Staff Software Development Engineer (Microservices)

Zscaler is a publicly traded cloud security company that serves thousands of enterprises globally through its Zero Trust Exchange platform. The platform operates across more than 200 public data centers worldwide and protects customers from cyberattacks and data loss by securely connecting users, devices, and applications. Zscaler is committed to building an AI-native enterprise where human expertise is enhanced by machine intelligence, and is actively transforming how security is delivered at scale.

This Staff Software Development Engineer role sits within the Zero Trust Exchange team, specifically supporting the Zscaler Internet Access product control plane. You'll be based in San Jose, California with a hybrid schedule requiring three days per week in office, reporting to the Senior Director of Engineering. The position is designed for someone experienced in distributed systems who can help modernize the foundational technology stack that powers a platform serving massive global scale.

What you'll do

• Execute technical roadmaps to modernize platforms using API-first design patterns and microservices architecture
• Design, develop, and deploy resilient, low-latency, event-driven solutions with ownership spanning API layers through backend services
• Model engineering quality through consistent adherence to coding standards, thorough code reviews, and championing test-driven and behavior-driven development practices
• Collaborate with Product, DevOps, and System Architects to convert complex business requirements into scalable, high-performance technical implementations
• Leverage containerization tools like Docker and orchestration platforms like Kubernetes to manage service lifecycles across hybrid or public cloud environments including AWS, Azure, and GCP, incorporating AI-powered tools to enhance problem solving and engineering efficiency

What you'll bring

• 5 or more years of professional software development experience building production-grade microservices
• Strong command of Java with Spring Boot, Go, or Rust
• Deep expertise in distributed data patterns including CQRS and Event Sourcing, plus event-driven communication systems like Kafka, RabbitMQ, or SQS
• Extensive hands-on experience with Docker and Kubernetes deployed within AWS, Azure, or GCP, combined with SQL and NoSQL database design and scaling knowledge
• Foundational understanding of AI and machine learning technologies, with experience leveraging or securing AI-driven solutions within your functional area
• Ownership mindset, collaborative approach to high-trust teamwork, comfort navigating ambiguity, and commitment to continuous learning

Nice to have

• Experience implementing AI-driven automated testing or using generative AI tools to optimize microservice code performance
• Familiarity with Service Mesh technologies like Istio or Linkerd
• Practical knowledge of chaos engineering and advanced performance testing tools

What they offer

• Base salary range of 133,000 to 190,000 USD annually
• Comprehensive health plans and inclusive benefits designed to support employees across different life stages