Senior Principal Software Engineer, Cloud Security Firewalls

Palo Alto Networks Unit 42; Santa Clara (CA); On-site; USD 170,000 - 277,000; Full time

Job summary

Palo Alto Networks is seeking a Sr. Principal Software Engineer for Network Security (PanOS) in Santa Clara, CA. You will design and implement security features for next‑generation firewalls, focusing on Layer 7 identity and inspection, collaborating with product management, QA, and field support.

The role requires 12+ years of software engineering experience, deep C/C++ expertise on Unix, and strong networking knowledge in a fast‑paced environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s, Master’s, or Ph.D. in Computer Science or related field, or equivalent practical/military experience.
• 12+ years of professional software engineering experience, including senior leadership roles.
• Strong proficiency in C and C++ programming languages on Unix-based platforms.
• Solid understanding of software development methodologies, version control systems, and agile practices.

Responsibilities

• Innovate, design, and develop new security features for Layer7 in next‑generation firewalls.
• Develop functional specifications, assess task requirements and scheduling, and assist in development, debugging, and support.
• Suggest and implement improvements to the development process.
• Clearly communicate goals and desired outcomes to internal project teams.
• Interview, mentor, and coach new team members.
• Identify performance bottlenecks and continuously implement improvements.

Skills

C programming

C++ programming

Unix-based platforms

Networking concepts

Education

Advanced degree in CS

Job description

Palo Alto Networks is seeking a Sr. Principal Software Engineer for Network Security (PanOS) in Santa Clara, CA. You will design and implement security features for next‑generation firewalls, focusing on Layer 7 identity and inspection, collaborating with product management, QA, and field support.

The role requires 12+ years of software engineering experience, deep C/C++ expertise on Unix, and strong networking knowledge in a fast‑paced environment.