Senior Staff Software Engineer

About the role

Join the ZIA Core Engineering team to help run ZIA software on public cloud infrastructure. You will combine deep public cloud knowledge with network security expertise to build and improve firewall and secure web gateway platforms. This hybrid position in Bangalore reports to the Senior Manager of ZIA Core Engineering within the ZIA Cloud department. In this role, you will own the design and evolution of critical cloud-native security infrastructure that powers next-generation protection for global customers. You will act as a technical leader, making high-impact decisions that bridge networking, security, and cloud operations. Your work will directly influence the reliability, performance, and security posture of Zscaler's flagship cloud platforms. You will mentor engineers and elevate the technical bar across the organization through code reviews, design discussions, and knowledge sharing.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Architect and implement software components for firewall and secure web gateway platforms deployed on public cloud infrastructure.
• Analyze complex performance and reliability issues in cloud environments and devise scalable solutions for the ZIA platform.
• Collaborate with cross-functional partners to define and deliver on the technical roadmap for firewalls and SWG in cloud-native environments.
• Evaluate and integrate public cloud services such as Firewall/IPS to optimize the connectivity and security capabilities of NGFW and SWG solutions.
• Develop and maintain deep integrations with foundational system software including FreeBSD and Linux to enhance platform stability and performance.
• Lead the design and adoption of modern cryptographic protocols including TLS, OpenSSL, PQC, Hybrid KEM, and QUIC to future-proof the security stack.
• Utilize expertise in crypto accelerators to optimize encryption operations and ensure high throughput with low latency.
• Mentor and guide team members to improve engineering excellence, code quality, and delivery predictability.
• Partner with product managers, security researchers, and infrastructure teams to align technical solutions with evolving customer needs.
• Drive best practices in software engineering, infrastructure as code, and operational excellence for security platforms at scale.

Requirements

• Bring 8+ years of experience building networking security software and working with public cloud infrastructure in production environments.
• Demonstrate hands-on experience with the C programming language and deep knowledge of firewall or secure web gateway technology.
• Show a solid grasp of TLS, OpenSSL, PQC, Hybrid KEM, QUIC, and crypto accelerators to design robust security solutions.
• Exhibit experience designing how NGFW or SWG solutions integrate and connect with native public cloud services and APIs.
• Maintain a working knowledge of BSD and Linux operating systems to develop, debug, and optimize platform-level components.
• Apply foundational understanding of AI/ML technologies to identify opportunities for automation and intelligent security features.
• Display strong ownership for reliability, security, and performance in large-scale distributed systems.
• Communicate effectively with both technical and non-technical stakeholders to align on priorities and trade-offs.

Nice to have

• Possess deep knowledge of network security fundamentals such as TCP/IP, DNS, HTTP(S), TLS 1.2/1.3, VPN technologies, NAT, and load balancing.
• Have hands-on experience with virtualization technologies and how they intersect with security workloads in the cloud.

Skills & tools

• C programming
• Public cloud infrastructure
• Firewall and SWG platforms
• TLS, OpenSSL, PQC, Hybrid KEM, QUIC
• Crypto accelerators
• FreeBSD, BSD, Linux
• NGFW, IPS
• AI/ML fundamentals

Practical notes

• This is a hybrid position based in Bangalore, India, with a mix of in-office collaboration and remote work.
• Zscaler provides accommodations for candidates who are differently abled, have long-term or mental health conditions, are neurodivergent, or need pregnancy-related support.
• Benefits include various health plans, vacation and sick time, parental leave, retirement options, education reimbursement, and in-office perks.
• The role operates on a full-time engagement basis with standard working hours as defined by company policy.
• Candidates must be eligible to work in India without requiring company-sponsored work authorization changes.
• No specific travel requirements are outlined for this position at this time.
• This job description is intended to convey information essential to understanding the scope of work and is not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities.