Staff Research Analyst (Vulnerability Research Team)

Palo Alto Networks • Santa Clara, CA

2d

About The Position

The Cortex Exposure Management Scanning team is expanding, and we’re looking for a Staff Research Analyst to join us. In this role, you will contribute to making the internet a safer place by building the software that gives customers visibility into their attack surface. You will help them prioritize and remediate critical vulnerabilities using the XSIAM platform, directly impacting their security posture.

Requirements

• Experience in vulnerability management, security research, or penetration testing.
• Developing knowledge of TCP/IP and standard networking protocols, with experience applying these concepts in network vulnerability scanning.
• Familiarity with common open-source security software such as Nuclei, OpenVAS, or Nmap.
• Familiarity with conducting vulnerability assessments on operating systems (Windows, Linux, macOS) using agent-based and network-based scanning tools.
• Knowledge of cybersecurity frameworks and vulnerability methodologies (e.g., CVSS, CWE).

Nice To Haves

• Proficiency in Python and familiarity with or eagerness to learn Java, Golang, C/C++, or Rust.
• Hands-on experience configuring and troubleshooting enterprise vulnerability-management platforms (e.g., Nessus, Qualys, Tenable, Rapid7).
• Experience contributing to public vulnerability research, submitting CVEs, or creating proof-of-concept exploits.
• Experience using cloud managed services (ideally in GCP) and distributed data stores (e.g., BigQuery, BigTable).
• Cybersecurity certifications such as OSCP, GPEN, Pentest+ or a willingness to obtain them.

Responsibilities

• Conduct vulnerability assessment research and testing, enhance automation, and ensure a smooth workflow for identifying, validating, and mitigating customer security risks.
• Develop and maintain a comprehensive, industry-leading repository of vulnerability content for network and endpoint-based scanners.
• Analyze existing solutions to identify barriers to quality, recommend changes, and implement improvements to enhance detection and mitigation strategies.
• Proactively collaborate with cross-functional teams to solve problems, reduce technical debt, and evolve development practices.
• Participate in architecture discussions, contributing to the design of solutions that meet the needs of different Cortex teams.
• Drive technical best practices and evangelize new technologies within the engineering organization.
• Contribute to project execution, help move initiatives forward, and assist with production support as needed.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees