Principal Engineer Software (Threat Data Platform)

Palo Alto Networks, Inc.; Santa Clara (CA); On-site; USD 156,000 - 253,000; Full time

Job summary

Join Palo Alto Networks, a leader in cybersecurity, as a Principal Software Engineer on the Threat Data Platform (TDP) team. You will build AI-driven tools for researchers to develop high-fidelity threat models and scale core data pipelines across the PANW product ecosystem.

You will work on end-to-end backend features, ETL/ELT pipelines, data warehouses, and scalable APIs to support thousands of global customers and researchers.

Qualifications

• B.S. or M.S. in Computer Science, a related technical field, or equivalent practical software engineering experience.
• 5+ years of hands-on experience building large-scale enterprise applications and high-availability data APIs.
• Professional-level proficiency in Java (core backend) and a strong command of RESTful API design.
• Experience with major cloud providers (GCP preferred or AWS) and their managed services.
• Experience with Python for data manipulation, alongside expertise in Linux environments and shell scripting.
• Strong grasp of varied database architectures, including SQL, NoSQL, Time-series, and GraphDB.
• Experience operating within Kubernetes (K8s) environments and a solid understanding of modern CI/CD workflows.

Responsibilities

• Drive the end-to-end development of backend features and core components, from initial architectural design and testing to deployment and long-term maintenance.
• Design and optimize high-throughput ETL/ELT pipelines that ingest and transform complex threat data into actionable intelligence within our data warehouse.
• Build and maintain high-performance data warehouses and scalable APIs that serve as the backbone for PANW’s internal security researchers.
• Partner with cross-functional stakeholders to translate complex business requirements into elegant, scalable technical solutions.
• Champion engineering excellence through rigorous code and design reviews, contributing to the team’s architectural roadmap and best practices.

Skills

Java backend

RESTful APIs

Python data manipulation

Kubernetes

CI/CD

SQL

NoSQL

Time-series DB

GraphDB

Education

B.S./M.S. in Computer Science or related field

Tools

GCP

AWS

Kubernetes

Linux

SQL

NoSQL

BigQuery

Dataflow

Kafka

Spark

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 Team

Engineering - Our engineering team is at the core of our products and connected directly to the mission of preventing cyberattacks. We are constantly innovating — challenging the way we, and the industry, think about cybersecurity. Our engineers don’t shy away from building products to solve problems no one has pursued before. We define the industry instead of waiting for directions. We need individuals who feel comfortable in ambiguity, excited by the prospect of a challenge, and empowered by the unknown risks facing our everyday lives that are only enabled by a secure digital environment.

Job Summary

Join the Threat Data Platform (TDP) engineering team at Palo Alto Networks, where we are redefining how threat intelligence is automated and analyzed. As a Principal Software Engineer, you will build AI-driven tools that empower researchers to develop sophisticated, high-fidelity threat models. Your mission is to innovate and scale our core data pipelines, ensuring seamless integration across the PANW product ecosystem to deliver critical security value to thousands of global customers.

Key Responsibilities

• Drive the end-to-end development of backend features and core components, from initial architectural design and testing to deployment and long-term maintenance.

• Design and optimize high-throughput ETL/ELT pipelines that ingest and transform complex threat data into actionable intelligence within our data warehouse.

• Build and maintain high-performance data warehouses and scalable APIs that serve as the backbone for PANW’s internal security researchers.

• Partner with cross-functional stakeholders to translate complex business requirements into elegant, scalable technical solutions.

• Champion engineering excellence through rigorous code and design reviews, contributing to the team’s architectural roadmap and best practices.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• B.S. or M.S. in Computer Science, a related technical field, or equivalent practical software engineering experience.
• 5+ years of hands-on experience building large-scale enterprise applications and high-availability data APIs.
• Professional-level proficiency in Java (core backend) and a strong command of RESTful API design.
• Proven experience with major cloud providers (GCP preferred or AWS) and their managed services.
• Experience with Python for data manipulation, alongside expertise in Linux environments and shell scripting.
• Strong grasp of varied database architectures, including SQL, NoSQL, Time-series, and GraphDB.
• Experience operating within Kubernetes (K8s) environments and a solid understanding of modern CI/CD workflows.

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with building complex analytical solutions and optimizing data pipelines for machine learning or AI-driven insights.
• Specific experience with GCP services such as Pub/Sub, Kafka, Dataflow, Spark, BigQuery, and BigTable.
• Experience with GraphDB specifically for threat relationship mapping.

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.

$156,400.00 - $253,000.00/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