Digital Forensic Examiner

TARGET CLOSE DATE:

10/03/2025

PAY GRADE:

Grade 23

TYPE:

Full time

JOB SUMMARY:

Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office is seeking an experienced Digital Forensic Examiner to support criminal investigations and prosecutions. This role is responsible for identifying, preserving, analyzing, and presenting digital evidence from computers, mobile devices, storage media, cloud environments, and network systems. The examiner will apply advanced forensic tools and methodologies to uncover digital traces, reconstruct events, and ensure all evidence meets legal and chain-of-custody standards. The position requires strong knowledge of digital technologies, operating systems, network protocols, and cybercrime tactics, along with the ability to adapt to evolving threats and tools. The examiner will work closely with detectives, attorneys, prosecutors, and IT professionals, preparing clear, legally admissible reports and providing expert testimony in court when needed.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS:

Jefferson County provides competitive pay and comprehensive benefits packages to include medical and dental insurance, employer-sponsored retirement plan (pension), generous paid holidays, sick and vacation leave, and more. The pay range for this job is listed below:

Jefferson County $56,347 - $87,401

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

The following are job-related qualifications that are required for employment consideration for this position:

• Experience performing digital forensic examinations or cyber security using forensic tools such as FTK, Cellebrite, X-Ways, or comparable software.

• Experience interpreting search warrants and maintaining the chain of custody.

• Experience writing technical reports.

• Experience with legal procedures to include execution of search.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

The following are job-related qualifications deemed desirable by Jefferson County. These qualifications may be considered by the hiring agency when reviewing applications and inviting candidates to participate in subsequent steps in the selection processes.

• Industry certifications such as GCFA (GIAC Certified Forensic Analyst), CFCE (GIAC Certified Forensic Examiner), CCE (Certified Forensic Computer Examiner), or EnCE (EnCase Certified Examiner).

• Must be willing to obtain and maintain a security clearance (if required).

• APOST Certified.

TYPICAL JOB DUTIES:

• Perform comprehensive forensic examinations of a wide range of digital evidence, including computers, mobile devices, external media, cloud-based services, email systems, and network infrastructure, to support criminal investigations, internal inquiries, and civil litigation.

• Use industry-standard forensic hardware and software tools (e.g., FTK, EnCase, Cellebrite, X-Ways, Magnet AXIOM) to image, recover, carve, and analyze digital artifacts, ensuring adherence to best practices and forensic soundness.

• Develop and execute investigative strategies tailored to the specific needs of each case, including keyword searches, timeline analysis, file signature analysis, and artifact correlation across multiple platforms.

• Ensure meticulous documentation and handling of digital evidence throughout its lifecycle, maintaining strict compliance with chain-of-custody procedures, data integrity requirements, and evidence admissibility standards.

• Prepare clear, detailed, and technically accurate forensic examination reports that are suitable for legal proceedings and non-technical stakeholders.

• Work closely with detectives, prosecutors, attorneys, and other stakeholders to provide expert-level technical consultation during the investigation and litigation phases, including strategic recommendations for evidence acquisition and interpretation.

• Provide sworn expert testimony in court, depositions, and administrative hearings as required, effectively communicating complex forensic findings to judges, juries, and legal professionals.

• Maintain, calibrate, and update laboratory equipment and forensic workstations to ensure reliability, compliance, and readiness for operational deployment.

• Assist in the development and implementation of standard operating procedures (SOPs), quality assurance protocols, and forensic workflow improvements within the digital forensics lab.

• Conduct peer reviews of forensic work products to ensure accuracy, consistency, and adherence to internal and external standards.

• Monitor emerging technologies, software updates, and legal precedents impacting digital evidence through professional development, conferences, training courses, and independent study.

• Provide training, mentorship, or technical guidance to junior forensic examiners, investigators, or other personnel as needed.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

Job may require working on a computer, exposed to glare and/or PC light. Job may require work that essentially sedentary with occasional walking, bending, lifting or minimal physical activities. Job may require manual handling of digital devices and equipment.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Job may require working in an office environment and may require working in a laboratory. Job may require work performed outside year-round and may require occasional travel for field investigations, court appearances, or training. Job may require occasional handling of sensitive or graphic digital content.

EEO STATEMENT:

The Personnel Board of Jefferson County provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment with the Personnel Board of Jefferson County, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.  Each Merit System member city/agency operate its own equal employment opportunity policies available on the individual city/agency website.

ACCOMMODATION:

NOTE:

This job posting may close before, or be extended beyond, the listed Target Close Date based on the employment needs of the Merit System. More detail regarding this job is available by clicking Apply.

DISCLAIMER:

This job posting is not meant to be an all-inclusive list of the job duties, responsibilities, or skills and abilities required to do the job and may be changed at the discretion of the Personnel Board at any time.