Cortex XSIAM Security Engineer (Cybersecurity)

Location: Must be located in the DC Metro Area (Hybrid)

Salary: $120,000 - $150,000 per year

Company

A security consulting firm specializing in AI-driven Security Operations and SOC modernization for federal and commercial clients.

What you will do

• Lead end-to-end deployment of Cortex XSIAM, including data source onboarding, log ingestion, and normalization.
• Integrate XSIAM with firewalls, endpoints, cloud platforms, identity providers, and ticketing systems.
• Build and tune correlation rules and ML-based detection models leveraging XQL to improve detection fidelity.
• Design and maintain SOAR automation playbooks to automate triage, enrichment, and remediation workflows.
• Serve as an escalation point for complex incident investigations using causality chains and attack-story visualizations.
• Act as a technical advisor to clients on SOC modernization strategy and provide knowledge transfer sessions.

Requirements

• 3+ years of hands-on experience with Palo Alto Networks Cortex XDR or Cortex XSIAM.
• Experience deploying or administering SIEM platforms such as Splunk, Microsoft Sentinel, or IBM QRadar.
• Proficiency with XQL or comparable query languages for threat hunting and log analysis.
• Active Secret clearance (minimum); TS/SCI preferred.
• Must be located in the DC Metro Area.
• Bachelor's degree in Cybersecurity, Computer Science, or equivalent professional experience.

Nice to have

• Palo Alto Networks Certified Security Automation Engineer (PCSAE) or Cortex XSIAM certification.
• Experience with NIST SP 800-53, RMF, DISA STIGs, and CDM program requirements.
• Familiarity with Zero Trust Architecture (NIST SP 800-207, CISA ZT Maturity Model).
• Exposure to Python or JavaScript for custom integration development.
• CISSP, CEH, or CompTIA Security+ certification.

Culture & Benefits

• Comprehensive insurance package including health, dental, and vision.
• 401(k) retirement plan.
• Paid time off.
• Flexible work-from-home options available within the hybrid structure.
• Collaborative environment focused on innovation, inclusion, and mutual respect.