Staff Security Researcher

Palo Alto Networks; California; On-site; USD 113,000 - 183,000; Full time

Job summary

Palo Alto Networks is seeking a Sr. Staff Researcher to join our Cloud-Delivered Security Services team in the United States.

You will develop and refine security content powering next-gen products, building automation for real-time data processing and collaborating with researchers to analyze threats. You will apply AI/ML methods, analyze network traffic for threat detection, and contribute to malware prevention.

Qualifications

• PhD required with 3-5 years of experience.
• Strong understanding of malware types and vulnerabilities.
• Familiarity with HTTP, SMTP, and FTP protocols.
• Proficiency in Python or Go.

Responsibilities

• Design and optimize automation systems for real-time data collection and processing.
• Apply AI/ML techniques to analyze network traffic for threat detection.
• Research network security countermeasures to mitigate attacks.
• Collaborate with researchers to enhance protections in products.
• Learn about next-gen firewalls and their role in security.
• Translate threat findings into security solutions within the product ecosystem.

Skills

Python

Go

Network security

Education

PhD

Tools

Wireshark

tcpdump

TensorFlow

PyTorch

Scikit-Learn

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

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.
• Continuously learn and apply knowledge of next-generation firewalls and their role in modern network security.
• Translate threat research findings into tangible security solutions and protections within our product ecosystem.

Qualifications – Required

• PhD with 3-5 years of experience.
• Basic understanding of malware types (e.g., Spyware, Ransomware, Exploits) and popular vulnerabilities (e.g., command injection, buffer overflow).
• Strong familiarity with key network protocols such as HTTP, SMTP, and FTP.
• Proficiency in at least one programming language, such as Python or Go.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with ML/GenAI techniques (e.g., anomaly detection, deep learning, NLP) and tools (e.g., TensorFlow, PyTorch, Scikit-Learn).
• 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.

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/commissioned 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.

$113,000.00 - $182,700.00/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?

No. Please note that we will not sponsor applicants for work visas for this position. Please use this form to provide us with information that will help direct your request and find your data in all of our systems.