Sr. Staff Software Engineer, Cloud Networking & Datapath

About this role

Zscaler

Sr. Staff Software Engineer, Cloud Networking & Datapath

Santa Clara, California, USAFull-timeLead & above

Checked 1d ago

Posted 22 Oct 2026 on Zscaler's careers page

What the interview will test

Tech Lead interviews are usually assessed on

• System Design Fundamentals
• Leadership & Influence
• Coding Proficiency
• Prioritization & Trade-offs
• Stakeholder Communication
• Debugging & Root Cause Analysis

Practicing for this role builds your session around these skills, with this posting's own requirements folded in.

What you'd do

• Define software design specifications and implement bug-free code using test-driven methodology
• Identify opportunities to refactor existing code for maintainability and reusability while owning the resolution of complex customer issues
• Collaborate closely with cross-functional engineering teams including security, UI, platform, analytics, and quality assurance
• Partner with Product Management to drive detailed product requirements
• Lead a group of junior engineers by providing technical guidance, mentoring, and assisting in development details

What they're looking for

• 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.
• Foundational understanding of AI/ML technologies and experience leveraging, securing, or positioning AI-driven solutions to optimize outcomes within your functional domain
• 7+ years of experience developing large-scale cloud networking and security applications, with expertise in software design and programming in C/C++, Go, or Python
• Deep knowledge of networking protocols and services such as DNS, HTTP, TCP/IP, and SSL/TLS, ideally with an understanding of firewall policy enforcement
• Proven experience working with AWS/Azure/GCP networking components, including transit gateway, IGW, NATGW, NACL, security groups, GWLB, ILB, and Route53
• Hands-on experience with AWS/Azure/GCP database services, PubSub mechanisms, and SDKs

Nice to have

• Experience leveraging AI/ML technologies to optimize network datapath efficiency, automate routing performance, or improve intelligent threat-detection features
• Familiarity or direct experience with developing security Firewall features
• Prior experience building solutions for Software as a Service platforms and leveraging cloud-native infrastructure services
• Various health plans
• Time off plans for vacation and sick time
• Parental leave options
• Retirement options
• Education reimbursement
• In-office perks, and more!