Principal Software Engineer - ADEM Agent (Client/Endpoint Focus)

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

Job summary

Palo Alto Networks is seeking a Principal Software Engineer for the ADEM Agent. You will define the architectural roadmap for cross‑platform client software and tackle scale, security, and performance at the endpoint level.

In this high‑impact role, you will mentor Senior engineers, lead Design Review Board, and partner with Product Management, Security, and Core Infra to translate ambiguous requirements into robust specifications.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of software engineering experience designing and operating complex client-side software at scale.
• Expertise in AI-powered development tools to accelerate SDLC and automate testing workflows.
• Proven track record shipping cross-OS software (Windows, macOS, Linux) with strong OS internals knowledge.
• Proficient in Rust or Go for high-performance client development.
• BS/MS/PhD in CS or equivalent experience.

Responsibilities

• Define the long-term architectural vision for the ADEM Agent across Linux, Windows, macOS, and mobile platforms.
• Lead the Design Review Board for Agent-side features ensuring Secure AI by Design and high-availability patterns.
• Advance the Agent telemetry pipeline for low-latency, secure data transfer in diverse environments.
• Collaborate with Product Management, Core Infrastructure, and Security to translate requirements into robust technical specs.
• Mentor Staff and Senior engineers, drive testing discipline and reduce technical debt in the Agent codebase.
• Serve as escalation point for complex production issues and drive permanent architectural improvements.

Skills

OS internals

Networking stacks

High-performance coding

Rust

Go

C/C++

Leadership

AI tools

Education

BS in CS

MS in CS

PhD in CS

Equivalent experience

Tools

Claude Code

Cursor

Windsurf

GitHub Copilot

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 ADEM engineering team is the engine of innovation at Palo Alto Networks. We don't just follow industry trends; we create them. As a Principal Engineer focused on the Agent, you will be at the center of this mission, tackling "impossible" problems in scale, security, and performance at the most critical point: the user's endpoint. We look for leaders who are comfortable in deep ambiguity, possess an insatiable curiosity, and are driven to build technology that protects the digital way of life for the world's largest enterprises.

Your Career

Palo Alto Networks' ADEM (Autonomous Digital Experience Management) group is seeking a Principal Software Engineer to serve as a primary architect and technical visionary for our ADEM Agent/Client software. In this high-impact role, you will be responsible for the technical roadmap of the ADEM Agent, ensuring its performance, security, and stability across millions of endpoints. You will solve the most complex operating system and networking challenges at the client level, mentor the next generation of technical leaders, and bridge the gap between long-term product vision and world‑class engineering execution for the endpoint experience.

Your Impact

Define the long‑term architectural vision for the ADEM Agent across Linux, Windows, macOS, and mobile platforms, ensuring robust performance, minimal resource consumption.

Lead the "Design Review Board" for all Agent-side features, ensuring all components adhere to Secure AI by Design, operate with high‑availability patterns in diverse OS environments, and maintain a low CPU/memory footprint.

Drive the evolution of the Agent's telemetry collection and processing pipeline, optimizing for low‑latency, encrypted data transfer and ensuring resilience in low‑bandwidth or disconnected environments.

Partner with Product Management, Core Infrastructure, and Security teams to translate ambiguous business requirements into robust, high‑performance technical specifications for the client software.

Act as a force multiplier by mentoring Staff and Senior engineers, fostering a culture of rigorous platform‑specific testing, high code quality, and proactive technical debt management within the Agent codebase.

Serve as the ultimate technical escalation point for complex, systemic production issues related to endpoint stability or performance, leading post‑mortems that drive permanent architectural improvements in the Agent.

Qualifications

Your Experience Required Qualifications

• 8+ years of software engineering experience, with a significant portion dedicated to designing and operating complex, resource‑constrained client‑side or endpoint software in a large‑scale deployment.
• As a leader in engineering efficiency, you must be an expert in leveraging AI‑powered development tools—including Claude Code, Cursor, Windsurf, and GitHub Copilot to radically accelerate the SDLC and automate complex refactoring and testing workflows.
• Proven track record of architecting and shipping production‑quality software for multiple operating systems (Windows, macOS, Linux) with a deep understanding of OS internals, networking stacks (L3‑L7), and system performance tuning.
• Coding Rust, or Go (Golang) for high‑performance client development is required.
• BS/MS/PhD in Computer Science or a related technical field, or equivalent high‑level professional experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Deep authoritative knowledge of endpoint security mechanisms (e.g., integrity checks, sandboxing, driver development) and the ability to design agents that are resilient to tampering while maintaining a minimal security posture.
• Experience building robust, secure, and resource‑efficient data collection and buffering mechanisms within an agent, utilizing technologies for local data persistence and secure transfer.
• Deep understanding of Zero Trust architecture principles applied at the endpoint, L3‑L7 networking interception, and advanced encryption standards to ensure the ADEM Agent remains the most secure platform in the industry.
• A history of contributing to open‑source projects (e.g., related to system monitoring, networking drivers) or speaking at industry conferences is highly desirable.
• Prefer coding in C/C++.

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.

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