Principal Engineer Software (Datapath, SD WAN) - NetSec

At Palo Alto Networks®, we’re united by a shared mission—to protect our digital way of life. We thrive at the intersection of innovation and impact, solving real-world problems with cutting-edge technology and bold thinking. Here, everyone has a voice, and every idea counts. If you’re ready to do the most meaningful work of your career alongside people who are just as passionate as you are, you’re in the right place.

In order to be the cybersecurity partner of choice, we must trailblaze the path and shape the future of our industry. This is something our employees work at each day and is defined by our values: Disruption, Collaboration, Execution, Integrity, and Inclusion. We weave AI into the fabric of everything we do and use it to augment the impact every individual can have. If you are passionate about solving real-world problems and ideating beside the best and the brightest, we invite you to join us! We believe collaboration thrives in person. That’s why most of our teams work from the office full time, with flexibility when it’s needed. This model supports real-time problem-solving, stronger relationships, and the kind of precision that drives great outcomes.

The Team Engineering Job Summary As a Principal Engineer in our SASE group, you will be a key leader in designing, developing, and delivering next-generation technologies for our SD-WAN team. You will be part of a world-class engineering team working on groundbreaking technologies and solving complex problems. We are seeking a passionate leader who takes ownership, brings new ideas to software development, and thrives in a collaborative, fast-paced environment.

Design and implement highly scalable software features for our SD-WAN solution. Architect large-scale distributed systems to ensure high availability and performance. Lead database design and implementation for custom use cases, including graph and time-series databases. Collaborate with development and QA teams to achieve optimal product quality. Work closely with DevOps and Technical Support to troubleshoot and resolve complex customer issues. Suggest and implement improvements to the software development lifecycle and team processes. Mentor junior team members and foster a culture of technical excellence.

Required Qualifications M.E. or B.E. degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or equivalent experience. Minimum of 9 years of professional software development experience. Extensive hands-on programming skills in C/C++, Python, and Go. Expertise in control plane, data plane, and security features of SD-WAN platforms. Deep knowledge of Layer 2/3 networking and routing protocols such as BGP, OSPF, IPSec, QoS, and NAT.

Experience with DPDK for high-performance network packet processing. Familiarity with machine learning concepts and their application. Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCE, Kubernetes) and virtualization technologies. Knowledge of application layer protocols (e.g., HTTP, SMTP, SIP) and TLS/SSL internals. Our Commitment We’re trailblazers that dream big, take risks, and challenge cybersecurity’s status quo. It’s simple: we can’t accomplish our mission without diverse teams innovating, together. We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations for all qualified individuals with a disability. If you require assistance or accommodation due to a disability or special need, please contact us at   accommodations@paloaltonetworks.com . Palo Alto Networks is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity in our workplace, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran status,