Sr. Staff Security Researcher

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 Are We

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 Description

Job Summary We are seeking a passionate and self-driven Sr. Staff Researcher to join our Cloud-Delivered Security Services team. In this role, you will be pivotal in developing and refining the security content that powers our next-generation products. You will build and optimize automation systems to process real-time data, collaborate with experienced researchers to analyze emerging threats, and contribute directly to the detection and prevention of malware and other digital threats. Key Responsibilities Design, build, and optimize automation systems for real-time data collection and processing to support threat detection. Apply advanced AI/ML methods, including anomaly detection and deep learning, to analyze real network traffic for threat detection and mitigation. Conduct in-depth research on network security countermeasures to identify and mitigate sophisticated cyber attacks. Proactively collaborate with fellow security researchers to analyze adversarial activities and implement robust, proactive protections. Continuously learn and apply knowledge of next-generation firewalls and their role in modern network security. Translate threat research findings into tangible security solutions and protections within our product ecosystem.

Qualifications (Additional Job Description) 

Required Qualifications PhD with 3-5 years of experience Basic understanding of malware types (e.g., Spyware, Ransomware, Exploits) and popular vulnerabilities (e.g., command injection, buffer overflow). Strong familiarity with key network protocols such as HTTP, SMTP, and FTP. Proficiency in at least one programming language, such as Python or Go. Preferred Qualifications Experience with ML/GenAI techniques (e.g., anomaly detection, deep learning, NLP) and tools (e.g., TensorFlow, PyTorch, Scikit-Learn). Practical exposure to malware analysis and Capture-the-Flag (CTF) exercises. Hands-on experience with traffic analysis tools (e.g., Wireshark, tcpdump) and reverse engineering tools.

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.

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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.