Associate

Charles River Associates•Chicago, TX

27d•Hybrid

About The Position

Charles River Associates (CRA) is a global consulting firm providing economic, financial, technical, and business management expertise. They advise clients on litigation and regulatory proceedings, and assist corporations with business strategy and performance issues. CRA has been in operation since 1965, known for its industry experience and rigorous, fact-based analysis to solve complex business problems. The Forensic Services/Cybersecurity & Digital Forensics practice supports cyber due diligence, incident response, software/source code analysis, insurance claims, and security transformation. The Forensic Services/E-Discovery practice provides eDiscovery solutions, including data preservation, collection, processing, review, analysis, and production for litigation and investigations. This role involves assisting with security and privacy investigations, forensic analysis of digital information, applying investigative techniques to systems, identifying and researching information related to security breaches and data theft, collecting digital evidence with chain-of-custody documentation, leveraging programming and database skills, communicating findings to stakeholders, developing new tools, and staying current with developments in digital forensics and related fields.

Requirements

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree candidates graduating December 2026/Summer 2027 with an academic focus in Cybersecurity, Computer Science and Engineering, Digital Forensics, Management Information Systems, Security Information Systems, or related field.
Strong understanding of computer operating systems, software, and hardware.
Ability to conduct detailed forensic investigations and analyses of computers, networks, mobile devices, and removable media.
Experience with conducting digital forensic analyses using commercial and open-source forensic tools, including file system forensics, memory analysis, and network analysis.
Experience with conducting static/dynamic malware analyses in a lab environment and threat hunting in a live environment.
Strong understanding of proper evidence handling procedures and chain-of-custody.
Experience with drafting technical and investigative reports and communicating technical findings.
High-level familiarity with legal concepts related to intellectual property.
Experience with utilizing automation tools and scripts to expedite analyses.
Understanding of incident handling procedures, including preparation, identification, containment, eradication, and recovery-to-protect enterprise environments.
Understanding of common attack techniques used by an adversary on a victim network and how to leverage those techniques to stop further adversary activity.
Effective written and oral communication skills.
Demonstrated high level of initiative and leadership.
Demonstrated attention to detail and commitment to producing accurate, high-quality work.
Strong teamwork and collaboration capabilities.
Excellent time management and task prioritization skills.
Clear and demonstrated interest in consulting through coursework, work experience, activities, or attendance at CRA recruiting events.
Resume – please include current address, personal email and telephone number.
Cover letter – please describe your interest in CRA and how this role matches your goals. Also, please note if you have interest in a particular practice and/or a location preference.
Transcript – may be unofficial.
Must be graduating from a bachelor's or master's degree program for this role.

Nice To Haves

Individuals with digital forensics/incident response training and/or certifications, including SANS GIAC (GCIA, GCFA, GCFE, GNFA, GCCC, and/or GREM), IACIS (CFCE or CIFR), and/or Guidance Software (EnCE), are preferred but not required.

Responsibilities

Assist with security and privacy investigations in response to data security matters, which may include ongoing breaches and fraud.
Engage in problem solving and forensic analysis of digital information using standard computer forensic and evidence handling techniques and tools.
Apply investigative techniques, scientific reasoning, and digital forensic techniques against various systems to answer questions.
Identify, research, and organize information to determine what a hacker did to a compromised system, whether data was stolen from a company asset, or what data to assess and provide in a litigation.
Defensibly collect digital evidence and complete chain-of-custody documentation.
Leverage programming, model building, and database administration skills (including using Python, T-SQL, VBA, Excel, C#, and/or other programming languages and tools).
Communicate with team members, clients, and other professionals to share investigative and analytical findings, and assist with the drafting of written reports to summarize procedures performed and findings.
Work closely with business stakeholders and experts to develop new and innovative tools to support the evolving forensic landscape.
Stay current with developments in digital forensics, software tools, e-discovery, and incident response.

Benefits

Robust skills development programs, including a commitment to offering 100 hours of training annually through formal and informal programs.
Training continues with technical training, presentation skills, internal seminars, and career mentoring and performance coaching from an assigned senior colleague.
Additional leadership and collaboration opportunities exist through internal firm development activities.
Comprehensive total rewards program.
Superior benefits package.
Wellness programming to support physical, mental, emotional and financial well-being.
In-house immigration support for foreign nationals and international business travelers.
Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
401(k) retirement plan with employer match.
Life and disability insurance.
Paid time off (vacation, sick leave, holidays).
Paid parental leave.
Wellness programs and employee assistance resources.
Commuter benefits.