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Responsibilities:
· Assisting Federal leads with overseeing and leading forensic teams at onsite engagements by coordinating data collection/acquisition operations
· Providing technical assistance on data collection techniques and forensic investigative techniques to appropriate personnel when necessary
· Writing in-depth reports, supports with peer reviews and provides quality assurance reviews for junior personnel
· Supporting forensic analysis and mentoring/providing guidance to others on data collection, analysis and reporting in support of onsite engagements.
· Assisting with leading and coordinating forensic teams in preliminary investigation
· Planning, coordinating and directing the inventory, examination and comprehensive technical analysis of computer systems and digital artifacts.
· Distilling analytic findings into executive summaries and in-depth technical reports
· Serving as technical forensics liaison to stakeholders and explaining investigation details to include forensic methodologies and protocols
· Tracking and documenting on-site incident response activities and providing updates to leadership throughout the engagement
· Traveling to incident response locations in the United States, Territories & Possessions
· Evaluating, extracting and analyzing suspected malicious code
Required Skills:
oU.S. Citizenship
oMust have an active TS/SCI clearance
oMust be able to obtain DHS Suitability
o 8+ years of directly relevant experience in cyber forensic investigations using leading edge technologies and industry standard forensic tools
o Ability to create forensically sound duplicates of computer systems (forensic images)
o Able to write cyber investigative reports documenting digital forensics findings
o Experience with the analysis and characterization of cyber attacks
o Experience with proper digital asset collection and preservation procedures and chain of custody protocols
o Skilled in identifying different classes of attacks and attack stages
o Knowledge of system and application security threats and vulnerabilities
o Knowledgeable in proactive analysis of systems and networks, to include creating trust levels of critical resources
o Must be able to work collaboratively across physical locations.
Desired Skills:
· Experience with or knowledge of two or more of the following tools:
· EnCase
· SIFT
· X-Ways
· Volatility
· WireShark
· Sleuth Kit/ Autopsy
· Magnet Axiom Cyber
· Snort
· Splunk or other SIEM Tools (ArcSight, LogRythm, Elastic, Etc.)
· Other EDR Tools (Crowdstrike, MDE, Trellix, Etc)
· Proficiency with conducting all-source research.
Required Education:
BS Computer Science, Cybersecurity, Computer Engineering or related degree; or HS Diploma and 10+ years of host or digital forensics experience
Desired Certifications:
GCFA, GCFE, EnCE, CCE, CFCE, CISSP
Freqently Asked Questions
This Host Based Systems Analyst position in Washington, VA demands advanced expertise in cyber forensic investigations, particularly with federal incident response. Compared to general IT roles, it requires active TS/SCI clearance, deep knowledge of forensic tools, and hands-on leadership in onsite data acquisition and analysis.
Advancement opportunities include moving into senior forensic analyst roles, cybersecurity leadership, or federal advisory positions. Gaining certifications like GCFA or CISSP, and mastering advanced forensic tools, can accelerate growth within high-clearance cybersecurity fields.
Challenges include handling complex cyberattack artifacts, ensuring chain of custody integrity under strict protocols, coordinating multi-location forensic teams, and adapting to evolving threat landscapes while maintaining compliance with federal security standards.
Base-One Inc emphasizes onsite leadership during federal forensic investigations, requiring analysts to mentor junior staff, produce high-level technical reports, and serve as forensic liaisons, blending hands-on analysis with critical communication duties.
At Base-One Inc, this role is pivotal in executing precise forensic data collection and analysis, directly supporting incident response efforts. Analysts ensure actionable intelligence reaches stakeholders, reinforcing the company’s commitment to federal cybersecurity excellence.
Certifications like GCFA, GCFE, CISSP, and CFCE are highly valued in Washington, VA’s cybersecurity market, reflecting the region’s federal focus. Holding these credentials can significantly enhance candidate competitiveness for advanced forensic analyst roles.
Washington, VA sees robust demand for cleared cybersecurity professionals due to proximity to federal agencies. However, competition is intense among candidates with top-secret clearances and forensic expertise, necessitating strong technical skills and certifications.
Washington, VA's transportation options and commute times are moderate, but candidates should consider travel requirements to various federal sites. Flexibility and willingness to travel frequently within U.S. territories remain crucial for this role.
Host Based Systems Analysts in Washington, VA typically earn between $110,000 and $140,000 annually, depending on clearance level, experience, and certifications. The federal contracting environment often offers competitive compensation packages.