Principal Software Development Engineer, Platform Engineering
Confirmed on the employer's own hiring board on Oct 16, 2026. First seen by Alion on Oct 15, 2026. Zscaler scores A on the Alion truth index.
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 a Hybrid role, reporting to the Director, Software Development Engineering ZIdentity team in the Identity and Access Management department. Identity is the new security perimeter. Come help manage digital risk by applying security through identity integration and controls. You will be responsible for the design and development of enterprise-grade Identity Management Products for Zscaler, leveraging your deep expertise in IAM and public cloud environments to drive hands-on development and provide technical leadership.
What you’ll do (Role Expectations)
Practice technical leadership in the design, development, and optimization of the Identity platform, focusing on strategy for cost-effective product growth and expansion
Spearhead the technical roadmap for the Kubernetes platform, architecting centralized identity and access management (IAM) solutions to support enterprise-scale business goals
Work closely with engineering teams to enhance support for the Common Identity platform
Drive professional development and growth initiatives for team members
Who You Are (Success Profile)
Thrive in ambiguity, comfortably building the path as you walk it and viewing dynamic environments as opportunities to construct meaningful solutions.
Operate with a strong sense of ownership, bringing a passion for the mission, high integrity, and the capability to navigate seamlessly between high-level strategy and hands-on execution.
Demonstrate a proactive problem-solving focus, eagerly running toward challenges and remaining laser-focused on delivering high-impact outcomes.
Build high-trust collaboration, prioritizing team success, welcoming constructive feedback, and practicing clear and respectful candor to establish strong partnerships.
Maintain a continuous growth mindset, actively seeking feedback and development to grow as a partner, teammate, and purpose-driven leader.
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
Minimum 8+ years of hands-on experience in application architecture and development using Java, including developing enterprise-grade Security or Networking products
Expert-level technical knowledge of Enterprise Java, OOP, OOA, systems architecture, RESTful APIs, and related frameworks such as Hibernate and Spring
Expert-level knowledge of container ecosystems (Docker, Kubernetes) and orchestrating massive-scale K8s clusters in AWS and GCP
Deep experience architecting highly automated, secure CI/CD pipelines (e.g., GitOps, ArgoCD, Jenkins, GitLab CI) to enable zero-downtime deployments across global environments
Expertise designing and optimizing Global Server Load Balancing (GSLB), cloud load balancers, Kubernetes Ingress Controllers, and foundational protocols like PKI, SAML, OAuth, and OpenID Connect
What Will Make You Stand Out (Preferred Qualifications)
Proven ability to leverage AI technologies and workflows to drive measurable operational efficiency
Prior experience building identity platforms or hyper-scale Kubernetes platforms
#LI-CM3
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.