Sr. Principal Engineer - Cortex Xpanse, Collections

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

Job summary

Palo Alto Networks, Inc. is seeking a Senior Principal Software Engineer to lead the technical vision for the Cortex Xpanse ASM platform. This role involves architecting scalable backend systems and data pipelines while mentoring engineering talent.

The ideal candidate has over 10 years of experience in software engineering, proficiency in Java or Go, and a strong background in distributed systems. The position offers a competitive salary range from $170,000 to $277,000 annually.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of software engineering experience.
• Proficient in Java or Golang, with experience in other modern languages.
• Experience with cloud platforms like GCP, AWS, or Azure.

Responsibilities

• Build and optimize distributed scanning systems in Go.
• Design data collection pipelines and conduct data analysis.
• Mentor and grow engineering talent.

Skills

Backend system development

Distributed systems

Data pipeline creation

Java

Go

Tools

Apache Beam

Kubernetes

Terraform

Job description

Our Mission

At Palo Alto Networks®, we’re united by a shared mission—to protect our digital way of life. We thrive at the intersection of innovation and impact, solving real-world problems with cutting‑edge technology and bold thinking. Here, everyone has a voice, and every idea counts. If you’re ready to do the most meaningful work of your career alongside people who are just as passionate as you are, you’re in the right place.

Who We Are

In order to be the cybersecurity partner of choice, we must trailblaze the path and shape the future of our industry. This is something our employees work at each day and is defined by our values: Disruption, Collaboration, Execution, Integrity, and Inclusion. We weave AI into the fabric of everything we do and use it to augment the impact every individual can have. If you are passionate about solving real‑world problems and ideating beside the best and the brightest, we invite you to join us!

We believe collaboration thrives in person. That’s why most of our teams work from the office full time, with flexibility when it’s needed. This model supports real‑time problem‑solving, stronger relationships, and the kind of precision that drives great outcomes.

Job Summary

The Collections team is the foundational engine behind the Cortex Xpanse Attack Surface Management (ASM) platform. We architect, scale, and orchestrate global internet‑scale discovery and scanning infrastructure. In this role, you will design distributed systems that continuously map the entire IPv4 and IPv6 internet, while building high‑throughput data pipelines to create the foundation for Xpanse’s Attack Surface Management. As a Senior Principal Software Engineer, you will lead the technical vision across the Xpanse organization. You will architect robust, scalable solutions spanning multiple services and guide the end‑to‑end delivery of high‑impact initiatives. Partnering closely with engineering leadership, you will define our long‑term roadmap while actively mentoring and elevating engineering talent across the organization.

Key Responsibilities

• Build, optimize, and scale distributed backend scanning systems in Go.
• Design and develop robust data collection pipelines using Apache Beam and Java multithreading frameworks.
• Investigate new data sources and perform data analysis to estimate customer impact.
• Take ownership of projects, drive them to completion, and support them in production.
• Partner with engineering leadership, product managers, and downstream teams to define product strategy and enable the creation of new customer‑facing features.
• Mentor and grow engineers, setting a high bar for technical excellence, architecture design, and system reliability.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• 10+ years of professional software engineering experience building backend systems.
• A track record of setting technical direction, leading architectural decisions, and delivering massive, scalable systems into production.
• Proficiency in Java or Golang is preferred, though strong experience with other modern backend languages is welcome.
• Experience building data pipelines for real‑time streaming or batch processing.
• Experience with distributed systems, API design, and decoupling complex data architectures.
• Experience with at least one major cloud platform (GCP, AWS, or Azure).

Preferred Qualifications

• Have expertise with any of the following: GCP, Kubernetes, Terraform, BigQuery, PostgreSQL, MySQL, BigTable, Apache Beam.
• Familiarity with low‑level Internet protocols and high‑throughput network scanning.
• Experience with cybersecurity, attack surface management, or internet measurement domains.

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.

$170,000.00 - $277,000.00/yr

Our Commitment

We’re trailblazers that dream big, take risks, and challenge cybersecurity’s status quo. It’s simple: we can’t accomplish our mission without diverse teams innovating, together.

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].

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?: Yes