Sr. Staff Security Researcher

Palo Alto Networks; Santa Clara (CA); On-site; USD 139,600 - 225,775; Full time

Job summary

Palo Alto Networks is seeking a passionate Sr. Staff Researcher to join our Cloud-Delivered Security Services team. This role involves developing security content for next-generation products and optimizing automation systems for real-time data processing.

The ideal candidate will have a strong research background, with proficiency in programming and a solid understanding of cybersecurity. The position offers competitive compensation and opportunities within a diverse team.

Qualifications

• 3-5 years of experience in research and security.
• Basic understanding of malware types and popular vulnerabilities.
• Strong engineering and coding skills.
• In-depth cybersecurity background.

Responsibilities

• Design and optimize automation systems for threat detection.
• Apply ML methods to analyze network traffic.
• Conduct research on network security countermeasures.
• Collaborate with researchers to analyze adversarial activities.
• Translate research findings into security solutions.

Skills

Research skills

Communication skills

Programming (Python or Go)

ML/GenAI techniques

Traffic analysis tools

Education

MS and/or PhD

Tools

TensorFlow

Wireshark

tcpdump

Job description

Overview

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. 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

We are seeking a passionate and self-driven Sr. Staff Researcher to join our Cloud-Delivered Security Services team. In this role, you will be pivotal in developing and refining the security content that powers our next-generation products. You will build and optimize automation systems to process real-time data, collaborate with experienced researchers to analyze emerging threats, and contribute directly to the detection and prevention of malware and other digital threats.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, build, and optimize automation systems for real-time data collection and processing to support threat detection.
• Apply advanced AI/ML methods, including anomaly detection and deep learning, to analyze real network traffic for threat detection and mitigation.
• Conduct in-depth research on network security countermeasures to identify and mitigate sophisticated cyber attacks.
• Proactively collaborate with fellow security researchers to analyze adversarial activities and implement robust, proactive protections.
• Build high-quality, complex systems as part of an incredible research team — creative thinker and team player with a passion for data-driven and AI-driven security research.
• Translate threat research findings into tangible security solutions and protections within our product ecosystem.

Qualifications

• Required Qualifications
• MS and/or PhD with 3-5 years of experience
• Strong research, communication, and presentational skills
• Basic understanding of malware types (e.g., phishing, spyware, ransomware, exploits) and popular vulnerabilities (e.g., command injection, buffer overflow)
• Strong familiarity with key network protocols such as HTTP, SMTP, DNS, TCP/IP, and FTP
• Proficiency in at least one programming language, such as Python or Go
• Strong engineering and coding skills, ability to fastly learn and adapt to new programming languages and technologies
• In-depth cybersecurity background, ideally with expertise in detecting security threats over the Internet

• Preferred Qualifications
• Experience with ML/GenAI techniques (e.g., anomaly detection, deep learning, NLP), tools (TensorFlow, PyTorch, Scikit-Learn) and training/testing workflows
• Practical exposure to malware analysis and Capture-the-Flag (CTF) exercises
• Hands-on experience with traffic analysis tools (e.g., Wireshark, tcpdump) and reverse engineering tools
• Prior work experience in early-stage, fast-growth startups is a plus
• Hands-on experience on open source projects is a plus
• Experience with malware traffic analysis, signature mining, sandboxing is a plus
• Experience with crawling infrastructures and security scanners is a plus
• Experience with email or browser security is a plus

Compensation

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.

$139,600.00 - $225,775.00/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? No. Please note that we will not sponsor applicants for work visas for this position.