IP, Datapath)

Zscaler•San Jose, CA

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

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 world’s 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’re 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’re enabled to do your best work and embrace your potential. If you’re driven by purpose, thrive on solving complex challenges, and want to be part of the team that’s helping to secure the AI age, we invite you to bring your talents to Zscaler and help shape the future of cybersecurity. Role We are looking for a Senior Staff Software Development Engineer (C/C++, TCP/IP, Datapath) to join our Zero Trust Exchange team. This is a hybrid role based onsite in San Jose three days a week reporting to the Sr. Manager, Software Development Engineering. As a Senior Staff Software Engineer, you will architect and build next generation products. By designing high-performance, ultra-low-latency distributed systems, you will directly drive our transformation in cloud-based security while ensuring a seamless, lightning-fast experience for a rapidly scaling global user base.

Requirements

8+ years of heavy, hands-on system-level coding experience in C or C++
Proven track record working directly on networking product lines, firewalls, or deep datapath optimization
Strong system-level understanding of Linux operating systems, with the willingness to work within Windows environments as needed
In-depth understanding of the TCP/IP stack, performance parameters, and socket programming
Experience delivering complete software lifecycles for highly distributed, high-volume enterprise applications

Nice To Haves

Direct, hands-on experience with eBPF and/or Windows Filter Platform (WFP)
Experience in endpoint security, microsegmentation, or tackling similar scale
A strong foundational understanding of cybersecurity principles that complements your core networking expertise

Responsibilities

Build and scale the Data Plane for Zscaler's Workload Security product, directly shaping the future of cloud-based microsegmentation
Develop and implement cutting-edge, eBPF-based distributed host firewalls across Linux and/or Windows environments
Write highly efficient, system-level C/C++ code to optimize the network datapath and process packets at ultra-high speeds with zero perceived latency
Navigate OS-level architecture in Linux, while stepping in to tackle Windows system development (non-driver) to ensure seamless cross-platform security
Design distributed system components that maintain high responsiveness and ultra-low latency during high-load, enterprise-scale traffic