Principal Researcher (Wildfire) - job 1 of 2

Our Mission

At Palo Alto Networks® everything starts and ends with our mission:

Being the cybersecurity partner of choice, protecting our digital way of life.
Our vision is a world where each day is safer and more secure than the one before. We are a company built on the foundation of challenging and disrupting the way things are done, and we’re looking for innovators who are as committed to shaping the future of cybersecurity as we are.

Who We Are

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.

Your Career

We are seeking a security research engineer to join our pioneering security team. This role is for a technical expert passionate about deconstructing complex threats and building the next generation detection systems. You will be responsible for leading our efforts in threat research, which demands strong research and development abilities with a deep background in ML/AI as well as malware analysis. You will also spearhead the design and implementation of innovative security solutions using generative AI, large language models (LLMs), and agentic systems to automate and scale our detection and analysis capabilities, keeping us ahead of sophisticated adversaries.

Your Impact

• AI-Driven Detection & Automation: Lead end-to-end machine learning projects for threat detection. This encompasses defining the model architecture, sourcing and preparing data, building and managing training pipelines, deploying models into production, and monitoring their performance. Design, build, and deploy innovative security solutions leveraging Generative AI and agentic systems. Develop intelligent agents and workflows to automate threat hunting, accelerate malware analysis, and streamline threat intelligence processes.

• Research & Publication: Disseminate cutting-edge research findings and contribute to the security community by publishing results in technical blogs, industry white papers, and academic papers, particularly on topics related to malware analysis and AI for security.

• Collaboration & Communication: Work closely with cross-functional teams, including other security services: threat prevention, internet security and IoT security, endpoint security to integrate and deliver sustainable and quality coverage and defense.

Your Experience 

• BS/MS/PhD degree in Computer Science, Cybersecurity, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.

• 6+ years of experience in a research or engineering role, demonstrated experience in leading machine learning projects in malware domain or detection systems, including a strong understanding of model development, data preprocessing, and deployment.

• Proven experience in the complete software development lifecycle, with proficiency in one or more programming languages (e.g., Python, Go, C++).

• Strong experience in reverse engineering, system security, threat research, malware/code analysis or vulnerability research is a big plus

• A proven track of top tier publications in cybersecurity related areas is a big plus.

• Solid understanding of the threat landscape, including common attack vectors, malware techniques, and threat actor tactics is a plus.

The Team

Our engineering team is at the core of our products – connected directly to the mission of preventing cyberattacks. We are constantly innovating – challenging the way we, and the industry, think about cybersecurity. Our engineers don’t shy away from building products to solve problems no one has pursued before. We define the industry, instead of waiting for directions. We need individuals who feel comfortable in ambiguity, excited by the prospect of a challenge, and empowered by the unknown risks facing our everyday lives that are only enabled by a secure digital environment.

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 between $162,700 - $263,150/YR. The offered compensation may also include restricted stock units and a bonus. A description of our employee benefits may be found here.

Our Commitment

We’re problem solvers that 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  [email protected].

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.