Staff Software Development Engineer - Java + Distributed Systems

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 160+ public exchanges globally and thousands of private exchanges 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 Staff Software Development Engineer to join our team. This is a hybrid role, reporting to the Senior Director of Software Engineering in the Engineering department. You will join the Engineering team that built the world’s largest cloud security platform from the ground up. 

What you’ll do (Role Expectations)

• Understand how to build and operate high scale systems
• Provide service and product wide architectural guidance, and drive impactful technical decisions
• Establish and enforce best practices for coding, testing, observability, and CI/CD pipelines to maintain high-quality, production-ready services
• Drive cross-team collaboration and lead initiatives in performance optimization, reliability improvements, and adoption of new technologies/tools to accelerate feature velocity

Who You Are (Success Profile)

• You thrive in ambiguity. You're comfortable building the path as you walk it, viewing dynamic changes as opportunities to create meaningful impact.
• You act like an owner. Your commitment to the mission drives a bias for action, letting you execute strategy while staying highly accountable for outcomes.
• You are a problem-solver. You actively run toward hard challenges, maintaining a laser focus on delivering solutions that yield maximum results.
• You are a high-trust collaborator. You focus on team success over individual ambition, welcoming candid feedback delivered with clarity and respect.
• You are a learner. You possess a relentless growth mindset, continuously seeking out development opportunities to become a better teammate.

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
• 5+ years of experience in Java coding in a highly distributed and enterprise-scale environment with experience in Kafka, Druid, ElasticSearch
• Experience being on-call and dealing with cloud incidents and writing RCAs
• Working knowledge of cloud infrastructure services on AWS or Azure
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science or equivalent experience

What Will Make You Stand Out (Preferred Qualifications)

• Experience building full CI/CD systems leveraging Kubernetes and web service frameworks
• Experience building reliable and extensible data tiers for large-scale web services using Postgres and Redis
• Experience with identity and access management systems like Okta, SAML protocols, and security services knowledge of OAuth

#LI-Hybrid #LI-AN4

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.