Principal, Strategy & AI Transformation

Palo Alto Networks, Inc.; Santa Clara (CA); On-site; USD 225,000 - 309,000; Full time

Job summary

Palo Alto Networks is expanding its strategy organization and seeking a Principal for our central strategy and transformation team. In the short-term, this role will focus on scaling and acceleration for strategic, high-growth businesses such as Observability.

This will include working with key executives across product and GTM to design and operationalize highly cross-functional programs. As a key leader, you will collaborate with top executives and cross-functional teams to tackle

Qualifications

• 10+ years with a minimum of 4 years of experience in management consulting, top-tier tech strategy, or business operations roles.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills with the ability to engage senior leadership and bridge business and technical discussions.
• Proven relationship-building and influential leadership skills, with a track record of driving cross-functional alignment.
• Experience in program management and overseeing large-scale transformations.
• Proactive self-starter who excels in fast-paced, high-growth environments.
• Great teammate, willing to passionately roll up their sleeves and work cross-functionally to get things done.

Responsibilities

• Own and drive impactful business outcomes, doing what it takes to 'move the needle' across strategy development, product, and program management.
• Drive transformative change within the organization by collaborating with cross-functional stakeholders to gather insights, co-create deliverables, and drive execution.
• Manage matrix teams effectively, providing coaching and mentoring to team members to achieve business goals.
• Structure and analyze complex business problems, develop hypotheses, and present data-driven recommendations to senior leadership.
• Develop high-quality deliverables for executive-level consumption, including comprehensive business cases and roadmap or execution plans.
• Support strategy and business planning processes while fostering strategic capabilities across the organization.

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!

We believe collaboration thrives in person. That’s why most of our teams work from the office full time, with flexibility when it’s needed. This model supports real-time problem-solving, stronger relationships, and the kind of precision that drives great outcomes.

Job Summary

The Team
The Strategy & Transformation team covers CEO-led initiatives ranging across driving operating efficiencies, margin improvement, revenue acceleration, and other central GTM initiatives. In addition, this team drives enterprise AI initiatives across Palo Alto Networks, embedding AI-native tools and processes into the rhythm of the business.

Job Summary

Palo Alto Networks is expanding its strategy organization and seeking a Principal for our central strategy and transformation team.

In the short-term, this role will focus on scaling and acceleration for strategic, high-growth businesses such as Observability. This will include working with key executives across product and GTM to design and operationalize highly cross-functional programs. In addition, this role will provide support to other corporate strategy and central GTM initiatives. The role is beyond strategy and goes deep into execution to own and drive business outcomes.

As a key leader, you will collaborate with top executives and cross-functional teams (Engineering, Finance, Sales, Operations, IT) to tackle mission-critical business challenges and contribute to our industry-leading growth. This role offers a supportive, dynamic, and meritocratic environment that values innovation, learning, and teamwork. In this role, your contributions will directly impact our strategic success and drive innovation in the constantly evolving security landscape.

Your Impact

• Own and drive impactful business outcomes, doing what it takes to 'move the needle' across strategy development, product, and program management.
• Drive transformative change within the organization by collaborating with cross-functional stakeholders to gather insights, co-create deliverables, and drive execution.
• Manage matrix teams effectively, providing coaching and mentoring to team members to achieve business goals.
• Structure and analyze complex business problems, develop hypotheses, and present data-driven recommendations to senior leadership.
• Develop high-quality deliverables for executive-level consumption, including comprehensive business cases and roadmap or execution plans.
• Support strategy and business planning processes while fostering strategic capabilities across the organization.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• 10+ years with a minimum of 4 years of experience in management consulting, top-tier tech strategy, or business operations roles.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills with the ability to engage senior leadership and bridge business and technical discussions.
• Proven relationship-building and influential leadership skills, with a track record of driving cross-functional alignment.
• Experience in program management and overseeing large-scale transformations.
• Proactive self-starter who excels in fast-paced, high-growth environments.
• Great teammate, willing to passionately roll up their sleeves and work cross-functionally to get things done.

Preferred Qualifications

• Preferred academic credentials include a top-tier MBA or similar qualifications (4+ years post-MBA preferred).
• Management consulting experience from MBB is highly preferred.
• Expertise in the SaaS and/or Enterprise software industry.
• Knowledge of AI/Gen-AI solutions and B2B go-to-market (GTM) strategies is a plus.

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.

$224,900.00 - $308,700.00/yr

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