Principal Software Development Engineer

About the role

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 Principal Software Development Engineer to join our team. This is a Hybrid role for Santa Clara CA, reporting to the Senior Director, Software Development Engineering in the Customer/Cloud Reliability Software Engineering department. Our Engineering team built the world's largest cloud security platform from the ground up, and we keep building. With more than 100 patents and big plans for enhancing services and increasing our global footprint, the team has made us and our multitenant architecture today's cloud security leader, with more than 15 million users in 185 countries. Bring your vision and passion to our team of cloud architects, software engineers, security experts, and more who are enabling organizations worldwide to harness speed and agility with a cloud-first strategy.

What you’ll do (Role Expectations)

• Lead and scale the engineering team responsible for performing deep troubleshooting across OS, networking, and distributed systems while codifying learnings into standardized diagnostics and automation for the Zero Trust Branch platform
• Champion the development of AI-based solutions and supportability tools focusing on internal detection and reduction of triaging time
• Partner with cross-functional product and engineering teams to drive reliable, scalable cloud security solutions for global customers

Who You Are (Success Profile)

• A visionary technical leader who can define and execute a clear strategy for cloud and customer reliability tools.
• A collaborative partner capable of aligning technical strategies with product management to shape a robust, customer-centric product roadmap.
• A dedicated mentor passionate about cultivating a high-performing engineering culture centered on learning and collaboration.
• A critical thinker with a passion for diagnosing, troubleshooting, and solving complex, distributed systems issues at scale.
• An outcome-oriented driver who seamlessly partners with cross-functional engineering teams to guide and deliver industry-leading platform reliability.

What We’re Looking for (Minimum Qualifications)

• Foundational understanding of AI/ML technologies, with experience leveraging, securing, or positioning AI-driven solutions to optimize outcomes within your functional domain.
• Experience leading software development, software sustenance engineering, or customer escalation engineering teams.
• Technical proficiency in Python, Go, and Linux systems, with hands-on experience in network security products, routing, switching, DHCP, and DNS; SD-WAN, micro-segmentation, and SASE/SSE experience is a plus.
• Proven track record developing troubleshooting and monitoring automation, driving root-cause resolution, and partnering with product engineering to deliver automated remediation.
• Experience as a reliability engineer/developer, partnering with other engineering teams to deliver reliable solutions that advance industry-leading reliability of the Zscaler Cloud.
• Skilled in customer issue debugging and root-cause closure, driving post-incident actions to permanent fixes by partnering with product engineering to build diagnosable-by-design capabilities (SDKs, templates, standards) and deliver automated prevention and remediation.

What Will Make You Stand Out (Preferred Qualifications)

• Proven ability to leverage AI technologies and workflows — including agentic AI-based workflows and LLM frameworks — to drive measurable operational efficiency, partnering with technical teams to define complex solutions.
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or a relevant engineering discipline.
• Strong interest in troubleshooting complex customer issues, with the ability to provide technical leadership and vision for developing cloud and customer reliability tools.
• Deep experience building and scaling customer/cloud reliability engineering cultures in comparable large-scale technology environments.

#LI-CM3 

#LI-Hybrid

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

$185,000—$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:

• Various health plans
• Time off plans for vacation and sick time
• Parental leave options
• Retirement options
• Education reimbursement
• 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.

Zscaler is committed to providing reasonable support (called accommodations or adjustments) in our recruiting processes for candidates who are differently abled, have long term conditions, mental health conditions or sincerely held religious beliefs, or who are neurodivergent or require pregnancy-related support.