Palo Alto Networks

Sr. Staff Security Researcher

Palo Alto Networks$162K — $263K *
Information Technology
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 10+ years in malware analysis and reverse engineering
  • Expertise in OS internals across Windows, Linux, and macOS
  • Experience designing high-performance, distributed systems
  • Programming skills in Python, Golang, or C++
  • Self-starter with project leadership skills
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills
  • BS/MS in Computer Science or related field with security research experience

Responsibilities

  • Lead analysis of emerging malware and advanced persistent threats
  • Maintain authority in the global threat landscape
  • Architect and validate next-generation detection methodologies
  • Drive the full software development lifecycle for prevention systems
  • Act as liaison between Research and Engineering teams
  • Represent the company at industry conferences and through white papers

Benefits

  • Innovative work environment focused on cutting-edge security solutions
  • Opportunities for mentorship and project leadership
  • Engagement with industry experts at conferences
  • Potential for contributing to white papers and patents
  • Collaborative culture valuing creativity and problem-solving
Full Job Description
Job Summary

The Team

Engineering - Our engineering team is at the core of our products and connected directly to the mission of preventing cyberattacks. We are constantly innovating - challenging the way we, and the industry, think about cybersecurity. Our engineers don't shy away from building products to solve problems no one has pursued before. We define the industry instead of waiting for directions. We need individuals who feel comfortable in ambiguity, excited by the prospect of a challenge, and empowered by the unknown risks facing our everyday lives that are only enabled by a secure digital environment.

Job Summary

Join the team building and delivering threat detection capabilities for Advanced Threat Prevention by decoding network protocols and identifying applications. As a Principal Security Researcher, you will shape detection methodologies, drive parallel projects, and influence detection strategy at scale. You will propose innovative ideas, deliver them into production, and mentor researchers to protect enterprises worldwide from advanced threats.

Key Responsibilities
  • Lead the design and delivery of multiple major projects while proposing innovative detection ideas.
  • Mentor and guide junior or mid-level researchers with technical direction and career development support.
  • Drive advanced research into vulnerabilities and exploits to create effective IPS and ML-based detections.
  • Ensure rapid response to Zero-Day vulnerabilities by releasing IPS protections to customers within 24 hours.
  • Perform reverse engineering efforts to uncover new vulnerabilities and build proactive defenses.
  • Define scalable detection methodologies for complex or emerging attack vectors across products.
  • Partner with cross-functional teams to align detection strategy with product roadmaps and customer needs.
  • Represent the team in technical discussions to help shape industry direction in threat prevention.


Qualifications

Required Qualifications
  • 10+ years of deep technical experience in malware analysis (static/dynamic) and reverse engineering.
  • BS/MS in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or related field, or equivalent experience.
  • Deep technical expertise in exploit techniques such as buffer overflows, XSS, and SQL injection.
  • Extensive knowledge of core network protocols including HTTP, UDP, FTP, SMTP, DNS, and SMB.
  • Proficiency in analyzing network traffic using tcpdump, Wireshark, or equivalent tools.
  • Advanced proficiency in Windows and Linux development environments.
  • Strong programming skills in scripting and system-level languages including Python, Bash, Perl, and C/C++.
  • Strong leadership and communication skills with proven ability to mentor and guide other researchers.
  • Demonstrated track record of successfully leading multiple projects end-to-end with measurable impact.
  • Ability to influence detection strategy within the team and across related groups.


Preferred Qualifications
  • Experience building or fine-tuning AI agents to autonomously triage alerts, summarize malware behavior, or generate detection content via LLMs.
  • Hands-on experience with penetration testing tools like Metasploit and debugging tools like WinDbg.
  • PhD in Cybersecurity or a related field.
  • Publications or presentations at top security conferences such as Black Hat or DEF CON.


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.

$162,700.00 - $263,175.00/yr

Our Commitment

We're trailblazers that dream big, take risks, and challenge cybersecurity's status quo. It's simple: we can't accomplish our mission without diverse teams innovating, together.

Is role eligible for Immigration Sponsorship?: Yes

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

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