Digital Forensic Technician

Peraton•Arlington, VA

3d•$104,000 - $166,000•Onsite

About The Position

Peraton is seeking a Digital Forensic Technician to support Federal Strategic Cyber programs within its Cyber & Intelligence sector. This on-site role in Arlington, VA involves performing network administration, including full system backups and lifecycle equipment maintenance, and developing procedures for internal network backups. The technician will maintain and oversee computer network servers and physical infrastructure, support workstation and forensic hardware/software tools, and apply criminal rules of evidence preservation and custodianship. Key responsibilities include conducting digital forensic analysis using various tools and environments, performing general administrative duties, and working with virtualization technologies. The role operates within a scientific environment requiring strict standards, necessitating the maintenance, patching, and updating of digital forensics lab systems. The technician will install, troubleshoot, configure, and maintain on-premises network infrastructure, servers, workstations, and peripheral equipment, as well as install, replace, configure, and optimize network routers and switches. Validation and management of network backup and disaster recovery procedures, identification of infrastructure improvements, and collaboration with IT, management, and stakeholders are also crucial. The role involves researching emerging technologies and best practices in IT infrastructure, developing risk mitigation strategies, and managing/monitoring digital forensics cloud systems. Administering user accounts, network rights, and system access for 20-40 users, ensuring the availability of analysis tools, and creating/updating documentation for CIF-hosted systems are also part of the duties.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree and a minimum of 5 years of relevant experience; minimum of 3 years with a Masters degree. An additional 4 years of experience will be considered in lieu of the bachelors degree.
Must either possess and maintain, or obtain prior to starting date, one of the following professional certifications: Network+ CE; Server+ CE; CCNA, or CCNP
Regularly required to stand, walk, sit, use hands, reach with hands and arms, speak, and hear.
Vision abilities required include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, and depth perception.
Occasionally required to climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
Occasionally required to lift up to 50 pounds.
Demonstrated working knowledge and proficiency in various software systems and architectures, communications protocols, and network hardware devices.
Demonstrated strong critical thinking, creativity, sound judgment, and awareness to recognize when to seek leadership guidance.
Ability to collaborate effectively and professionally with leadership, peers, forensic analysts, law enforcement, prosecutors, CIF customers, and other stakeholders at all levels to deliver high quality forensic products.
Ability and willingness and ability to travel for on-scene evidence seizures, training, and/or testimony.
Commitment to staying current on advancements in network architecture.
U.S. Citizenship required.
The ability to obtain an interim Secret security clearance before start date.
The ability to obtain a final Top Secret security clearance.

Nice To Haves

Hands-on proficiency with Azure cloud platform, Linux/Windows administration, networking fundamentals (IP addressing, subnetting, TCP/IP), scripting, and automation tools
Knowledge of Azure Kubernetes Service including cluster architecture design, provisioning and identity access management.
Integrate new capabilities (e.g., Azure cloud solutions) with the existing laboratory operations.
Knowledge of Microsoft SQL Server including database maintenance and optimization.

Responsibilities

Perform network administration, including full system backups and lifecycle equipment maintenance.
Develop procedures and schedules for internal network backups.
Maintain and oversee computer network servers and physical infrastructure.
Support workstation and forensic hardware/software tools.
Apply criminal rules of evidence preservation and custodianship.
Conduct digital forensic analysis using hardware, forensic software, operating systems, and virtual environments.
Perform general administrative duties.
Work with virtualization technologies to develop, deploy, troubleshoot, and maintain virtual environments.
Operate within a scientific environment requiring strict standards.
Maintain, patch, and update digital forensics lab systems to ensure compatibility and effectiveness.
Install, troubleshoot, configure, and maintain on-premises network infrastructure, servers, workstations, and peripheral equipment in alignment with CIF and Department standards.
Install, replace, configure, and optimize network routers and switches.
Validate and manage network backup and disaster recovery procedures.
Identify infrastructure strengths, weaknesses, bottlenecks, and opportunities for improvement.
Collaborate with IT, management, and other stakeholders to gather insights and requirements.
Research emerging technologies and best practices in IT infrastructure, including cloud computing (e.g., Azure), virtualization, security protocols, and remote access solutions.
Develop risk mitigation strategies and contingency plans.
Manage and monitor digital forensics cloud systems, ensuring security and operational efficiency.
Administer user accounts, network rights, and system access for 20–40 users.
Ensure availability of required hardware, software, and tools for digital evidence analysis.
Create and update documentation for CIF-hosted systems.