Staff Threat Researcher - macOS

About Zscaler Zscaler accelerates digital transformation to ensure our customers can be more agile, efficient, resilient, and secure. As an AI-forward enterprise , we are constantly pushing the envelope, leveraging the world’s largest security data lake to power our cloud-native Zero Trust Exchange platform. This innovation protects our customers from cyberattacks and data loss by securely connecting users, devices, and applications in any location. Here, impact in your role matters more than title and trust is built on results. We say, impact over activity. We seek innovators who actively use AI to amplify their impact and who thrive in an environment where we leverage intelligent systems to stay ahead of evolving threats. We believe in transparency and value constructive, honest debate —we’re focused on getting to the best ideas, faster. We build high-performing teams that can make an impact quickly and with high quality. To do this, we are building a culture of execution centered on customer obsession , collaboration, ownership, and accountability. We value high-impact, high-accountability with a sense of urgency where you’re enabled to do your best work and embrace your potential. If you’re driven by purpose, thrive on solving complex challenges, and want to be part of the team that’s helping to secure the AI age, we invite you to bring your talents to Zscaler and help shape the future of cybersecurity. Role We are looking for a Staff Threat Researcher to join our Threatlabz team. This is a hybrid role based in Mohali,reporting to the Senior Manager, Threat Research. As a key contributor to our threat research initiatives, you will lead the charge in identifying vulnerabilities and analyzing sophisticated malware within the Apple ecosystem. Your expertise in macOS and iOS system internals will drive the development of advanced detection strategies and strengthen our overall product defenses. What you’ll do (Role Expectations) Perform static and dynamic analysis of macOS and iOS applications, firmware, and system internals to identify vulnerabilities and malicious functionality Reverse-engineer malware samples to decipher behavior, capabilities, and attack vectors while contributing to prevention strategies Research and maintain deep expertise in macOS security features, XNU kernel updates, and frameworks such as Endpoint Security and Network Extensions Develop custom tools and scripts to automate reverse engineering, binary analysis, and malware-related processing tasks Partner with engineering, QA, and threat intelligence teams to integrate new security features and harden product defenses Who You Are (Success Profile) You thrive in ambiguity. You're comfortable building the path as you walk it. You thrive in a dynamic environment, seeing ambiguity not as a hindrance, but as the raw material to build something meaningful. You act like an owner. Your passion for the mission fuels your bias for action. You operate with integrity because you genuinely care about the outcome. True ownership involves leveraging dynamic range: the ability to navigate seamlessly between high-level strategy and hands-on execution. You are a problem-solver. You love running towards the challenges because you are laser-focused on finding the solution, knowing that solving the hard problems delivers the biggest impact. You are a high-trust collaborator. You are ambitious for the team, not just yourself. You embrace our challenge culture by giving and receiving ongoing feedback—knowing that candor delivered with clarity and respect is the truest form of teamwork and the fastest way to earn trust. You are a learner. You have a true growth mindset and are obsessed with your own development, actively seeking feedback to become a better partner and a stronger teammate. You love what you do and you do it with purpose. What We’re Looking for (Minimum Qualifications) Proficiency in system-level languages including C, C++, Objective-C, Swift and deep knowled