Network Forensics Analyst

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.

The DHS Hunt and Incident Response Team (HIRT) secures the nation’s infrastructure. HIRT provides DHS’s front-line response for cyber incidents and proactive hunting for malicious cyber activity. Nightwing provides support for on- and offsite incident response to government agencies and critical infrastructure owners who experience cyber-attacks. Nightwing delivers HIRT advanced technical assistance, proactive hunting, rapid onsite incident response, and immediate investigation using host- and network-based cybersecurity analysis capabilities. Personnel perform investigations to characterize the severity of breaches and develop mitigation/remediation plans.

Nightwing is seeking a Network Forensics Analyst with deep expertise in one or more edge device technologies (Cisco, Ivanti, Palo Alto, Ciena, Juniper) to support this critical customer mission.

Responsibilities

• Serves as a hunt and incident response subject matter expert (SME), applying in-depth knowledge of threat actor tools, techniques, and procedures (TTPs), with a focus on network-centric and edge-device compromises.
• Serves as an incident response expert in support of a technology insertion team, evaluating and integrating new network forensic and monitoring capabilities.
• Assists the Government lead in coordinating teams for preliminary incident response investigations, including onsite and remote engagements.
• Assists the Government lead by interfacing with the customer while onsite, clearly communicating status, findings, and recommendations.
• Characterizes and analyzes network traffic (including PCAP, flow, and device logs) to identify anomalous activity and potential threats to network resources.
• Identifies and analyzes anomalies in network traffic using metadata (e.g., flow records, DNS logs, proxy logs) to detect and scope malicious activity.
• Reconstructs malicious attacks or activities based on network traffic, including timelines, attacker paths, and data exfiltration patterns.
• Examines network topologies to understand data flows, trust boundaries, and potential choke points; uses this understanding to inform hunt and response activities.
• Assesses network topology and device configurations, identifying critical security concerns and providing security best practice recommendations, especially for Cisco, Ivanti, Palo Alto, Ciena, and Juniper platforms.
• Determines appropriate courses of action in response to identified and analyzed anomalous network activity, including containment, eradication, and hardening actions.
• Applies knowledge of defense-in-depth principles and general attack stages to evaluate and improve network security architecture and edge-device configurations.
• Applies knowledge of network device integrity concepts and methodologies to validate device state, detect unauthorized modification, and recommend remediation.
• Leads analysis of device logs, configurations, and telemetry from routers, switches, firewalls, VPNs, and remote access appliances to identify, scope, and reconstruct intrusions.
• Provides expert support, analysis, and research with only broad direction into exceptionally complex problems and processes relating to hunt and incident response activities.
• Serves as a technical expert on high-level incident response teams, providing technical direction, interpretation, and alternatives for network-centric incidents.
• Exercises considerable latitude in determining technical objectives and independently develops technical solutions to complex problems requiring ingenuity and creativity.
• Analyzes incident data and victim environments to recommend targeted mitigations, including network segmentation, policy updates, and device hardening.
• Advises technical personnel on countermeasure implementation and customization (e.g., firewall rules, IPS signatures, access control lists).
• Supports internal stakeholders on containment and eradication missions, on-site and remotely.
• Ensures evidence integrity is preserved according to standard operating procedures or national standards when collecting network data, device artifacts, and logs.
• Assists with the writing and publishing of Computer Network Defense (CND) guidance and detailed reports on incident findings to appropriate constituencies.
• Distills analytic findings into executive summaries and in-depth technical reports suitable for both leadership and highly technical audiences.
• Documents analysis, TTPs, and device-specific incident handling procedures in a standardized knowledge base for sharing and publication.
• Assists in maintaining branch process and procedure documentation and guides the completion of hunt and incident response activities.

