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 Sr. Software Development Engineer (Controlplane) to join our team. This is a hybrid (in office 3 days a week in San Jose, CA) role, reporting to the Manager, Software Engineering in the Zero Trust Exchange department. In this role, you will lead the design and development of highly scalable, resilient, and secure control plane platform services that power the Zero Trust Exchange. You will drive architecture, influence technical strategy across teams, and deliver platform capabilities that improve reliability, operability, and developer velocity. The ideal candidate pairs deep distributed systems expertise with strong cross-functional leadership and a pragmatic, execution-focused mindset.
What you’ll do (Role Expectations)
- Lead the architecture, design, and delivery of large-scale control plane and platform services with a strong focus on scalability, availability, security, and operational excellence
- Drive complex cross-team technical initiatives, align stakeholders on architecture and execution plans, and ensure high-quality delivery against business and engineering priorities
- Identify and resolve system bottlenecks, reliability risks, and architectural gaps across distributed systems, improving performance, observability, and long-term maintainability
- Set a high technical bar through design reviews, code reviews, engineering best practices, and hands-on mentorship of senior engineers across the organization
- Evaluate and apply emerging technologies, including AI-assisted engineering workflows where appropriate, to improve developer productivity, system intelligence, and product delivery outcomes
Who You Are (Success Profile)
- You act like an owner with a passion for the mission, operating with integrity and navigating seamlessly between high-level strategy and hands-on execution.
- You are a dedicated problem-solver who is energized by complex technical challenges and focused on delivering high-impact outcomes.
- You are a high-trust collaborator who embraces a challenge culture with candid feedback, respect, and shared ambition for team success.
- You embody a true growth mindset, continuously developing your skills, seeking feedback, and bringing purpose to your work.
- You champion simplicity by distilling complex problems and technical concepts into clear, actionable plans and precise communication.
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
- 3+ years of software engineering experience, including significant experience designing and building large-scale distributed systems and backend platform services
- Deep expertise in system design, microservices architecture, API design, data modeling, and operating highly available, fault-tolerant services in production environments
- Strong proficiency in one or more modern programming languages such as Java, Go, or Python, with a track record of delivering production-grade software
- Experience leading complex technical initiatives across multiple teams, driving architectural decisions, and influencing engineering direction beyond immediate team boundaries
- Strong understanding of cloud-native technologies, observability, reliability engineering, and secure software development practices
What Will Make You Stand Out (Preferred Qualifications)
- Experience applying AI-forward engineering practices, such as developer copilots, intelligent automation, AI-assisted incident analysis, or ML/LLM-powered platform capabilities, to improve engineering productivity or product outcomes
- Experience building control plane, policy, identity, security, or other mission-critical platform systems in a SaaS or cybersecurity environment
- Experience mentoring senior engineers and serving as a recognized technical leader for architecture, operational excellence, and engineering standards across an organization
#LI-KM9 #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.
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.
Skills Required
- Active exploration and integration of AI tools to improve workflows and problem-solving
- 3+ years of software engineering experience, including designing and building large-scale distributed systems and backend platform services
- Deep expertise in system design, microservices architecture, API design, data modeling, and operating highly available, fault-tolerant production services
- Strong proficiency in one or more modern programming languages, such as Java, Go, or Python, with production software delivery experience
- Experience leading complex technical initiatives across multiple teams, driving architectural decisions, and influencing engineering direction
- Strong understanding of cloud-native technologies, observability, reliability engineering, and secure software development practices
- Experience applying AI-forward engineering practices, including developer copilots, intelligent automation, AI-assisted incident analysis, or ML/LLM-powered platform capabilities
- Experience building control-plane, policy, identity, security, or mission-critical platform systems in a SaaS or cybersecurity environment
- Experience mentoring senior engineers and serving as a recognized technical leader for architecture, operational excellence, and engineering standards
What We Do
Zscaler accelerates digital transformation so our customers can be more agile, efficient, resilient, and secure. Our cloud native Zero Trust Exchange platform protects thousands of customers from cyberattacks and data loss by securely connecting users, devices, and applications in any location.
Why Work With Us
Our impact comes from how we work—every day, in every decision, as one team. Our values and leadership principles are more than words; they're our operating system. They fuel a culture of execution where trust, transparency, and accountability help us deliver meaningful results for our customers, colleagues, and our company. www.zscaler.com/culture
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Zscaler Offices
Hybrid Workspace
Employees engage in a combination of remote and on-site work.
