Sr. Staff Software Engineer, Zero-Trust Networking

Zscaler; Santa Clara (CA); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 225,000; Full time

Job summary

Zscaler is seeking a Sr. Staff Software Development Engineer for the Zero Trust Branch datapath team in Santa Clara, CA.

This hybrid role (3 days in office) reports to the Architect, Engineering and focuses on building and enhancing the Zero Trust Branch platform, dataplane services and APIs used by millions globally. You will collaborate with cross-functional teams to design architectures, optimize cloud-delivered security and SD-WAN technologies, and develop high-performance network

Qualifications

• Foundational understanding of AI/ML technologies and experience leveraging, securing, or positioning AI-driven solutions to optimize outcomes within your functional domain
• 10+ years of experience designing and developing software within a distributed, enterprise-scale environment
• Strong proficiency in Go programming specifically applied to network data handling and processing
• Deep expertise in Linux environments, including system-level programming, networking concepts, scripting, and troubleshooting
• Strong exposure to SD-WAN technologies, VPNs, Cloud Security architectures, and cloud platforms such as AWS
• In-depth understanding of L2–L7 networking, TCP/IP stack internals, traffic management protocols (HTTP/HTTPS, SSL/TLS), and performance testing methodologies

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to define requirements, design architectures, and deliver resilient cloud-based software solutions and network integrations
• Leverage deep expertise in L2–L7 networking to develop and advance cloud-delivered security and SD-WAN technologies
• Develop, maintain, and optimize high-performance network applications and protocols utilizing Go and Python
• Design efficient data structures for network data processing and handle system-level programming within Linux environments
• Analyze network performance to isolate bottlenecks, drive system optimizations, and lead rigorous code reviews, testing, and debugging

Skills

Go programming

Linux system-level programming

SD-WAN technologies

TCP/IP stack internals

AWS cloud platforms

AI/ML foundations

Python programming

CS networking concepts

Go & Python for network data handling

GitHub Copilot / AI tools

Tools

GitHub Copilot

Cursor

Job description

Zscaler is seeking a Sr. Staff Software Development Engineer for the Zero Trust Branch datapath team in Santa Clara, CA.

This hybrid role (3 days in office) reports to the Architect, Engineering and focuses on building and enhancing the Zero Trust Branch platform, dataplane services and APIs used by millions globally. You will collaborate with cross-functional teams to design architectures, optimize cloud-delivered security and SD-WAN technologies, and develop high-performance network