Cybersecurity Specialist (IT Specialist), GS 11/12/13/14

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); Clarksburg (WV); On-site; USD 63,000 - 139,000; Full time

Job summary

A federal law enforcement agency in Clarksburg, WV is seeking a Cybersecurity Specialist to ensure the protection of law enforcement systems and cyberspace. Responsibilities include monitoring for threats, conducting forensic investigations, and preparing reports for leadership. This full-time position requires U.S. citizenship and the ability to obtain a Top Secret-SCI clearance. Competitive salary based on GS levels, with potential for relocation incentives.

Benefits

Health insurance

Paid vacation

Sick leave

Qualifications

• Ability to monitor network traffic and analyze security alerts.
• Experience conducting incident response analysis and documenting incidents.
• Knowledge of cybersecurity tools and scripting for data analysis.

Responsibilities

• Monitor network traffic and respond to malicious activities.
• Conduct forensic investigations to resolve incidents.
• Prepare reports for management on risk assessments.

Skills

Incident response

Digital forensics

Network monitoring

Threat intelligence

Education

Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree

3 full years of higher-level graduate education

Tools

SIEMs

IDS/IPS

Job description

Overview

This position advertised has been exempted from the federal civilian hiring freeze.

Position Overview: This position advertised has been exempted from the federal civilian hiring freeze. Current FBI employees are ineligible to apply if serving under the same conditions as that for which is advertised, including: appointing organization (FBI); type of position (full-time, part-time, etc.); same or higher grade; duty location (city or state); type of appointment (permanent, temporary, etc.).

Job Opening: 61669

Opening Date: October 1, 2025

Closing Date: October 10, 2025 at 11:59 pm (ET)

Job Title: Cybersecurity Specialist (IT Specialist), GS 11/12/13/14

Full Performance Level: GS-14

Division: IT Applications & Data Division (ITADD)

Section: Enterprise Cybersecurity Section

Location: Huntsville, AL; Clarksburg, WV (Please be sure to specify location preference)

Working Hours: Varies based on operational need.

Job Type: Full Time/Permanent

Who May Apply: All U.S. Citizens

Number of Positions Available: Multiple

Questions: Email: [e-mail]

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-11: $63,163.00 - $82,108.00

GS-12: $75,706.00 - $98,422.00

GS-13: $90,025.00 - $117,034.00

GS-14: $106,382.00 - $138,296.00

In order to recruit and retain highly qualified candidates, selectees may be eligible for relocation or recruitment incentives. To be eligible for a relocation incentive, proof of change of residency will be required. Prior to receiving a relocation or recruitment incentive, an employee must sign a written service agreement to complete a specific period of employment with the FBI at the new duty station.

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.

Job Summary

As an FBI IT Professional, your job is to ensure our law enforcement systems, as well as the entire cyberspace within which we work, are protected. This means applying your knowledge of computer technology, cybersecurity, and more to safeguard information across the FBI, as well as our domestic and international law enforcement partners.

Key Requirements

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

Major Duties

• Monitor network traffic and security alerts for malicious activities and indicators of compromise (IOCs).
• Conduct incident response analysis during possible security breaches, coordinating remediation activities and ensuring effective communication.
• Conduct digital forensic investigations to support incident resolution, compliance, and regulatory requirements.
• Drive continuous improvement in cybersecurity operations through innovation and adoption of new detection technologies.
• Prepare comprehensive reports and briefings for leadership on incident findings, risk assessments, and threat intelligence updates.
• Perform cyber threat intelligence analysis, including threat hunting, and manage Threat Intelligence Platforms (TIPs).

Qualifications And 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 and will be compared against your responses to the online assessment questionnaire. If your self-assessment in the vacancy questions is not supported by details in your resume or supporting documents, you may be disqualified from the Most Competitive category. Veterans’ preference will be applied.

Applicants must meet the qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

If you are deemed Most Competitive, you will be referred to the selecting official for further consideration.

