Sr Engineering Manager, API Platform

Zscaler; Santa Clara (CA); Hybrid; USD 212,000 - 265,000; Full time

Job summary

Zscaler is seeking a Sr. Engineering Manager, API Platform in Santa Clara, CA. This hybrid role requires leading API Platform and developer tooling, shaping API standards, and guiding senior engineers to deliver scalable, secure services.

You will mentor Senior Staff Engineers, collaborate with Product and Security, and ensure reliable microservices and SDKs across Java, Go, and Python, focusing on developer experience and system reliability.

Qualifications

• Curiosity about AI tools and integrating new technologies into workflows.
• 10+ years of software engineering experience, with API/SDK design for containerized environments (Kubernetes, Docker).
• Deep understanding of distributed systems concepts: caching, queues, pub/sub; cloud experience (AWS/GCP/Azure).
• OpenAPI/Swagger, REST, JSON, Authn/z knowledge and API-first design principles.

Responsibilities

• Lead the vision and roadmap for the API Platform and developer tooling, ensuring scalability and best practices.
• Oversee API standardization, design, and governance to improve developer experiences.
• Direct architecture and standards for product and provisioning APIs for reliability and traceability.
• Manage and coach Senior Staff Engineers and contributors, fostering collaboration and growth.
• Ensure delivery of microservices, workflow workers, and SDKs across Java, Go, and Python with gRPC, Temporal, Postgres, Redis.

Skills

AI tools exploration

APIs & SDKs design

Distributed systems

API-first design

Kubernetes & Docker

Tools

AWS

GCP

Azure

Job description

Zscaler (NASDAQ: ZS) accelerates digital transformation so customers can be more agile, efficient, resilient, and secure. The Zscaler Zero Trust Exchange platform protects thousands of customers from cyberattacks and data loss by securely connecting users, devices, and applications in any location. Distributed across 200+ public data centers globally and thousands of private sites at the edge, the SASE-based Zero Trust Exchange is the world’s largest in-line cloud security platform.

We believe the future of work is Human + AI and are building an AI-native enterprise where human potential is amplified by machine intelligence to solve the world’s hardest security challenges. Driven by deep customer obsession, we are committed to the mission, outcome, and to each other. We bring these commitments to life through three core behaviors: ownership and collaboration, trust through outcomes and impact, and a challenge culture with ongoing feedback. Ready to make an impact at the company pioneering security transformation in the AI era? Join us at Zscaler.

Role

We are looking for a Sr. Engineering Manager, API Platform to join our team. This is a hybrid role based in our Santa Clara, CA office 3 days a week. You’ll be reporting to the Sr. Director for the API Platform team. You will play a pivotal role in delivering scalable, secure, and high‑performing platforms and systems to empower our engineering teams. Your focus will be on enhancing our platform’s efficiency, scalability, and developer experience while managing senior technical talent.

What you’ll do (Role Expectations)

• Lead the vision and roadmap for the API Platform and developer tooling, ensuring alignment with organizational goals, technical scalability, and industry best practices
• Oversee the standardization, design, and governance of APIs, improving developer experiences and productivity across engineering teams and products
• Direct the architecture and standards for product and provisioning APIs, ensuring all state changes across distributed services remain reliable, reproducible, and fully traceable
• Manage and coach a team of Senior Staff Engineers and highly skilled technical contributors, fostering a culture of collaboration and professional growth
• Ensure the delivery of microservices, workflow workers, and SDKs optimized for reliability, availability, and safe retry semantics across Java, Go, and Python, using gRPC, Temporal, Postgres, and Redis
• Work closely with Product Management and Security to build scalable and secure solutions that meet unique business objectives
• Champion Shared Ownership by eradicating knowledge silos to ensure that core architectural work, dataset design, and foundational services are built collaboratively so the entire team can maintain and debug the system in production

Who You Are (Success Profile)

• You thrive in ambiguity. You're comfortable building the path as you walk it. You thrive in a dynamic environment, seeing ambiguity not as a hindrance, but as the raw material to build something meaningful.
• You act like an owner. Your passion for the mission fuels your bias for action. You operate with integrity because you genuinely care about the outcome. True ownership involves leveraging dynamic range: the ability to navigate seamlessly between high‑level strategy and hands‑on execution.
• You are a problem‑solver. You love running towards the challenges because you are laser‑focused on finding the solution, knowing that solving the hard problems delivers the biggest impact.
• You are a high‑trust collaborator. You are ambitious for the team, not just yourself. You embrace our challenge culture by giving and receiving ongoing feedback—knowing that candor delivered with clarity and respect is the truest form of teamwork and the fastest way to earn trust.
• You are a learner. You have a true growth mindset and are obsessed with your own development, actively seeking feedback to become a better partner and a stronger teammate. You love what you do and you do it with purpose.

What We’re Looking for (Minimum Qualifications)

• Demonstrated curiosity and active exploration of AI tools, with a proven history of integrating new technologies to enhance daily workflows and augment problem‑solving
• 10+ years of overall software engineering experience, including hands‑on proficiency in designing APIs and SDKs for containerized environments like Kubernetes and Docker
• Deep understanding of distributed systems concepts such as caching, queues, and pub/sub architectures with cloud service experience in AWS, GCP, or Azure
• Advanced understanding of API‑first design principles and standards including OpenAPI/Swagger, REST, JSON, and Authn/z

What Will Make You Stand Out (Preferred Qualifications)

• Practical experience and proficiency in applying modern AI tools to SDLC
• Proven experience in the Cloud Security and Networking domain
• Experience driving engineering practices for workflow automation and developer productivity using open‑source or proprietary tools
• Proactive advocate of modern engineering practices such as DevSecOps, CI/CD, and Infrastructure‑as‑Code across large engineering organizations

#LI-Hybrid #LI-AJ1

Zscaler’s salary ranges are benchmarked and are determined by role and level. The range displayed on each job posting reflects the minimum and maximum target for new hire salaries for the position across all US locations and could be higher or lower based on a multitude of factors, including job‑related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.

The base salary range listed for this full‑time position excludes commission/ bonus/ equity (if applicable) + benefits.

Base Pay Range

$212,000 - $265,000 USD

At Zscaler, we are committed to building a team that reflects the communities we serve and the customers we work with. We foster an inclusive environment that values all backgrounds and perspectives, emphasizing collaboration and belonging. Join us in our mission to make doing business seamless and secure.

Our Benefits program is one of the most important ways we support our employees. Zscaler proudly offers comprehensive and inclusive benefits to meet the diverse needs of our employees and their families throughout their life stages, including:

• Time off plans for vacation and sick time
• Parental leave options
• Retirement options
• In‑office perks, and more!

Learn more about Zscaler's hybrid working model and benefits here .

By applying for this role, you adhere to applicable laws, regulations, and Zscaler policies, including those related to security and privacy standards and guidelines.

Zscaler is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all individuals. We strive to create a workplace where employees are treated with respect and have the chance to succeed. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy or related medical conditions), age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. See more information by clicking on the Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal link.

Pay Transparency

Zscaler complies with all applicable federal, state, and local pay transparency rules.

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