Job Description

Company Description
Our Mission
At Palo Alto Networks everything starts and ends with our mission:
Being the cybersecurity partner of choice, protecting our digital way of life.
Our vision is a world where each day is safer and more secure than the one before. We are a company built on the foundation of challenging and disrupting the way things are done, and we're looking for innovators who are as committed to shaping the future of cybersecurity as we are.
Who We Are
We believe collaboration thrives in person. That's why most of our teams work from the office full time, with flexibility when it's needed. This model supports real-time problem-solving, stronger relationships, and the kind of precision that drives great outcomes.

Job Summary
As a Principal Engineer in our SASE group, you will be a key leader in designing, developing, and delivering next-generation technologies for our SD-WAN team. You will be part of a world-class engineering team working on groundbreaking technologies, solving interesting and complex problems. We are seeking a passionate leader who takes ownership, brings new ideas to all facets of software development, and thrives in a collaborative, fast-paced environment.
Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and implement highly scalable software features for our SD-WAN solution.
• Architect and implement large-scale distributed systems, ensuring high availability and performance.
• Lead database design and implementation for custom use cases, including graph, time-series, and in-memory databases.
• Proactively collaborate with development and quality assurance teams to achieve the best product quality and ensure alignment.
• Work closely with DevOps and Technical Support teams to troubleshoot and resolve complex customer issues.
• Suggest and implement improvements to the software development lifecycle and team processes.
• Mentor and coach junior team members, fostering a culture of technical excellence and applied learning.

Qualifications
Required Qualifications

• M.E./B.E. degree in Computer Science/Engineering or equivalent experience.
• 9+ years of professional software development experience.
• Extensive hands-on programming skills in C/C++, Python, and Go.
• Expertise in control plane, data plane, and security features of SD-WAN platforms, including knowledge of multi-core/multi-process programming.
• Deep knowledge of Layer 2/3 networking and routing protocols such as BGP, OSPF, IPSec, QoS, and NAT.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with DPDK for high-performance network packet processing.
• Familiarity with machine learning concepts and their application.
• Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCE, Kubernetes) and virtualization technologies (ESXi, KVM, Hyper-V).
• Knowledge of application layer protocols (e.g., HTTP, SMTP, SIP) and TLS/SSL internals.

Additional Information
The Team
Engineering - The Engineering team is at the core of our products and connected services. As part of the engineering team, you will be responsible for the design, development, and delivery of our innovative cybersecurity products. You'll be working with a team of brilliant and dedicated engineers who are passionate about building cutting-edge technology and solving complex problems to protect our digital way of life.
Our Commitment
We're problem solvers that take risks and challenge cybersecurity's status quo. It's simple: we can't accomplish our mission without diverse teams innovating, together.
We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations for all qualified individuals with a disability. If you require assistance or accommodation due to a disability or special need, please contact us at .
Palo Alto Networks is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity in our workplace, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran status, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or other legally protected characteristics.
All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

Skills Required