Sr Staff Engineer Software; Data Plane

Sr Staff Engineer Software (Data Plane Applications) Seniority level

• Associate

• Full‑time

• Computer and Network Security

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.

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.

Prisma Access™ (formerly Global Protect Cloud Service) provides protection straight from the cloud to make access to the cloud secure. It combines the connectivity and security you need and delivers it everywhere you need it. Using cutting‑edge public and private cloud technologies, it extends next‑generation security protection to all cloud services, customers on‑premise remote networks and mobile users.

We are seeking an experienced Software Engineer to design, develop and deliver next‑generation technologies within our Prisma Access team. We want passionate engineers who love to code and build great products, who bring new ideas to all facets of software development, and who can lead by taking ownership of their areas of focus.

• Design, develop and implement highly scalable software features and infrastructure on our next‑generation security platform, ready for cloud native deployment from inception to completion.
• Work with different development and quality assurance groups to achieve the best quality – hands‑on, creating tools, processes, and systems that produce transparency, alignment, and direction.
• Profile, optimize and tune systems software (management / control / dataplane) for efficient cloud operation.
• Work with Dev Ops and the Technical Support teams to troubleshoot customer issues.
• Work with other software development teams to apply PanOS features on Prisma Access.
• Interview, mentor and coach new team members.

• 5+ years of experience in developing and troubleshooting dataplane applications
• Required hands‑on programming experience in Python and Go
• Nice to have C/C++ programming experience
• Strong data structures and algorithms background
• Strong analytical, problem‑solving and debugging skills
• Nice to have experience with LLMs and GenAI applications, or machine learning / data science with experience in ETL, curating datasets or running evaluations.
• Experience with building applications in the cloud.
• In‑depth understanding of operating system principles and Linux/Unix.
• In‑depth understanding of networking concepts and TCP/IP stack, TLS
• Exposure to building microservices.
• Excellent collaboration and communication skills across many teams.
• Solid foundation in design, data structures, and algorithms, and strong analytical and debugging skills.
• Education:
  
  M.S./B.S. degree in Computer Science or equivalent military experience required.

The compensation offered for this position will depend on qualifications, experience, and work location. For candidates who receive an offer at the posted level, the starting base salary (for non‑sales roles) or base salary + commission target (for sales/commissioned roles) is expected to be between $170,000 - $190,000 YR. The offered compensation may also include restricted stock units and a bonus.

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.

Is role eligible for Immigration Sponsorship?:
Yes

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 accomm

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.

Referrals increase your chances of interviewing at Palo Alto Networks by 2x.