Required Skills

• U.S. Citizenship.
• Active TS/SCI clearance.
• Ability to obtain DHS Suitability.
• 8+ years of directly relevant experience
• 3+ years of experience related to the evaluation and implementation of new cyber response or network forensic capabilities.
• Hands-on experience with incident response or network operations involving enterprise edge devices from at least two of the following vendors: Cisco, Ivanti, Palo Alto, Ciena, Juniper.
• Strong understanding of network architecture and security, including routing, switching, VPNs, firewalls, segmentation, and defense-in-depth.
• Knowledge of Computer Network Defense (CND) policies, procedures, and regulations relevant to U.S. government or similar environments.
• Ability to:
  • Characterize and analyze network traffic to identify anomalous activity and potential threats.
  • Identify and analyze anomalies in network traffic using metadata (flow, DNS, proxy, etc.).
  • Reconstruct malicious activity based on network traffic and device logs.
• Understanding of general attack stages (reconnaissance, initial access, lateral movement, exfiltration, etc.) and how they manifest across the network.
• Understanding of system and application security threats and vulnerabilities and how they are observed in network traffic.
• Understanding of proactive analysis of systems and networks, including establishing trust levels of critical resources and detecting anomalous behavior.
• Proficiency with common operating systems (e.g., Linux/Unix, Windows).
• Experience performing cyber incident response (scoping, containment, eradication, recovery) in operational environments.
• Ability to think independently, make sound decisions under pressure, and work with limited guidance.
• Superior written and oral communication skills, including the ability to clearly explain technical issues to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Ability to work collaboratively across physical locations and within distributed teams.
• Skilled in identifying different classes of attacks and attack stages and translating findings into actionable recommendations.

· Rapid Network & Tapping Setup: Ability to quickly configure network TAPs, packet brokers, SPAN ports, and unmanaged/managed switches without disrupting live production or air-gapped traffic.

Desired Skills

• Experience leading and mentoring technical teams in incident response, network operations, or security engineering.
• Network and system administration experience in large or complex enterprise or service-provider environments.
• Strong understanding of adversarial TTPs (including MITRE ATT&CK) and different operational threat environments (e.g., script kiddies, non-nation-state adversaries, nation-state actors).
• Knowledge of defense-in-depth and zero trust principles and their application to network and edge-device architectures.
• Knowledge of system and application security threats and vulnerabilities (e.g., buffer overflow, mobile code, cross-site scripting, injections, race conditions, covert channels, replay, ROP, malicious code).
• Knowledge of network device integrity verification and monitoring approaches.
• Hands-on skill in host/network intrusion detection and event correlation across multiple telemetry sources (firewalls, IDS/IPS, endpoint, SIEM).
• Experience with malicious activity analysis, including network beaconing, C2, and data exfiltration detection.
• Experience with Identity and Access Management (IAM) tools and their integration into network/edge security architectures.
• Ability to review and analyze Enterprise Architecture (EA) from a security perspective and recommend architecture-level improvements.
• Ability to collaborate with stakeholders at multiple levels within an organization (technical staff, management, senior leadership).

· Field Diagnostics & Cyber Forensics: Skills in running preloaded analysis stacks, protocol parsers (e.g., Modbus, DNP3, OPC UA), vulnerability scanning, and local packet capture at line rate.

· Compact Pack & Weight Management: Packing, securing, and transporting ruggedized cases (such as Pelican or Nanuk) that fit standard weight and carry-on/air-transport limits.

Required Education

• BS in Computer Science, Cyber Security, Computer Engineering, or related degree; OR HS Diploma and 10+ years of technical experience in the area of expertise.

Desired Certifications (One or more)

• IASAE II, CSSP Analyst, GCIA, GCIH, CSSP Incident Responder,CEH,
• SANS GIAC GCIA or GNFA (preferred for network forensics).
• SANS GRID, GICSP, or GCIP (plus).
• Vendor / network certifications (highly desired):
  • Cisco CCNA (or higher: CCNP Security, CCNP Enterprise).
  • Vendor certifications for Palo Alto, Juniper, Ciena, or Ivanti (e.g., PCNSE, JNCIS/JNCIP, etc.).

Syndeo: ESS-3691, ESS-3692

Salary & Benefits

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.