Sr Staff Software Development Engineer (API)

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 Sr Staff Software Development Engineer to join our team. This is a hybrid role, reporting to the Senior Manager Software Development Engineering in the Unified API platform team department. You will join an engineering powerhouse that built the world's largest cloud security platform from the ground up, supporting over 15 million users across 185 countries. This role invites you to bring your vision for cloud architecture and scalable services to a team dedicated to helping organizations harness speed and agility through a cloud-first strategy. What you’ll do (Role Expectations) - Delivering a unified API and developer platform for Zscaler products, focusing on standardization, governance, and a seamless developer experience - Creating and refining API development and integration processes, tools, and methodologies across Zscaler's product portfolio - Leading the creation of a scalable distributed API platform, ensuring it is highly available, observable, and operable 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 - Extensive experience in the architecture, design, and development of API frameworks and technologies, with 8+ years of experience, including proven experience creating SDKs and designing APIs - Deep knowledge of API design standards, best practices, and API-first design principles - Strong background in message brokers, caches, queues, and pub/sub concepts - Proficiency in at least one programming language such as Go, Java, C++, Rust, or JavaScript What Will Make You Stand Out (Preferred Qualifications) - Experience designing and implementing AI-driven API gateways, LLM orchestration layers, or intelligent developer automation tools to optimize platform scale and governance - Demonstrated ability to collaborate with product managers on external-facing products and roadmap development - Experience working dynamically with cross-functional teams to drive product innovation #LI-Hybrid #LI-VV3 At Zscaler, 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 backg