To become an ICE Technical Enforcement Officer, candidates must meet the following basic qualifications:
- Be a U.S. citizen
- Pass a background security check
- Pass a drug test
- Pass a medical exam and fitness test
- Be younger than 37 at the time of hiring
- Be able to work more than 40 hours a week and be available at all times
Degree Requirements for FBI Technical Enforcement Officers
There are only about 120 Technical Enforcement Officers working in ICE’s 20,000 person workforce, so the competition for these positions is fierce. All of these jobs are rated GS-13, which is only two levels below the highest level, so the minimum educational requirement for this position is a bachelor’s degree, although some professionals with stellar careers in military service, intelligence, or law enforcement may be able to ignore this requirement. In most cases, the most qualified applicants will possess at least a master’s degree or PhD in a technical discipline like:
- Information science
- Engineering
- Physics
- Mathematics
Experiential Requirements for ICE Technical Enforcement Officers
In order to fulfill the qualifications necessary to obtain the GS-13 rating, the candidate must have at least one year of professional experience performing the following duties:
- Identification, installation, maintenance, and troubleshooting of a comprehensive range of tactical communication devices, that should include encrypted voice, mobile radio, satellite voice, satellite data and mobile communication platforms
- Designing and implementing tactical communication plans for major investigative and enforcement missions
- Possessing comprehensive knowledge of legal frameworks, skills and abilities related to tactical communication, satellite data, and mobile communications platforms for use in law enforcement operations
- Coordinate with law enforcement officers to plan and implement major law enforcement and counter terrorism operations
Application Process for ICE Technical Enforcement Officer Jobs
In order to apply to this position, a job posting must first be listed on www.USAJobs.gov. Upon following the link to the Office of Personnel Management, a series of queries determining the applicant’s basic qualifications must be answered. The candidate must then submit an application package that includes the following:
- Resume
- College transcripts
- Documentation verifying federal employee, law enforcement or military service status
- Occupational Questionnaire assessing the applicant’s technical competencies
If the application package merits approval, the candidate will be asked in to sit for a series of interviews with ICE technical enforcement personnel and hiring managers. A written exam for evaluating the candidate’s emotional maturity, communication skills and professional skills may also be required. Once approved, the candidate must submit to an exhaustive background check, medical exam and fitness test.
Additional Technical Training
A training program at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Glynco, Georgia must be completed before being assigned to a job posting. This technical training may include participation in the Covert Electronic Surveillance Program, which includes a wide variety of topics like:
- Audio body wire installation and operation
- Body worn video
- CCTV applications and night vision
- Concealment techniques
- Covert video installations
- Federal laws for audio/video surveillance