluid mechanics, hydraulics; (d) thermodynamics; (e) electrical fields and circuits; (f) nature and properties of materials (relating particle and aggregate structure to properties); and (g) any other comparable areas of fundamental engineering science or physics, such as optics, heat transfer, soil mechanics, or electronics.

OR

B.  Combination of education and experience - college level education, training, and/or technical experience that furnished (1) a thorough knowledge of the physical and mathematical sciences underlying professional engineering, and (2) a good understanding, both theoretical and practical, of the engineering sciences and techniques and their applications to one of the branches of engineering.  The adequacy of such background must be demonstrated by one of the following:

• Professional registration - Current registration as a professional engineer by any State, the District of Columbia, Guam, or Puerto Rico.
• Written Test - Evidence of having successfully passed the Engineer-In-Training (EIT) examination, or the written test required for professional registration, which is administered by the Boards of Engineering Examiners in the various States,  the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico.
• Specified academic courses - Successful completion of at least 60 semester hours of courses in the physical, mathematical, and engineering sciences and in engineering that included the courses specified in the basic requirements.  The courses must be fully acceptable toward meeting the requirements of a professional engineering curriculum as described in paragraph A.
• Related curriculum - Successful completion of a curriculum leading to a Bachelor's degree in engineering technology or in an appropriate professional field, e.g., physics, chemistry, architecture, computer science, mathematics, hydrology, or geology, may be accepted in lieu of a degree in engineering, provided that the applicant has had at least 1 year of professional engineering experience acquired under professional engineering supervision and guidance.

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

• Academic training or experience of analog and digital circuit theory and analysis.
• Academic training or experience in computer architecture and related topics.
• Experience with modifying and debugging software applications, Python or C# preferable.
• Experience working independently and with others to solve unknown technical challenges.
• Academic training and basic knowledge of standard laboratory bench equipment, i.e., oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, multi-meters and spectrum analyzers.

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

.In addition to above:

• Experience performing analog and digital circuit theory and analysis.
• Experience of computer architecture and related topics.
• Experience creating original, modifying and debugging software applications, Python or C# preferable.
• Experience working independently with others to solve intermediately complex unknown technical challenges.
• Experience using standard laboratory bench equipment, i.e., oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, multi-meters, and spectrum analyzers.
• Experience performing software or hardware vulnerability analysis or reverse engineering.

How to Apply

For detailed instructions related to applying, uploading documents, withdrawing an application or updating your application, please review instructions on How to Apply.  If applying online is a hardship, please use the contact information listed in the vacancy announcement prior to the closing date for assistance.

Required Documents

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

1. Your resume, specifically noting relevant work experience and associated start and end dates
2.  A complete assessment questionnaire
3. Other supporting documents (if applicable):

• College transcripts, if qualifying based on education or if there is a positive education requirement
• Notification of Personnel Action, SF-50; not applicable to current FBI employees
• Memorandum for Record (MFR), Please see Additional Information
• Most recent Performance Appraisal; not applicable to current FBI employees
• Veterans: DD 214; Disabled Veterans: DD 214, SF-15, and VA letter dated 1991 or later

Documents that were uploaded one or more years ago will need to be uploaded again. Although an applicant may see these documents within their current profile, the HR Specialists may not have access to view them. All applicants are being asked to upload another copy (if applicable) to ensure the staffing units can review the complete application.  

You must complete this application process and submit any required documents by 11:59 p.m. (EST) on the closing date of this announcement. If applying online is a hardship, please contact the HR Specialist listed in the vacancy announcement prior to the closing date for assistance.

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

• Federal agencies may request information regarding the vaccination status of selected applicants for the purposes of implementing other workplace safety protocols. Positions with fitness for duty requirements or those that require international travel may require proof of certain vaccinations.
• The FBI is in the Executive Branch of the federal government. It is one of the components of the Department of Justice (DOJ). The FBI is the principle investigative arm of the DOJ. All FBI positions are in the excepted service.
• As the federal agency whose mission is to ensure the fair and impartial administration of justice for all Americans, the Department of Justice is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment. To build and retain a workforce that reflects the diverse experiences and perspectives of the American people, we welcome applicants from the many communities, identities, races, ethnicities, backgrounds, abilities, religions, and cultures of the United States who share our commitment to public service.
• Applicants must be U.S. citizens and consent to a complete background investigation, urinalysis, and polygraph. You must be suitable for Federal employment; as determined by a background investigation.
• Failure to provide necessary and relevant information required by this vacancy announcement may disqualify you from consideration. Additional information will not be requested if your application is incomplete. Your application will be evaluated solely on the basis of information you have submitted.
• Management may select any grade for which this position has been announced.
• Identification of promotion potential in this announcement does not constitute a commitment or an obligation on the part of management to promote the employee selected at some future date. Promotion will depend upon administrative approval and the continuing need for an actual assignment and performance of higher-level duties.
• If you are hired, you will be required to serve a two-year probationary period. 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.
• The probationary periods will be served concurrently.
• Memorandum for Record: Work performed outside assigned duties (that would not normally be documented on an 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 (Memorandum for Record):

        a. Percent of time worked in the particular position (cannot conflict with main duties)
        b. The month/year work began
        c. Frequency worked (i.e., daily, monthly, etc.)
        d. 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.”

Veterans' Preference

If you are entitled to veterans' preference, you should indicate the type of veterans' preference you are claiming on your resume and application. Your veterans' preference entitlement will be verified by the employing agency.

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 Request

The FBI provides reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants with disabilities.  If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and/or hiring process, please notify the Office of Equal Employment Opportunity Affairs (OEEOA) Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Program by either e-mail at REASONABLE_ACCOMMODA@fbi.gov, telephone at 202-324-2158, or FAX at 202-324-3976.  Your request will receive an individualized assessment.

This e-mail address is only for reasonable accommodation requests.  Please do not submit your application and/or any questions unrelated to reasonable accommodations.  Should any applications be received, they will not be forwarded for consideration during the hiring process.

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 (including pregnancy and related conditions, gender identity, and sexual orientation), or on the basis of personal favoritism, or any other non-merit factors.

Benefits

The FBI offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes, in part, paid vacation; sick leave; holidays; life insurance; health benefits; and participation in the Federal Employees Retirement System.

This link provides an overview of the benefits currently offered to Federal employees:  http://www.opm.gov/insure/new_employ/index.asp