Sr. Principal Security Researcher - Wildfire

Our Mission At Palo Alto Networksu00ae, weu2019re united by a shared missionu2014to 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 youu2019re ready to do the most meaningful work of your career alongside people who are just as passionate as you are, youu2019re 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 We believe collaboration thrives in person. Thatu2019s why most of our teams work from the office full time, with flexibility when itu2019s needed. This model supports real-time problem-solving, stronger relationships, and the kind of precision that drives great outcomes. 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 u2014 challenging the way we, and the industry, think about cybersecurity. Our engineers donu2019t 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 As a Security Researcher on the WildFire Team, you will play a crucial role in developing automated defenses against emerging and sophisticated threats and malware. Part of the Cloud Delivered Security Service (CDSS) organization, our team is dedicated to innovating and delivering cutting-edge security services. Your expertise will be instrumental in translating deep threat knowledge into scalable, productized detection capabilities to combat cyber threats. Key Responsibilities + Lead the deep-dive analysis of emerging malware and advanced persistent threats. + Maintain an authoritative command of the global threat landscape to preemptively identify shifts in adversary tactics. + Architect and validate next-generation detection methodologies, leveraging different approaches to build automated systems. + Drive the full software development lifecycle for scalable, extensible prevention systems from architecture to deployment. + Act as the primary conduit between Research and Engineering teams, ensuring discoveries are integrated into product features. + Represent the company as a subject matter expert through high-impact white papers, industry conferences, and patent filings. Qualifications Required Qualifications + 10+ years of deep technical experience in malware analysis (static/dynamic) and reverse engineering. + Deep experience with OS internals (Windows/Linux/macOS). + Proven track record of designing high-performance, distributed systems for automated threat analysis at scale. + Proficiency in at least one of the following programming languages: Python, Golang, C++. + A self-starting u201ccan-dou201d attitude with the ability to lead cross-functional projects independently while mentoring junior researchers. + Excellent communication (written and verbal) and presentation skills. + BS/MS in Computer Science or related fields with security research experience. Preferred Qualifications + Experience building or fine-tuning AI agents to autonomously triage alerts, summarize malware behavior, or generate detection content via LLMs. + Experience with public cloud development (e.g., GCP, AWS, Azure). + PhD in Cybersecurity or a related field. 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 Weu2019re trailblazers that dream big, take risks, and challenge cybersecurityu2019s status quo. Itu2019s simple: we canu2019t 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 . 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.

Created: 2026-04-20