Information Technology Specialist (INFOSEC)

Summary

Organizational Location: This position is with the Department of Homeland Security, within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Laboratories and Scientific Services, positions available in Nogales, AZ; Los Angeles, CA; San Francisco, CA; Miami, FL; Atlanta, GA; Honolulu, HI; Chicago, IL; Buffalo, NY; Mayaguez, PR; El Paso, TX; Houston, TX; Laredo, TX; Swanton, VT; Ashburn, VA; and Blaine, WA.

Duties

This position is located in the Office of Laboratories and Scientific Services (LSS) within the Operations Support Office (OS), United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP), United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS). This position starts at a salary of $89,508.00 (GS-12, Step 1) to $116,362.00 (GS-12, Step 10). Typical duties include: Planning, preparing, and conducting forensic examinations of digital evidence, including portable and electronic media devices, to preserve, authenticate, acquire, and analyze electronically stored information (ESI); Developing and implementing mobile-device test plans for mobile forensic-tool validation and verification and serving as the mobile-device test analyst; Providing on-site training on digital media exploitation to CBP personnel at various CBP locations; and Testifying as a subject-matter expert on analytical findings from seized digital evidence and matters of digital-media expertise in Federal and state courts of law.

Qualifications

BASIC REQUIREMENT: Applicants must have Information Technology -related experience demonstrating each of the four competencies listed below. Attention to Detail - Is thorough when performing work and conscientious about attending to detail. Customer Service - Works with clients and customers (that is, any individuals who use or receive the services or products that your work unit produces, including the general public, individuals who work in the agency, other agencies, or organizations outside the Government) to assess their needs, provide information or assistance, resolve their problems, or satisfy their expectations; knows about available products and services; is committed to providing quality products and services. Oral Communication - Expresses information (for example, ideas or facts) to individuals or groups effectively, taking into account the audience and nature of the information (for example, technical, sensitive, controversial); makes clear and convincing oral presentations; listens to others, attends to nonverbal cues, and responds appropriately. Problem Solving - Identifies problems; determines accuracy and relevance of information; uses sound judgment to generate and evaluate alternatives, and to make recommendations. Experience: You qualify for the GS-12 grade level if you possess 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, performing duties such as: Conducting technical and peer review of digital forensic laboratory reports; Collaborating with internal and external organizations on digital forensics; Providing digital forensic technical direction and training to frontline law enforcement personnel, journeyman analysts, and other personnel in the specialty area; Developing and implementing mobile-device forensic-tool test plans for validation and verification; assessing the effectiveness, performance, and accuracy of digital forensic tools; and recommending implementation or modification; and Performing data validation and advanced analysis of digital evidence, including analyzing data not readily identified through standard forensic-tool processing and recovering deleted files, file fragments, and other data from portable and electronic media devices. NOTE: Your resume must explicitly indicate how you meet this requirement, otherwise you will be found ineligible. Please see the "Required Documents" section below for additional resume requirements. 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. You must meet all qualification requirements, including education if applicable to this position, subject to verification at any stage of the application process by 11/13/2026. 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. Background Investigation: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is a federal law enforcement agency that requires all applicants to undergo a thorough background investigation prior to employment in order to promote the agency's core values of vigilance, service to country, and integrity. During the screening and/or background investigation process, you will be asked questions regarding any felony criminal convictions or current felony charges, the use of illegal drugs (e.g., marijuana, cocaine, heroin, LSD, methamphetamines, ecstasy), and the use of non-prescribed controlled substances including any experimentation, possession, sale, receipt, manufacture, cultivation, production, transfer, shipping, trafficking, or distribution of controlled substances. For additional information on the preemployment process, review the following link: Applicant Resources | CBP Careers Residency: There is a residency requirement for all applicants not currently employed by CBP. Individuals are required to have physically resided in the United States or its protectorates (as declared under international law) for at least three of the last five years. If you do not meet the residency requirement and you have been physically located in a foreign location for more than two of the last five years, you may request an exception to determine if you are eligible for a residency waiver by meeting one or more of the following conditions: Working for the U.S. Government as a federal civilian or as a member of the military A dependent who was authorized to accompany a federal civilian or member of the military who was working for the U.S. government Participation in a study abroad program sponsored by a U.S. affiliated college or university Working as a contractor, intern, consultant or volunteer supporting the U.S. government Probationary Period: All employees new to the federal government must serve a one year probationary period during the first year of his/her initial permanent federal appointment to determine fitness for continued employment. Current and former federal employees may be required to serve or complete a probationary period.

Education

Please see the Qualifications and Required Documents sections for more information if education is applicable to this position.