---
title: 'Sr. Staff Software Development Engineer at Zscaler'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/sr-staff-software-development-engineer-zscaler-santa-clara-7vqqk35tek8c'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-10-16'
---

# Sr. Staff Software Development Engineer at Zscaler

- **Company:** Zscaler
- **Location:** Santa Clara, CA
- **Compensation:** $180k–$225k
- **Posted:** 2026-10-14
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-10-16
- **Apply:** https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/zscaler/jobs/5239536007

## Job 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.

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 Sr. Staff Software Development Engineer to join our Zero Trust Branch datapath team. This is a hybrid role based in Santa Clara, CA (3 days in office), reporting to the Architect, Engineering. As a core technical expert, you will contribute to building and enhancing our Zero Trust Branch platform, designing and developing robust dataplane services and APIs that support millions of users globally.

## What you'll do (Role Expectations)

- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to define requirements, design architectures, and deliver resilient cloud-based software solutions and network integrations
- Leverage deep expertise in L2–L7 networking to develop and advance cloud-delivered security and SD-WAN technologies
- Develop, maintain, and optimize high-performance network applications and protocols utilizing Go and Python
- Design efficient data structures for network data processing and handle system-level programming within Linux environments
- Analyze network performance to isolate bottlenecks, drive system optimizations, and lead rigorous code reviews, testing, and debugging

## Who You Are (Success Profile)

- You thrive in ambiguity. You're comfortable building the path as you walk it, viewing dynamic environments not as a hindrance, but as the raw material to build something meaningful.
- You operate with urgency. You understand that in a high-growth environment, speed and quality are not mutually exclusive, maintaining a relentless focus on execution and delivering high-impact results quickly.
- You are a problem-solver. You actively seek out challenges and are energized by finding solutions, knowing that solving the hardest problems delivers the biggest impact.
- You are a high-trust collaborator. You are ambitious for the team, embracing a challenge culture where candid feedback delivered with clarity and respect earns trust and drives excellence.
- You lead with integrity. You consistently do the right thing, hold yourself and others to high accountability, and build trust by matching your words with transparent action.

## 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
- 10+ years of experience designing and developing software within a distributed, enterprise-scale environment
- Strong proficiency in Go programming specifically applied to network data handling and processing
- Deep expertise in Linux environments, including system-level programming, networking concepts, scripting, and troubleshooting
- Strong exposure to SD-WAN technologies, VPNs, Cloud Security architectures, and cloud platforms such as AWS
- In-depth understanding of L2–L7 networking, TCP/IP stack internals, traffic management protocols (HTTP/HTTPS, SSL/TLS), and performance testing methodologies

What Will Make You Stand Out (Preferred Qualifications)

- Proficiency with modern AI code-assistance tools (e.g., GitHub Copilot, Cursor) to accelerate architecture design, software refactoring, and system development
- Advanced hands-on experience with L3 tunneling protocols, SD-WAN implementations, and cloud-based networking architecture, design, and deployment
- Proven track record of monitoring industry trends and proactively proposing architectural enhancements to elevate system reliability, scalability, and network efficiency

#LI-YC2 #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.

Base Pay Range $180,000—$225,000 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](https://www.zscaler.com/candidate-resource-hub).

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](https://www.eeoc.gov/sites/default/files/2023-06/22-088_EEOC_KnowYourRights6.12ScreenRdr.pdf)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.

## About Zscaler

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Zscaler provides a cloud-native zero trust security platform that securely connects users, devices, and applications to enterprise resources anywhere.
- **Entity Type**: Public (Ticker: ZS on Nasdaq)
- **Headquarters**: San Jose, California, USA
- **Founded**: 2007
- **Founders**: Jay Chaudhry (CEO) and K. K. Chaudhry

## Core Business
- **Primary industry**: Cybersecurity (Cloud Security, Zero Trust Network Access, Secure Service Edge)
- **Target customers**: B2B, serving large enterprises (including 40% of the Forbes Global 2000), mid-market companies, and government organizations.
- **Mission**: "To anticipate, secure, and simplify the experience of doing business, transforming today and tomorrow." The company aims to create a world where information exchange is always secure and seamless.

