Principal Software Development Engineer

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 an hybrid role in Santa Clara, CA, reporting to the Director of Software Development Engineering in the Zero Trust Branch department. This role is responsible for validating end-to-end Zero Trust Branch solutions for customer deployments, with a strong focus on quality, interoperability, scalability, and field readiness. The engineer will build customer-like test environments, reproduce real-world issues, automate solution validation, and work cross-functionally with development, product, and field teams to improve release confidence and customer success.

What you’ll do (Role Expectations)

• Design and execute end-to-end test plans for Zero Trust Branch customer solutions across branch, cloud, endpoint, and security components
• Build and maintain realistic lab environments that mirror customer deployments to validate integrations, feature behavior, and upgrade scenarios
• Develop and expand automation for functional, regression, interoperability, and scale testing to improve release quality and efficiency
• Reproduce, isolate, and troubleshoot customer-reported issues; partner with engineering to drive root cause analysis and defect resolution
• Collaborate with development, product management, support, and solution architecture teams to ensure solutions are customer-ready, supportable, and operationally sound

Who You Are (Success Profile)

• You are a natural problem-solver who is energized by finding creative solutions to complex challenges, understanding that tackling difficult technical issues delivers the greatest customer impact.
• You are deeply customer-obsessed, anchoring your engineering decisions in real-world customer deployments and building empathy to champion their needs from start to finish.
• You operate with a strong sense of urgency and a bias for action, delivering high-quality, impactful results rapidly in a fast-paced environment.
• You are a data-driven thinker who uses evidence, metrics, and analytics to uncover the truth and guide informed decision-making.
• You are resilient, highly adaptable, and maintain absolute composure under pressure, guiding yourself and your peers through complex scenarios with a positive approach.

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
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or a related technical field, or equivalent practical experience
• 12+ years of experience in QA, system test, solution test, integration test, or SDET roles for enterprise software or cloud-delivered platforms
• Strong understanding of networking fundamentals, including TCP/IP, DNS, HTTP/HTTPS, routing, proxy behavior, VPN/tunneling, and traffic flows
• CCNP or equivalent knowledge and experience in the networking domain.
• Experience building Python-based frameworks (preferably PyTest) for API, protocol, and system tests to drive reliability and coverage across microservices.
• Proven experience debugging complex customer or system issues using logs, traces, packet captures, and other troubleshooting tools in Linux-based or distributed environments;

What Will Make You Stand Out (Preferred Qualifications)

• Proven ability to leverage AI technologies and workflows to drive measurable operational efficiency
• Experience with Zero Trust, SSE, SASE, network security, branch networking, SD-WAN, or secure access technologies
• Experience validating customer deployments and interoperability across cloud platforms, identity providers, endpoint clients, and enterprise network environments
• Experience with CI/CD pipelines, scale/performance testing, and building automated test frameworks for distributed systems

#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 $185,500 — $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.