Staff Software Development Engineer - Automation/Python/Networking

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 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 Staff Software Development Engineer to join our team. This is a Hybrid (Bangalore, India) role, reporting to the Sr Manager of Engineering, Cyber Security and Data Protection in the Cyber Security and Data Protection Engineering department. You will build quality into products that secure mobile devices, applications, and data for millions of users who rely on our service for comprehensive protection and data security. Our team develops innovative solutions across web filtering, policy enforcement, next-gen firewalls, and CASB, utilizing real-time analytics to provide unmatched visibility through a state-of-the-art NOC. What you’ll do (Role Expectations) - Validate complex features by designing, implementing, and executing comprehensive automated test cases - Develop and maintain scalable automation frameworks and internal tools to streamline the entire software testing lifecycle - Lead scalability, stress, and performance testing initiatives to identify bottlenecks and propose architectural solutions - Collaborate with cross-functional teams and interact with customers to simulate real-world scenarios for product validation - Evaluate and implement cloud security measures while identifying continuous improvement areas across the development process Who You Are (Success Profile) - You thrive in ambiguity. You're 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 act like an owner. Your passion for the mission fuels your bias for action. You operate with integrity because you genuinely care about the outcome. True ownership involves leveraging dynamic range: the ability to navigate seamlessly between high-level strategy and hands-on execution. - You are a problem-solver. You love running towards the challenges because you are laser-focused on finding the solution, 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 are a learner. You have a true growth mindset and are obsessed with your own development, actively seeking feedback to become a better partner and a stronger teammate. You love what you do and you do it with purpose. What We’re Looking for (Minimum Qualifications) - Foundational understanding of AI/ML technologies and experience leveraging, securing, or positioning AI-driven solutions to optimize outcomes within your functional domain - 5+ years of experience as a Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET) with strong object-oriented design and coding skills - Proficiency in Python programming and a strong grasp of operating systems, TCP/IP, and Linux - Experience debugging HTTP/HTTPS requests using tools like Fiddler or Wireshark and working with network security protocols - Practical experience validating RESTful APIs and performing performance testing within AWS or Azure environments What Will Make You Stand Out (Preferred Qualifications) - Experience developing or implementing AI-driven test automation frameworks, leveraging machine learning for intelligent log analysis, or utilizing AI tools to optimize test case generation and predictive defect detection - Experience validating Data Leak Preven