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Principal Software Development Engineer

Bangalore, IND

About Zscaler

Zscaler is a pioneer and global leader in zero trust security. The world’s largest businesses, critical infrastructure organizations, and government agencies rely on Zscaler to secure users, branches, applications, data & devices, and to accelerate digital transformation initiatives. Distributed across more than 160 data centers globally, the Zscaler Zero Trust Exchange platform combined with advanced AI combats billions of cyber threats and policy violations every day and unlocks productivity gains for modern enterprises by reducing costs and complexity.

Here, impact in your role matters more than title and trust is built on results. We believe in transparency and value constructive, honest debate—we’re focused on getting to the best ideas, faster. We build high-performing teams that can make an impact quickly and with high quality. To do this, we are building a culture of execution centered on customer obsession, collaboration, ownership and accountability. 

We champion an “AI Forward, People First” philosophy to help us accelerate and innovate, empowering our people to embrace their potential. If you’re driven by purpose, thrive on solving complex challenges and want to make a positive difference on a global scale, we invite you to bring your talents to Zscaler to help shape the future of cybersecurity.

Role 

We are looking for a Principal Software Development Engineer to join our Central Authority department. This is a Hybrid, Bangalore role, reporting to the Sr. Director, Application Engineering - Central Authority. You will work on the control plane for the Zscaler Internet Access (ZIA) product, which has redefined how security services are delivered in the cloud. You bring a deep understanding of security protocols and services to help us build the next generation of cloud security.

What you’ll do (Role Expectations)

  • Practice technical leadership in the design, development, and optimization of control path features in Cloud Infrastructure
  • Define and execute the technical roadmap ensuring alignment with business goals
  • Develop and own components of a large-scale distributed system with a focus on scalability
  • Use AI-powered tools for advanced problem solving and engineering efficiency
  • Mentor other engineers to foster technical growth and excellence

Who You Are (Success Profile)

  • You thrive in ambiguity. You're comfortable building the path as you walk it. You thrive in a dynamic environment, seeing ambiguity not as a hindrance, but as the raw material to build something meaningful.
  • You 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. True ownership involves leveraging dynamic range: the ability to navigate seamlessly between high-level strategy and hands-on execution.
  • You are a problem-solver. You love running towards the challenges because you are laser-focused on finding the solution, knowing that solving the hard problems delivers the biggest impact.
  • You 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.
  • You are a learner. You have a true growth mindset and are obsessed with your own development, actively seeking feedback to become a better partner and a stronger teammate. You love what you do and you do it with purpose.

What We’re Looking for (Minimum Qualifications)

  • Extensive experience in C programming along with proficiency in Go or Rust, paired with a Bachelor's or Master’s Degree in Engineering or Computer Science
  • Deep knowledge of networking protocols including DNS, HTTP, TCP/IP, and SSL/TLS as well as authentication protocols like LDAP, SAML, and OAuth
  • Strong knowledge of FreeBSD or Linux systems internals and advanced knowledge of PostgreSQL
  • Mastery of high-performance computing, distributed systems, event-based programming, memory optimization, and fault tolerance
  • Professional software design, profiling, and verification skills with proficiency in code reviews and writing automated unit and integration tests

What Will Make You Stand Out (Preferred Qualifications)

  • Experience in cloud computing with AWS, GCP, or other cloud providers, and containerization using Docker and Kubernetes
  • Hands-on experience with YugabyteDB and/or CockroachDB

#LI-Hybrid #LI-VV3

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 Future of Work strategy, 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.

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To ensure compliance with laws on hiring government employees, please let us know if you have a potential conflict of interest. This may apply if you are a current or former government employee who is, or has been, involved in procurement or contract award activities for Zscaler products or services.
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