Special Agent: Physical Sciences Expertise

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 103,000 - 133,000; Full time

Job summary

The FBI is seeking candidates to join as Special Agents. This role requires thinking, analyzing, and acting in moments that impact national security.

You will transition from a scientific background to federal law enforcement and apply your data analysis and analytical skills to investigations involving cyber threats, fraud, and violent crime. You're expected to maintain physical fitness, obtain SCI clearance, and travel as required, with education in physical sciences preferred.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher in physical sciences or related field from a U.S. accredited college.
• U.S. citizenship required.
• Ability to obtain Top Secret SCI clearance.
• Willingness to travel.
• Must meet FBI Employment Eligibility requirements.
• All degrees must be verified by transcripts.

Responsibilities

• Plan and conduct investigations of potential violations of federal laws, cybersecurity, and public safety.
• Exercise judgment, resourcefulness, and versatility in meeting investigative demands.
• Create and maintain liaison relationships with federal, state, local, tribal, territorial, and international law enforcement agencies.
• Maintain a level of physical fitness to ensure the readiness required to perform law enforcement duties.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Data analysis

Attention to detail

Judgment under pressure

Education

Bachelor's degree in Physical Sciences

Job description

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

As an FBI special agent, your career is defined by how you think, analyze, and act in moments that directly impact national security. By harnessing your background to transition into federal law enforcement, you can help shape the Bureau’s approach to investigate violent crimes. At the FBI, you will have the opportunity to leverage your skills to protect against cyberattacks, terrorism, fraud, and evolving threats. Using your analytical skills, data analysis capabilities, attention to detail, and experience working with complex data, you will identify patterns, uncover critical information, and support investigations that address threats to public safety.

Your transition from a specialized career into the special agent role is designed to expand how your expertise is applied, encouraging you to think critically, and operate across a range of complex scenarios. Every day brings new challenges that demand adaptability and resilience, but you’re not alone on this journey. The Bureau matches your dedication with a commitment to professional growth, competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits, and a supportive work environment that provides the flexibility and resources needed to maintain balance. This is an opportunity to build a career that evolves with you, one where your skills continue to grow as your impact expands. Set yourself apart.

How Your Physical Sciences Expertise Translates to a Special Agent Career

Special is who you are. Agent is what you’ll become.

Your expertise in physical sciences reflects how you evaluate information, navigate complexity, and operate with precision. You’ve developed strength in chemistry, laboratory skills, and molecular biology. That expertise has been shaped through your experience in reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), protein chemistry, and good laboratory practice, where judgment, accountability, and the ability to operate across competing priorities are required. That experience carries forward into decisions that require evaluating complex situations, making decisions under pressure, and applying judgment in environments where outcomes matter.

At the FBI, that expertise takes on new meaning. The way you approach problems expands beyond a single function or environment. What you’ve learned to assess becomes direction. What you’ve managed becomes something you’re trusted to lead. This is where your expertise becomes a catalyst, and your career shifts from executing within the work to determining how it moves forward.

SALARY LEVEL

Pay level for this position:

• $103,236.00 – $133,200.00

Salary is commensurate with base, locality, and availability pay.

MAJOR DUTIES

• Plan and conduct investigations of potential violations of federal laws, cybersecurity, and public safety.
• Exercise judgment, resourcefulness, and versatility in meeting investigative demands.
• Create and maintain effective liaison relationships with federal, state, local, tribal, territorial, and international law enforcement agencies.
• Maintain a level of physical fitness to ensure the readiness required to perform law enforcement duties.

KEY REQUIREMENTS

• Must be a U.S. citizen.
• Must be able to obtain a Top Secret Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) Clearance.
• Must be willing to travel as required.
• Must meet the FBI’s Employment Eligibility requirements.

EDUCATION

• Candidates must have a bachelor’s degree or higher (preferably in physical sciences or a related field such as biology, chemistry, or physics) from a U.S. accredited college or university.

All degrees must be verified by submitting college transcripts.

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 nonmerit factors.