Principal Software Development Engineer (Control-Plane)

Zscaler; Palo Alto (CA); Hybrid; USD 186,000 - 265,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Time off plans

Parental leave

Retirement options

In-office perks

Job summary

Zscaler is seeking a Principal Software Development Engineer (Control-Plane) in the San Jose/Santa Clara area. This hybrid role involves shaping the architecture and driving new features for the Zero Trust Exchange.

You will work with Engineering Architects, Product Managers, Customers, and Solution Architects to deliver high-performance, secure software. Join a team that values ownership, collaboration, and a growth mindset, and mentor junior engineers while delivering impactful improvements

Qualifications

• 12+ years designing and building large-scale, reliable software systems (Python and/or Go).
• Strong hands-on experience with AWS, GCP, and Azure.
• Foundational knowledge of AI/ML technologies applied to solutions.
• Deep understanding of cloud networking concepts and services.
• Strong software design, profiling, and verification skills.

Responsibilities

• Define software design specifications and implement bug-free code using test-driven methodology and modern AI-based coding tools.
• Design, develop, and optimize the system, including networking and security features, to support high-performance applications while performing unit testing and automation.
• Apply strong software design principles and deep troubleshooting expertise to deliver scalable, resilient improvements.
• Collaborate with Engineering Architects, Product Managers, Customers, and Solution Architects to address customer use cases and resolve system issues.
• Coach and mentor junior team members and ensure high-quality deliverables.

Skills

Python

Go

Public Cloud

Software design

Mentorship

Job description

Principal Software Development Engineer (Control-Plane)

San Jose, California, USA; Santa Clara, California, USA

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 160+ public exchanges globally and thousands of private exchanges 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.

Role

We are looking for a Principal Software Development Engineer (Control-Plane) to join our Engineering team. This is a hybrid (in Santa Clara, CA office minimum 3 days per week) role, reporting to the Director, Software Development Engineering. We are expanding our existing control path and looking for a software engineer to help drive the development of new features and enhanced functionality. You will play a pivotal role in evolving our architecture to ensure it meets the demands of our growing user base.

What you’ll do (Role Expectations)

• Define software design specifications and implement bug-free code using test-driven methodology and modern AI-based coding tools
• Design, develop, and optimize the system, including networking and security features, to support high-performance applications while performing unit testing and automation to ensure quality
• Apply strong software design principles and deep troubleshooting expertise to deliver scalable, resilient, and impactful improvements to Zscaler’s Zero Trust Security Services
• Work directly with Engineering Architects, Product Managers, Customers, and Solution Architects to understand customer use cases, review PRDs, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to identify and resolve system-related issues
• Coach and mentor junior team members and ensure highest level of quality deliverables

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. You adapt to what's needed, navigating seamlessly between high-level strategy and hands-on execution.
• You are a problem-solver. You seek out challenges because you are energized by finding solutions, 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 never stop developing yourself, 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)

• 12+ years of experience designing and building large-scale, highly reliable, and scalable software systems, preferably in Python and/or Go
• Strong hands-on experience with public cloud infrastructure across AWS, GCP, and Azure
• Deep understanding of cloud networking concepts and services, including Transit Gateway, Internet Gateway, NAT Gateway, NACLs, security groups, GWLB, ILB, Route 53, and Azure DNS
• Foundational knowledge of AI/ML technologies, with experience applying, securing, or positioning AI-driven solutions to improve outcomes within the functional domain
• Strong software design, profiling, and verification skills, with exposure to optimizing systems for scale and performance

What Will Make You Stand Out (Preferred Qualifications)

• Strong experience designing and building distributed systems and SaaS platforms, with a proven ability to develop highly available, resilient, and scalable services in production environments
• Deep understanding of firewalls, network security principles, and core networking protocols, with the ability to troubleshoot complex traffic flows and enforce secure, high-performance connectivity
• Hands-on familiarity with architecting and building Firewall-as-a-Service solutions on major cloud platforms, including AWS, GCP, and Azure, with an understanding of cloud-native networking and security services across each environment

Zscaler’s salary ranges are benchmarked and are determined by role and level. The range displayed on each job posting reflects the minimum and maximum target for new hire salaries for the position across all US locations and could be higher or lower based on a multitude of factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.

The base salary range listed for this full-time position excludes commission/ bonus/ equity (if applicable) + benefits.

Base Pay Range

$185,500 - $265,000 USD

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.

Our Benefits program is one of the most important ways we support our employees. Zscaler proudly offers comprehensive and inclusive benefits to meet the diverse needs of our employees and their families throughout their life stages, including:

• Time off plans for vacation and sick time
• Parental leave options
• Retirement options
• In-office perks, and more!

Learn more about Zscaler's hybrid working model and benefits here .

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. See more information by clicking on the Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal link.

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.