Senior Threat Researcher, Unit 42

Location: Sacramento, United States of America

Remote Type: Yes

Time Type: Full time

Job Description

Our Mission

At Palo Alto Networks®, we’re united by a shared mission—to 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 you’re ready to do the most meaningful work of your career alongside people who are just as passionate as you are, you’re 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!

This role is remote, but distance is no barrier to impact. Our hybrid teams collaborate across geographies to solve big problems, stay close to our customers, and grow together. You will be part of a culture that values trust, accountability, and shared success where your work truly matters.

Job Summary

As a member of the Unit 42 National Security Team (NATSEC), you will work closely with a globally distributed team of vulnerability researchers, reverse engineers, and threat intelligence analysts. You will be embedded in a customer environment where you will track cybercriminals, ransomware groups, and advanced persistent threats in support of sensitive customer intelligence requirements.

Your Impact

• Provide timely, actionable intelligence to meet customer intelligence requirements.

• Leverage global datasets (netflow, malware, passive DNS, geospatial intelligence, etc) to track malicious cyber actors, their infrastructure, and campaigns 

• Collaborate with a global team of threat intelligence analysts to analyze and develop coverage for emerging threats.

• Develop strategic threat assessments in support of customer needs.

• Communicate with product engineering teams to improve detection efficacy across our product ecosystem.

Qualifications

• BS/MS in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or 5+ years of experience as a cleared cyber threat intelligence analyst

• Working knowledge of BigQuery 

• Proficiency in Python, C, and/or C++

• Familiar with static and dynamic malware analysis and common industry tools

• Strong knowledge of cyber security threat actors, particularly their tactics, techniques, procedures, tooling, and noteworthy attacks

• Familiarity with threats impacting critical infrastructure and government organizations

• Experience leveraging netflow, passive DNS, IP registration, malware telemetry, and other data sets to form comprehensive analysis 

• Experience working with information security teams such as fusion centers, security operations centers, vulnerability threat management, security incident management, threat hunting, and data analytics

• Excellent time management, often working under tight deadlines and multiple assignments

• Outstanding verbal and written communication skills.

• Comfortable with creating and delivering presentations in a range of environments, from industry conferences to customer briefings.

• Native-level English fluency; any other languages a plus.

• Must reside within a local commuting distance to Sacramento, CA, to support on-site requirements.

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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.

$139,600.00 - $225,775.00/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.

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 accommodations@paloaltonetworks.com.

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.