Sr. Software Development Engineer; Controlplane

Sr. Software Development Engineer (Controlplane)

San Jose, California, USA

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 160+ public exchanges globally and thousands of private exchanges 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 Sr. Software Development Engineer (Controlplane) to join our team. This is a hybrid (in office 3 days a week in San Jose, CA) role, reporting to the Manager, Software Engineering in the Zero Trust Exchange department. In this role, you will lead the design and development of highly scalable, resilient, and secure control plane platform services that power the Zero Trust Exchange.

You will drive architecture, influence technical strategy across teams, and deliver platform capabilities that improve reliability, operability, and developer velocity. The ideal candidate pairs deep distributed systems expertise with strong cross-functional leadership and a pragmatic, execution-focused mindset.

• Lead the architecture, design, and delivery of large-scale control plane and platform services with a strong focus on scalability, availability, security, and operational excellence
• Drive complex cross-team technical initiatives, align stakeholders on architecture and execution plans, and ensure high-quality delivery against business and engineering priorities
• Identify and resolve system bottlenecks, reliability risks, and architectural gaps across distributed systems, improving performance, observability, and long-term maintainability
• Set a high technical bar through design reviews, code reviews, engineering best practices, and hands‑on mentorship of senior engineers across the organization
• Evaluate and apply emerging technologies, including AI-assisted engineering workflows where appropriate, to improve developer productivity, system intelligence, and product delivery outcomes

• You act like an owner with a passion for the mission, operating with integrity and navigating seamlessly between high‑level strategy and hands‑on execution.
• You are a dedicated problem-solver who is energized by complex technical challenges and focused on delivering high‑impact outcomes.
• You are a high‑trust collaborator who embraces a challenge culture with candid feedback, respect, and shared ambition for team success.
• You embody a true growth mindset, continuously developing your skills, seeking feedback, and bringing purpose to your work.
• You champion simplicity by distilling complex problems and technical concepts into clear, actionable plans and precise communication.

• Demonstrated curiosity and active exploration of AI tools, with a proven history of integrating new technologies to enhance daily workflows and augment problem-solving
• 3+ years of software engineering experience, including significant