The FBI has asked cyber security experts to consider a career as a special agent, in a recruitment drive designed to ensure the agency stays on top of evolving online threats.
In a lengthy release on Monday, the Feds stated that potential candidates must be between 23 ad 37-years-old, and will be required to pass a rigorous background check and fitness test.
Some of the preferred backgrounds noted include computer programming and security, database administration, malware analysis, digital forensics, and ethical hacking, according to a job posting issued recently which remains open until 20 January.
That reveals the salary cyber special agents can expect is anywhere from $59,340 to $76,568.
“The FBI seeks highly talented, technically trained individuals who are motivated by the FBI’s mission to protect our nation and the American people from the rapidly evolving cyber threat,” said Robert Anderson Jr, executive assistant director for the Bureau’s Criminal, Cyber, Response, and Services Branch.
“What we want are people who are going to come and be part of a team that is working different very complex types of investigations and to utilize their skillsets in that team environment.”
He added that successful applicants would be integrated into the FBI’s team of special agents, leading their own cases.
“Cyber permeates every aspect of what we do, whether it’s counterterrorism, criminal investigations, or traditional cyber attacks, as we’ve seen in the recent past,” Anderson said in the statement.
“That’s why these types of people are so important to get into the pipeline and come into our organization.”
He signed off by claiming the FBI can offer interested applicants an unrivalled “mission” and “scale of investigations.”
“It doesn’t matter where you go, it doesn’t matter who you work for, you can’t get that anywhere else but the FBI,” said Anderson.
Although the US government and its law enforcement agencies are increasingly reaching out to the broader cyber community to recruit experts to their ranks, it’s not been easy given chronic skills shortages.
Director James Comey even admitted in a speech last year that the agency may have to reconsider its zero tolerance policy on operatives who smoke marijuana after claiming many potential cyber recruits enjoy the occasional toke.
Some 56% of (ISC)² members believe there is a global cyber security skills shortage as opposed to just 2% who said they think there’s a surplus, according to 2013’s Global Information Security Workforce Study.