Cyber Host Forensic Analyst II with Security Clearance

Nightwing; Arlington (VA); On-site; USD 77,000 - 163,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Insurance

401k Plan

PTO / Holidays

Job summary

Nightwing seeks a Cyber Host Forensic Analyst to support on-site incident response for a U.S. Government customer. You will collect artifacts, analyze forensic data, and draft findings to support incident resolution.

Work with cross-location teams, validate alerts, and contribute to CNDF guidance and reports. Requires active TS/SCI and 2+ years of cyber forensics experience.

Qualifications

• 2+ years of directly relevant experience in cyber forensic investigations.
• Ability to create forensically sound duplicates of evidence.
• Ability to write cyber investigative reports documenting findings.
• Experience with analysis and characterization of cyber attacks.
• Proficient in evidence handling procedures and chain of custody.
• Knowledge of attacker TTPs and incident response workflows.
• Ability to work across physical locations with government teams.

Responsibilities

• Acquiring/collecting computer artifacts from systems for onsite engagements.
• Assessing evidentiary value by triaging electronic devices.
• Correlating forensic findings with network events to develop intrusion narratives.
• Documenting system state information prior to imaging when available.
• Performing incident triage from a forensic perspective.
• Tracking and documenting forensic analysis from involvement to resolution.
• Collecting, processing, preserving, and presenting digital evidence.
• Coordinating with Government and customer personnel to validate findings.
• Drafting forensic write-ups for reports and products.
• Assisting in publishing CNDF guidance and incident findings.
• Tracing activity to its source and documenting findings for reports.
• Documenting original condition of digital evidence with photos and hashes.
• Imaging digital media with team support.
• Gaining evidence from devices using forensic tools and OS knowledge.
• Using hashing to validate forensic images.
• Understanding adversary TTPs with mentor guidance.
• Analyzing malware behavior with team.
• Locating critical items in file systems to aid senior personnel.
• Performing log analysis from multiple sources to identify threats.
• Using forensic tools to provide insights into intrusions.
• Following evidence handling and chain-of-custody protocols.
• Producing written reports documenting digital forensic findings.
• Determining executed programs and changed files on disk/memory.
• Developing authoritative timelines from host and network logs.
• Finding deleted files and hidden data.
• Documenting case-relevant file-system artifacts (browsers, USB histories).
• Creating forensically sound duplicates for data recovery and analysis.
• Conducting all-source research for similar events.

Skills

U.S. Citizenship

Active TS/SCI clearance

2+ years cyber forensics

Forensic analysis

Evidence handling procedures

Written forensic reports

Cross-location collaboration

Education

BS Computer Science / Computer Engineering / related

Tools

EnCase

FTK

SIFT

X-Ways

Volatility

WireShark

Sleuth Kit/Autopsy

Splunk

Snort

CrowdStrike/Carbon Black

Job description

Nightwing provides technically advanced full-spectrum cyber, data operations, systems integration and intelligence mission support services to meet our customers' most demanding challenges. Our capabilities include cyber space operations, cyber defense and resiliency, vulnerability research, ubiquitous technical surveillance, data intelligence, lifecycle mission enablement, and software modernization. Nightwing brings disruptive technologies, agility, and competitive offerings to customers in the intelligence community, defense, civil, and commercial markets.

Nightwing is supporting a U.S. Government customer to provide support for onsite incident response to civilian Government agencies and critical asset owners who experience cyber-attacks, providing immediate investigation and resolution. Contract personnel perform investigations to characterize the severity of breaches, develop mitigation plans, and assist with the restoration of services. Nightwing is seeking a Cyber Host Forensic Analyst to support this critical customer mission.

Responsibilities

• Acquiring/collecting computer artifacts (e.g., malware, user activity, link files, etc.) from systems in support of onsite engagements
• Assessing evidentiary value by triaging electronic devices
• Correlating forensic findings with network events to further develop an intrusion narrative
• When available, collecting and documenting system state information (running processes, network connections, etc.) prior to imaging
• Performing incident triage from a forensic perspective to include determining scope, urgency and potential impact
• Tracking and documenting forensic analysis from initial involvement through final resolution
• Collecting, processing, preserving, analyzing and presenting computer related evidence
• Coordinating with others within the Government and with customer personnel to validate/investigate alerts or other preliminary findings
• Conducting analysis of forensic images and other available evidence and drafting forensic write-ups for inclusion in reports and other written products
• Assisting in documenting and publishing Computer Network Defense guidance and reports on incident findings to appropriate constituencies
• Assisting in preliminary analysis by tracing an activity to its source and documenting findings for input into a forensic report
• Documenting original condition of digital and/or associated evidence by taking photographs and collecting hash information
• Assisting team members in imaging digital media
• Assisting in gathering, accessing and assessing evidence from electronic devices using forensic tools and knowledge of operating systems
• Using hashing algorithms to validate forensic images
• Working with mentor to identify and understand adversary TTPs
• Assisting team members in analyzing the behaviors of malicious software
• Under direct guidance and coaching if needed, locating critical items in various file systems to aid more senior personnel in their analysis
• Performing analysis of log files from a variety of sources to identify possible threats to computer security
• Using leading edge technology and industry standard forensic tools and procedures to provide insight into the cause and effect of suspected cyber intrusions
• Following proper evidence handling procedures and chain of custody protocols
• Producing written reports documenting digital forensic findings
• Determining programs that have been executed, finding files that have been changed on disk and in memory
• Using timestamps and logs (host and network) to develop authoritative timelines of activity
• Finding evidence of deleted files and hidden data
• Identifying and documenting case relevant file-system artifacts (browser histories, account usage and USB histories, etc.)
• Creating forensically sound duplicates of evidence (forensic image) to use for data recovery and analysis
• Performing all-source research for similar or related network events or incidents

Required Skills

• U.S. Citizenship
• Must have an active TS/SCI clearance
• Must be able to obtain DHS Suitability
• 2+ years of directly relevant experience in cyber forensic investigations using leading edge technologies and industry standard forensic tools
• Ability to create forensically sound duplicates of evidence (forensic images)
• Able to write cyber investigative reports documenting digital forensics findings
• Experience with the analysis and characterization of cyber attacks
• Experience with proper evidence handing procedures and chain of custody protocols
• Skilled in identifying different classes of attacks and attack stages
• Knowledge of system and application security threats and vulnerabilities
• Knowledgeable in proactive analysis of systems and networks, to include creating trust levels of critical resources
• Must be able to work collaboratively across physical locations

Desired Skills

• Experience with two or more of the following tools:
• EnCase
• FTK
• SIFT
• X-Ways
• Volatility
• WireShark
• Sleuth Kit/Autopsy
• Splunk
• Snort
• Other EDR Tools (Crowdstrike, Carbon Black, etc)
• Experience with conducting all-source research

Required Education: BS Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Computer Information Systems, Computer Systems Engineering or related degree. Two years of related work experience may be substituted for each year of degree level education.

Desired Certifications

• GCFA, GCFE, EnCE, CCE, CFCE, CISSP Arlington, VA

Salary & Benefits

• The salary associated with this position ($77,000-$163,000) is commensurate with the selected candidate's qualifications, years of relevant experience, and demonstrated level of expertise. Compensation will be determined based on these factors to ensure alignment with skills, responsibilities, and market standards.
• Nightwing offers medical, vision and dental insurance coverage in addition to a 401k plan, PTO, Holidays, and additional insurances.

Nightwing is An Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status, age or any other federally protected class.