Sr. Product Manager (PAN-OS Product Security and Lifecycle Management)

Palo Alto Networks; Santa Clara (CA); On-site; USD 149,000 - 241,000; Full time

Job summary

Palo Alto Networks is seeking a Sr. Product Manager to define and execute the product security and lifecycle strategy for PAN‑OS—the core operating system powering our NGFWs across physical, virtual, and cloud-delivered forms.

You will drive security and usability for a hands‑on platform owner role, embedding secure‑by‑design principles and leading upgrades, patches, and release governance to strengthen the Strata network security portfolio.

Qualifications

• Strong threat modeling, encryption standards, IAM, and RBAC.
• Experience with Secure-by-Design, SDL practices, and app security tooling.
• Deep knowledge of Linux security hardening (SELinux, secure boot, IMA).
• Familiarity with frontier cybersecurity AI models.

Responsibilities

• Own the Platform Security Roadmap: Drive the security roadmap for the PAN‑OS platform across deployment forms.
• Mitigate Emerging AI Threats: Define defense strategies and roadmaps against existing and emerging vulnerabilities.
• Embed Secure‑by‑Design Principles: Collaborate with cross‑functional engineering and security teams to build security into the product lifecycle.
• Balance Security with Usability: Ensure security controls do not harm usability.
• Lead PAN‑OS Lifecycle Governance: Own upgrade management, version adoption, End‑of‑Life strategies, and metrics.
• Transform the Upgrade and Patching Experience: Streamline patches and upgrades with engineering teams.
• Optimize Reliability & Defect Reduction: Reduce CVEs and ensure seamless upgrades.
• Enhance Operational Experience & Support: Provide telemetry insights to customers and field teams.

Skills

Threat modeling

Encryption standards

IAM

RBAC

Secure-by-design

SDL practices

SAST/DAST

Linux security

AI frontier models

Education

Bachelors or Masters

CS/EE degree

Tools

SAST/DAST tools

Security tooling

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

Palo Alto Networks is seeking a Sr. Product Manager to join our world‑class product management organization. This high‑visibility role will be instrumental in defining and executing both the product security and lifecycle strategy for PAN‑OS, the core operating system that powers our next‑generation firewalls (NGFW) across physical, virtual, and cloud‑delivered form factors.

You will play a pivotal role in radically transforming how customers manage, upgrade, and secure our Strata network security platform. This position is ideal for a hands‑on leader who is passionate about solving complex operational challenges, embedding "secure‑by‑design" principles into platform architecture, and driving the success of our company's platformization journey.

Key Responsibilities

Product Security Strategy & Governance

• Own the Platform Security Roadmap: Drive the comprehensive security roadmap for the PAN‑OS platform across all deployment form factors within the Strata network security portfolio.




• Mitigate Emerging AI Threats: Proactively define defense strategies and product security roadmaps against existing and emerging vulnerabilities, including advanced threats posed by frontier AI models.




• Embed Secure‑by‑Design Principles: Collaborate closely with cross‑functional engineering and central security teams to seamlessly build security into the foundation of the product lifecycle rather than treating it as an afterthought.




• Balance Security with Usability : Champion the critical balance between rigorous defense mechanisms and end‑user experience, ensuring hardened security controls do not compromise operational usability.

Lifecycle Management & Platform Reliability

• Lead PAN‑OS Lifecycle Governance: Own the end‑to‑end lifecycle, including upgrade management, version adoption, End‑of‑Life (EoL) strategies, and core manageability metrics.




• Transform the Upgrade and Patching Experience: Partner with engineering and management software teams (Panorama, Strata Cloud Manager) to streamline, automate, and accelerate patching and software upgrades.




• Optimize Reliability & Defect Reduction: Develop proactive strategies to ensure upgrades are seamless, predictable, and non‑disruptive, directly reducing customer‑found defects and driving down high/critical CVEs.




• Enhance Operational Experience & Support: Implement a "shift-left" approach by providing customers and field teams with tools and telemetry insights that empower them to maintain a healthy, secure fleet and resolve issues faster.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Experience: 5+ years of experience in a highly technical role such as software development, product security, release management, or systems engineering.




• Education: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or equivalent practical experience.

Product Security Domain Expertise

• Core Security Concepts: Strong threat modeling, encryption standards, identity and access management (IAM), and role‑based access control (RBAC).




• Secure Development & Vulnerability Management: Direct experience with Secure‑by‑Design frameworks, Secure Development Lifecycle (SDL) practices, and application security tooling (SAST/DAST).




• Linux Infrastructure: Deep knowledge of Linux system architecture, and security hardening mechanisms such as secure boot, SELinux, and Integrity Measurement Architecture (IMA).




• AI & Frontier Models (Desired): Familiarity or hands‑on experience leveraging or defending against frontier cybersecurity AI models (e.g., Claude Mythos, OpenAI Codex).




• Vulnerability Management : Experience with vulnerability management, severity prioritization, and working with threat researchers.

Lifecycle & Operations Expertise

• Enterprise Operations: Strong operational experience managing large‑scale network appliance systems or enterprise software deployment and upgrade cycles.




• Network Security Architecture: Experience in enterprise networking and firewall technology

Communication & Collaboration

• Proven ability to interface effectively and build consensus across engineering, internal security teams, field organizations, and enterprise customers.




• Strong cross‑functional leadership skills with a track record of driving alignment on highly technical product decisions.

Preferred Qualifications

• Current/prior product management experience is highly desirable.




• Strong conceptual understanding of PAN‑OS NGFW architectures is a significant advantage.

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 (https://benefits.paloaltonetworks.com/) .

$148,700.00 - $240,525.00/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