Principal Consultant, Zero Trust Advisory, Proactive Services (Unit 42)- Remote

Palo Alto Networks; Toronto; Remote; CAD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading cybersecurity firm is seeking a Principal Consultant for their Zero Trust Advisory practice in Toronto. This role involves leading complex client engagements and transforming security architectures while serving as a senior advisor to enterprise clients. With a focus on Zero Trust and proven experience in cybersecurity, the ideal candidate will collaborate with teams to convert security challenges into actionable solutions. A bachelor’s degree and significant industry experience are required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in a relevant field, or equivalent professional experience.
• 6+ years of experience leading cybersecurity advisory, risk management, or professional services engagements for enterprise clients.
• 3+ years of direct consulting experience architecting and deploying Zero Trust, SASE, or Identity-centric security models for large organizations.
• Demonstrated expertise in designing end-to-end security architectures aligned with frameworks like NIST SP 800-207 and the CISA ZT Maturity Model.
• Deep, hands-on expertise with modern security capabilities such as ZTNA, NGFW, SSE, SASE, CNAPP, XDR, and IAM.

Responsibilities

• Lead high-value, billable Zero Trust transformation engagements for enterprise clients.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to C-suite executives and technical teams.
• Assess enterprise architectures to expose hidden zones of implicit trust.
• Design and deliver end-to-end Zero Trust architectures across IAM, network, endpoint, and cloud domains.
• Proactively collaborate with clients to scope new opportunities.
• Audit integration of SASE, Identity, and XDR solutions to function as a unified security fabric.
• Drive thought leadership by developing IP, presenting at events, and mentoring team members.

Skills

Zero Trust

SASE

IAM

Zero Trust Architecture

NIST SP 800-207

CISA ZT Maturity Model

XDR

Education

Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent

Tools

Prisma Access

Cortex XDR

NGFW

Job description

Overview

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 Principal Consultant in our Zero Trust Advisory practice, you will lead complex, client-facing engagements, translating advanced Zero Trust theory into resilient, real-world security architectures. You will serve as a senior technical and strategic advisor for our most sophisticated clients, shaping their security posture and driving high-value transformation. This role is pivotal in delivering elite advisory services while also scaling Unit 42's market-leading Zero Trust practice.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead high-value, billable Zero Trust transformation engagements, converting complex security challenges into resilient architectural outcomes for enterprise clients.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to C-suite executives and technical teams, translating business risk into actionable security architectures aligned with NIST and CISA frameworks.
• Assess enterprise architectures to expose hidden zones of implicit trust, analyze telemetry to identify visibility gaps, and design risk-based control sets that prioritize least-privilege access.
• Design and deliver end-to-end Zero Trust architectures across IAM, network, endpoint, and cloud domains, producing clear roadmaps toward an optimized security posture.
• Proactively collaborate with clients and internal teams to scope new opportunities, draft statements of work, and respond to Requests for Proposals (RFPs).
• Audit the technical integration of SASE, Identity, and XDR solutions to ensure they function as a unified, automated security fabric.
• Drive thought leadership by developing intellectual property, presenting at industry events, and mentoring team members to enhance our collective expertise.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in a relevant field, or equivalent professional experience.
• 6+ years of experience leading cybersecurity advisory, risk management, or professional services engagements for enterprise clients.
• 3+ years of direct consulting experience architecting and deploying Zero Trust, SASE, or Identity-centric security models for large organizations.
• Demonstrated expertise in designing end-to-end security architectures aligned with frameworks like NIST SP 800-207 and the CISA ZT Maturity Model.
• Deep, hands-on expertise with modern security capabilities such as ZTNA, NGFW, SSE, SASE, CNAPP, XDR, and IAM.

Preferred Qualifications

• Proven track record of strengthening client relationships and contributing to business growth through pre-sales and solution positioning.
• Experience architecting security solutions in hybrid and multi-cloud environments (AWS, Azure, GCP).
• Deep expertise with Palo Alto Networks technologies, including Prisma Access, NGFW, and Cortex XDR.
• Experience communicating complex technical concepts to both executive and engineering audiences.

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.

The example compensation range is provided for illustration and may vary by location and experience.

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? No. Please note that we will not sponsor applicants for work visas for this position.