Senior Threat Researcher, East Asia

Available Locations: Austin, Washington D.C., Seattle, Denver

About the Team

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 Senior Threat Intelligence Analyst that specializes in East Asian cyber threats to join us in growing our Cloudforce One Organization. You will be instrumental in building a proactive and threat intelligence-driven approach to protecting Cloudflare and its customers from nation-state, cybercriminal, and hacktivist threat activity originating from the East Asia. This position requires an innovative, OPSEC-savvy, self-starting, and detail-oriented problem solver with a passion for identifying, tracking, and assessing sophisticated cyber threats.

As a Senior Threat Intelligence Analyst, you will monitor cyber threat activity, trends, and methodologies across multiple platforms, supporting both client requests and proactive internal research. You will serve an integral role in the discovery and analysis of East Asian 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. 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 the corresponding reporting efforts. Additionally, Senior Threat Intelligence Analysts will support priority intelligence requirements, ensuring Cloudforce One focuses resources and efforts on our clients' most relevant and crucial intelligence needs. In this role you will also collaborate with engineering teams to ensure relevant data and analytics are incorporated in internal platforms to improve and/or automate intelligence analysis workflows.

Strong candidates will have excellent OSINT research skills, firsthand experience in Threat Intelligence (in particular, familiarity with advanced persistent threats), a strong technical foundation, practical knowledge of intelligence report writing, 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
• Expert knowledge of state-sponsored APT groups in East Asia
• 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 East Asian 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
• 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
• Working/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
• Malware analysis and reverse engineering skills
• Foreign language proficiency in one of the commonly spoken languages of East Asia
• Prior intelligence community background
• Familiarity with detection capabilities and their practical application in tracking malicious activity
• Working knowledge of SQL and devising SQL queries

Compensation
Compensation may be adjusted depending on work location.

For Colorado, Hawaii, and Illinois based hires: Estimated annual salary of $146,000 - $200,000
For New York City, New Jersey, Washington, Washington DC, and California (excluding Bay Area) based hires: Estimated annual salary of $162,000 - $223,000
For Bay Area-based hires: Estimated annual salary of $171,000 - $235,000

[Commissions: If applicable include this line:] This role is eligible to earn incentive compensation under Cloudflare’s Sales Compensation Plan. The estimated annual salary range includes the on-target incentive compensation that may be attained in this role under the Sales Compensation Plan.

Equity
The 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