Principal Engineer Network Forensics & Incident Response

verizon; Southlake (TX); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Verizon is seeking a Principal Engineer for the Security Defense organization to lead DFIR initiatives across core, edge, and access networks. This role involves autonomous incident response leadership, developing advanced forensic capabilities, and guiding cross-functional teams through major security events.

The candidate will own forensic investigations, architect cloud-native DFIR pipelines, and deliver high-impact, timely remediation strategies with executive-level coordination.

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 driving complex technical initiatives.
• Deep experience with SIEM platforms (Splunk, ELK).
• Proficiency in forensic acquisition and analysis suites (EnCase, FTK, Volatility, X-Ways).
• Hands-on experience authoring and operationalizing YARA rules for artifact extraction.
• Expert knowledge of core network protocols (TCP/IP, BGP, OSPF, DNS, TLS, HTTP/S) and telemetry formats.
• Proficiency in scripting/automation using Python, PowerShell, or Bash.

Responsibilities

• Autonomous DFIR leadership across Core, Edge, and virtualized network infrastructure.
• Executive incident command during major security events with cross-functional coordination.
• Network telemetry analysis using PCAP, NetFlow/IPFIX, firewalls, and device logs.
• Developing and maintaining forensic tooling and automation pipelines.
• Creating and refining DFIR playbooks and runbooks for high-impact incidents.
• Producing detailed forensic investigation reports with timelines and remediation recommendations.

Skills

DFIR leadership

Executive incident command

Network security

Scripting & automation

TCP/IP knowledge

Python

PowerShell

Bash

Education

Bachelor's degree or 4+ years experience

Tools

Splunk

ELK

EnCase

FTK

Volatility

X-Ways

SANS SIFT

KAPE

YARA

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.

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.***

What we're looking for...

• 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/daten analysis platforms (Splunk, ELK).
• Strong proficiency in forensic acquisition and analysis suites such as EnCase, FTK, Volatility, X-Ways, SANS SIFT, KAPE.
• Hands‑… 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 p