Principal Software Engineer – AI-Driven Cloud Security

Zscaler; San Jose (CA); Hybrid; USD 186,000 - 265,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health plans

Retirement options

Education reimbursement

In-office perks

Job summary

Zscaler seeks a Principal Software Development Engineer to advance the world’s largest cloud security platform. This hybrid role reports to the Director of Software Engineering and focuses on multitenant architecture, high-performance networking, and security features across 185 countries.

You’ll design, develop, and optimize systems, mentor teammates, ensure compliance like FIPS/FedRAMP, and collaborate with product managers and customers to drive measurable security outcomes.

Qualifications

• Foundational understanding of AI/ML technologies and experience leveraging AI‑driven solutions to optimize outcomes.
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in CS or related field with 10+ years in system engineering for high‑performance networking.
• Expertise in Linux kernel networking, stateful firewalls, NAT, routing, and tunneling technologies.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and optimize the system, including networking and security features, to support high‑performance applications.
• Apply strong software design principles and deep troubleshooting to deliver scalable, resilient improvements to Zero Trust Security Services.
• Collaborate with architects, product managers, and customers to understand use cases and optimize system performance.
• Coach and mentor junior team members to ensure high quality across deliverables.
• Ensure certifications and compliance standards (FIPS, FedRAMP, Common Criteria, SOC2) are met and maintained.

Skills

AI/ML concepts

Go

Python

Linux kernel networking

Networking fundamentals

Communication

Collaboration

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in Computer Science

Tools

Docker

Kubernetes

Virtualization

Job description

Zscaler seeks a Principal Software Development Engineer to advance the world’s largest cloud security platform. This hybrid role reports to the Director of Software Engineering and focuses on multitenant architecture, high-performance networking, and security features across 185 countries.

You’ll design, develop, and optimize systems, mentor teammates, ensure compliance like FIPS/FedRAMP, and collaborate with product managers and customers to drive measurable security outcomes.