Specialized Experience (SE)

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

• Experience providing advice and guidance to management regarding technical issues which pertain to the planning, designing, developing, procuring, implementing, operating and maintaining of the organization's IT systems.
• Experience monitoring and analyzing network traffic, logs, and security alerts for basic indicators of compromise (IOCs) and suspicious activities.
• Experience supporting incident response efforts under supervision, including documenting incidents, performing preliminary triage, and escalating as needed.
• Experience utilizing common cybersecurity tools (e.g., SIEMs, IDS/IPS) and basic scripting or query skills for analyzing security data.

GS-12: Applicant must possess at least one (1) year of SE equivalent to the GS-11 grade level. SE is defined as follows:

• Experience detecting, analyzing, and responding to security threats, including the ability to independently lead initial incident response activities and recommend remediation strategies.
• Experience contributing to security process improvements and integrating new tools or technologies into incident detection and response workflows.
• Experience collaborating with internal and external stakeholders to resolve security incidents, communicate risks, and implement mitigations.
• Experience overseeing critical IT initiatives, ensuring they align with goals and objectives.

GS-13: Applicant must possess at least one (1) year of SE equivalent to the GS-12 grade level. SE is defined as follows:

• Experience leading complex and IT research and analysis, including coordinating cross-departmental efforts, root cause analysis, and developing remediation strategies.
• Experience with federal cybersecurity activities including recommending levels of security required to meet standards, implementation of security controls, evaluation of results from cybersecurity tools to mitigate cyber risk, or analysis of cybersecurity monitoring tools to detect abnormal activity.
• Experience briefing and advise executive leadership on high-level cybersecurity risks, emerging threats, incident trends, and the overall cybersecurity posture of the organization.
• Experience managing threat intelligence platforms (TIPs) and leading threat intelligence operations, including collaborating with external intelligence-sharing communities and agencies.

GS-14: Applicant must possess at least one (1) year of SE equivalent to the GS-13 grade level. SE is defined as follows:

• Experience using project management practices to plan, coordinate, and execute cybersecurity initiatives.
• Experience leading the application of advanced cybersecurity engineering concepts and practices to design, implement, and oversee secure IT systems and enterprise solutions.
• Experience using information technology to identify, forecast, analyze, and research automated systems to discern solutions to problems, approaches, methods, and procedures.
• Experience leading a team of technical personnel, expertly communicating, and collaborating with subordinates, colleagues, stakeholders, partners, and executives to achieve results.

Desired Skills

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

• CompTIA Security + CE
• Certified Ethical Hacking
• CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst +
• AWS Certified Security
• Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)
• Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
• GIAC Certified: Intrusion Analyst, Incident Handler, Cyber Incident Leader, and/or Forensic Analyst

Education

All degrees must be from an accredited college or university. Education may be substituted for specialized experience as follows:

GS-11: Applicant must have a Ph.D. OR equivalent doctoral degree OR 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree OR LL.M., if related.

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.

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:

• A two-page resume that outlines relevant work experience and associated start and end dates. Resumes exceeding two pages will not be considered.
• A complete assessment questionnaire

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
• 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
• Memorandum for Record (MFR): Work performed outside assigned duties with specifics; documentation required for full credit

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

• 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 principal investigative arm of the DOJ. All FBI positions are in the excepted 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.
• Positions with fitness for duty requirements or those that require international travel may require proof of certain vaccinations.
• 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 obligation to promote.
• If you are selected, you will be required to serve a two-year probationary period with terms described in the notice.

Veterans' Preference

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

Nepotism

Nepotism is prohibited. All candidates and FBI hiring managers will certify they are not related to anyone involved in the hiring process.

Reasonable Accommodation

The FBI provides reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants with disabilities. For accommodations requests, contact the Office of Equal Employment Opportunity Affairs (OEEOA) at [e-mail], 202-324-2158, or 202-324-3976. Do not send applications to this address.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The FBI is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration. Selection will be made without regard to 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 other non-merit factors, unless required by law.

Benefits

The Bureau offers a comprehensive benefits package, including health and life insurance, paid vacation, sick leave, and federal holidays. For details, visit the Office of Personnel Management’s website.