Principal Software Engineer (Prisma Access)

Palo Alto Networks, Inc.; Santa Clara (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 320,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Restricted Stock Units

Bonus

Job summary

Palo Alto Networks, Inc. is seeking a senior architect to lead the design and optimization of resilient, high-throughput network data paths across AWS, GCP, and OCI.

You will drive kernel-level tuning, telemetry, and automation to improve packet forwarding and control-plane connectivity in a distributed security platform. The role emphasizes mentorship, design reviews, and escalation support for customers, requiring 10+ years in cloud networking, plus deep skills in C/C++, Go, Rust, and Python.

Qualifications

• Requires 10+ years of systems engineering or software development experience in cloud networking, high-throughput systems, or distributed security platforms.
• Proficiency in C/C++, Go, or Rust and Python.
• Hands-on Linux networking and packet acceleration experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead architecture, systems design, and performance optimization for high-throughput network data paths and control-plane connectivity across AWS, GCP, and OCI.
• Improve packet forwarding and cloud networking through kernel-level tuning, telemetry, automation, and AI-assisted engineering workflows.
• Provide customer escalation support, design reviews, and mentorship.

Skills

Linux Systems Programming

Cloud Networking

Packet Processing

TCP/IP

C/C++

Education

Bachelor's or Master's degree in a relevant field

Tools

C/C++

Go

Rust

Python

eBPF

DPDK

SR-IOV

BGP

OSPF

AWS

GCP

OCI

Job description

Lead architecture, systems design, and performance optimization for resilient, high-throughput network data paths and control-plane connectivity across AWS, GCP, and OCI. Improve packet forwarding and cloud networking through kernel-level tuning, telemetry, automation, AI-assisted engineering workflows, customer escalation support, design reviews, and mentorship.

Requirements

Requires 10 or more years of systems engineering or software development experience in cloud networking, high-throughput systems, or distributed security platforms, along with proficiency in C/C++, Go, or Rust and Python. Candidates should have hands‑on Linux networking and packet acceleration experience, knowledge of routing and tunneling protocols, and experience operating mission‑critical network services in a major cloud environment; a bachelor's or master's degree in a relevant field or equivalent practical experience is required.

Key Skills

• Linux Systems Programming
• Cloud Networking
• Packet Processing
• TCP/IP
• C/C++
• Go
• Rust
• Python
• eBPF
• DPDK
• SR-IOV
• BGP
• OSPF
• AWS
• GCP
• OCI

Benefits

• Restricted Stock Units
• Bonus