Apprentice Computer Forensics Analyst Jobs in California

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
In 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 Summary
Job Summary
The Principal Consultant, Reactive Services is a senior individual contributor role within Unit 42 responsible for delivering expert-level incident response and digital forensics services to clients across a wide range of industries and environments.
In this role, you will act as a technical leader on active investigations, partnering with Consulting Directors and engagement teams to respond to complex cybersecurity incidents. You will lead technical workstreams, conduct advanced forensic analysis, and provide actionable guidance to help organizations investigate, contain, and recover from security breaches.
This position is ideal for a seasoned DFIR practitioner who thrives in fast-paced incident response environments and is passionate about solving complex technical problems while working directly with clients during critical security events.
Key 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.
Qualifications
Required Qualifications
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.
Preferred Qualifications
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.
Compensation Disclosure
The 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.
$151,000.00 - $208,000.00/yr
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.