Principal Consultant Penetration Testing Unit 42

Principal Consultant, Penetration Testing, Unit 42

Palo Alto Networks is seeking a Principal Consultant, Penetration Testing, to join the Unit 42 team in Riyadh. This full-time role involves leading offensive security engagements and challenging the security posture of diverse clients. The position requires 6-10 years of professional experience in information security, with a focus on penetration testing and vulnerability assessments.

About Unit 42

Unit 42 is Palo Alto Networks' global threat intelligence team, dedicated to providing customers with context, analysis, and assistance to protect against sophisticated cyber threats. The team consists of security researchers, incident responders, and security consultants who focus on researching and hunting for the latest threats, delivering intelligence to customers and the broader community.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead comprehensive penetration tests across various environments, including network, web application, cloud, and mobile, to identify and exploit vulnerabilities.
• Deliver assessments using Palo Alto Networks Frontier AI Defense test harnesses and platforms, leveraging the latest frontier models.
• Develop custom scripts, tools, and methodologies to automate and enhance offensive security engagements and internal processes.
• Lead client engagements, clearly articulating testing approaches and methodologies to both technical and executive audiences.
• Generate detailed reports that communicate test results, identified risks, and concrete remediation recommendations to clients.
• Collaborate proactively with internal teams and clients to ensure alignment and achieve shared security objectives.
• Lead in scoping new opportunities and developing internal infrastructure for offensive security research and development.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree in Information Security, Computer Science, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• A minimum of 6 years of professional experience in information security, with a focus on penetration testing and vulnerability assessments.
• Expertise with security assessment tools such as Metasploit, Burp Suite Pro, Cobalt Strike, Nessus, and Bloodhound.
• Proficiency in scripting or programming with languages like Python, PowerShell, Ruby, or C++.
• Demonstrated experience in conducting penetration tests across various environments, including Windows, Linux, and cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, Azure).

Work Environment

This role is based in Riyadh and requires the ability to travel as needed to meet business demands. The Principal Consultant will operate within a team focused on cybersecurity best practices and advanced threat defense.