Principal Engineer - Cortex Xpanse, Collections

Palo Alto Networks; California (MO); On-site; USD 147,000 - 238,000; Full time

Job summary

Palo Alto Networks is seeking a Principal Software Engineer for the Cortex Xpanse ASM platform. You will architect and scale distributed backends, building high-throughput data pipelines to map the internet and enable new customer-facing features.

You will mentor engineers and collaborate with product managers to drive mission-critical initiatives that impact the platform’s success. This role emphasizes technical excellence, reliability, and collaboration in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of backend software engineering experience.
• Proficiency in Java or Go; other modern backends welcome.
• Experience with data pipelines for real-time streaming or batch processing.
• Experience with distributed systems, API design, and decoupling complex data architectures.
• Experience with at least one cloud platform (GCP, AWS, or Azure).

Responsibilities

• Build, scale, and maintain distributed backend scanning systems in Go.
• Design data pipelines using Apache Beam and Java multithreading frameworks.
• Investigate new data sources and estimate customer impact.
• Take ownership of projects, drive them to completion, and support them in production.
• Partner with engineering peers and product managers to define product strategy and enable new customer-facing features.
• Mentor and grow engineers, setting a high bar for technical excellence.

Skills

Backend engineering

Java / Go

Data pipelines

Distributed systems

Cloud platforms (GCP/AWS/AZURE)

Tools

Apache Beam

Kubernetes

Terraform

BigQuery

PostgreSQL

MySQL

BigTable

Job description

Our Mission

At Palo Alto Networks®, we’re united by a shared mission—to protect our digital way of life. We thrive at the intersection of innovation and impact, solving real-world problems with cutting-edge technology and bold thinking. Here, everyone has a voice, and every idea counts. If you’re ready to do the most meaningful work of your career alongside people who are just as passionate as you are, you’re in the right place.

Who We Are

In order to be the cybersecurity partner of choice, we must trailblaze the path and shape the future of our industry. This is something our employees work at each day and is defined by our values: Disruption, Collaboration, Execution, Integrity, and Inclusion. We weave AI into the fabric of everything we do and use it to augment the impact every individual can have. If you are passionate about solving real-world problems and ideating beside the best and the brightest, we invite you to join us! We believe collaboration thrives in person. That’s why most of our teams work from the office full time, with flexibility when it’s needed. This model supports real-time problem-solving, stronger relationships, and the kind of precision that drives great outcomes.

Job Summary

The Collections team is the foundational engine behind the Cortex Xpanse Attack Surface Management (ASM) platform. We architect, scale, and orchestrate global internet-scale discovery and scanning infrastructure. In this role, you will design distributed systems that continuously map the entire IPv4 and IPv6 internet, while building high-throughput data pipelines to create the foundation for Xpanse’s Attack Surface Management. As a Principal Software Engineer, you will drive the design of scalable services and collaborate with engineering peers, product managers, and leadership to execute end-to-end, mission-critical initiatives that directly impact our platform's success.

Key Responsibilities

• Build, optimize, and scale distributed backend scanning systems in Go.
• Design and develop robust data collection pipelines using Apache Beam and Java multithreading frameworks.
• Investigate new data sources and perform data analysis to estimate customer impact.
• Take ownership of projects, drive them to completion, and support them in production.
• Partner with engineering peers and product managers to define product strategy and enable the creation of new customer-facing features.
• Mentor and grow engineers, setting a high bar for technical excellence, architecture design, and system reliability.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• 8+ years of professional software engineering experience building backend systems.
• Proficiency in Java or Golang is preferred, though strong experience with other modern backend languages is welcome.
• Experience building data pipelines for real-time streaming or batch processing.
• Experience with distributed systems, API design, and decoupling complex data architectures.
• Experience with at least one major cloud platform (GCP, AWS, or Azure).

Preferred Qualifications

• Have expertise with any of the following: GCP, Kubernetes, Terraform, BigQuery, PostgreSQL, MySQL, BigTable, Apache Beam.
• Familiarity with low-level Internet protocols and high-throughput network scanning.
• Experience with cybersecurity, attack surface management, or internet measurement domains.

Compensation Disclosure

The compensation offered for this position will depend on qualifications, experience, and work location. For candidates who receive an offer at the posted level, the starting base salary (for non-sales roles) or base salary + commission target (for sales/com-missioned roles) is expected to be the annual range listed below. The offered compensation may also include restricted stock units and a bonus. A description of our employee benefits may be found here.

$147,000.00 - $237,500.00/yr

Our Commitment

We’re trailblazers that dream big, take risks, and challenge cybersecurity’s status quo. It’s simple: we can’t accomplish our mission without diverse teams innovating, together. We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations for all qualified individuals with a disability. If you require assistance or accommodation due to a disability or special need, please contact us at [e-mail]. Palo Alto Networks is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity in our workplace, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran status, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation or other legally protected characteristics. All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

Is role eligible for Immigration Sponsorship?: Yes

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