Cortex XSIAM Security Engineer

Benefits

• 401(k)
• Competitive salary
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Position Summary

Celestial Innovations Group (CIG) is seeking a skilled Cortex XSIAM Security Engineer to deploy, configure, and operationalize Palo Alto Networks Cortex XSIAM for federal and enterprise clients. This role is at the center of CIG's AI-driven Security Operations practice, enabling clients to modernize their SOC by consolidating SIEM, XDR, SOAR, UEBA, ASM, and TIP capabilities into a single, converged platform.

Key Responsibilities

Platform Deployment & Integration

• Lead end-to-end deployment of Cortex XSIAM for federal and enterprise clients, including data source onboarding, log ingestion, and normalization.
• Integrate XSIAM with existing security ecosystem tools including firewalls, endpoints, cloud platforms, identity providers, and ticketing systems.
• Configure data pipelines to ingest and normalize telemetry from diverse sources (endpoints, network, cloud, identity) into XSIAM's unified data model.
• Migrate clients from legacy SIEM platforms to Cortex XSIAM, ensuring continuity of detection coverage and compliance reporting.

Detection Engineering & Analytics

• Build and tune correlation rules, behavioral analytics, and ML-based detection models within XSIAM to reduce false positive rates and improve detection fidelity.
• Develop and maintain XSIAM analytics leveraging XQL (Extended Query Language) to extract actionable insights from security telemetry.
• Map detection content to MITRE ATT&CK framework, ensuring coverage across all relevant tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs).
• Configure AI SmartScoring and technique-based incident grouping to reduce alert fatigue and prioritize analyst workload effectively.

Automation & Playbook Development

• Design, build, and maintain SOAR automation playbooks within XSIAM to automate triage, enrichment, and remediation workflows.
• Leverage Cortex Marketplace content packs and develop custom integrations as needed to support client-specific security processes.
• Implement dev/prod playbook lifecycle management to ensure safe testing and controlled promotion of automation content.
• Continuously improve automation coverage, targeting measurable reductions in manual analyst workload.

Incident Response & Threat Management

• Serve as escalation point for complex incident investigations, using XSIAM causality chains and full attack-story visualizations to support rapid remediation.
• Coordinate with client SOC teams during active incidents, leveraging XSIAM's embedded automation and enrichment capabilities.
• Support Attack Surface Management (ASM) functions to proactively identify and remediate client exposure.
• Utilize integrated Threat Intelligence Platform (TIP) capabilities, including Unit 42 threat feeds, to enrich alerts and inform response priorities.

Client Engagement & Advisory

• Serve as a trusted technical advisor to federal and commercial clients on XSIAM capabilities, roadmap, and SOC modernization strategy.
• Produce SOC performance dashboards, compliance reports, and executive summaries within XSIAM to support client governance requirements.
• Conduct training and knowledge transfer sessions to build client SOC team proficiency on the XSIAM platform.
• Support CIG business development efforts by contributing to proposals, demos, and technical capability briefings for prospective clients.

Required Qualifications

• 3+ years of hands‑on experience with Palo Alto Networks Cortex XDR or Cortex XSIAM in an enterprise or federal environment.
• Demonstrated experience deploying or administering SIEM platforms (Splunk, Microsoft Sentinel, IBM QRadar, or equivalent).
• Proficiency with XQL or comparable query languages for log analysis and threat hunting.
• Working knowledge of SOAR concepts and experience building security automation playbooks.
• Understanding of EDR, NDR, and UEBA technologies and how they feed into a converged SOC platform.
• Familiarity with MITRE ATT&CK framework and its application to detection engineering.
• Active Secret clearance (minimum); TS/SCI preferred for federal engagements.
• Bachelor's degree in Cybersecurity, Computer Science, Information Systems, or related field, OR equivalent professional experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Palo Alto Networks Certified Security Automation Engineer (PCSAE) or Cortex XSIAM-specific certification.
• Experience with federal compliance frameworks including NIST SP 800-53, RMF, DISA STIGs, and CDM program requirements.
• Familiarity with Zero Trust Architecture principles (NIST SP 800-207, CISA ZT Maturity Model) and how XSIAM supports ZTA adoption.
• Experience integrating Cortex XSIAM with Palo Alto Networks NGFW, Prisma Cloud, or Zscaler platforms.
• Knowledge of cloud security telemetry sources (AWS, Azure, GCP) and their ingestion into XSIAM.
• Exposure to Python or JavaScript for custom XSIAM integration development or automation scripting.
• Prior experience supporting federal SOC operations or DHS CDM program environments.
• CISSP, CEH, CompTIA Security+, or equivalent security certification.

Technical Skills & Tools

• SOC Platforms: Cortex XSIAM/XDR, Cortex XSOAR
• SIEM platforms: XQL query language
• EDR / NDR / UEBA: integrated monitoring
• Security Frameworks: MITRE ATT&CK, NIST SP 800-53/RMF, NIST SP 800-207 (Zero Trust Architecture), CISA Zero Trust Maturity Model, DISA STIGs
• Integrations & Tools: Palo Alto NGFW / Prisma, Zscaler ZIA/ZPA, Microsoft Sentinel/Azure, ServiceNow/Ticketing systems, AWS/Azure/GCP

Flexible work from home options available.