Sr. Principal Software Engineer; L7 DevOps

Job Summary

As a Sr. Principal Software Engineer, you will own and shape the future of secure cloud environments using an AI‑first mindset. You will lead the charge in cloud security automation, driving extreme efficiency to proactively identify and prevent misconfigurations. Operating with high autonomy, your mission is to innovate and implement cutting‑edge infrastructure solutions that prevent cyberattacks. You will not just maintain infrastructure, but redefine how the industry approaches cloud security and automation.

• Design and implement GCP cloud infrastructure solutions, including compute reservations, Big Table, SQL, Pub/Sub, and networking.
• Lead weekly global production upgrade cycles, managing branch‑out processes, version gating, and rollback procedures.
• Own end‑to‑end service deployments on Kubernetes, from Helm chart creation to production rollout and scaling.
• Manage and optimize production database infrastructure, including MySQL, Redis, Big Query, Mongo
  
  DB, and Postgre
  
  SQL.
• Utilize AI tools to optimize coding, automate tasks, and contribute to AI‑native infrastructure like Vertex AI.
• Manage multi‑tenant customer infrastructure, including dedicated compute reservations, provisioning, and feature flag management.
• Develop internal Python CLI tools and automation scripts to streamline operations and enhance efficiency.
• Drive cloud cost optimization through resource right‑sizing, reservation management, and database disk reduction.
• Enhance service reliability by establishing SLAs, comprehensive monitoring, and participating in production on‑call rotations.
• Innovate, design, and improve the Next‑Generation Firewall and Global Protect functionality and performance.
• Own and deliver high‑quality features and improvements for critical Next‑Generation Firewall system components.
• Collaborate cross‑functionally as a networking and security expert to architect innovative software solutions.

• B.S. degree in Computer Science, a similar technical discipline, or equivalent practical or military experience.
• 15 years of experience designing and developing scalable software and infrastructure solutions.
• 3 to 4 years of experience managing cross‑functional projects in a dynamic environment.
• Deep expertise in GCP and Kubernetes orchestration, including HPA, Node Pools, and Terraform.
• Strong programming skills in C, Python, and Go for automation and backend development.
• Experience managing production databases and standard Linux or Networking troubleshooting.
• Proficiency with Git Ops workflows like Flux or ArgoCD and CI/CD pipelines such as Git Lab or Jenkins.
• Experience with networking development, HTTP, TCP/UDP, socket programming, and web server backends.
• Proficient in using LLM‑based agents like Cursor or Claude Code for coding and architecture.
• Experience with multi‑threaded programming and large‑scale, distributed software design.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills to collaborate effectively with multi‑functional groups.

• Graduate degree in Computer Science or a similar technical discipline.
• Experience with AI‑native infrastructure, including Vertex AI and AI Gateways.
• Familiarity with observability stacks such as Prometheus and Grafana.
• Experience managing Multi‑tenant SaaS platforms and cloud environments like AWS or OCI.
• Willingness to participate in on‑call rotations and provide off‑hours support.

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/com‑missioned roles) is expected to be the annual range listed below. The offered compensation may also include restricted stock units and a bonus.

A description of our employee benefits may be found here ().

$ - $/yr

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.

Is role eligible for Immigration Sponsorship?:
Yes