Senior Principal Software Engineer — Layer 7 Security

Palo Alto Networks; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 170,000 - 277,000; Full time

Job summary

Palo Alto Networks is seeking a Senior Principal Software Engineer in San Francisco to lead the design and development of advanced Layer 7 security capabilities. This strategic role involves defining architecture and driving innovation in scalable, mission-critical infrastructure. The ideal candidate should have over 12 years of software engineering experience and expertise in C and Go programming. This position offers a competitive salary range of $170,000 to $277,000 per year, depending on qualifications and experience.

Qualifications

• 12+ years of professional software engineering experience, including significant time in senior technical leadership roles.
• Extensive experience developing in Unix/Linux environments.
• Deep expertise in networking fundamentals, including TCP/IP internals and network security technologies.

Responsibilities

• Lead the architecture, design, and development of advanced Layer 7 security capabilities.
• Drive the development of highly scalable, real-time, distributed cloud security systems.
• Establish and enforce engineering best practices, including code quality and secure development.

Skills

C programming

Go programming

Networking fundamentals

Distributed systems

Performance optimization

Education

Bachelor's, Master's, or Ph.D. in Computer Science

Tools

Unix/Linux environments

TLS/SSL

OpenSSL

Python

Job description

Job Summary

The Layer 7 security team is seeking a Senior Principal Software Engineer to lead the design and development of next‑generation Layer 7 security capabilities. This is a strategic role responsible for driving innovation in systems that operate at massive scale and protect mission‑critical infrastructure worldwide. You will define architecture, influence product direction, and lead the development of security technologies that address sophisticated and evolving threats. This role requires deep expertise in systems programming, networking, and distributed systems, along with a strong track record of delivering high‑performance, production‑grade software.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the architecture, design, and development of advanced Layer 7 security capabilities within next‑generation firewall platforms
• Drive the development of highly scalable, real‑time, distributed cloud security systems
• Define and implement robust, high‑performance, and maintainable system architectures
• Set technical direction for critical components, ensuring scalability, reliability, and security
• Partner with product management, security research, and platform teams to translate complex requirements into executable designs
• Lead end‑to‑end execution across the software development lifecycle, from concept through deployment and sustainment
• Establish and enforce engineering best practices, including code quality, performance optimization, and secure development
• Mentor senior and junior engineers, and elevate the technical capabilities of the organization
• Identify architectural, tooling, and process gaps and drive improvements at an organizational level
• Serve as a technical authority for debugging, performance tuning, and complex system challenges

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s, Master’s, or Ph.D. in Computer Science or related technical field, or equivalent practical/military experience
• 12+ years of professional software engineering experience, including significant time in senior technical leadership roles
• Expert‑level proficiency in C and strong proficiency in Go
• Extensive experience developing in Unix/Linux environments
• Proven experience designing and building large‑scale, high‑performance distributed systems
• Deep expertise in networking fundamentals, including TCP/IP internals and network security technologies
• Advanced experience with multi‑threaded, multi‑process, and multi‑core system design
• Strong foundation in data structures, algorithms, and systems‑level performance optimization
• Demonstrated ability to lead architecture and deliver complex, cross‑functional initiatives
• Strong communication skills with the ability to influence technical and non‑technical stakeholders

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with cloud platforms, orchestration systems, and containerized deployments
• Expertise in TLS/SSL internals, cryptography, and libraries such as OpenSSL
• Experience with HTTP protocols and backend service development
• Proficiency in Python for tooling, automation, or system integration

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 (https://benefits.paloaltonetworks.com/).

$170,000.00 - $277,000.00/yr

Accommodation Statement

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].

EEO Statement

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.

Is role eligible for Immigration Sponsorship? No. Please note that we will not sponsor applicants for work visas for this position.