Sr. Principal Cybersecurity Researcher (Unit 42)

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

We are seeking a Senior Principal Threat Researcher for our Unit 42 Threat Intelligence team to lead coordination for threat research, product protection, and communication efforts during major global events. This individual plays a critical role in providing timely, actionable threat intelligence and response capabilities to help protect our customers and internal stakeholders.
 

Key Responsibilities

• Collaborate with threat analysts, detection engineers, and security consultants from various teams and departments within the organization. Foster strong relationships, gain buy-in across teams, share threat intelligence, and coordinate joint efforts to address complex threats that span multiple areas of expertise while driving towards a unified approach to threat research.

• Triage and prioritize threat intelligence research requests during Rapid Response engagements. 

• Coordinate the development of actionable cross-team intelligence products relevant to both internal and external defenders, security engineers, and threat hunters.

• Harness the full weight of the company's unique data holdings, including security product telemetry, front line Incident Response (IR) and Managed Detection and Response (MDR) data, and Intel Holdings. Utilize these resources to collect threat data and produce valuable insights that enhance the effectiveness and differentiation of our threat intelligence capabilities.

• Coordinate and balance priorities across diverse teams, including Communications, Legal, Policy, Marketing, to align external and internal messaging around global cyber events.

• Work closely with the external engagement team to manage the flow of Rapid Response content, including blogs, social media content, and updates on major cyber events that align with Palo Alto Networks role as a global cybersecurity leader. 

• Write, edit, and publish complex technical threat research that informs defenders of the threat landscape and technical mitigations

• Contribute to thought leadership initiatives by sharing insights and expertise on Unit 42 Threat Vector podcasts, at security conferences, and through internal and external executive briefings.

• Establish and execute internal projects to mature and scale our Rapid

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Seasoned threat researcher with experience tracking threat actors, supporting incident response engagements, and conducting deep technical research into emerging threats.

• Highly organized with the ability to manage complex multi-tasking, prioritize effectively, and triage competing demands in a fast-paced environment.

• Ability to advance objectives across matrixed teams and influence without direct reporting authority.

• Strong public speaking and presentation skills, with the ability to effectively communicate complex threat intelligence information to diverse audiences, including executives, conferences, and internal stakeholders.

• Experience reviewing and editing complex technical reporting, providing guidance and mentoring to teammates and stakeholders

• Demonstrated ability to coordinate with cross-organizational threat analysts, facilitating collaboration, and aligning efforts to achieve common goals.

• Proven experience leading threat intelligence projects, integrating intelligence systems, and implementing new processes for multiple stakeholders.

• Demonstrated experience speaking at conferences and with customers on research performed.

• Proven experience throughout the cyber threat intelligence lifecycle, from data collection to production of intelligence outputs, such as blogs and whitepapers.

• Experience writing and editing threat intelligence reporting.
   

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with graph databases (e.g. Synapse) is a plus. 

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.

$188,000.00 - $304,075.00/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?: Yes