Senior Staff Software Engineer (C / Networking / Dataplane)

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 Senior Staff Software Engineer (C / Networking / Dataplane) to join our Engineering Team. This is a Hybrid (San Jose, CA 3 days a week in office) role, reporting to the Senior Director, Software Development Engineering. The Senior Staff Software Engineer (C / Networking / Dataplane) will design and implement high-performance data path features for load balancing and L7 protocols, directly enhancing the scalability and security of global networking infrastructure. By leveraging deep C programming expertise and autonomous ownership, they will drive complex architectural projects from initial concept to large-scale deployment. What you’ll do (Role Expectations) - Design and implement Datapath features related to Load Balancer, Firewall rules and L7 Protocol implementations - Apply deep knowledge of C programming, data structures, and algorithms to build high-performance systems - Independently drive moderately complex projects from conception to deployment with full ownership - Utilize expert knowledge of networking protocols and services including DNS, HTTP, TCP/IP, and SSL/TLS - Leverage Unix or Linux operating systems knowledge to optimize networking and security applications Who You Are (Success Profile) - 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. You adapt to what’s needed, navigating seamlessly between high-level strategy and hands-on execution. - 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 customer-obsessed. You build deep empathy for the customer—both internal and external—and anchor your decisions in solving their real-world problems. You champion their needs from start to finish, knowing their success is our success. - You operate with urgency. You understand that in a high-growth environment, speed and quality are not mutually exclusive. You have a relentless focus on execution and a bias for action, delivering high-impact results quickly to win for the customer and the team. - You think at scale. You connect your day-to-day work to the larger company mission and think globally. You build solutions, processes, and teams that are not just effective today but are built to last and support a high-growth, global organization. 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 - 8+ years of experience building large-scale commercial networking and security applications with proficiency in programming languages C or C++ - Strong foundational knowledge in data structures and algorithms - Working experience in Linux, Unix, or similar operating systems - BS or MS degree in CS/CE or equivalent experience What Will Make You Stand Out (Preferred Qualifications) - Exposure to AI-assisted software development tools and workflows, with the ability to apply them to improve engineering productivity and delivery quality - Advanced knowledge of networking protocols and services, specifically DNS, HTTP, TCP/IP, and SSL/TLS #LI-KM9 #LI-Hybrid Zscaler’s salary ranges are benchmarked and are determined by role and level. The range displayed on each job p

Minimum Qualifications: 8+ years of experience building large-scale commercial networking and security applications with proficiency in programming languages C or C++. Strong foundational knowledge in data structures and algorithms. Working experience in Linux, Unix, or similar operating systems. BS or MS degree in CS/CE or equivalent experience.

What you’ll do (Role Expectations): Design and implement Datapath features related to Load Balancer, Firewall rules and L7 Protocol implementations. Apply deep knowledge of C programming, data structures, and algorithms to build high-performance systems. Independently drive moderately complex projects from conception to deployment with full ownership. Utilize expert knowledge of networking protocols and services including DNS, HTTP, TCP/IP, and SSL/TLS. Leverage Unix or Linux operating systems knowledge to optimize networking and security applications.