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Investigative Technology Specialist (SURVEILLANCE)


Job Location:

Los Angeles, CA - USA

Yearly Salary: USD 87061 - 87061
Posted: 6 October 2026 (21 days ago)
Application Deadline: 23 January 2027
Vacancies: 1 Vacancy

Job Summary

Summary

This position is located in the DEA Los Angeles Field Division CA.

This positions primary purpose is to covert surveillance track and intercept personnel internal or external to the agency


Duties

As a Investigative Technology Specialist (SURVEILLANCE) your typical work assignments may include:

  • Participating in sensitive covert activities requiring the installation and recovery of electronic devices.
  • Tracking and intercepting surveillance to assist personnel with investigative operations by integrating the use of electronic communications equipment.
  • Designing and modifying large and diverse inventory of highly specialized state-of-the-art electronics used in surveillance and information gathering activities to support criminal investigations and prosecutions.
  • Participating in maintenance of covert and concealed surveillance equipment.
  • Analyzing networks including radio frequency-based (e.g. cellular radio Wi-Fi) and internet protocol-based to determine the best technological approach (i.e. electronic surveillance communication and interception) to use in support of an investigative operations.

Requirements
Conditions of employment
  • U.S. Citizenship is required.
  • Selective Service: Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify including your rights and responsibilities visit: is subject to random drug testing.
  • Selectee may be required to serve a 1-year probationary period (OR 1-year OR 2-year trial period as appropriate) during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest
  • Employment is subject to the successful completion of a background investigation. Must be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance.
  • All applicants tentatively selected for this position will be required to submit to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment.
  • Employee required to become certified Investigative Technology Specialist (Surveillance) GSwithin 12-18 months of assignment.
  • This position is entitled to Administratively Uncontrollable Overtime (AUO).
  • Applicant must possess and maintain a valid motor vehicle operators license while employed in the position and will be required to operate the motor vehicle in accordance with applicable OPM regulations and related requirements of DOJ/DEA.
Qualifications

For more information on eligibility requirements see: DEA Employment Eligibility

Applicants must meet the required qualification requirements described below by the closing date of the announcement. If you are qualifying based on education or if there are mandatory education requirements listed below you MUST submit a copy of your college transcripts with your application.

Basic Qualification Requirements:
Undergraduate and Graduate Education: Major study -- electrical or electronic engineering mathematics physics public utilities statistics computer science telecommunications management information systems management business administration industrial management or other fields related to the position to be filled.

Other Education: Communications/electronics or automatic data processing training in technical institutes or business schools above the high school level or in Armed Forces schools that included advanced instruction in addition to basic courses may be substituted for general experience on a month-for-month basis.

OR

Specialized Experience: Experience in evaluating analyzing developing managing or improving communications systems procedures and requirements that demonstrated knowledge of current developments and trends in communications concepts and technology.

AND

Applicants applying for the GS-11 must meet one of the following requirements:A. Have at least one full year of specialized experience that is at least equivalent to work performed at the GS-09 grade level. Specialized 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.

Qualifying experience must demonstrate the following: 1) Servicing maintaining and repairing extremely complex analog and digital electronic systems such as high frequency radio communications equipment peripheral equipment repeater systems microwave equipment and satellite communication links; 2) Assisting in providing instruction in the use of electronic surveillance for investigative and enforcement operations; 3) Analyzing and monitoring telecommunications equipment for software reliability and utilization using real time monitoring techniques and tools to identify and define problem areas and to maintain voice video and data telecommunications performance levels; and 4) Assisting in translating unusual operational or functional requirements to initiate corrective actions for optimizing use of existing equipment and provides recommendations to support future requirements.

OR

Education:
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.

OR

Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) beyond the second year (total graduate semester hours minus 36) by 18. Add the two percentages.

Additional information on the position qualification requirements are located in the Office of Personnel Managements (OPM) Qualifications Standards Handbook.

Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants must meet time-in-grade and time after competitive appointment requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Education

See the qualification section of this vacancy announcement for education requirements.

Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the education requirements if you can show that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying. For a list of accredited organizations recognized as specializing in interpretation of foreign education credentials visit: you are claiming education as any part of your qualifications for this position you must submit an official transcript unofficial transcript or a list including courses grades earned completion dates and quarter and semester hours earned.

Additional information

For reasonable accommodation at the Drug Enforcement Administration please contact the Human Resources office listed in this announcement.

Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA): To be eligible for a VEOA appointment under Merit Promotion procedures the veteran must be a preference eligible or a veteran separated after 3 years or more of continuous active service performed under honorable conditions.

Current or Former Political Appointees: 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.

Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement. If eligible applicants to this announcement may be referred to similar positions in any Division/Office listed in this announcement. Telework eligibility and security clearance requirements may vary for such similar positions.

Recruitment and/or Relocation Incentives may be considered and approved under conditions specified provided the agency has determined that the position is likely to be difficult to fill in the absence of an incentive and funding for such an incentive is available.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position you may be required to serve a 1-year probationary period or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public determining if your employment advances the public interest we may consider:

  • your performance and conduct;
  • the needs and interests of the agency;
  • whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
  • whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.
Upon completion of your probationary period or trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification in writing that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government passionate about the ideals of our American republic and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.


Required Experience:

IC