At Cloudflare, we are on a mission to help build a better Internet. Today the company runs one of the world’s largest networks that powers millions of websites and other Internet properties for customers ranging from individual bloggers to SMBs to Fortune 500 companies. Cloudflare protects and accelerates any Internet application online without adding hardware, installing software, or changing a line of code. Internet properties powered by Cloudflare all have web traffic routed through its intelligent global network, which gets smarter with every request. As a result, they see significant improvement in performance and a decrease in spam and other attacks. Cloudflare was named to Entrepreneur Magazine’s Top Company Cultures list and ranked among the World’s Most Innovative Companies by Fast Company. 

We realize people do not fit into neat boxes. We are looking for curious and empathetic individuals who are committed to developing themselves and learning new skills, and we are ready to help you do that. We cannot complete our mission without building a diverse and inclusive team. We hire the best people based on an evaluation of their potential and support them throughout their time at Cloudflare. Come join us! 

Cloudforce One is Cloudflare’s threat operations and research team, responsible for identifying and disrupting cyber threats ranging from sophisticated cyber criminal activity to nation-state sponsored advanced persistent threats (APTs).  Cloudforce One works in close partnership with external organizations and internal Cloudflare teams, continuously developing operational tradecraft and expanding ever-growing sources of threat intelligence to enable expedited threat hunting and remediation.  Members of Cloudforce One are at the helm of leveraging an incredibly vast and varied set of data points that only one of the world’s largest global networks can provide.  The team is able to analyze these unique data points, at massive scale and efficiency, synthesizing findings into actionable threat intelligence to better protect our customers.

About the Role

Cloudflare is a system spanning the globe, on a mission to make the internet better, safer, and more powerful everyday.  To help fulfill this mission, we are seeking a talented Principal Threat Researcher to join us in growing our Cloudforce One Organization, where you will be instrumental in building a proactive and threat intelligence-driven approach to protecting Cloudflare and its customers from sophisticated and ever-evolving global threat actors.  This position requires an innovative, OPSEC-savvy, self-starting, and detail-oriented problem solver with a passion for identifying, tracking, and defeating sophisticated cyber threats.

As a Principal Threat Researcher, you will monitor cyber threat activity, trends, and methodologies across multiple platforms, supporting both client requests and proactive internal research.  You will serve a leading role in the discovery and analysis of cyber threat adversaries, their Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures (TTPs), along with applying knowledge of transnational issues and geopolitical developments to understand adversary actions and anticipate their next moves.  Work will involve developing and maintaining sources of threat intelligence to enable analysis, as well as examine and mitigate threats in real-time, leveraging emerging technologies to develop advanced tactical and strategic countermeasures.  You will also collaborate with engineering teams to ensure relevant data and analytics are incorporated in internal platforms to improve and/or automate threat research workflows. 

In this role, you will obtain key threat intelligence information, synthesizing both technical and non-technical datasets to derive unique insights and author timely reporting related to adversary activity.  Reporting will range from brief descriptions of threat actors and their activity to finished intelligence products for clients and the general public.  This will include proposing subject matter for proactive reporting on threat actor TTPs and trends, as well as leading corresponding reporting efforts.  Additionally, Principal Threat Researchers will support priority intelligence requirements, ensuring Cloudforce One focuses resources and efforts on our clients' most relevant and crucial intelligence needs. 

Strong candidates will have excellent OSINT research skills, substantial experience in Threat Intelligence (in particular, expertise in APTs), a strong technical foundation, practical knowledge of intelligence report writing, demonstrable ability to drive concurrent, interdepartmental projects to completion, and ability to work well in a group of distributed remote team members.

