Principal Machine Learning Engineer

Mployee.me; Bengaluru; Hybrid; INR 3,500,000 - 7,000,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health plans

Vacation & sick time

Parental leave

Retirement plan

Education reimbursement

In‑office perks

Job summary

Zscaler, a leading cloud security company, seeks a Principal Machine Learning Engineer to lead the development and deployment of advanced ML models in a hybrid role based in Bengaluru. You will mentor juniors and steer strategic AI and data science initiatives across the organization.

You will translate business problems into data‑driven solutions, collaborate with cross‑functional teams, and stay ahead of state‑of‑the‑art research to deliver high‑value applications.

Qualifications

• 12+ years of proven success as a Machine Learning Engineer or Data Scientist, leading high‑impact projects.
• Deep expertise in Python (pandas, scikit‑learn, PyTorch) and SQL with hands‑on feature engineering and model evaluation.
• In‑depth knowledge of Large Language Models (LLMs) and practical AI applications.
• Outstanding interpersonal and technical communication skills for diverse stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Architect, implement, and evaluate advanced machine learning models and innovative technical solutions aligned with strategic business objectives.
• Guide and support data science team members through hands‑on project direction, best practices, and professional development.
• Partner with cross‑functional teams to define project roadmaps and translate complex concepts into actionable insights.
• Champion organization‑wide strategic AI initiatives and identify opportunities for process optimization and innovation.
• Monitor emerging advancements in ML/DS and translate research into high‑value applications.

Skills

AI/ML fundamentals

Python (pandas, scikit-learn, PyTorch)

SQL

LLMs applications

Communication skills

Tools

PySpark

Cloud platforms (AWS/Azure/GCP)

Kubeflow

Job description

Zscaler (NASDAQ: ZS) accelerates digital transformation so customers can be more agile, efficient, resilient, and secure. The Zscaler Zero Trust Exchange platform protects thousands of customers from cyberattacks and data loss by securely connecting users, devices, and applications in any location. Distributed across 200+ public data centers globally and thousands of private sites at the edge, the SASE-based Zero Trust Exchange is the world’s largest in-line cloud security platform.

We believe the future of work is Human + AI and are building an AI-native enterprise where human potential is amplified by machine intelligence to solve the world’s hardest security challenges. Driven by deep customer obsession, we are committed to the mission, outcome, and to each other. We bring these commitments to life through three core behaviors: ownership and collaboration, trust through outcomes and impact, and a challenge culture with ongoing feedback. Ready to make an impact at the company pioneering security transformation in the AI era? Join us at Zscaler.

We are looking for a Principal Machine Learning Engineer to join our team. This is a hybrid role based in Bangalore, reporting to the Director, Software Development Engineering in the Exposure Management & Security Operations department

In this role, you will be responsible for leading the development and implementation of advanced machine learning models, mentoring junior team members, and driving strategic AI and data science initiatives. You will have a deep understanding of various stages of an end-to-end Machine Learning project and will be capable of translating business problems into data-driven solutions

What You’ll Do (Role Expectations)

• Architect, implement, and evaluate advanced machine learning models and innovative technical solutions directly aligned with strategic business objectives
• Guide and support data science team members through hands‑on project direction, technical best practices, and structured professional development
• Partner with cross‑functional teams to define project roadmaps and translate complex technical concepts into actionable insights that drive data‑informed decision‑making
• Champion organization‑wide strategic initiatives, proactively identifying high‑impact opportunities for process optimization and technological innovation
• Monitor emerging advancements in machine learning and data science, translating state‑of‑the‑art research into practical, high‑value applications

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)

• Foundational understanding of AI/ML technologies and experience leveraging, securing, or positioning AI‑driven solutions to optimize outcomes within your functional domain
• 12+ years of proven success as a Machine Learning Engineer or Data Scientist, leading high‑impact projects that leverage ML/AI to solve real‑world business problems at scale
• Deep expertise in Python (pandas, scikit‑learn, PyTorch) and SQL, backed by extensive hands‑on experience in feature engineering, rigorous model evaluation, and comprehensive error analysis
• In‑depth knowledge of Large Language Models (LLMs) and their practical applications, coupled with a proven agility to rapidly learn, evaluate, and adopt emerging technologies
• Outstanding interpersonal and technical communication skills, enabling seamless collaboration and the ability to articulate complex technical concepts clearly to diverse stakeholders

What Will Make You Stand Out (Preferred Qualifications)

• Deep expertise in fine‑tuning Large Language Models, advanced prompt engineering, Graph Neural Networks, Knowledge Graphs, and unsupervised clustering and evaluation
• Strong command of operating systems and distributed architectures, with hands‑on proficiency in (Py)Spark, major public cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP), and ML automation tooling such as Kubeflow
• Demonstrated track record of technical innovation supported by relevant research publications or patents, alongside a solid foundational understanding of networking and network security concepts

At Zscaler, we are committed to building a team that reflects the communities we serve and the customers we work with. We foster an inclusive environment that values all backgrounds and perspectives, emphasizing collaboration and belonging. Join us in our mission to make doing business seamless and secure.

Benefits

• Various health plans
• Time off plans for vacation and sick time
• Parental leave options
• Retirement options
• Education reimbursement
• In‑office perks, and more!

By applying for this role, you adhere to applicable laws, regulations, and Zscaler policies, including those related to security and privacy standards and guidelines.

Zscaler is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all individuals. We strive to create a workplace where employees are treated with respect and have the chance to succeed. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy or related medical conditions), age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

Pay Transparency

Zscaler complies with all applicable federal, state, and local pay transparency rules.

Zscaler is committed to providing reasonable support (called accommodations or adjustments) in our recruiting processes for candidates who are differently abled, have long term conditions, mental health conditions or sincerely held religious beliefs, or who are neurodivergent or require pregnancy‑related support.