Consultant, DFIR, Reactive Services (Unit 42)

Our MissionAt 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 AreIn 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!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 SummaryThe Consultant, Reactive Services is an individual contributor role within Unit 42, responsible for supporting digital forensics and incident response engagements across a wide range of client environments.In this role, you will work alongside Senior Consultants, Principal Consultants, and Consulting Directors to investigate cybersecurity incidents, perform forensic analysis, and help organizations respond to and recover from security events. You will contribute technical expertise during active investigations while continuing to build advanced DFIR capabilities in fast-paced client environments.This position is ideal for a DFIR practitioner who enjoys hands-on technical investigations, problem-solving, and working directly with clients during high-impact cybersecurity incidents.Key ResponsibilitiesSupport and execute digital forensics and incident response investigations across enterprise environments.Conduct forensic analysis of endpoints, systems, logs, and cloud environments to identify attacker activity and scope of compromise.Assist with host, network, and cloud investigations during active security incidents.Perform forensic acquisition and preservation of evidence following industry best practices and chain-of-custody procedures.Utilize industry-standard DFIR tools and methodologies to investigate malicious activity and support containment efforts.Collaborate with senior consultants and engagement teams to deliver high-quality client outcomes during incident response engagements.Document technical findings, timelines, and investigative results for both internal and client-facing reporting.Provide remediation recommendations and support clients throughout the incident response lifecycle.Maintain awareness of emerging threats, attacker techniques, and evolving cybersecurity trends.Support the development of internal DFIR processes, playbooks, and knowledge sharing initiatives within the Unit 42 team.Qualifications Required QualificationsBachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Security, or related field, or equivalent practical experience.3–5 years of hands-on experience in digital forensics and incident response (DFIR), security operations, SOC, or related cybersecurity disciplines.Experience supporting investigations involving ransomware, intrusion activity, phishing, malware, or unauthorized access incidents.Foundational understanding of forensic methodologies, evidence handling, acquisition techniques, and chain-of-custody procedures.Hands-on experience with DFIR tooling such as EnCase, FTK, SleuthKit, Volatility, or equivalent forensic frameworks.Experience working across major operating systems including Microsoft Windows, Linux, and macOS.Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to work through technical investigations in high-pressure environments.Ability to communicate technical findings clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.Experience working collaboratively within incident response or security operations teams.Preferred QualificationsExperience supporting enterprise incident response investigations across cloud or hybrid environments.Familiarity with attacker behaviors and frameworks such as MITRE ATT&CK.Exposure to malware analysis, threat hunting, or endpoint investigations.Background working within consulting, managed security services, MDR, or incident response-focused organizations.Industry certifications such as GCIH, GCFA, GCFE, Security+, CISSP, or similar.Strong written and verbal communication skills.Willingness to travel up to 20% as needed to support client engagementsCompensation DisclosureThe 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 here.$102,000.00 - $139,500.00/yrOur 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 View email address on click.appcast.io 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.SummaryLocation: Santa Clara, United States of AmericaType: Full time