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

The Team

As the intelligence engine behind our Next-Generation Security platform, Palo Alto Networks’ Cloud-Delivered Security Services (CDSS) drives global cybersecurity initiatives on a massive scale. Joining the CDSS team means contributing to a foundational security backbone that very few organizations worldwide can match. Directly tied to our mission of thwarting cyber threats, our research division serves as the core of our product ecosystem. We continuously push boundaries, redefining traditional security concepts and proactively establishing industry standards rather than following them. Our researchers embrace uncharted territory, developing novel solutions for unprecedented challenges. We are looking for talented professionals who thrive in ambiguous environments, welcome complex problem-solving, and feel inspired to mitigate the hidden risks of our digital landscape by ensuring a robust, secure environment.

Job Summary

Our core CASB research team is seeking a motivated and technically skilled Staff Research Engineer. In this position, you will drive global impact by defending against cyberattacks and partnering with seasoned engineers on initiatives that provide direct, hands-on experience with our Strata, Prisma, and Cortex portfolios.

Key Responsibilities

Core Responsibilities & Research Leadership

• Perform deep-dive research into SaaS applications to forge innovative data security solutions.
• Spearhead the creation of cutting-edge solutions aimed at protecting data within SaaS environments.
• Take charge of and independently execute self-directed security research initiatives.
• Investigate network security countermeasures extensively to identify and neutralize sophisticated cyber threats.

Automation, AI & Systems Engineering

• Engineer, construct, and refine automation systems for real-time data ingestion and processing to empower threat detection.
• Utilize advanced AI/ML techniques, such as deep learning and anomaly detection, to scrutinize live network traffic for threat mitigation.
• Build tools and automations designed to optimize operations and optimize research workflows.

Collaboration & Product Integration

• Partner with an exceptional research team to develop high-quality, complex systems, bringing a passion for data and AI-driven security.
• Convert threat research discoveries into concrete protections and security solutions across our product catalog.
• Work collaboratively with peer security researchers to evaluate adversary activity and deploy robust, proactive safety measures.
• Engage constructively with cross-functional business groups and convey research insights clearly via presentations and technical documents.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Experience: 2 - 4 years of hands-on experience in network security.
• Deep understanding of network protocols alongside SaaS application infrastructure.
• Highly adept at analyzing network traffic using industry tools such as Wireshark and Fiddler.
• Strong scripting and programming expertise, particularly in languages like Python or JavaScript.
• Proven capability in engineering data pipelines and developing automation workflows.
• Demonstrated success in leading independent, self-driven security research projects.
• Up-to-date awareness of emerging cybersecurity threats and industry trends.
• Excellent analytical mindset, strong problem-solving aptitude, and a genuine passion for pioneering innovation.
• Outstanding communication capabilities alongside strong presentation skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Cloud Platforms: Direct experience deploying or managing infrastructure within AWS, GCP, Azure, or OCI.
• AI & Machine Learning: Strong familiarity with artificial intelligence, machine learning concepts, and modern cloud architectures.
• AI Tooling Proficiency: Capability to utilize LLM and AI development assistants to optimize automation scripting and log analysis workflows.
• Front-End Expertise: A foundational background in front-end development is highly beneficial.

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 accommodations@paloaltonetworks.com.

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.