[Remote] Principal Consultant, DFIR, Reactive Services (Unit 42) - Remote

Note: The job is a remote job and is open to candidates in USA. Palo Alto Networks is committed to protecting our digital way of life through innovative cybersecurity solutions. The Principal Consultant, Reactive Services role within Unit 42 involves delivering expert-level incident response and digital forensics services, acting as a technical leader on investigations, and providing guidance to organizations during security breaches.

Responsibilities

• Lead and execute digital forensics and incident response investigations across enterprise environments
• Serve as a technical lead on incident response engagements, guiding investigative strategy and forensic analysis
• Conduct advanced host, network, and cloud investigations to identify root cause, attacker behavior, and scope of compromise
• Perform forensic acquisition and analysis of systems, memory, logs, and endpoint telemetry
• Utilize industry-standard DFIR tooling and methodologies to analyze malicious activity and support incident containment
• Collaborate with Consulting Directors and cross-functional teams to deliver high-quality client outcomes during security incidents
• Provide clear technical findings and remediation guidance to clients and internal stakeholders
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of emerging threats, attacker techniques, and the evolving threat landscape
• Support development of incident response playbooks, tools, and methodologies to improve investigation efficiency
• Contribute to knowledge sharing and mentorship within the Unit 42 DFIR team

Skills

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Security, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience
• 6–8 years of hands-on experience in digital forensics and incident response (DFIR), security operations, or related cybersecurity disciplines
• Demonstrated experience investigating enterprise-scale cybersecurity incidents, including ransomware, intrusion activity, or advanced persistent threats
• Strong understanding of forensic methodologies, including evidence handling, acquisition techniques, and chain-of-custody procedures
• Hands-on experience with industry-standard DFIR tools such as EnCase, FTK, SleuthKit, Volatility, or equivalent forensic frameworks
• Operational experience investigating systems across major operating systems, including Microsoft Windows, Linux, and macOS
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to investigate complex technical environments under pressure
• Experience working directly with clients or internal stakeholders during security incidents
• Experience responding to large-scale enterprise security incidents across cloud and hybrid environments
• Knowledge of attacker techniques aligned with MITRE ATT&CK
• Experience performing malware triage or reverse engineering
• Background working in consulting, incident response firms, or managed detection and response environments
• Industry certifications such as GCFA, GCFE, GCIH, CISSP, or similar
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to translate technical findings into actionable recommendations
• Willingness to travel up to 20% as required to support client engagements

Benefits

• The offered compensation may also include restricted stock units and a bonus.
• A description of our employee benefits may be found [here](https://benefits.paloaltonetworks.com/).

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