Principal Consultant

Job Description

Your Career

The Principal Consultant on the Offensive Security team is focused on assessing and challenging the security posture across a comprehensive portfolio of clients. The individual will utilize a variety of tools developed and act as a key team member and leader in client engagements. They will be the client’s advocate for cybersecurity best practices and will provide strong recommendations in this domain. 

Your Impact

• Assist in the development of internal infrastructure design for research, development, and testing focused on offensive security
• Conducts periodic scans of networks to find and detect vulnerabilities
• Performs client penetration testing to find any vulnerabilities or weaknesses that might be exploited by a malicious party, using open-source, custom, and commercial testing tools
• Ability to assist in scoping engagements by clearly articulating various penetration approaches and methodologies to audiences ranging from highly technical to executive personnel
• Report generation that clearly communicates testing and assessment details, results, and remediation recommendations to clients
• Develop scripts, tools, and methodologies to automate and streamline internal processes and engagements
• Conducts IT application testing, cybersecurity tool and systems analysis, system and network administration, and systems engineering support for the sustainment of information technology systems. (mobile application testing, penetration testing, application, security, and hardware testing)
• Conduct threat hunting and/or compromise assessment engagements to identify active or dormant indicators of compromise (IoCs) using Unit 42 and Palo Alto Networks’ threat hunting tools (and/or client owned hunting instrumentation where applicable)
• Assist Unit 42 Leadership in the development of security standards and best practices for the organization and recommend security enhancements as needed
• Able to conduct cyber risk assessments using frameworks or standards like NIST CSF, ISO 27001/2, PCI, CIS Top 20, CMMC, or other industry measurement tools
• Conduct cloud penetration testing engagements to assess specific workloads (i.e., AWS, GCP, Azure, containers, or other PaaS and SaaS instances) for vulnerabilities and subsequently attempt to exploit identified weaknesses after receiving permission from client stakeholders  
• Provide recommendations to clients on specific security measures to monitor and protect sensitive data and systems from infiltration and cyber-attacks including response and recovery of a data security breach
• Ability to perform travel requirements as needed to meet business demands (on average 30%)

Qualifications

Your Experience 

• 6+ years of professional experience in an offensive security role, resulting in subject matter expertise in at least three core service offerings - network penetration testing, phishing, web application penetration testing, red team exercises, physical penetration tests, source code analysis, wireless penetration testing
• Experience managing a team of consultants
• Demonstrate a deep understanding of how malicious software works (i.e.-malware, trojans, rootkits, etc.)
• Ability to modify known and/or craft custom exploits in a manner that evades detection from prominent EDRs
• Strong knowledge of tools and techniques used to conduct network, wireless, and web application penetration testing
• Familiarity with web application penetration testing and code auditing to find security gaps and vulnerabilities
• Knowledge and experience in conducting cyber risk assessments using industry standards
• Experience with penetration testing, administering, and troubleshooting major flavors of Linux, Windows, and major cloud IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS providers (i.e., AWS, GCP, and Azure)
• Experience with scripting and editing existing code and programming using one or more of the following - Perl, Python, ruby, bash, C/C++, C#, or Java
• Experience with industry standard tools, including Nessus, OpenVAS, Mythic, Metasploit, Burp Suite Pro, Cobalt Strike, and Bloodhound
• Knowledge of application, database, and web server design and implementation
• Knowledge of network vulnerability assessments, web and cloud application security testing, network penetration testing, red teaming, security operations, or 'hunt'
• Knowledge of open security testing standards and projects, including OWASP & MITRE ATT&CK
• Ability to scope new opportunities with prospective clients, including drafting statements of work and proposals
• Identified ability to grow into a valuable contributor, specifically
  • have an external presence via public speaking, conferences, and/or publications
  • have credibility, executive presence, and gravitas
  • be able to have a meaningful and rapid delivery contribution
  • have the potential and capacity to understand all aspects of the business and an excellent understanding of PANW products
  • be collaborative and able to build relationships internally, externally, and across all PANW functions, including the sales team
• Bachelor’s Degree in Information Security, Computer Science, Digital Forensics, Cyber Security, or equivalent years of professional experience or equivalent military experience to meet job requirements and expectations

• Mandatory DoD Security Clearance Requirements

• This position requires an active DoD clearance at the Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) level; Counterintelligence Scope Polygraph preferred but not required

• Mandatory Location and Onsite Support Requirements

• All applicants must live near a major US military installation to facilitate support for an ongoing DoD contract; close proximity to Fort Meade is preferred.  Any proposed military installation other than Fort Meade shall be subjected to approval by our client.  Questions regarding approved locations can be coordinated with either the PANW recruiter or Unit 42 interviewers during the early phases of a candidate’s evaluation process. 
• The candidate will be required to work onsite within a classified workspace at a US military installation for the first year of employment.  Continued onsite work may be required in response to client requirements or contract renewal.