## Products & Services
- **Zscaler Zero Trust Exchange**: The core cloud-native platform that replaces legacy VPNs and firewalls. It uses zero trust principles to securely connect users, devices, and workloads to applications based on identity and context, not network location.
- **Zscaler Internet Access (ZIA)**: A cloud-delivered security service for internet and SaaS access, providing threat protection, web filtering, and data loss prevention.
- **Zscaler Private Access (ZPA)**: A zero trust network access (ZTNA) service that provides secure remote access to internal applications without exposing the network.
- **Zscaler Digital Experience (ZDX)**: Monitors and improves digital experience for remote users and applications.
- **AI Security (Zscaler AI Protect)**: A unified solution to secure the use of AI applications and traffic, providing visibility, access control, and data protection.
- **Data Security**: Comprehensive data loss prevention (DLP) across all channels (web, SaaS, email, cloud workloads).
- **Agentic SecOps**: A platform that draws on insights from the world’s largest inline security cloud to assess risk, detect, and contain breaches.

## Market Standing
- **Valuation/Market Cap**: As a public company, market capitalization fluctuates. (Check current value via financial sources like Yahoo Finance or Google Finance).
- **Key Metric**: Annual Revenue is publicly reported in SEC filings (10-K/10-Q). The company reports over 500 billion daily transactions secured and serves over 9,400 customers.
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: Publicly traded, major institutional investors hold shares. Key partners include major systems integrators, cloud providers (AWS, Azure, GCP), and technology partners.
- **Growth Signals**: Zscaler is recognized as a Leader in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for Security Service Edge (SSE). It has a Net Promoter Score (NPS) of >75 (avg. SaaS company is 30), indicating extremely high customer satisfaction. The company is expanding its platform into AI security and OT/IoT security.

## Competitive Advantages
- **Cloud-Native Architecture**: Built from the ground up as a multi-tenant cloud platform, not a ported legacy appliance. This provides massive scale (500B+ daily transactions) and inherent agility.
- **Largest Security Cloud**: Operates the world’s largest inline security cloud, providing unique data and threat intelligence that improves detection and protection for all customers.
- **Zero Trust Leadership**: Widely considered the pioneer and market leader in zero trust network access and SSE, with a strong brand and proven track record with the largest enterprises (40% of Global 2000).
- **High Customer Loyalty**: An NPS of 75+ is extraordinarily high for an enterprise technology company, indicating strong product-market fit and customer success.

## Strategic Focus
- **Platform Expansion**: Deepening the platform to cover new areas like AI security, OT/IoT security, and digital experience monitoring.
- **Innovation in AI**: Building AI-native security capabilities to help customers safely adopt AI and to power its own SecOps and threat detection.
- **Go-to-Market**: Continuing to land large enterprise deals and expand within existing customers.
- **Infrastructure Modernization**: Helping customers transition from legacy network security (VPNs, firewalls) to a modern, cloud-first, zero trust architecture.

## Why Work Here
- **Mission-Driven Work**: Employees are focused on solving critical cybersecurity challenges for the world's largest organizations, with a mission to "secure the exchange of information."
- **Culture & Recognition**: Recognized as a "Best Place to Work" and on Fortune's "Best Workplaces in Technology." The culture is described as high-performing, customer-obsessed, collaborative, and accountable.
- **Hybrid Work Model**: Zscaler is "hybrid by design." Offices in San Jose (HQ), Bangalore, London, Amsterdam, and others play a key role in bringing teams together for collaboration and innovation, while remote roles are also available.
- **Career Development**: Strong investment in learning and development programs. The company has been recognized as a "UK's Best Workplace for Development."
- **Global Impact**: Work at a company that secures 40% of the Forbes Global 2000, giving employees exposure to complex, large-scale challenges.
- **Award-Winning Team**: Consistently wins awards for technology, culture, and innovation, including being named a Fortune Future 50 company.

## Sources
1. [Zscaler About Page](https://www.zscaler.com/company/about-zscaler)
2. [Zscaler Official Website](https://www.zscaler.com/)
3. [Zscaler Careers Page](https://www.zscaler.com/careers)
4. [Zscaler LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/zscaler)
5. [Zscaler Benefits Page](https://www.zscaler.com/careers/ams-benefits)

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