Digital Forensic Technician

Peraton; Arlington (VA); On-site; USD 104,000 - 166,000; Full time

Job summary

Peraton in Arlington, VA is seeking a Digital Forensic Technician to support Federal Strategic Cyber programs. You will manage network, servers and forensic tools, perform digital analyses, and ensure secure, compliant operations in a lab and field environment.

The role requires strong collaboration with IT, management, and stakeholders, travel for on-scene seizures, training, or testimony, and the ability to obtain interim and final security clearances.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree with 5+ years of relevant experience; Master’s degree with 3+ years experience.
• Alternative: an additional 4 years of experience can substitute for a bachelor’s degree.
• Must hold or obtain one of: Network+ CE, Server+ CE, CCNA, or CCNP.
• Demonstrated knowledge of software systems, architectures, protocols and network hardware.
• Ability to collaborate with leadership, peers, analysts, law enforcement, CIF customers and stakeholders.
• U.S. Citizenship is required and interim TS clearance is possible before start date; final TS clearance required.

Responsibilities

• Perform network administration, backups, and lifecycle maintenance.
• Maintain and oversee servers and physical infrastructure.
• Support forensic hardware/software tools and digital evidence analysis.
• Develop and implement backup procedures and disaster recovery plans.
• Manage and monitor CIF-hosted systems and cloud infrastructure (Azure).
• Install, configure, and maintain on-premises network, servers, and devices.
• Research new IT infrastructure tech, including cloud, virtualization, and security protocols.
• Create documentation for CIF-hosted systems.

Skills

Critical thinking

Documentation

Collaboration

Travel willingness

Security minded

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree

4+ years experience in lieu of degree

Tools

Azure

Kubernetes (AKS)

SQL Server

Linux

Windows

Job description

Digital Forensic Technician

Job Location: Arlington, VA

Responsibilities

Peraton is seeking a Digital Forensic Technician to support Federal Strategic Cyber programs within our Cyber & Intelligence sector.

• 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.

Qualifications

Minimum qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of 5 years of relevant experience; minimum of 3 years with a Master’s degree.
  • An additional 4 years of experience will be considered in lieu of the bachelor’s 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
• Have 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 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.

Preferred:

• 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.

Target Salary Range

$104,000 - $166,000. This represents the typical salary range for this position. Salary is determined by various factors, including but not limited to, the scope and responsibilities of the position, the individual's experience, education, knowledge, skills, and competencies, as well as geographic location and business and contract considerations. Depending on the position, employees may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus in addition to base pay.

EEO

Equal opportunity employer, including disability and protected veterans, or other characteristics protected by law.