Senior Principal Software Engineer

Bellevue, Washington, USA; Remote - USA; San Jose, California, USA About Zscaler Zscaler accelerates digital transformation to ensure our customers can be more agile, efficient, resilient, and secure. As an AI-forward enterprise , we are constantly pushing the envelope, leveraging the world’s largest security data lake to power our cloud-native Zero Trust Exchange platform. This innovation protects our customers from cyberattacks and data loss by securely connecting users, devices, and applications in any location. Here, impact in your role matters more than title and trust is built on results. We say, impact over activity. We seek innovators who actively use AI to amplify their impact and who thrive in an environment where we leverage intelligent systems to stay ahead of evolving threats. We believe in transparency and value constructive, honest debate —we’re focused on getting to the best ideas, faster. We build high-performing teams that can make an impact quickly and with high quality. To do this, we are building a culture of execution centered on customer obsession , collaboration, ownership, and accountability. We value high-impact, high-accountability with a sense of urgency where you’re enabled to do your best work and embrace your potential. If you’re driven by purpose, thrive on solving complex challenges, and want to be part of the team that’s helping to secure the AI age, we invite you to bring your talents to Zscaler and help shape the future of cybersecurity. Role We are looking for a Director, Software Development to join our team. This role is available as a hybrid opportunity 3 days a week in San Jose, CA or as a remote position, reporting to the Production Engineering organization in the Cloud Infrastructure & Operations department. Join Zscaler to be a force multiplier for the reliability of a global platform protecting over 15 million users. In this role, you will define the technical vision for a broad software domain, lead the architecture of major subsystems, and drive complex, cross-functional initiatives from concept through execution aligned to an "automation-first" culture across the company. You will act as a force multiplier for engineering excellence by championing innovation, raising design standards, and building software systems that are resilient, scalable, and built for long-term impact across products that reduce our Mean Time to Mitigate (MTTM) and shape the scalability of our globally distributed, multi-cloud infrastructure. What you’ll do (Role Expectations) Lead the design and development of highly scalable, performant, and reliable distributed systems in cloud and hybrid environments Architect major software components and review and approve critical design proposals, with deep consideration for performance, operability, and long-term maintainability Champion engineering excellence through strong software design practices, code quality, observability, performance optimization, and operational readiness Mentor senior engineers and technical leaders, raise the overall engineering bar, and help attract top technical talent to Zscaler Act as a lead Incident Commander (TDO on-call), develop response playbooks, and conduct deep-dive post-incident analyses 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. True ownership involves leveraging dynamic range: the ability to navigate seamlessly between high-level strategy and hands‑on execution. You are a problem-solver. You love running towards the challenges because you are laser‑focused on finding the solution, 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 are obsessed with your own development, 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 in software engineering, with a significant portion focused on architecting and delivering large-scale distributed systems Strong experience designing scalable, high-performance, resilient software systems in cloud-native and distributed environments Deep expertise in one or more systems programming or backend languages such as Java, Go, C++, or Python Foundational understanding of AI/ML technologies and experience leveraging, securing, or positioning AI-driven solutions to optimize outcomes within your functional domain Leveraged ITIL frameworks and incident data during high‑stakes incident management and 24/7 on‑call rotations to drive service maturity through systematic problem management and technical operability reviews. What Will Make You Stand Out (Preferred Qualifications) Strong background in performance engineering, benchmarking, and optimization of large-scale distributed systems Track record of initiating new strategic projects or helping expand Zscaler into new technical or business opportunities Background in security, networking, or large-scale internet systems is a plus

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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 $217,000 - $310,000 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: Time off plans for vacation and sick time Parental leave options Retirement options In‑office perks, and more! Learn more about Zscaler's hybrid working model and benefitshere . 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. #J-18808-Ljbffr Zscaler