Staff Software Development Engineer - C/C++ Programming

About Zscaler :

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 worlds 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 are 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 are enabled to do your best work and embrace your potential.

If you are driven by purpose, thrive on solving complex challenges, and want to be part of the team that is helping to secure the AI age, we invite you to bring your talents to Zscaler and help shape the future of cybersecurity.

We are looking for a Staff Software Development Engineer to join our ZPA datapath team. This is a hybrid role based in Bangalore, reporting to the Senior Manager, Engineering in our ZTNA department.

You will be a key part of the team that built the worlds largest cloud security platform from the ground up. We are seeking a visionary to help enhance our services and global footprint, enabling organizations worldwide to harness speed and agility through a cloud-first strategy.

What you will do (Role Expectations) :

• Developing and optimizing network applications and protocols using C/C++

• Designing efficient data structures for network data processing and handle system-level programming in Linux environments

• Analyzing network performance to identify issues and implement optimization solutions

• Collaborating with teams to define requirements, design architectures, and integrate network solutions

• Conducting code reviews, testing, and debugging to ensure robust and reliable software

Who You Are (Success Profile) :

• You thrive in ambiguity. You are comfortable building the path as you walk it. You thrive in a dynamic environment, seeing ambiguity not as a hindrance, but as the raw material to build something meaningful.

• You operate with urgency. You understand that in a high-growth environment, speed and quality are not mutually exclusive. You have a relentless focus on execution and a bias for action, delivering high-impact results quickly to win for the customer and the team.

• You are a problem-solver. You seek out challenges because you are energized by finding solutions, knowing that solving the hard problems delivers the biggest impact.

• You are a high-trust collaborator. You are ambitious for the team, not just yourself. You embrace our challenge culture by giving and receiving ongoing feedback knowing that candor delivered with clarity and respect is the truest form of teamwork and the fastest way to earn trust.

• You lead with integrity. You do the right thing, even when it is hard. You hold yourself and others to a high standard of accountability and build trust by matching your words with consistent, transparent action.

What We Are Looking for (Minimum Qualifications) :

• 6+ years of experience in a distributed and enterprise-scale environment

• Strong knowledge of C programming specifically for network-related data handling and processing

• Expertise in Linux environments, including system-level programming, scripting, and troubleshooting

• Experience with networking protocols and traffic management technologies (e.g. TCP/IP, HTTP/HTTPS, SSL/TLS, QUIC)

• Strong knowledge in one of the cloud platforms like AWS, Azure, or GCP

What Will Make You Stand Out (Preferred Qualifications) :

• Experience in L3 protocols, routing, and BGP

• Stay current with industry trends and propose enhancements to improve system reliability, scalability, and network efficiency

• Experience in Cloud-based Networking