Principal Machine Learning Engineer (AI-ML Data Scientist - ADEM)

Palo Alto Networks, Inc.; Santa Clara (CA); On-site; USD 163,000 - 264,000; Full time

Job summary

Palo Alto Networks’ ADEM group seeks a Principal AI-ML / Data Scientist to anchor the next-gen AIOps platform, bridging advanced AI research with production-grade backend software engineering to turn system telemetry into autonomous, self-healing capabilities.

You will lead intelligent agentive workflows and play a pivotal role in core backend rearchitecture, mentoring teams to deliver planet-scale impact.

Qualifications

• 8+ years in software engineering and production ML deployments at scale.
• Strong Python and Go/Java for backend microservices.
• Experience with SQL, BigQuery schemas, and scalable data pipelines (Dataflow, GKE).
• Knowledge of retrieval systems (RAG), prompt engineering, model evaluation, and statistical modeling.
• Ability to build platform-level services that integrate with adjacent ecosystems (e.g., Prisma Access, Cortex).

Responsibilities

• Design ML/LLM/GenAI-powered agents for planning, execution, and collaboration with humans or agents.
• Build reasoning pipelines, retrieval/knowledge graphs, enabling autonomous task execution and troubleshooting.
• Develop, fine-tune, or adapt LLMs and AI models for agentic workflows; integrate with traditional ML models.
• Drive end-to-end solution development from prototype to production with scalability and observability.
• Create best practices for prompt design, memory management, tools, and context optimization.
• Evaluate emerging agent/framework tooling to inform platform architecture.

Skills

Python for AI/ML

Go or Java

SQL & BigQuery

Dataflow & GKE

RAG / retrieval systems

Prompt engineering

Backend microservices

ML deployment at scale

Education

BS/MS in Computer Science, Data Science, Engineering, or related field

Tools

BigQuery

Dataflow

GKE

Prisma Access

Cortex

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

Your Career

Palo Alto Networks' ADEM group is seeking an accomplished Principal AI-ML / Data Scientist to serve as a principal technical anchor for our next-generation AIOps platform. In this role, you will bridge the gap between advanced AI research and production-grade backend software engineering, turning massive system telemetry into autonomous, self-healing capabilities.

You will lead the technical design of intelligent, agentic workflows while simultaneously playing a pivotal role in our core backend rearchitecture. This role is ideal for a hands‑on technical leader who thrives on building advanced reasoning systems, optimizing large-scale data foundations, and mentoring engineering teams to deliver planet-scale impact.

Your Impact

• Lead the design and implementation of ML/LLM/GenAI-powered agents capable of planning, multi-step execution, self-correction, and seamless collaboration with humans or other agents.
• Build advanced reasoning pipelines, retrieval systems (RAG), and knowledge graph integrations that support autonomous task execution and network troubleshooting.
• Build, fine-tune, or adapt LLMs, multimodal models, and specialized agent models. Successfully integrate traditional AI/ML and statistical models into these agentic workflows to handle complex endpoint telemetry.
• Drive end-to-end solution development from prototype to production, ensuring maximum scalability, reliability, safety, observability, and performance.
• Establish best practices for prompt design, agent memory management, tool usage, and context optimization within the agent ecosystem.
• Continuously evaluate emerging agent frameworks, LLM tooling, and generative AI technologies to inform platform architecture and roadmap decisions.

Qualifications

Your Experience

• 8+ years in software engineering, with a track record of deploying production-grade ML, GenAI, or agentic workflows at scale.
• Strong Python (for AI/ML) combined with professional Go or Java experience for backend microservices.
• Hands‑on experience with SQL, designing and restructuring BigQuery schemas, and building/managing scalable data pipelines using Dataflow, Google ADK and GKE
• Solid understanding of retrieval systems (RAG), prompt engineering, model evaluation, and statistical modeling.
• Ability to build platform-level services that integrate cleanly with adjacent ecosystems (e.g., Prisma Access, Cortex).
• BS/MS in Computer Science, Data Science, Engineering, or a related field.
• Knowledge of L3‑L7 networking is desirable.

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.

$163,200.00 - $264,000.00/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