Principal Software Development Engineer

Role

We are looking for a Principal Software Development Engineer to join our team. This is a Hybrid role, reporting to the Director, Software Engineering in the Engineering department. You will join the team that built the world’s largest cloud security platform from the ground up, enabling organizations worldwide to harness speed and agility with a cloud-first strategy. With more than 100 patents and 15 million users across 185 countries, you will bring your vision to a team of experts dedicated to enhancing our multitenant architecture and global footprint.

What you’ll do (Role Expectations)

• Design, develop, and optimize the system, including networking and security features, to support high-performance applications while creating specification documents and driving automation

• Apply strong software design principles and deep troubleshooting expertise to deliver scalable, resilient, and impactful improvements to Zero Trust Security Services

• Collaborate directly with architects, product managers, and customers to understand use cases, review product requirements, and optimize system performance

• Coach and mentor junior team members to ensure the highest level of quality across all deliverables

• Ensure federal certifications and compliance standards including FIPS, FedRAMP, Common Criteria, and SOC2 are met and maintained

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, combining a passion for the mission with high integrity and the ability 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

• Bachelor's or Master's (preferred) degree in Computer Science or a related field with 10+ years of experience in system engineering for high-performance networking

• Expertise in Linux kernel-based networking (L2/L3), stateful firewalls, NAT, network drivers, routing protocols, and tunneling technologies

• Proficiency in Go and Python programming languages with excellent problem-solving skills for debugging complex data path issues

• Strong communication and collaboration skills to work effectively with cross-functional teams in a high-accountability environment while designing scalable systems

What Will Make You Stand Out (Preferred Qualifications)

• Proven ability to leverage AI technologies and workflows to drive measurable operational efficiency

• Experience integrating AI/ML frameworks or intelligent data path analysis models to optimize kernel-level networking performance and automate predictive threat detection

• Advanced experience with networking technologies, tunneling protocols, high-availability protocols, and security certifications like FIPS or FedRAMP

• Familiarity with public cloud platforms, containerization with Docker and Kubernetes, and advanced virtualization or security solutions

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