Staff Software Engineer - AI Security (Go/Rust/Python)

San Jose, California, USA

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About the Position

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.

We are looking for a Staff Software Engineer - AI Security to join our team. This is a Hybrid role based in San Jose, CA, reporting to the Director, Software Engineering in the Engineering department. We are building security products that enable organizations to adopt AI applications and agents safely and at scale. As a Staff Software Engineer, you will take ownership of complex engineering challenges, build secure and scalable systems, and raise the technical bar through hands-on execution and collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Define technical direction and architecture for major areas of the product
• Lead high-impact initiatives that span multiple teams and system boundaries
• Turn ambiguous product and security challenges into clear, executable engineering strategies
• Establish standards for secure, reliable, scalable, and maintainable systems
• Identify systemic risks, architectural gaps, and investments needed for long-term growth

Requirements

• Demonstrated curiosity and active exploration of AI tools, with a proven history of integrating new technologies to enhance daily workflows and augment problem-solving
• 5+ years of software-engineering experience, including technical leadership across complex production systems
• Strong proficiency in Go, Rust, and Python, with deep expertise in systems engineering, security engineering, and backend platforms
• Demonstrated experience architecting and evolving platforms that span multiple teams or product areas
• Proven ability to remain hands-on through coding, prototyping, design review, and complex debugging
• Deep understanding of concurrency, networking, storage, APIs, data systems, and cloud infrastructure on AWS, GCP, or Azure

Nice to Have

• Experience building enterprise security, endpoint, cloud, or infrastructure products
• Familiarity with AI/ML systems, analytics platforms, AI applications, or AI security
• Experience helping a startup or high-growth product evolve into a scalable engineering organization

We Offer

• Competitive base salary range: $152,000 - $190,000 USD
• Comprehensive and inclusive benefits program
  • Various health plans
  • Time off plans for vacation and sick time
  • Parental leave options
  • Retirement options
  • Education reimbursement
  • In-office perks, and more!

About the Company

Zscaler is 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.

Zscaler complies with all applicable federal, state, and local pay transparency rules and 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.

By applying for this role, you adhere to applicable laws, regulations, and Zscaler policies, including those related to security and privacy standards and guidelines.

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