Principal Threat Researcher (Remote)

<h1>Principal Threat Researcher (Unit 42) - Remote</h1><p><strong>Location:</strong> Reston, United States of America</p><p><strong>Remote Type:</strong> Yes</p><p><strong>Time Type:</strong> Full time</p><h3>Job Description</h3><p><b>Our Mission</b></p><p></p><p>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.</p><p></p><p><b>Who We Are</b></p><p></p><p>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!</p><p></p>This role is remote, but distance is no barrier to impact. Our hybrid teams collaborate across geographies to solve big problems, stay close to our customers, and grow together. You will be part of a culture that values trust, accountability, and shared success where your work truly matters.<p></p><p><b>Job Summary</b></p><p></p><p><span>As a Principal Threat Researcher within the Unit 42 National Security (NATSEC) team, you will leverage expert-level domain knowledge across nation-state Advanced Persistent Threats, cybercrime, and emerging threat landscapes. Operating as an independent self-starter, you will take full ownership of high-level tasking, complete priority research gaps, and drive custom intelligence research. You will be responsible for tracking global adversary trends, resolving RFIs, and embedding actionable findings to protect national security missions. Furthermore, you will deliver rapid-turnaround threat analysis during high-visibility cyber events and mentor junior analysts to influence broader company initiatives.</span></p><br /><p><span><b>Key Responsibilities</b></span></p><ul><li><span>Collect, correlate, and analyze threat data from disparate global datasets into a cohesive intelligence story.</span></li><li><span>Lead threat research initiatives independently by designing, developing, and maintaining tools and workflows.</span></li><li><span>Simplify complex technical findings into clear, tailored assessments for national security stakeholders.</span></li><li><span>Perform pivot analysis across closed and open-source datasets to map C2 infrastructure and identify TTPs.</span></li><li><span>Deliver rapid-turnaround threat analysis and technical feedback during major cyber events and urgent customer RFIs.</span></li><li><span>Partner closely with internal research teams, product engineering, consulting, and sales to drive strategic alignment.</span></li></ul><p></p><p><b>Qualifications </b></p><p><span><b>Required Qualifications</b></span></p><ul><li><span>Minimum of 7 years of experience in threat intelligence focused on ransomware, nation-state, cybercrime, and supply-chain risks.</span></li><li><span>Expert understanding of the adversary’s attack lifecycle, TTPs, and high-fidelity indicators of compromise.</span></li><li><span>Experience with data analysis tools, including passive DNS, network infrastructure analysis, and host-based information analysis.</span></li><li><span>Knowledge of scripting languages to facilitate data collection and analysis.</span></li><li><span>Proven ability to lead tasks and projects independently while providing recommendations for process improvement.</span></li><li><span>Strong problem-solving skills to navigate complex and ambiguous situations effectively.</span></li><li><span>Excellent verbal and written communication skills with a proven track record of collaborating across all organizational levels.</span></li></ul><br /><p><span><b>Preferred Qualifications</b></span></p><ul><li><span>Experience serving as a mentor, team lead, or technical reviewer for technical research outputs.</span></li><li><span>Ability to interpret and act on internal and external intelligence reports.</span></li><li><span>Ability to conduct research on the dark web with appropriate levels of OpSec.</span></li><li><span>Familiarity with static and dynamic malware analysis tools.</span></li><li><span>Prior experience working within or alongside government agencies or fusion centers.</span></li><li><span>Experienced public speaker at large industry conferences.</span></li><li><span>Comfortable collaborating and working effectively within a fully remote team environment.</span></li><li><span>Ability to adapt to changes in a growing team and prioritize work based on project needs and deadlines.</span></li></ul><p></p><p><b>Compensation Disclosure</b></p><p></p><p>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 <a><span><u>here</u></span></a>.</p><p></p>$172,100.00 - $278,300.00/yr<p></p><p><b>Our Commitment </b></p><p></p><p>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.</p><p></p><p>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 <a><span><u>accommodations@paloaltonetworks.com</u></span></a>.</p><p></p><p>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.</p><p></p><p>All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.</p><p></p>Is role eligible for Immigration Sponsorship? No. Please note that we will not sponsor applicants for work visas for this position.<p><span><span> </span></span></p><p><span><span><span></span> </span></span></p>

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Common Interview Questions And Answers

1. HOW DO YOU PLAN YOUR DAY?

This is what this question poses: When do you focus and start working seriously? What are the hours you work optimally? Are you a night owl? A morning bird? Remote teams can be made up of people working on different shifts and around the world, so you won't necessarily be stuck in the 9-5 schedule if it's not for you...

2. HOW DO YOU USE THE DIFFERENT COMMUNICATION TOOLS IN DIFFERENT SITUATIONS?

When you're working on a remote team, there's no way to chat in the hallway between meetings or catch up on the latest project during an office carpool. Therefore, virtual communication will be absolutely essential to get your work done...

3. WHAT IS "WORKING REMOTE" REALLY FOR YOU?

Many people want to work remotely because of the flexibility it allows. You can work anywhere and at any time of the day...

4. WHAT DO YOU NEED IN YOUR PHYSICAL WORKSPACE TO SUCCEED IN YOUR WORK?

With this question, companies are looking to see what equipment they may need to provide you with and to verify how aware you are of what remote working could mean for you physically and logistically...

5. HOW DO YOU PROCESS INFORMATION?

Several years ago, I was working in a team to plan a big event. My supervisor made us all work as a team before the big day. One of our activities has been to find out how each of us processes information...

6. HOW DO YOU MANAGE THE CALENDAR AND THE PROGRAM? WHICH APPLICATIONS / SYSTEM DO YOU USE?

Or you may receive even more specific questions, such as: What's on your calendar? Do you plan blocks of time to do certain types of work? Do you have an open calendar that everyone can see?...

7. HOW DO YOU ORGANIZE FILES, LINKS, AND TABS ON YOUR COMPUTER?

Just like your schedule, how you track files and other information is very important. After all, everything is digital!...

8. HOW TO PRIORITIZE WORK?

The day I watched Marie Forleo's film separating the important from the urgent, my life changed. Not all remote jobs start fast, but most of them are...

9. HOW DO YOU PREPARE FOR A MEETING AND PREPARE A MEETING? WHAT DO YOU SEE HAPPENING DURING THE MEETING?

Just as communication is essential when working remotely, so is organization. Because you won't have those opportunities in the elevator or a casual conversation in the lunchroom, you should take advantage of the little time you have in a video or phone conference...

10. HOW DO YOU USE TECHNOLOGY ON A DAILY BASIS, IN YOUR WORK AND FOR YOUR PLEASURE?

This is a great question because it shows your comfort level with technology, which is very important for a remote worker because you will be working with technology over time...

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