Principal Software Development Engineer- Go/Java

Zscaler, Inc.; Santa Clara (CA); Hybrid; USD 185,000 - 265,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health plans

Time off plans

Parental leave options

Retirement options

Education reimbursement

Job summary

Zscaler, Inc. invites you to join as a Principal Software Development Engineer (Service Platform & Orchestration) in a hybrid role.

You will lead the development of the management plane and reliability systems for ZIA’s fleet at massive scale, building stateful, durable infrastructure and AI-driven SRE practices for 100k+ instances. You will architect workflow-based solutions, enable deterministic provisioning, and create self-healing, scalable services with deep telemetry and auditability

Qualifications

• Foundational understanding of AI/ML and experience positioning AI-driven solutions.
• 12+ years of experience in hyperscale systems with scale failure modes.
• Mastery of backend languages with Go preference or rapid Go adoption.
• Experience designing and operating complex distributed systems.
• Proven track record developing Platform APIs with idempotency and safe rollout.

Responsibilities

• Lead hands-on development and migration to a workflow-as-code platform (Temporal).
• Build a robust management plane that treats the global fleet as a single distributed system.
• Design and implement services leveraging AI/ML for intelligent fleet operations.
• Develop framework-level services and internal APIs with reliability hooks.
• Build telemetry for full explainability, auditability, and replayability of fleet actions.

Skills

AI/ML fundamentals

12+ years hyperscale systems

Go / Java / C++ / Python

Distributed systems design

Platform APIs REST/gRPC

Education

BS/MS in Computer Science or related field

Tools

Temporal.io

PostgreSQL

REST/gRPC

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.

Role

We are looking for a Principal Software Development Engineer (Service Platform & Orchestration) to join our team. This is a Hybrid (3 days in office) role, reporting to the Director, Software Engineering in the Zero Trust Exchange department. In this high-ownership position, you will engineer the management plane and reliability systems that govern ZIA’s fleet lifecycle at massive scale.
This is a hands‑on building role where you will lead the transformation of our infrastructure from legacy automation into a stateful, durable management plane (built on Temporal) to achieve deterministic “one-touch” provisioning and lifecycle operations. You will treat “infrastructure as a distributed system,” developing self‑healing capabilities and AI‑driven SRE practices for a global fleet of 100k+ instances.

What you’ll do (Role Expectations)

• Lead the hands‑on development and migration to a workflow-as-code platform (Temporal), building replay‑safe, idempotent workflows that ensure deterministic operations across a global scale
• Move the organization beyond “scripted automation” toward a robust management plane that treats the entire global fleet as a single, eventually‑consistent distributed system
• Design and implement services that leverage LLMs and ML for intelligent signal correlation, automated triage, and “self‑correcting” fleet operations
• Develop framework‑level services and internal APIs that ensure all new products are delivered “orchestration‑ready” with reliability hooks built directly into the code
• Build deep telemetry (metrics, traces, and events) into the management plane so that every fleet‑wide action is fully explainable, auditable, and replayable

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 operate with urgency. You understand that in a high‑growth environment, speed and quality are not mutually exclusive. You have a relentless focus on execution and a bias for action, delivering high‑impact results quickly to win for the customer and the team.

You think at scale. You connect your day‑to‑day work to the larger company mission and think globally. You build solutions, processes, and teams that are not just effective today but are built to last and support a high‑growth, global organization.

You are resilient and adaptable. You view change as an opportunity and setbacks as temporary. You maintain composure and focus in high‑pressure situations, guiding yourself and your team through complexity with a steady, positive hand.

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
• BS/MS in Computer Science or a related technical field with 12+ years of experience in hyperscale systems, with a deep understanding of the unique failure modes and technical hurdles that only emerge at massive scale
• Mastery of backend systems languages with a strong preference for Go (or deep expertise in Java, C++, or Python with a demonstrated ability to rapidly adopt Go), along with a proven track record of setting the bar for code quality and distributed system correctness.
• Strong experience designing and operating complex distributed systems, with a focus on solving systemic challenges in concurrency, failure handling, and performance optimization
• Proven track record of developing Platform APIs (REST/gRPC) with strong guarantees for idempotency, verification, and safe rollout patterns

What Will Make You Stand Out (Preferred Qualifications)

• Proficiency with AI code‑assistance tools (e.g., Cursor, Windsurf) to accelerate legacy refactoring and system development
• Proficiency in PostgreSQL, or other relational stores used for high‑scale, stateful management‑plane services
• Direct experience building or operating systems with Temporal.io, Cadence, or similar workflow engines

Base Pay Range

$185,000—$265,000 USD

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.

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:

• Various health plans
• Time off plans for vacation and sick time
• Parental leave options
• Retirement options
• Education reimbursement
• 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.