Criminal Investigator
Job Description
Summary
As a Criminal Investigator with the NASA Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations, you will independently conduct complex criminal investigations of fraud, waste, abuse, and misconduct in NASA programs impacting national security, persons, and property. You will analyze evidence, prepare investigative reports, collaborate with prosecutors, testify in legal proceedings, and apply specialized investigative techniques to provide independent oversight and protect Agency resources.
Who Can Apply
Veterans who are eligible for Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA), who are 30% or more disabled, or disabled veterans who have completed a VA training program. This position is also open to: Current permanent federal employees of an excepted service agency with an OPM interchange agreement and; NASA term employees with conversion eligibility under the NASA Flexibility Act of 2004
Duties
- Lead investigations into fraud, waste, abuse, and misconduct in NASA programs impacting national security, persons, property, and investigating violations of NASA Standards of Conduct and government regulations involving NASA employees.
- Direct and conduct advanced law enforcement operations in support of investigative objectives and legally authorized techniques to obtain critical evidence, property, and documentation.
- Perform in-depth analysis and evaluation of complex evidentiary material; corroborate and synthesize facts across multiple sources; develop comprehensive investigative reports and executive-level summaries.
- Present investigative findings and evidentiary analyses to Assistant U.S. Attorneys to support federal grand jury proceedings; serve as an expert witness before grand juries, trial courts, or administrative hearings.
- Serve as a senior liaison and subject-matter expert, cultivating and sustaining effective working relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
Requirements
- This position is open to U.S. citizens, nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.
- This position may require a one-year probationary/trial period. If selected, the requirement to serve such period will be determined by Title 5 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 11. **See Additional Information section**
- You must meet qualifications requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
- Must pass a pre-employment drug screening and background security investigation. This position will be subject to random drug testing after the applicant is hired.
- If selected, you will be required to complete a financial disclosure statement.
- Must be proficient in the use of assigned firearms/weapons, pass an initial qualification, and must continually qualify in the use of firearms/weapons.
- Must meet the Lautenberg Amendment to the Gun Control Act of 1968. Persons convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence are not eligible for this position.
- This position requires the incumbent to possess and maintain a valid State Driver's License.
- Must pass a pre-employment medical examination and physical fitness test and continue to successfully pass both requirements annually.
- This position requires the incumbent to obtain and maintain a TOP SECRET/SCI security clearance.
- This position requires you to satisfactorily complete (or have previously completed) the Criminal Investigation Training Program at Glynco, Georgia, or equivalent federal law enforcement training.
- This is a primary law enforcement position; Incumbent must not have reached their 37th birthday upon appointment to this position unless there is sufficient prior Federal service in a covered primarily law enforcement or firefighter position.
Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the particular ability, skill, and knowledge to successfully perform the duties of this position and is typically in or related to this line of work.
To qualify for GS-13, you must have one year of directly related specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 level:
- Conducting fraud investigations in one or more of the following areas: grant, procurement, cost/labor mischarging, defective pricing, defective parts, false certifications, price fixing, bid rigging, and product substitution;
- Applying laws, regulations, theories, principles and/or practices of fraud investigations and investigative procedures and techniques;
- Collecting and assembling facts to assist with investigative findings in preparation for a trial and/or hearing.
Medical Requirements: The duties of this position requires moderate to arduous physical exertion involving walking and standing, use of firearms, and exposure to inclement weather. Manual dexterity with comparatively free motion of finger, wrist, elbow, shoulder, hip, and knee joints is required. Arms, hands, legs, and feet must be sufficiently intact and functioning in order that applicants may perform the duties satisfactorily. Sufficiently good vision in each eye, with or without correction, is required to perform duties satisfactorily. Near vision, corrective lenses permitted, must be sufficient to read printed material the size of typewritten characters. Hearing loss, as measured by an audiometer, must not exceed 35 decibels at 1000, 2000, and 3000 Hz levels. Since the duties of these positions are exacting and responsible, and involve activities under trying conditions, applicants must possess emotional and mental stability. Any physical condition that would cause the applicant to be a hazard too himself/herself, or others is disqualifying.
Training Requirements: Satisfactorily complete (or have previously completed) the Criminal Investigation Training Program at Glynco, Georgia, or equivalent federal law enforcement training.
This job does not have an education qualification requirement.
