Technical Consulting Director

Palo Alto Networks, Inc.; Canberra; Remote; AUD 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Job summary

Palo Alto Networks is seeking a Technical Consulting Director for Unit 42 in Australia. You will lead incident response engagements, digital forensics, and ransomware recovery for our largest clients, guiding delivery teams and ensuring highest quality outcomes.

Based in Australia, you will partner with executive leaders to scale our consulting practice, mentor DFIR professionals, and drive innovation in automated IR and threat intel while engaging with CxO audiences and industry forums.

Qualifications

• 12+ years of professional experience in Incident Response and cybersecurity consulting.
• Proven leadership in establishing and managing cyber risk consulting businesses.
• Deep DFIR and network forensics expertise, including Windows malware forensics.
• Hands-on cloud experience with AWS or GCP and security investigations.
• Proficiency in Python and Golang for automation.
• Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science or related field.
• CISSP or equivalent certifications.

Responsibilities

• Lead High‑Stakes Engagements: Oversee IR, forensics, and ransomware response for top clients.
• Expert Incident Command: Act as technical lead and incident commander, delivering findings to executives.
• Regional Strategy & Growth: Partner with the AU executive team to scale Unit 42’s practice.
• Service Innovation: Drive improvements and automation for IR and threat intel capabilities.
• Business Development: Collaborate on pipeline generation and proposal preparation.
• Team Leadership & Mentorship: Recruit, onboard and mentor DFIR talent.
• Thought Leadership: Represent Unit 42 at industry forums and publish whitepapers.

Skills

IR

DFIR

Leadership

Cloud security

Python

Go

Forensics

Public speaking

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science or related field

Tools

Wireshark

Bro

Windows malware forensics

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

The role of Technical Consulting Director in Unit 42 is a senior‑level position designed for a premier technical leader with a track record of establishing and scaling world‑class consulting practices. You will be responsible for the day‑to‑day delivery of our threat‑led and technology‑driven cybersecurity services, specifically leading Unit 42’s Incident Response (IR) engagements for our largest and most complex clients.

Your Career

As a unique services role, you will be part of a collaborative team of innovators sharing expertise to progress the goal of securing Unit 42’s clients across the Australia region. You will serve as a trusted advisor, providing both strategic guidance and technical oversight while advocating for innovative approaches that reduce client risk.

Your Impact

• Lead High‑Stakes Engagements: Oversee the delivery of high‑profile incident response, digital forensics, and complex ransomware response efforts.
• Expert Incident Command: Serve as a technical lead and incident commander throughout the IR lifecycle, including hands‑on forensics and delivering findings to CxO and Board‑level audiences.
• Regional Strategy & Growth: Partner with the executive team to develop and execute the strategy for Unit 42’s practice in Australia
• Service Innovation: Lead service line improvements and capability development, including the engineering of automated IR and threat intelligence systems to streamline internal processes.
• Business Development: Work with Business Development Managers to perform pipeline generation, lead scoping conversations, and prepare proposals to win new business.
• Team Leadership & Mentorship: Recruit, onboard, and motivate world‑class DFIR talent, fostering a culture of excellence and supporting the professional growth of consultants through technical enablement.
• Thought Leadership: Amplify Unit 42’s presence in the marketplace through public speaking at industry conferences, media briefings, and the publication of whitepapers and articles.

Your Experience

• 12+ years of professional experience in Incident Response against Advanced Persistent Threats (APT) and cybersecurity consulting.
• Proven Leadership: Demonstrated success in establishing and managing cyber risk consulting businesses from the ground up
• Technical Mastery: Deep expertise in Digital Forensics and Incident Response (DFIR), including network forensics (Wireshark, Bro), Windows/malware forensics, and SIEM integration.
• Cloud & Infrastructure: Hands‑on experience with major cloud providers (AWS/GCP), including breach investigations and security optimization for complex network/host environments.
• Programming & Tooling: Proficient in Python and Golang for security development, with experience building custom automation and live forensics tools.
• Educational Foundation: Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science or a related technical field.

Certifications

• Holds established professional industry certifications such as CISSP.

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 [e-mail].

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