Research Senior Investigative Analyst (Fraud & Data Analytics) - FMCSA

FEDSYNC•Washington, DC

23h

About The Position

FedSync is seeking a Research Senior Investigative Analyst (Fraud & Data Analytics) to support the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) in identifying, analyzing, and mitigating fraud risks associated with FMCSA registration activities. The analyst will provide advanced analytical and investigative support to detect suspicious registrant behavior, identity misuse, synthetic entities, and coordinated fraud patterns across registration applications. This position integrates data analytics, anomaly detection, investigative research, and intelligence reporting to produce actionable insights that support program integrity and operational decision-making. The role directly supports FMCSA's registration ecosystem, including the Unified Registration System (URS) and the Motus: USDOT Registration System modernization initiative, which focuses on enhanced lifecycle management tools and improved fraud prevention capabilities. The analyst will also contribute to mitigating known fraud risks within the motor carrier industry, including carrier and broker identity theft and misuse of USDOT numbers.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Data Analytics, Statistics, Computer Science, Criminal Justice, Cybersecurity, Finance, Economics, Public Policy, or a related field.
5 to 7 years of professional experience in fraud analytics, investigative analysis, intelligence analysis, compliance, program integrity, or a related analytical discipline.
Demonstrated experience in: Developing fraud indicators and anomaly detection methodologies. Supporting investigations through evidence-based analytical narratives. Producing executive-level reports, analytical briefings, and dashboards. Working with complex, multi-source datasets and documenting analytical methodologies.

Nice To Haves

Master's degree in Data Science, Analytics, Criminal Justice, Cybersecurity, or Public Policy.
Experience supporting federal regulatory programs, transportation systems, or identity verification environments.
Familiarity with registration systems, licensing programs, or program integrity monitoring.
Experience developing fraud detection dashboards and visual analytics tools.
One or more of the following certifications is preferred: Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS) Microsoft Power BI Certification Google Data Analytics Certification Other relevant data analytics or federal investigative analysis training.

Responsibilities

Aggregate, normalize, and analyze data from multiple internal and external sources including registration records, identity verification artifacts, account and contact metadata, transaction logs, business registries, open-source intelligence, and authorized enforcement datasets.
Develop and maintain fraud indicators and risk scoring models using rule-based and statistical methodologies.
Implement anomaly detection techniques to identify suspicious patterns such as: High application velocity or submission spikes Duplicate or synthetic entity creation Network linkages across applicants Reuse of devices, phone numbers, or email addresses Address clustering and suspicious geographic patterns Unauthorized or suspicious operating authority changes.
Conduct trend analysis to identify emerging fraud schemes and recommend improvements to fraud detection logic and program integrity controls.
Conduct investigative research to validate flagged entities and suspicious activity.
Develop investigative case packages including entity profiles, timelines, supporting documentation, and link analysis.
Produce written intelligence products including investigative memoranda, fraud trend reports, dashboards, and executive briefings.
Collaborate with government leads, analysts, and regulatory or enforcement stakeholders to refine analytical findings and improve fraud detection strategies.
Translate analytical findings into actionable recommendations to improve program integrity, fraud mitigation strategies, and operational workflows.
Support initiatives aligned with FMCSA registration lifecycle modernization efforts and fraud prevention objectives.
Ensure analytical processes are repeatable, auditable, and well-documented, including documentation of data sources, methodologies, assumptions, and confidence levels.
Contribute to development and maintenance of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) related to fraud indicator tuning, quality assurance checks, false-positive monitoring, and continuous improvement of detection methodologies.