Principal Researcher
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
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.
Job Description
Your CareerAre you fascinated by how AI and automation are fundamentally changing the way software is built? We are witnessing a shift where code is prompted and orchestrated by autonomous agents, and where the engineering environment itself has become a high-value target. We are looking for a visionary Senior Application Security Researcher to join an elite team tasked with redefining security for this new era of development.In this role, you will be the architect of trust across the entire software lifecycle. Your mission is to research and mitigate the risks that arise when human creativity meets agentic automation. You'll dive deep into securing the core of modern engineering-from protecting the developer's workstation and IDE against malicious extensions to ensuring the absolute integrity of the software supply chain. This is your chance to lead high-impact research that secures the future of development, from the first prompt in the IDE to the final production build.Your ImpactPioneer AI-native security strategies to ensure that the new "vibe coding" frontier results in software that is architected securely from the very first prompt.Identify and mitigate novel attack vectors targeting coding agents and autonomous development workflows, staying steps ahead of adversaries exploiting LLM integrations.Evolve traditional code vulnerabilities from a "list of findings" into proactive, self-healing workflows that fix issues before they ever reach a pull request.Conduct deep-dive research into software supply chain vulnerabilities, ranging from CI/CD pipeline risks to the provenance of AI-suggested dependencies.Collaborate closely with Product and Engineering teams to bake your research findings directly into the platform's core detection and remediation logic.Establish yourself as a thought leader by publishing original research, writing influential blog posts, and representing the team at major global security conferences.
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Qualifications (Additional Job Description)
Your Experience 4+ years of professional experience in application security research with a deep focus on the security of modern software architectures and development lifecycles.Strong understanding of fundamental code-level weaknesses and the ability to identify common patterns of insecure coding that lead to recurring risks.Deep knowledge of third-party ecosystem risks, including known vulnerabilities and the detection of compromised or malicious packages.Experience analyzing threats targeting the modern developer's workstation and environment, such as malicious IDE extensions and agentic plugin ecosystems.Deep understanding of modern engineering environments, including CI/CD pipelines and cloud-native development methodologies.Practical experience in both offensive and defensive security, allowing you to anticipate attacker behavior and translate it into robust defenses.A proactive problem-solver who can navigate the fast-moving AI security landscape and translate complex research into practical features for our product.AdvantagesPrevious experience in a security product company, with a strong understanding of how to translate security research into scalable product features and detection logic.Experience with big data platforms (e.g., GCP BigQuery, AWS Athena)Proficiency in multiple languages (e.g., Python, Go, JavaScript) and an understanding of how their specific security pitfalls manifest in AI-generated code and automated workflows.A portfolio of public-facing work, such as CVEs, whitepapers, open-source security tools, or recorded conference talks.
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.
Perks and Benefits
Health and Wellness
- Health Insurance
- Dental Insurance
- Vision Insurance
- FSA
- HSA
- HSA With Employer Contribution
- Life Insurance
- Short-Term Disability
- Long-Term Disability
- Fitness Subsidies
- On-Site Gym
- Pet Insurance
- Mental Health Benefits
- Virtual Fitness Classes
Parental Benefits
- Fertility Benefits
- Adoption Assistance Program
- Family Support Resources
- Birth Parent or Maternity Leave
- Non-Birth Parent or Paternity Leave
- Adoption Leave
Work Flexibility
- Flexible Work Hours
- Remote Work Opportunities
- Hybrid Work Opportunities
- Work-From-Home Stipend
Office Life and Perks
- Commuter Benefits Program
- Casual Dress
- Happy Hours
- Snacks
- On-Site Cafeteria
- Holiday Events
Vacation and Time Off
- Paid Vacation
- Unlimited Paid Time Off
- Paid Holidays
- Personal/Sick Days
- Leave of Absence
- Volunteer Time Off
Financial and Retirement
- 401(K)
- 401(K) With Company Matching
- Company Equity
- Stock Purchase Program
- Performance Bonus
- Relocation Assistance
Professional Development
- Promote From Within
- Mentor Program
- Access to Online Courses
- Leadership Training Program
- Tuition Reimbursement
- Lunch and Learns
- Internship Program
- Professional Coaching
- Work Visa Sponsorship
Diversity and Inclusion
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Program
- Employee Resource Groups (ERG)
- Founder led
- Veteran founded/led
- Asian founded/led
Company Videos
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