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. Staff Engineer to join our team. This is a Hybrid role, reporting to the Senior Manager, Software Engineering in the Federal and Sovereign Clouds department. As a passionate engineer you will work with a team of cloud architects in building scalable, high performance backend applications for our cloud engineering org. You will play a pivotal role in enhancing our multitenant architecture and global footprint for the world’s largest cloud security platform.
What you’ll do (Role Expectations)
Designing and implementing scalable, high-performance backend services and APIs
Ensuring code quality by writing and maintaining unit, integration, and performance tests; monitor, debug, and optimize system performance
Mentoring junior engineers, fostering their growth, and upholding best practices through active participation in code reviews
Collaborating with cross-functional teams to deliver integrated solutions and contribute to Agile/Scrum processes like sprint planning and retrospectives
Participating in on-call rotation to support a highly available engineering platform and ensure compliance with federal guidelines
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)
Foundational understanding of AI/ML technologies and experience leveraging, securing, or positioning AI-driven solutions to optimize outcomes within your functional domain
8+ years of experience with proficiency coding in Java / Golang or similar
Hands-on experience with Docker, Kubernetes, and one or more major cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, or Azure)
Expertise in designing and maintaining large-scale distributed systems with strong fundamentals of scaling, availability and design trade offs
Exceptional problem-solving skills for creating robust solutions and resolving complex issues with root cause analysis
What Will Make You Stand Out (Preferred Qualifications)
Experience leveraging LLMs or AI code-assistance platforms to accelerate distributed systems development, code refactoring, and automated testing pipelines
Strong understanding of DevOps automation workflows and CI/CD pipelines
Excellent communication and cross-team collaboration skills, with the ability to navigate ambiguity, make high-impact technical decisions, and deliver results with minimal oversight
#LI-RM6 #LI-Hybrid
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
- Foundational understanding of AI/ML technologies and experience leveraging, securing, or positioning AI-driven solutions
- 8+ years of experience with proficiency coding in Java or Golang (or similar)
- Hands-on experience with Docker and Kubernetes
- Hands-on experience with one or more major cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, or Azure)
- Expertise designing and maintaining large-scale distributed systems with strong scaling and availability fundamentals
- Exceptional problem-solving skills and root cause analysis experience
- Experience leveraging LLMs or AI code-assistance platforms to accelerate development, refactoring, and testing pipelines
- Strong understanding of DevOps automation workflows and CI/CD pipelines
- Excellent communication and cross-team collaboration skills; ability to make high-impact technical decisions with minimal oversight
Zscaler Compensation & Benefits Highlights
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Healthcare Strength — Health and family support includes multiple medical plan options, mental‑health access (Lyra and EAP), fertility and gender‑inclusive care, menopause support, and concierge cancer care. This breadth indicates strong coverage depth across core health needs.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Salaried employees have flexible time off with no set cap, paid company holidays, sick/bereavement/military leave, and paid parental leave with a ramp‑back period. Hybrid work further complements time away when needed.
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Equity Value & Accessibility — Equity participation includes RSUs for eligible roles and an ESPP with a material discount, with corporate filings confirming the ESPP’s ongoing operation. These programs expand total rewards beyond cash through ownership opportunities.
Zscaler Insights
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.
