Digital Forensics Analyst

Pantex Plant; Amarillo (TX); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Pantex is seeking a Senior Digital Forensics Analyst in Amarillo, TX to conduct technical investigations of digital evidence related to ethics and employee concerns. The role involves forensic acquisition, data carving, malware analysis, and reporting in accordance with established procedures.

The ideal candidate has 9+ years of relevant experience with a Bachelor's degree or 7+ years with a Master’s, and prefers experience with enterprise systems and cyber forensics certifications.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree with 9+ years of relevant experience or Master’s with 7+ years, or PhD with 3+ years.
• Experience with enterprise systems (Microsoft 365, Teams, Outlook, secure storage) and digital evidence handling.
• Ability to collaborate with IT, cybersecurity and other teams; training or certification in cyber forensics.
• Knowledge of chain of custody standards and forensic reporting.

Responsibilities

• Conduct digital forensic investigations for ethics and employee concerns.
• Provide acquisition and analysis support to Internal Audit, Legal, and other departments while preserving evidence.
• Respond to OIG requests with rigor and adhere to protols.
• Create forensically sound duplicates of evidence for data recovery and analysis.
• Decrypt seized data and summarize findings per reporting standards.
• Ensure chain of custody for all digital media in accordance with FE rules.
• Perform file signature, static media, and malware analysis.
• Extract data using data carving techniques and catalog digital evidence.
• Analyze Windows registry and intrusion artifacts to aid cyber defense.
• Prepare clear, defensible reports detailing steps, findings, and limitations.

Skills

Digital forensics

Cybersecurity collaboration

Digital evidence handling

Cyber forensics training

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree

PhD

Tools

Microsoft 365

Forensic tools

Job description

Location: Amarillo, TX

Job Title: Digital Forensics Analyst

Career Level From: Senior Specialist

Career Level To: Senior Specialist

Organization: Ethics & Employee Concerns (50993433)

Job Specialty: IT Audit

What You'll Do

The Digital Forensic Analyst is responsible for conducting technical investigations involving digital evidence related to ethics and employee concerns.

Key Responsibilities

• Perform digital forensic investigations for the PanTeXas Deterrence (PXD) Ethics and Employee Concerns department.
• Provide forensic acquisition and analysis support to Internal Audit, Employee Relations, Legal and other departments by collecting, preserving, and analyzing digital evidence in accordance with forensic best practices.
• Respond to external Office of Inspector General (OIG) investigator requests with rigor, accuracy, and adherence to enterprise protocols.
• Create a forensically sound duplicate of the evidence (i.e., forensic image) that ensures the original evidence is not unintentionally modified, to use for data recovery and analysis processes.
• Decrypt seized data using technical means.
• Provide technical summary of findings in accordance with established reporting procedures.
• Ensure that chain of custody is followed for all digital media acquired in accordance with the Federal Rules of Evidence.
• Perform file signature, static media, and malware analysis.
• Extract data using data carving techniques.
• Use specialized equipment and techniques to catalog, document, extract, collect, package, and preserve digital evidence.
• Perform Windows registry analysis.
• Collect and analyze intrusion artifacts (e.g., source code, malware, and system configuration) and use discovered data to enable mitigation of potential cyber defense incidents within the enterprise.
• Prepare clear, defensible reports summarizing investigative steps, findings, evidence limitations, and methodologies.
• Produce technical summaries of forensic findings following standardized reporting formats.
• Perform additional responsibilities as necessary.

Minimum Job Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree with: Minimum 9 years of relevant experience. (Typical relevant experience ranging from 10 to 15 years.)
• OR Master's Degree with : Minimum 7 years of relevant experience. (Typical relevant experience ranging from 10 to 15 years.)
• OR PhD with: Minimum 3 years of relevant experience.

Department of Energy (DOE) Order 426.2A Requirements

• Not applicable.

Preferred Job Requirements

• Experience with enterprise systems (Microsoft 365, Teams, Outlook, secure storage).
• Knowledge of digital evidence handling, cyber logging, and chain of custody standards.
• Ability to collaborate with Information Technology (IT), cybersecurity and other teams.
• Training or certification in cyber forensics.

#JointheMission: Your Impact Starts Here

At Pantex, you won't just find a job—you'll discover a career of purpose safeguarding national security through work performed nowhere else on Earth. We empower dedicated, innovative individuals like you to achieve their greatest impact surrounded by exceptional talent and limitless opportunities for professional growth.

When you #JointheMission, you choose a lifetime career where your commitment is genuinely valued and rewarded. At Pantex, we believe that extraordinary talent thrives when supported by a balanced life. Discover the flexibility that empowers you to excel, coupled with a benefits package designed for your total peace of mind from comprehensive health coverage and robust retirement planning, to opportunities for continuous learning through education reimbursement.

Notes

The minimum education and experience for the lowest career level in the job posting range are listed under Minimum Job Requirements. Successful candidates hired into a higher career level than the minimum in the range must meet the requirements listed in the job leveling charts for the career level into which they are being hired.

If a range of Career Levels is posted, i.e., Senior Associate to Senior Specialist, internal applicants already in one of the Career Levels would come across at their current Career Level. Internal applicants currently in a lower level Career Level would move to the lowest posted Career Level.

Requires a Q clearance; however all qualified candidates will be considered regardless of their current clearance status. The ability to obtain and maintain a Department of Energy Q clearance is required.

Position may require entry into Materials Access Areas (MAA) and participation in the Human Reliability Program (HRP). If HRP is required, candidate must complete a counterintelligence-scope polygraph, pursuant to 10 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 709. Medical requirements may apply.

Pantex is a drug-free workplace. Candidates accepting a job offer will be required to pass a pre-placement physical, drug screening and background investigation. As an employee, you may be required to receive and maintain a security clearance from the United States Department of Energy in order to meet eligibility requirements for access to sensitive information or matter. U.S. citizenship is a requirement for security clearance applicants. All employees are subject to random selection for drug testing without advance notification.

Pantex is an equal opportunity employer, and does not tolerate discrimination in the terms and conditions of employment on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, age, religion, national origin, ancestry, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other characteristic protected by law. Such terms and conditions of employment include, but are not limited to, hiring, training, promotion, discipline, compensation, benefits, and termination of employment. Pantex takes affirmative action to employ and advance in employment qualified individuals with disabilities and protected veterans; including disabled veterans, recently separated veterans, active-duty wartime, or campaign badge veterans, and Armed Forces service medal veterans. All employment decisions are based on business needs, job requirements, and individual qualifications.