Evaluation
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
You will be evaluated for this position based on how well you meet the qualifications and eligibility requirements outlined in this vacancy announcement. Your resume and supporting documentation will be reviewed in conjunction with your responses to the assessment questionnaire. As part of the assessment, your responses to the Written Interview prompts will be scored and used to place you into one of three quality groups. These scores, along with your qualifications and supporting materials, will determine your referral status. Please ensure your application materials and responses accurately reflect your experience and competencies, as misrepresentation may result in removal from consideration.
These competencies will be assessed using technical assessments. They may also be evaluated during a structured interview:
- Arrest
- Attention to Detail
- Criminal Investigation
- Inspection, Investigation, and Compliance
- Interpersonal Skills
- Oral Communication
- Security and Program Protection
- Seizure
- Surveillance
- Teamwork
- Technical Competence
NASA OIG considers 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.
Under NASA's quality grouping process, applicants will be assessed on the position competencies and placed in one of three groups identified and defined below:
- Best Qualified Group - Applicants who demonstrate a superior level of all evaluation criteria.
- Highly Qualified Group - Applicants who demonstrate a satisfactory level of the evaluation criteria.
- Qualified Group - Applicants who demonstrate the basic qualifications, with general knowledge, skills, and abilities.
- Best Qualified merit promotion candidates. Highly Qualified merit promotion candidates may also be referred, if additional candidates are needed.
- Qualified candidates eligible for consideration under Schedule A or VRA in accordance with veterans' preference rules, as applicable.
- Qualified candidates that are eligible for special hiring authorities or non-competitive hiring authorities.
Required Documents
All submitted resumes must not exceed two (2) pages in length. Resumes longer than two pages will be rejected by USAJOBS. Applicants are strongly encouraged to prioritize including experience and relevant qualifications that directly align with the position advertised. All work experience and accomplishments must be associated with dates (month/year) to allow for accurate qualification assessment.
A complete application package includes a resume, required documents and completion of the vacancy announcement questionnaire. Please see this guidance: . Your resume should describe your specialized experience and support your answers to the vacancy announcement questionnaire.
Please note: if any of the following types of information are included on your resume, your application package will be disqualified:
- Classified or government sensitive information.
- Social Security Number (SSN)
- Photos of yourself
- Personal information, such as age, gender, religious affiliation, etc.
- Encrypted and digitally signed documents.
The following documents are required:
- Resume
There may be other supporting documents (Notification of Personnel Action SF-50, licenses, certification, veterans preference, etc.), depending on your answers to the questionnaire and job announcement description, that you may have to submit, please verify your application. Do not submit an OF-306 with your application.
If you are a surplus or displaced employee (CTAP and ICTAP), submit proof that you meet the requirements for CTAP/ICTAP. This includes copies of your agency notice, most recent Performance Rating and most recent Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50) noting current position, grade level, and duty location.
If you are a veteran and you are claiming veterans' preference, you must submit a DD214, Certificate of Release from Active Duty, which shows dates of service and discharge under honorable conditions. For more information on veterans' preference and possible other supporting documents that you may have to submit, please visit FedshireVets.
If you are applying for consideration under the Military Spouse Appointing Authority, you must provide:
- Spouse of a member of the armed forces on active duty: documentation showing 1) your spouse's active duty status and 2) your marriage to the member of the armed forces (i.e., a marriage certificate or other legal documentation verifying marriage).
- Spouse of service members who incurred a 100% disability because of the service member's active duty service: documentation showing 1) the member of the armed forces retired, or was released or discharged from active duty, with a disability rating of 100 percent; and 2) documentation of marriage to the member of the armed forces (i.e., a marriage license or other legal documentation verifying marriage).
- Spouse of service members killed while on active duty: documentation showing 1) the member was released or discharged from active duty due to his or her death while on active duty; 2) the member of the armed forces was killed while serving on active duty; 3) proof of the widow or widower's marriage to the member of the armed forces (i.e., a marriage license or other legal documentation verifying marriage); and 4) a statement certifying that the individual seeking to use the authority is the un-remarried widow or widower of the service member.
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Job Details
- Department
- Mechanical
- Category
- Business & Finance
- Employment Type
- Full Time
- Location
- Huntsville, Alabama
- Posted
- Apr 9, 2026, 08:00 PM
- Listed
- Apr 10, 2026, 12:15 AM
- Compensation
- $110,847 - $144,102 per year
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