Skip to Main Content

Job Title


Digital Forensic Lab Technician (Unit 42)


Company : Palo Alto Networks


Location : Reston, VA


Created : 2026-04-04


Job Type : Full Time


Job Description

Our Mission At Palo Alto Networksu00ae, weu2019re united by a shared missionu2014to protect our digital way of life. We thrive at the intersection of innovation and impact, solving real-world problems with cutting-edge technology and bold thinking. Here, everyone has a voice, and every idea counts. If youu2019re ready to do the most meaningful work of your career alongside people who are just as passionate as you are, youu2019re in the right place. Who We Are In order to be the cybersecurity partner of choice, we must trailblaze the path and shape the future of our industry. This is something our employees work at each day and is defined by our values: Disruption, Collaboration, Execution, Integrity, and Inclusion. We weave AI into the fabric of everything we do and use it to augment the impact every individual can have. If you are passionate about solving real-world problems and ideating beside the best and the brightest, we invite you to join us We believe collaboration thrives in person. Thatu2019s why most of our teams work from the office full time, with flexibility when itu2019s needed. This model supports real-time problem-solving, stronger relationships, and the kind of precision that drives great outcomes. Job Summary Key Responsibilities: + Manage the end-to-end evidence lifecycleu2014including receipt, inventory, tracking, and auditingu2014ensuring strict adherence to lab protocols and company standards from case inception to closure. + Maintain meticulous chain of custody documentation to guarantee the legal defensibility, security, and integrity of all physical and digital evidence. + Perform forensically sound acquisitions and preservations of digital media across diverse platforms, including workstations, servers, mobile devices, and tablets. + Triage and fulfill evidence handling and system requests via Jira, ensuring rapid resolution and consistent adherence to internal Service Level Agreements (SLAs). + Evaluate, test, and validate emerging forensic hardware, software, and methodologies to continuously enhance lab capabilities and efficiency. + Collaborate with cross-functional IT teams to monitor, maintain, and troubleshoot the forensic labu2019s high-performance computing and secure storage infrastructure. + Design and administer comprehensive training modules via Litmos to educate staff on evolving lab workflows, security policies, and forensic systems. + Facilitate software and hardware procurement and manage licensing renewals, optimizing internal workflows and ensuring uninterrupted lab operations. + Author, review, and update Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to align with industry best practices and regulatory requirements. + Execute secure data wiping and evidence disposition protocols for closed cases in accordance with data retention policies and environmental guidelines. Qualifications Required Qualifications + Bacheloru2019s degree in Digital Forensics, Cybersecurity, Information Technology, Criminal Justice, or a closely related field. + 1+ year of experience and/or new grad with Bachelor's degree. + Working knowledge of Windows, macOS, and Linux operating systems, including file systems and common artifacts. + Proven ability to diagnose and resolve routine to complex hardware and software operational issues. + Solid understanding of computer networking principles, protocols, and underlying enterprise IT infrastructure. + A strong, demonstrated passion for technology, cybersecurity, and digital forensics, with a desire to stay current on emerging trends. + Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex technical findings for non-technical stakeholders. Preferred Qualifications + Prior experience handling digital evidence and a practical understanding of forensic imaging tools, write-blocking techniques, and preservation methodologies. + Relevant industry-recognized certifications, such as EnCase Certified Examiner (EnCE), AccessData Certified Examiner (ACE), or similar credentials. Compensation Disclosure The compensation offered for this position will depend on qualifications, experience, and work location. For candidates who receive an offer at the posted level, the starting base salary (for non-sales roles) or base salary + commission target (for sales/com-missioned roles) is expected to be the annual range listed below. The offered compensation may also include restricted stock units and a bonus. A description of our employee benefits may be found here (. $74,000.00 - $119,000.00/yr Our Commitment Weu2019re trailblazers that dream big, take risks, and challenge cybersecurityu2019s status quo. Itu2019s simple: we canu2019t accomplish our mission without diverse teams innovating, together. We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations for all qualified individuals with a disability. If you require assistance or accommodation due to a disability or special need, please contact us at . Palo Alto Networks is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity in our workplace, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran status, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or other legally protected characteristics. All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines. Is role eligible for Immigration Sponsorship? No. Please note that we will not sponsor applicants for work visas for this position.