Palo Alto Networks

Principal Consultant, DFIR, Reactive Services (Unit 42) - Remote

Palo Alto Networks$151K — $208K *
Information Technology
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Security, or related field, or equivalent experience.
  • 6-8 years of hands-on experience in digital forensics and incident response (DFIR) or related cybersecurity disciplines.
  • Experience investigating enterprise-scale cybersecurity incidents, including ransomware and advanced persistent threats.
  • Strong understanding of forensic methodologies, evidence handling, and chain-of-custody procedures.
  • Hands-on experience with DFIR tools such as EnCase, FTK, SleuthKit, or Volatility.
  • Operational experience across major operating systems: Windows, Linux, macOS.
  • Strong analytical skills and ability to perform under pressure.

Responsibilities

  • Lead and execute digital forensics and incident response investigations.
  • Serve as technical lead on incident response engagements, guiding investigative strategy.
  • Conduct advanced host, network, and cloud investigations.
  • Perform forensic acquisition and analysis of systems and telemetry.
  • Utilize DFIR tools to analyze malicious activity for incident containment.
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver client outcomes during incidents.
  • Provide clear technical findings and remediation guidance to stakeholders.
  • Support development of incident response playbooks and methodologies.

Benefits

  • Health, dental, and vision insurance.
  • Retirement savings plans with company match.
  • Flexible working arrangements including remote work opportunities.
  • Ongoing professional development and training resources.
  • Paid time off and holidays.
Full Job Description
Job Summary

Job Summary
The Principal Consultant, Reactive Services is a senior individual contributor role within Unit 42 responsible for delivering expert-level incident response and digital forensics services to clients across a wide range of industries and environments.

In this role, you will act as a technical leader on active investigations, partnering with Consulting Directors and engagement teams to respond to complex cybersecurity incidents. You will lead technical workstreams, conduct advanced forensic analysis, and provide actionable guidance to help organizations investigate, contain, and recover from security breaches.

This position is ideal for a seasoned DFIR practitioner who thrives in fast-paced incident response environments and is passionate about solving complex technical problems while working directly with clients during critical security events.

Key Responsibilities
Lead and execute digital forensics and incident response investigations across enterprise environments.
Serve as a technical lead on incident response engagements, guiding investigative strategy and forensic analysis.
Conduct advanced host, network, and cloud investigations to identify root cause, attacker behavior, and scope of compromise.
Perform forensic acquisition and analysis of systems, memory, logs, and endpoint telemetry.
Utilize industry-standard DFIR tooling and methodologies to analyze malicious activity and support incident containment.
Collaborate with Consulting Directors and cross-functional teams to deliver high-quality client outcomes during security incidents.
Provide clear technical findings and remediation guidance to clients and internal stakeholders.
Maintain up-to-date knowledge of emerging threats, attacker techniques, and the evolving threat landscape.
Support development of incident response playbooks, tools, and methodologies to improve investigation efficiency.
Contribute to knowledge sharing and mentorship within the Unit 42 DFIR team.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Security, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
6-8 years of hands-on experience in digital forensics and incident response (DFIR), security operations, or related cybersecurity disciplines.
Demonstrated experience investigating enterprise-scale cybersecurity incidents, including ransomware, intrusion activity, or advanced persistent threats.
Strong understanding of forensic methodologies, including evidence handling, acquisition techniques, and chain-of-custody procedures.
Hands-on experience with industry-standard DFIR tools such as EnCase, FTK, SleuthKit, Volatility, or equivalent forensic frameworks.
Operational experience investigating systems across major operating systems, including Microsoft Windows, Linux, and macOS.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to investigate complex technical environments under pressure.
Experience working directly with clients or internal stakeholders during security incidents.

Preferred Qualifications
Experience responding to large-scale enterprise security incidents across cloud and hybrid environments.
Knowledge of attacker techniques aligned with MITRE ATT&CK.
Experience performing malware triage or reverse engineering.
Background working in consulting, incident response firms, or managed detection and response environments.
Industry certifications such as GCFA, GCFE, GCIH, CISSP, or similar.
Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to translate technical findings into actionable recommendations.
Willingness to travel up to 20% as required to support client engagements.

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.

$151,000.00 - $208,000.00/yr

About Palo Alto Networks

Palo Alto Networks, Inc. is an American multinational cybersecurity company with headquarters in Santa Clara, California. Its core products are a platform that includes advanced firewalls and cloud-based offerings that extend those firewalls to cover other aspects of security. The company serves over 70,000 organizations in over 150 countries, including 85 of the Fortune 100. It is home to the Unit 42 threat research team and hosts the Ignite cybersecurity conference.
Learn more about Palo Alto Networks
Size
11,870 employees
Market Cap
$42.6 billion
Industry
Net Income
-$368.2 million
Founded
2005
5 Year Trend
+25.7%
Revenue
$3.7 billion
NASDAQ

Similar Jobs

More Jobs at Palo Alto Networks

More Information Technology Jobs

Find similar Principal Consultant, DFIR, Reactive Services (Unit 42) - Remote jobs: