Principal Engineer Network Forensics & Incident Response

Verizon; Ashburn (VA); Hybrid; USD 121,000 - 231,000; Full time

Job summary

Verizon is seeking a Principal Engineer in a hybrid role to lead forensic investigations and incident response across Core, Edge, and network functions. You will own the DFIR lifecycle with minimal supervision and drive automation across cloud-native forensics initiatives.

The role requires extensive experience in digital forensics, network security engineering, and incident response, with strong leadership and executive communication skills.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or four or more years of relevant work experience.
• Six or more years of relevant work experience in digital forensics, network security engineering, or incident response.
• Proven track record of operating with complete autonomy and leading major incident command.
• Deep experience with SIEM/data analysis platforms (Splunk, ELK).
• Hands-on experience with forensic tools and rule-writing (YARA/YARA-L).
• Expert knowledge of core network protocols (TCP/IP, BGP, OSPF, DNS, TLS, HTTP/S).
• Proficiency in scripting and automation (Python, PowerShell, Bash).

Responsibilities

• Autonomous DFIR leadership: drive enterprise-wide forensic collection strategies and incident response programs end-to-end.
• Executive incident command during major security events with cross-functional coordination and rapid containment.
• Network telemetry analysis using PCAP, NetFlow/IPFIX, firewall logs, and router/switch artifacts.
• Develop and maintain forensic tooling automation, cloud-native pipelines, and triage engines.
• Create and refine DFIR playbooks and runbooks for high-impact incidents.
• Produce comprehensive forensic investigation reports with timelines, root cause, and remediation.

Skills

DFIR leadership

Incident command

Network forensics

SIEM analysis

Python scripting

Automation

Forensic tooling

YARA rules

Network protocols

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Splunk/ELK

EnCase

FTK

Volatility

YARA

KAPE

SANS SIFT

X-Ways

Job description

When you join Verizon

You want more out of a career. A place to share your ideas freely - even if they're daring or different. Where the true you can learn, grow, and thrive. At Verizon, we power and empower how people live, work and play by connecting them to what brings them joy. We do what we love - driving innovation, creativity, and impact in the world. Our V Team is a community of people who anticipate, lead, and believe that listening is where learning begins. In crisis and in celebration, we come together - lifting our communities and building trust in how we show up, everywhere & always. Want in? Join the #VTeamLife.

What you'll be doing...

The N&T Network Security team is looking for a highly motivated and experienced Principal Engineer to join the Security Defense organization. The Defense teams are responsible for owning the security lifecycle and effectiveness across the Core, Edge, and Access networks and all of the systems and network functions within N&T.

In this role, you will operate with complete autonomy and zero guidance, serving as the primary technical lead for network digital forensics and incident response (DFIR) across the Network Security Defense portfolio. You will direct response efforts during major enterprise-wide security events, architect forward-looking forensic capabilities, define organizational DFIR standards, and partner across the Defense organization to continuously mature our defense posture. A successful candidate will bring proven executive influence, unmatched incident command expertise, and a history of driving automated DFIR engineering initiatives with complete independence.

Key Responsibilities:

• Autonomous DFIR Leadership: Driving complex, enterprise-wide forensic collection strategies and incident response programs independently from concept to execution across Core, Edge, and virtualized network infrastructure.

• Executive Incident Command: Operating as the chief technical incident commander during major, high-consequence security events-orchestrating cross-functional response, executive communications, and rapid containment strategy with zero oversight required.

• Network Telemetry Analysis: Interrogating full packet captures (PCAP), NetFlow/IPFIX, firewall logs, and router/switch artifacts to trace adversary lateral movement and data exfiltration.

• Advanced Forensics & Artifact Extraction: Architecting and maintaining YARA rules and leading deep-dive forensic analyses across memory, endpoints, custom appliances, and network equipment to reverse-engineer state-sponsored APT tactics, unknown threat vectors, and complex exfiltration schemes.

• Threat Hunting & Evidence Extraction: Proactively dissecting advanced persistent threat (APT) TTPs, extracting indicators of compromise (IOCs), and converting forensic findings into actionable detections.

• Forensic Tooling Innovation & Automation: Architecting and scaling automated, cloud-native forensic collection pipelines, triage engines, and orchestration tooling across the enterprise to accelerate response timelines.

• Playbooks & Process Maturity: Develop and refine specialized DFIR playbooks and runbooks for high-impact security incidents (e.g., state-sponsored intrusions, ransomware, supply chain compromises, and DDoS events).

• Executive Reporting: Produce comprehensive, high-quality forensic investigation reports detailing attack timelines, root cause, evidence analysis, impact assessment, and technical remediation recommendations. ***This role can be located in any US based Verizon hub location.***

If you believe this job posting is missing information required by the Virginia wage or salary range transparency law, please report it via [e-mail].

What we're looking for...

You'll need to have:

• Bachelor's degree or four or more years of relevant work experience.

• Six or more years of relevant work experience in digital forensics, network security engineering, or incident response, demonstrated through one or a combination of work and/or military experience, or specialized training.

• Proven track record of operating with complete autonomy, driving complex technical initiatives and major incident command with zero supervision.

• Deep experience with SIEM/data analysis platforms (Splunk, ELK).

• Strong proficiency in forensic acquisition and analysis suites such as EnCase, FTK, Volatility, X-Ways, SANS SIFT, KAPE.

• Hands-on experience authoring and operationalizing YARA/YARA-L rules for binary inspection, memory dumps, and file artifact extraction.

• Expert knowledge of core network protocols (TCP/IP, BGP, OSPF, DNS, TLS, HTTP/S) and network telemetry formats (NetFlow, IPFIX, syslog).

• Proficiency in scripting and automation using Python, PowerShell, or Bash for forensic artifact collection and processing.

Even better if you have one or more of the following:

• Industry-recognized DFIR certifications such as GIAC Network Forensic Analyst (GNFA), GIAC Certified Forensic Analyst (GCFA), GIAC Certified Incident Handler (GCIH), or Certified Computer Examiner (CCE).

• Experience performing forensics on 4G/5G wireless network functions, carrier-grade IP networks, or virtualization platforms (Kubernetes, OpenStack, KVM).

• Knowledge of the MITRE ATT&CK framework and enterprise threat intelligence integration into forensic workflows.

• Effective written, interpersonal, and verbal communication skills with the ability to summarize complex forensic findings for technical and non-technical audiences.

• Ability to work with diverse stakeholders including highly technical engineering teams, business owners, and executives.

• Strong leadership and mentoring abilities, with experience guiding and developing teams.

• Proven track record of managing and delivering results under high-pressure security incident scenarios.

Where you'll be working

In this hybrid role, you'll have a defined work location that includes working from home and a minimum of three days per week in the office, which will be set by your manager. Employees are responsible for maintaining compliance with hybrid work policies.

Scheduled Weekly Hours

40

Equal Employment Opportunity

Verizon is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to veteran status, disability or other legally protected characteristics.

Benefits and Compensation

Our benefits are designed to help you move forward in your career, and in areas of your life outside of Verizon. From health and wellness benefit options including: medical, dental, vision, short and long term disability, basic life insurance, supplemental life insurance, AD&D insurance, identity theft protection, pet insurance and group home & auto insurance. We also offer a matched 401(k) savings plan, up to 8 company paid holidays per year and up to 6 personal days per year, paid parental leave, adoption assistance and tuition assistance, plus other incentives, we've got you covered with our award-winning total rewards package. Depending on the role, employees have the opportunity to receive compensation in the form of premium pay such as overtime, shift differential, holiday pay, allowances, etc. Newly hired employees receive up to 15 days of vacation per year, which grows with additional service. For part-timers, your coverage will vary as you may be eligible for some of these benefits depending on your individual circumstances.

The salary will vary depending on your location and confirmed job-related skills and experience. This is an incentive based position with the potential to earn more. For part-time roles, your compensation will be adjusted to reflect your hours.

The annual salary range for the location(s) listed on this job requisition based on a full-time schedule is: $120,500.00 - $231,000.00.