Director, Software Engineering (Prisma Access)

Palo Alto Networks • Santa Clara, CA

98d • $232,000 - $320,750

About The Position

Palo Alto Networks® is shaping the future with technology that is transforming the way people and organizations operate in the cloud, at the network edge, and everywhere in between. Our mission is to be the cybersecurity partner of choice, protecting our digital way of life. As a Leader in Engineering you will lead the design, development, and delivery of core services of the Prisma Access platform such as Explicit Proxy services, Mobile users etc. You’ll drive innovation at the core of our Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) solution, enabling enterprises to securely connect users to the internet, SaaS, and private applications — with scale, performance, and zero-trust principles at the foundation.

Requirements

• 10+ years of progressive software engineering experience, with at least 5 years leading large, distributed engineering organizations.
• Proven expertise in Explicit Proxy technologies: HTTP/HTTPS inspection, SSL/TLS interception, authentication flows, PAC/WPAD, DNS handling, and content filtering.
• Strong background in network security and cloud-delivered SWG / SASE services.
• Deep knowledge of building multi-tenant, cloud-native architectures (Kubernetes, microservices, distributed data pipelines, observability stacks).
• Track record of delivering enterprise-grade SaaS products at scale.
• Ability to attract and develop top engineering talent and build high-performing teams.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with experience influencing stakeholders at all levels.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with Prisma Access, GlobalProtect, or comparable cloud-delivered security platforms.
• Familiarity with Zero Trust architectures and identity-based access control models.

Responsibilities

• Define and execute the technical vision for Prisma Access Explicit Proxy and Mobile Users capabilities within the broader SASE architecture.
• Drive architectural evolution from legacy systems to fully cloud-native, distributed services.
• Lead engineering teams building features including SSL/TLS inspection, multi-protocol authentication, PAC/WPAD handling, DNS resolution, NAT and granular access controls.
• Ensure enterprise-grade scalability, reliability, and performance across globally distributed cloud points of presence (PoPs).
• Champion CI/CD, observability, and automation practices that accelerate delivery without compromising quality.
• Partner closely with Product Management to deliver market-leading SASE capabilities.
• Collaborate with Threat Research and Security Engineering teams to rapidly integrate protections against emerging threats.
• Represent engineering in executive forums, influencing roadmap and customer engagement.
• Grow and mentor a world-class team of engineering managers and senior engineers.
• Build a culture of accountability, inclusion, and innovation across distributed teams.
• Inspire teams to deliver customer-first, mission-critical solutions.

Benefits

• FLEXBenefits wellbeing spending account with over 1,000 eligible items selected by employees.
• Mental and financial health resources.
• Personalized learning opportunities.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees