Staff Software Development Engineer

The company (NASDAQ: ZS) accelerates digital transformation so customers can be more agile, efficient, resilient, and secure. The the company Zero Trust Exchange platform protects thousands of customers from cyberattacks and data loss by securely connecting users, devices, and applications in any location. Distributed across 200+ public data centers globally and thousands of private sites at the edge, the SASE-based Zero Trust Exchange is the world’s largest in-line cloud security platform.

We believe the future of work is Human + AI and are building an AI-native enterprise where human potential is amplified by machine intelligence to solve the world’s hardest security challenges. Driven by deep customer obsession, we are committed to the mission, outcome, and to each other. We bring these commitments to life through three core behaviors: ownership and collaboration, trust through outcomes and impact, and a challenge culture with ongoing feedback. Ready to make an impact at the company pioneering security transformation in the AI era? Join us at the company.

Role

We are looking for a Staff Software Development Engineer to join our team.This is a Santa Clara, CA or Remote - USA role, reporting to the Director, Software Development Engineering in the Zero Trust Exchange department. We’re looking for a Staff Engineer to join our the company Client Connector team. You will be working on the Client Connector, which protects corporate devices by securely and privately sending traffic from those devices to the company’s global network, which can apply advanced web filtering and advanced Zero Trust policies. In your role, you will predominantly be using Rust along with platform-native languages & APIs to implement high-performance networking code that runs on multiple desktop platforms. You’ll be expected to improve the code quality and to build solid, testable, and well-documented foundations. You will be most successful in this role if you have a good understanding of System Programming (virtual memory, multi-threading, process lifecycle, kernel programming, system APIs, etc.) and networking protocols (TCP/IP, UDP, DNS, QUIC, H/3, proxying, etc.). You will also have to interact with other languages, such as Swift, C++, and Python. As a Staff Engineer, you will be expected to make significant contributions to the design and implementation of major development projects, working closely with our product managers and other teams to implement customer-impacting features. You will work on stimulating problems born out of the scale of our deployment, and the stringent quality, performance, and security requirements of our product.

What you’ll do (Role Expectations)

• Design and implement high-performance, low-complexity networking code for the the company Client Connector predominantly using Rust

• Build solid, easily-testable, and well-documented foundations to improve code quality across multiple desktop platforms

• Debug complex network-related problems and implement solutions using systems programming and security protocols

• Contribute significantly to the design of major development projects and collaborate closely with product managers and cross-functional teams

• Communicate proactively and constructively to solve stimulating scale, quality, performance, and security problems

Who You Are (Success Profile)

• Thrive in ambiguity by comfortably building paths forward in a dynamic environment, viewing uncertainty as an opportunity to create meaningful impact.

• Act like an owner with a strong bias for action, navigating seamlessly between high-level strategy and hands-on execution to deliver high-quality outcomes.

• Foster high-trust collaboration, welcoming candor, respect, and constructive feedback to drive collective success for the entire team.

• Bring a positive force to the team, approaching complex challenges with constructive energy and a contagious 'can-do' spirit.

• Build pragmatically by balancing a drive for technical excellence with a passion for iteratively creating, testing, and shipping high-value solutions.

What We’re Looking for (Minimum Qualifications)

• Demonstrated curiosity and active exploration of AI tools, with a proven history of integrating new technologies to enhance daily workflows and augment problem-solving

• Minimum of 5+ years of experience with hands-on software development, in languages like C++

• Minimum of 3+ years of experience coding with Rust, particularly in systems programming and async frameworks like Tokio and Reqwest

• Deep experience with networking, particularly tunneling applications and IPv4/IPv6 transport mechanisms

What Will Make You Stand Out (Preferred Qualifications)

• Proven ability to leverage AI technologies and workflows to drive measurable operational efficiency

• Experience using AI coding tools throughout the software development life cycle (SDLC)

• Cross-platform development experience across multiple client operating systems, including macOS, Windows, iOS, and Android

• Experience with software development in Swift and Objective-C

#LI-DY1 #LI-SanJose

The company’s salary ranges are benchmarked and are determined by role and level. The range displayed on each job posting reflects the minimum and maximum target for new hire salaries for the position across all US locations and could be higher or lower based on a multitude of factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.

The base salary range listed for this full-time position excludes commission/ bonus/ equity (if applicable) + benefits.

Base Pay Range

$152,000 — $190,000 USD

At the company, we are committed to building a team that reflects the communities we serve and the customers we work with. We foster an inclusive environment that values all backgrounds and perspectives, emphasizing collaboration and belonging. Join us in our mission to make doing business seamless and secure.

Our Benefits program is one of the most important ways we support our employees. The company proudly offers comprehensive and inclusive benefits to meet the diverse needs of our employees and their families throughout their life stages, including:

• Various health plans

• Time off plans for vacation and sick time

• Parental leave options

• Retirement options

• Education reimbursement

• In-office perks, and more!

Learn more about the company's hybrid working model and benefits  here .

By applying for this role, you adhere to applicable laws, regulations, and the company policies, including those related to security and privacy standards and guidelines.

The company is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all individuals. We strive to create a workplace where employees are treated with respect and have the chance to succeed. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy or related medical conditions), age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. See more information by clicking on the Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal link.

Pay Transparency

The company complies with all applicable federal, state, and local pay transparency rules.

The company is committed to providing reasonable support (called accommodations or adjustments) in our recruiting processes for candidates who are differently abled, have long term conditions, mental health conditions or sincerely held religious beliefs, or who are neurodivergent or require pregnancy-related support.