Examples of Desirable Skills, Knowledge and Experience

• Deep understanding of the cyber threat landscape and the intelligence lifecycle
• Proven expertise in tracking and clustering multiple threat groups using techniques such as the Cyber Kill Chain or Diamond Model of Intrusion Analysis
• Experience with open source intelligence gathering tools and techniques
• Experience tracking and analyzing cyber campaigns utilizing structured analytical techniques involving numerous sources of threat intelligence and varied forms of threat data
• Understanding of the latest security trends as they relate to cyber threat adversary operations and motivating factors
• Exceptional analytical and critical thinking skills
• Experience in network and/or host-based intrusion analysis
• Proficiency in one of the following: Packet, and/or Metadata analysis
• Strong knowledge of networking protocols (e.g., TCP/IP) and datasets relevant to intrusion and network infrastructure analysis
• Experience using a comprehensive data analysis platform, with ability to recognize patterns and transform data into useful information
• Advanced communication (written and verbal) and presentation skills, both internally to CXO level and externally to clients
• in-depth knowledge of technical reporting and editing
• Ability to synthesize technical information and document it, in both a technical and non-technical manner, through written, graphical and verbal representation
• One of the following:
• BA/BS or equivalent in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Information Security, Computer Security, Information Systems, Intelligence, or related discipline, OR
• Military training and experience in Cyber Intelligence, General Intelligence Studies, Security Studies, or related discipline
• At least 10 years experience in one or more of the following:
• Intrusion analysis
• Cyber threat hunting
• Cyber threat intelligence
• Incident response
• Network defense
• Endpoint forensics
• Malware analysis
• Excellent teamwork and interpersonal skills with ability to collaborate with a globally distributed team
• Willing and eager to share knowledge and mentor colleagues on intrusion analysis and threat intelligence best practices

Bonus Points

• MA/MS or equivalent in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Information Security, Computer Security, Information Systems, Intelligence, or related discipline
• Expert knowledge of state-sponsored APT groups in Eastern Europe
• Foreign language proficiency with preference for Russian
• Reverse engineering, malware triage, or forensic analysis
• Prior intelligence community background

Compensation

Compensation may be adjusted depending on work location and level.

• Estimated annual salary of $193,000 - $260,000 USD

Equity

This role is eligible to participate in Cloudflare’s equity plan.

Benefits

Cloudflare offers a complete package of benefits and programs to support you and your family.  Our benefits programs can help you pay health care expenses, support caregiving, build capital for the future and make life a little easier and fun!  The below is a description of our benefits for employees in the United States, and benefits may vary for employees based outside the U.S.

Health & Welfare Benefits

• Medical/Rx Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Commuter Spending Accounts
• Fertility & Family Forming Benefits
• On-demand mental health support and Employee Assistance Program
• Global Travel Medical Insurance

Financial Benefits

• Short and Long Term Disability Insurance
• Life & Accident Insurance
• 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan
• Employee Stock Participation Plan

Time Off

• Flexible paid time off covering vacation and sick leave
• Leave programs, including parental, pregnancy health, medical, and bereavement leave

What Makes Cloudflare Special?

We’re not just a highly ambitious, large-scale technology company. We’re a highly ambitious, large-scale technology company with a soul. Fundamental to our mission to help build a better Internet is protecting the free and open Internet.

Project Galileo: We equip politically and artistically important organizations and journalists with powerful tools to defend themselves against attacks that would otherwise censor their work, technology already used by Cloudflare’s enterprise customers--at no cost.

Athenian Project: We created Athenian Project to ensure that state and local governments have the highest level of protection and reliability for free, so that their constituents have access to election information and voter registration.

1.1.1.1: We released 1.1.1.1 to help fix the foundation of the Internet by building a faster, more secure and privacy-centric public DNS resolver. This is available publicly for everyone to use - it is the first consumer-focused service Cloudflare has ever released. Here’s the deal - we don’t store client IP addresses never, ever. We will continue to abide by our privacy commitment and ensure that no user data is sold to advertisers or used to target consumers.

Sound like something you’d like to be a part of? We’d love to hear from you!

This position may require access to information protected under U.S. export control laws, including the U.S. Export Administration Regulations. Please note that any offer of employment may be conditioned on your authorization to receive software or technology controlled under these U.S. export laws without sponsorship for an export license.

Cloudflare is proud to be an equal opportunity employer.  We are committed to providing equal employment opportunity for all people and place great value in both diversity and inclusiveness.  All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to their, or any other person's, perceived or actual race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, physical or mental disability, medical condition, family care status, or any other basis protected by law. We are an AA/Veterans/Disabled Employer.

Cloudflare provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities.  Please tell us if you require a reasonable accommodation to apply for a job. Examples of reasonable accommodations include, but are not limited to, changing the application process, providing documents in an alternate format, using a sign language interpreter, or using specialized equipment.  If you require a reasonable accommodation to apply for a job, please contact us via e-mail at hr@cloudflare.com or via mail at 101 Townsend St. San Francisco, CA 94107.