{"id":191835,"url":"https://alion.io/job/zscaler-principal-software-engineer-c-networking-dataplane","title":"Principal Software Engineer (C / Networking / Dataplane)","company":{"id":1208,"name":"Zscaler","domain":"zscaler.com","url":"https://alion.io/company/zscaler","size_band":"5000+","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Greenhouse","truth_index":{"grade":"B","score":84,"open_postings":54,"ghost_share":0.019,"stale_share":0.556,"repost_share":0.037,"time_to_fill_p50_days":47,"computed_at":"2026-10-17T05:46:00Z"}},"role":"Backend","role_family":"Backend","seniority":"lead","employment_type":"full_time","work_mode":"hybrid","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Santa Clara, United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":{"min":185500,"max":265000,"currency":"USD","period":"year","gross":null,"usd_annual":265000},"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":12,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"Agile","optional":false},{"name":"C++","optional":false},{"name":"DNS","optional":false},{"name":"Linux","optional":false},{"name":"TCP/IP","optional":false},{"name":"Unix","optional":false},{"name":"Zero Trust","optional":false},{"name":"Zscaler","optional":false}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-09-02T16:11:33Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-10-08","last_verified_at":"2026-10-18T13:27:51Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":45,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":45},"description":"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.\nWe 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.\n\nRole\nWe are looking for a Principal Software Engineer (C / Networking / Dataplane) to join our Engineering Team. This is a Hybrid (San Jose, CA 3 days a week in office) role, reporting to the Senior Director, Software Development Engineering. The Principal Software Engineer (C / Networking / Dataplane) will design and implement high-performance data path features for load balancing and L7 protocols, directly enhancing the scalability and security of global networking infrastructure. By leveraging deep C programming expertise and autonomous ownership, they will drive complex architectural projects from initial concept to large-scale deployment.\nWhat you’ll do (Role Expectations)\nDesign and implement Datapath features related to Load Balancer, Firewall rules and L7 Protocol implementations\nApply deep knowledge of C programming, data structures, and algorithms to build high-performance systems\nIndependently drive moderately complex projects from conception to deployment with full ownership\nUtilize expert knowledge of networking protocols and services including DNS, HTTP, TCP/IP, and SSL/TLS\nLeverage Unix or Linux operating systems knowledge to optimize networking and security applications\nWho You Are (Success Profile)\nYou 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. You adapt to what’s needed, navigating seamlessly between high-level strategy and hands-on execution.\nYou 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.\nYou are customer-obsessed. You build deep empathy for the customer-both internal and external-and anchor your decisions in solving their real-world problems. You champion their needs from start to finish, knowing their success is our success.\nYou operate with urgency. You understand that in a high-growth environment, speed and quality are not mutually exclusive. You have a relentless focus on execution and a bias for action, delivering high-impact results quickly to win for the customer and the team.\nYou think at scale. You connect your day-to-day work to the larger company mission and think globally. You build solutions, processes, and teams that are not just effective today but are built to last and support a high-growth, global organization.\nWhat We’re Looking for (Minimum Qualifications)\nDemonstrated curiosity and active exploration of AI tools, with a proven history of integrating new technologies to enhance daily workflows and augment problem-solving\n12+ years of experience building large-scale commercial networking and security applications with proficiency in programming languages C or C++\nStrong foundational knowledge in data structures and algorithms\nWorking experience in Linux, Unix, or similar operating systems\nBS or MS degree in CS/CE or equivalent experience\nWhat Will Make You Stand Out (Preferred Qualifications)\nExposure to AI-assisted software development tools and workflows, with the ability to apply them to improve engineering productivity and delivery quality\nAdvanced knowledge of networking protocols and services, specifically DNS, HTTP, TCP/IP, and SSL/TLS\n#LI-KM9 #LI-Hybrid\nZscaler’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.\nThe base salary range listed for this full-time position excludes commission/ bonus/ equity (if applicable) + benefits.\nBase Pay Range\n$185,500—$265,000 USD\nAt 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.\nOur 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:\nVarious health plans\nTime off plans for vacation and sick time\nParental leave options\nRetirement options\nEducation reimbursement\nIn-office perks, and more!\nLearn more about Zscaler's hybrid working model and benefits here.\nBy applying for this role, you adhere to applicable laws, regulations, and Zscaler policies, including those related to security and privacy standards and guidelines.\nZscaler 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.\nPay Transparency\nZscaler complies with all applicable federal, state, and local pay transparency rules.\nZscaler 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.","description_format":"text","description_chars":6995,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":12,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":null,"security_clearance":false,"languages":[]},"benefits":["Equity","Hybrid work","Parental leave"],"hiring_locations":[{"name":"United States","iso":"US","kind":"country"}],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["Network Security","Cloud Security"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-09-02T17:31:16Z"}],"visa":[{"country":"US","licensed_sponsor":true,"evidence":"H-1B filings in 12 months: 154 · green card filings: 48","filings_12m":154,"filings_prev_12m":180,"green_card_filings_12m":48,"median_offered_wage_usd":192500,"route":null,"cap_exempt":false,"checked_at":"2026-10-15T11:24:14+00:00","sources":["US Department of Labor: LCA disclosure data (H-1B, H-1B1, E-3)","US Department of Labor: PERM disclosure data (green cards)"],"filings_for_role_12m":111}],"liveness":{"score":31,"band":"fade","label":"Fading","p_open":1,"p_active":0.521,"p_room":0.6,"age_days":44,"expected_fill_days":47,"reasons":["conf:0","stale_co","velocity","win:late","crowd:brand"],"computed_at":"2026-10-17T05:46:00Z"},"pay":{"stated_usd_annual":265000,"is_top_pay":true},"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/zscaler-principal-software-engineer-c-networking-dataplane","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/zscaler-principal-software-engineer-c-networking-dataplane.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-10-18T13:45:54Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","about":"Alion is a live layer of people, companies and AI agents: who they are, whether they are real and active right now, what they do and how to work with them, readable by people and by agents and paid per call.","catalog":"https://alion.io/catalog.json","usage":{"tier":"crawler_verified","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":20440,"day_limit":null,"remaining_today":null,"minute_limit":300,"resets_at":"2026-10-19T00:00:00Z"}},"offers":[{"id":"company.slices","title":"One company in depth, by slice","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002,"plus_per_slice":{"credits":0.05,"usd":0.005}},"unit":"per company, plus each slice with data","note":"the employer in depth","call":{"mcp_tool":"get_company","arguments":{"id":1208},"rest":"https://alion.io/mcp/rest/get_company?id=1208"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.slices&for=job%2Fzscaler-principal-software-engineer-c-networking-dataplane"},{"id":"market.stats","title":"A market slice: pay, demand and time to fill","status":"live","price":{"credits":1,"usd":0.1},"unit":"per slice","note":"pay, demand and time to fill for this role and place","call":{"mcp_tool":"market_stats"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=market.stats&for=job%2Fzscaler-principal-software-engineer-c-networking-dataplane"},{"id":"job.search","title":"Open jobs by role, technology, place, pay and visa","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002},"unit":"per posting in a list","note":"similar open postings","call":{"mcp_tool":"search_jobs"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=job.search&for=job%2Fzscaler-principal-software-engineer-c-networking-dataplane"},{"id":"company.verify","title":"Is this company real and active right now","status":"pilot","price":null,"unit":"per company","request":{"url":"https://alion.io/catalog/request","method":"POST","body":"{\"offer\": \"company.verify\", \"for\": \"job/zscaler-principal-software-engineer-c-networking-dataplane\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Fzscaler-principal-software-engineer-c-networking-dataplane"}]}