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Crypto Seizure Specialist (Cryptocurrency Investigator)

Arlington, VA

As a Seizure Specialist, you will be hired by XLA to support one of our Federal Clients, The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Office of Domestic Operations, Cyber Support Section (ODV). 

The ideal Seizure Specialist will have participated in field seizures of crypto currency. The Seizure Specialist will be able to go into the field while serving a warrant, immediately go to the targets computer and lock things down, recognize where a solution is on the spot to assist the investigators. The Seizure Specialist will bring knowledge and expertise in the areas of blockchain technology, crypto wallets, virtual asset service providers (VASPs), open-source intelligence (OSINT), dark web, digital forensics, software development, custody of evidence, and asset forfeiture. The Seizure Specialist will provide escalated on-site and remote seizure support for real-time activity to DEA investigators during planned enforcement operations. This includes the analysis of U.S. Government furnished data, which will remain the property of DEA, as well as approved external data sources.  Services will span across both non-classified and classified tasks.  Travel to other locations, potentially on short notice, is required with this position as well.

The DEA established ODV to support combating drug trafficking and distribution in the cyber realm.  ODV’s mission is to provide assistance and support for cyber-related field investigations in six priority areas: Transactions; Exploitation; Seizure; Outreach; Policy, Legal & Liaison; and Research & Development.

 

Requirements:

  • Must have a Bachelor's Degree and 17 yrs of professional work experience, OR, 15 years of professional work experience and a Master’s degree.
  • Demonstrated recent, relevant work experience in field seizures, cyber investigations, dark web, blockchain technology, and cryptoanalysis.
  • Knowledge and expertise in the areas of blockchain technology, crypto wallets, virtual asset service providers (VASPs), open-source intelligence (OSINT), dark web, digital forensics, software development, custody of evidence, and asset forfeiture.
  • Due to the rapidly changing landscape of illicit use of virtual currency, the candidate will have worked with law enforcement and successfully supported the seizure of virtual currency, preferably within the previous 12 months. The support provided during the recent seizure(s) must be essential to the seizure operation such that without the candidate’s participation, the seizure would not have been successful [e.g. hierarchical deterministic (HD) and custodial wallets containing digital assets]. 
  • 10 + years of experience in working on complex criminal investigations with law enforcement agencies and a strong working knowledge of Fourth Amendment search and seizure limitations.
  • 5 + years of experience with open-source (OSINT) methodologies to conduct blockchain analysis, trace the flow of funds, and the submission of comprehensive reports detailing the OSINT finding.
  • 3 + years of experience and reoccurring exposure to Unix/Linux, Microsoft Windows, macOS, including in-house software development with a combination of blockchain technology, and hardware and software wallets.
  • 3 + years of general knowledge of C++ or Python, Go or a similar programming language and IT (Information Technology) network structure.
  • 2 + years of experience with identifying and analyzing digital assets or digital asset transactions.
  • 2 + years of collecting, viewing and identifying essential information on target(s) of interest from metadata (e.g. email, internet protocol, HTTP and social media).
  • 2 + years of experience performing real-time data tracking and effective clustering of crypto wallet hosts for development.
  • Knowledge of blockchain concepts such as consensus protocols, validation algorithms, digital signatures, large-scale distributed systems, and applied cryptography.
  • In-depth understanding of blockchain architectures and a clear understanding of how various blockchain platforms differ.
  • Familiarity with front-end collection systems including traffic collection, filtering, selection and internet routing protocols.
  • Strong problem-solving skills, detailed oriented, possess excellent time management and communication skills with the ability to interact professionally with senior management.
  • Proven ability to work in a fast-paced environment and able to travel, such as deployments on law enforcement operations.
  • Ability to recognize technical information that may be used in leads to enable remote support (data includes users, passwords, email addresses, IP addresses, crypto artifacts behavior, mail servers, domain servers, and SMT header information).
  • Ability to interface with field agents and ask questions regarding their investigation and collection/seizure of evidence and to determine project requirements based on investigative goals.
  • Must communicate complex concepts or ideas in a confident and well-organized manner through verbal, written and/or visual means on a monthly basis.

 

 

 

 

 

EEO Statement

XLA is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals and is an equal opportunity employer committed to supporting equality and integrity in the workplace, professional development and education, and an entrepreneurial atmosphere.  

We encourage qualified individuals with disabilities to apply. If a reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process or to perform essential job functions, please contact our HR team by phone at 703-584-8317 or via email at humanresources@xla.com. For persons who are deaf, hard of hearing, deafblind, or deaf-disabled, XLA will provide an American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter where needed as a reasonable accommodation for the hiring processes.

We are proud to be an EEO/VETERAN EMPLOYER.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to their protected veteran or disabled status and will not be discriminated against for self-identifying with either category

 

 

 

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