Principal Software Development Engineer (Control-Plane)

Role

We are looking for a Principal Software Development Engineer (Control-Plane) to join our Engineering team. This is a hybrid (in Santa Clara, CA office minimum 3 days per week) role, reporting to the Director, Software Development Engineering. We are expanding our existing control path and looking for a software engineer to help drive the development of new features and enhanced functionality. You will play a pivotal role in evolving our architecture to ensure it meets the demands of our growing user base.

What you’ll do (Role Expectations)

• Define software design specifications and implement bug-free code using test-driven methodology and modern AI-based coding tools
• Design, develop, and optimize the system, including networking and security features, to support high-performance applications while performing unit testing and automation to ensure quality
• Apply strong software design principles and deep troubleshooting expertise to deliver scalable, resilient, and impactful improvements to Zscaler’s Zero Trust Security Services
• Work directly with Engineering Architects, Product Managers, Customers, and Solution Architects to understand customer use cases, review PRDs, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to identify and resolve system-related issues
• Coach and mentor junior team members and ensure highest level of quality deliverables

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. You adapt to what’s needed, navigating seamlessly between high-level strategy and hands-on execution.
• You are a problem-solver. You seek out challenges because you are energized by finding solutions, 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 never stop developing yourself, 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)

• 12+ years of experience designing and building large-scale, highly reliable, and scalable software systems, preferably in Python and/or Go
• Strong hands-on experience with public cloud infrastructure across AWS, GCP, and Azure
• Deep understanding of cloud networking concepts and services, including Transit Gateway, Internet Gateway, NAT Gateway, NACLs, security groups, GWLB, ILB, Route 53, and Azure DNS
• Foundational knowledge of AI/ML technologies, with experience applying, securing, or positioning AI-driven solutions to improve outcomes within the functional domain
• Strong software design, profiling, and verification skills, with exposure to optimizing systems for scale and performance

What Will Make You Stand Out (Preferred Qualifications)

• Strong experience designing and building distributed systems and SaaS platforms, with a proven ability to develop highly available, resilient, and scalable services in production environments
• Deep understanding of firewalls, network security principles, and core networking protocols, with the ability to troubleshoot complex traffic flows and enforce secure, high-performance connectivity
• Hands-on familiarity with architecting and building Firewall-as-a-Service solutions on major cloud platforms, including AWS, GCP, and Azure, with an understanding of cloud-native networking and security services across each environment