Zscaler accelerates digital transformation to ensure our customers can be more agile, efficient, resilient, and secure. As an AI-forward enterprise, we are constantly pushing the envelope, leveraging the world’s largest security data lake to power our cloud-native Zero Trust Exchange platform. This innovation protects our customers from cyberattacks and data loss by securely connecting users, devices, and applications in any location.
Here, impact in your role matters more than title and trust is built on results. We say, impact over activity. We seek innovators who actively use AI to amplify their impact and who thrive in an environment where we leverage intelligent systems to stay ahead of evolving threats. 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 value high-impact, high-accountability with a sense of urgency where you’re enabled to do your best work and embrace your potential. If you’re driven by purpose, thrive on solving complex challenges, and want to be part of the team that’s helping to secure the AI age, we invite you to bring your talents to Zscaler and help shape the future of cybersecurity.
Role
We are seeking a Senior Software Development Engineer – Backend to join our engineering team. In this role, you will design, build, deploy, and support scalable backend services and cloud-native systems.
This position requires hands-on backend development experience coupled with a strong sense of ownership across the entire service lifecycle—from initial implementation and deployment to scaling, troubleshooting, and production support. You will tackle a broad range of backend and platform challenges, working closely with distributed services, containers, Kubernetes, and cloud infrastructure
What You'll Do (Key Responsibilities)
Build & Maintain Backend Services: Design, develop, test, and maintain backend services and APIs with a steadfast focus on scalability, reliability, performance, and maintainability
Full Lifecycle Ownership: Deeply contribute across the full lifecycle of backend services, managing development, deployment, scaling, monitoring, and ongoing production support
Deploy & Operate Cloud-Native Workloads: Build and manage services within containerized environments, directly contributing to deployment and troubleshooting on Kubernetes
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Production Reliability & Troubleshooting: Actively monitor service health, investigate incidents, debug failures, and perform root-cause analysis across distributed systems to maintain seamless production operations
Cloud & Infrastructure Engineering: Partner with cloud infrastructure and compute environments to support workload deployment, service configuration, and operational troubleshooting
Who You Are (Success Profile)
You Think at Scale: You connect your day-to-day work to the larger company mission and think globally. You build solutions, processes, and architectures that are not just effective today, but are built to last and support a high-growth organization
You are Driven by Innovation: You possess a deep curiosity for how things work and are energized by solving complex technical hurdles. You believe in the power of technology to accelerate transformation and consistently hunt for more secure, scalable methods
You are a Problem-Solver: You actively seek out engineering challenges because you are energized by finding solutions, knowing that solving the hardest problems delivers the biggest business and customer impact
You are Data-Driven: You lean on data and analytics to uncover engineering truths, measure what matters, and guide informed architectural decisions replacing "I think" with "I know."
You are a Learner: You have a true growth mindset and never stop developing your technical or leadership skills. You actively seek and implement feedback to become an exceptional collaborator and teammate
What We're Looking For (Minimum Qualifications)
AI & Innovation: Demonstrated curiosity and active exploration of AI tools, with a proven history of integrating new technologies to enhance daily workflows and augment problem-solving capabilities
Experience: 2 to 4 years of professional software development experience in backend, distributed systems, or platform-oriented engineering roles.
Technical Stack: Proven experience building production-grade backend services and APIs using Python or Go
Cloud-Native Environments: Hands-on experience deploying, scaling, and troubleshooting containers and Kubernetes; familiarity with cloud platforms (GCP is a plus)
Resilience & Debugging: Strong debugging and troubleshooting skills, with a demonstrated ability to perform root-cause analysis across services and distributed components
Core Fundamentals: Solid understanding of system design, performance optimization, reliability engineering, and operational fundamentals
What Will Make You Stand Out (Preferred Qualifications)
Experience supporting backend services across their entire lifecycle, including proactive deployment monitoring, scaling strategies, and live incident response.
Familiarity with Rust and/or C/C++ for systems-level or performance-sensitive components.
Strong, advanced hands-on experience with Kubernetes workload deployment, day-to-day operations, and deep-dive troubleshooting
LI-HYBRID
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 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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