Apprentice Forensic Science Technician Jobs in Silver Spring, MD

Responsibilities

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

Location: On-site in Arlington, VA

In this role, you will:

• 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 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
• Physical Requirements:
  • 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.
• 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 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.

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.

Peraton Overview

Peraton is a next-generation national security company that drives missions of consequence spanning the globe and extending to the farthest reaches of the galaxy. As the world's leading mission capability integrator and transformative enterprise IT provider, we deliver trusted, highly differentiated solutions and technologies to protect our nation and allies. Peraton operates at the critical nexus between traditional and nontraditional threats across all domains: land, sea, space, air, and cyberspace. The company serves as a valued partner to essential government agencies and supports every branch of the U.S. armed forces. Each day, our employees do the can't be done by solving the most daunting challenges facing our customers. Visit peraton.com to learn how we're keeping people around the world safe and secure.

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.EEOEEO: Equal opportunity employer, including disability and protected veterans, or other characteristics protected by law.Employment Type: FULL_TIME