Sr Business Solutions Analyst

Palo Alto Networks; California (MO); On-site; USD 126,000 - 206,000; Full time

Job summary

Palo Alto Networks is seeking a seasoned lead for sales compensation analytics to shape how we pay and incentivize our global sales force. You will analyze complex compensation systems, propose scalable approaches, and partner across Sales Operations and Compensation Operations to drive alignment with strategic goals.

Using first-principles thinking and AI-assisted tooling, you’ll prototype compensation models, run fiscal year transitions, and help design a robust GTM data strategy with

Qualifications

• Minimum of 8 years of related experience with a Bachelor's degree.
• Strong understanding of sales compensation plans and systems.
• Strategic thinker able to implement first-principles solutions.
• Proven track record on large-scale projects and transitions.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder collaboration.
• Experience with AI-driven coding tools or low-code environments.
• Ability to model compensation logic and test using prototypes.

Responsibilities

• Lead the analysis of advanced sales compensation systems for dynamic strategies.
• Define vision and direction for sales compensation systems aligned with company goals.
• Apply first-principles methods to identify fundamental challenges in sales compensation.
• Collaborate with Sales Operations and Compensation Operations leaders to improve effectiveness.
• Manage fiscal year transitions with precise changes.
• Architect a GTM data strategy for commissions ecosystem with high-fidelity data.
• Create functional prototypes to simulate transitions and plan changes before engineering.

Skills

Sales compensation

First principles

Strategic thinking

Stakeholder collaboration

AI tooling awareness

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree

PhD

Tools

SAP Commissions

Anaplan

Salesforce

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

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the analysis of advanced sales compensation systems that support complex and dynamic sales strategies and provide solutions.
• Participate in defining vision and strategic direction for sales compensation systems, ensuring alignment with the company’s overarching goals.
• Employ a first principles methodology to identify and address fundamental challenges in sales compensation, driving innovation from the ground up.
• Participate and contribute to strategic discussions with Sales Operations and Compensation Operations leaders to ensure our compensation systems enhance organizational effectiveness and efficiency.
• Lead fiscal year transitions with precision, ensuring that changes in compensation structures are seamlessly implemented and well-communicated.
• Help in architecting a comprehensive GTM data strategy for the commissions ecosystem, ensuring high-fidelity datasets that enable automated anomaly detection, predictive payout forecasting, and AI-driven sales performance insights.
• Drive a culture of 'hands-on' validation by translating complex compensation concepts into functional prototypes, allowing for the simulation of fiscal year transitions and plan changes before full-scale engineering commitment.

Qualifications

Required

• Minimum of 8 years of related experience with a Bachelor’s degree; or 6 years and a Master’s degree; or a PhD with 3 years experience.
• Strong understanding of sales compensation plans, systems, and territory planning.
• Demonstrated ability to think strategically and implement solutions based on a first principles approach.
• Proven work experience with large-scale projects and transitions in dynamic environments.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with a demonstrated ability to collaborate across departments and influence stakeholders.
• Experience using AI-driven coding tools or low-code environments to explore data structures and automate repetitive sales-ops workflows.
• Ability to 'see' the logic flow of a commission system and use generative tools to manifest that logic into testable models.

Preferred Qualifications

• MBA or Master's degree in a technical or business-related field.
• Experience with compensation applications, such as SAP Commissions, Anaplan, and Salesforce (SFDC).
• Experience with Agile development methodologies (Scrum/Kanban).
• Proven track record of using LLMs or agentic workflows to accelerate product discovery, data cleaning, or complex formula generation.
• You prefer a functional demo over a 50-page document. You thrive in environments where you can 'build to learn.'
• A drive to design disruptive solutions that treat AI as a core differentiator rather than a 'bolt-on' feature.
• Superlative collaboration skills with the ability to influence at the executive level through clear, data-backed, and prototype-supported narratives.
• Previous experience in a high-growth cybersecurity or SaaS environment.
• Software development or systems engineering background is a significant plus.
• Experience using qualitative and quantitative insights to drive architectural decisions.

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. $126,000.00 - $205,500.00/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