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Senior Principal Software Engineer (Cortex Xpanse, Vulnerability Assessement)

Company Description

Our Mission

At Palo Alto Networks® everything starts and ends with our mission:

Being the cybersecurity partner of choice, protecting our digital way of life.
Our vision is a world where each day is safer and more secure than the one before. We are a company built on the foundation of challenging and disrupting the way things are done, and we’re looking for innovators who are as committed to shaping the future of cybersecurity as we are.

Who We Are

We take our mission of protecting the digital way of life seriously. We are relentless in protecting our customers and we believe that the unique ideas of every member of our team contributes to our collective success. Our values were crowdsourced by employees and are brought to life through each of us everyday - from disruptive innovation and collaboration, to execution. From showing up for each other with integrity to creating an environment where we all feel included.

As a member of our team, you will be shaping the future of cybersecurity. We work fast, value ongoing learning, and we respect each employee as a unique individual. Knowing we all have different needs, our development and personal wellbeing programs are designed to give you choice in how you are supported. This includes our FLEXBenefits wellbeing spending account with over 1,000 eligible items selected by employees, our mental and financial health resources, and our personalized learning opportunities - just to name a few!

At Palo Alto Networks, we believe in the power of collaboration and value in-person interactions. This is why our employees generally work full time from our office with flexibility offered where needed. This setup fosters casual conversations, problem-solving, and trusted relationships. Our goal is to create an environment where we all win with precision.

Job Description

Your Career

In the role of Senior Principal Software Engineer on the Vulnerability Assessment Research team, you will serve as a respected technical leader within the organization, collaborating frequently across teams. You will be responsible for overseeing projects from inception to execution as either the project lead or mentor, guiding the design and implementation process. Additionally, you will take the lead in coordinating planned work across the product in conjunction with product management, UX design, and other engineering stakeholders. Leveraging your broad perspective, you will identify and address existing and potential challenges and collaborate with senior engineers and department leadership to analyze and resolve them effectively.

Your Impact 

As a Senior Principal Software engineer on the Vulnerability Assessment Research team, you will:

  • Work regularly across teams as an acknowledged technical leader in the organization
  • Drive projects from requirements to complete design and implementation as project lead or mentor thereof
  • Lead efforts to align planned work across the product in collaboration with product management, UX design, and fellow engineering stakeholders
  • Utilize your big-picture perspective to spot existing and impending problems, then work with senior engineers and leadership across the department to analyze and solve them
  • Proactively spot, articulate, and mitigate risks in ongoing and planned projects to ensure smooth execution and high output. This may include providing ad hoc mentorship, communicating with project stakeholders, or rolling up your sleeves and stepping in to help move things along
  • Guide the key technical work on the team, including shaping architectural decisions, communicating impact and requirements to stakeholders, and driving toward end-to-end value
  • Mentor engineers across the department
  • Regularly provide cross-team technical collaboration and consultation
  • Design, build, and optimize data models and queries for speed and scale, using data storage technologies like MySQL and BigQuery
  • Design and build business logic and API endpoints using Python

Qualifications

Your Experience 

  • 8+ years of industry experience as a professional software engineer building customer-facing software for a SaaS business
  • Strong knowledge of distributed systems and architecture, including an understanding of what it takes to deploy and maintain such systems
  • Experience with on-prem deployment and the risks associated with shipping software to a customer environment
  • Good understanding of networking and cybersecurity fundamentals
  • Extensive experience providing technical leadership within and across teams building enterprise features on a  multi-tenant SaaS platform at scale
  • Excitement to dig in, prototype, build, test, and see projects through to production
  • Ability to balance shipping new products and features with addressing technical debt and investments in architecture and infrastructure
  • Expert knowledge and informed opinions on at least one of:

    • Databases, data modeling, profiling, and performance optimization

    • Methods and tradeoffs for handling concurrency

    • API design and distributed backend systems

  • BS in computer science or related engineering discipline, or equivalent work experience or equivalent military experience required
  • Proficient in one or more programming languages (ideally in Python)
  • Experience using cloud managed services (ideally in GCP)

Additional Information

The Team

The Cortex Xpanse group is building an Exposure Management product to bring together the Palo Alto Networks proactive security product suite. As part of this effort, we are expanding the Cortex Vulnerability Assessment Research team and we’re looking for an experienced engineer to join us. At Xpanse, we believe that making the internet a safer place for our customers matters. The Unified Vulnerability and Exposure Management group builds the software that provides our customers visibility into their behind-the-firewall attack surface, allowing them to prioritize and remediate critical vulnerabilities using the XSIAM platform.

In this role, you will work with a highly talented team of engineers building a new product that leverages cutting-edge AI technology. You will drive technical designs and critical decisions related to the architecture, deployment strategy, and capabilities of the Vulnerability Assessment Research system. As you support your team, you will also be a part of the team of technical leaders building Unified Vulnerability and Exposure Management. You will collaborate closely with other engineers in the group and with other teams across the Cortex product suite. As part of this, you will help shape Palo Alto Networks vision of a proactive security platform. Your expertise will help secure  the world's most important organizations and impact the future of the cybersecurity industry.

Compensation Disclosure

The compensation offered for this position will depend on qualifications, experience, and work location. For candidates who receive an offer at the posted level, the starting base salary (for non-sales roles) or base salary + commission target (for sales/commissioned roles) is expected to be between $182,000/YR - $295,000/YR. The offered compensation may also include restricted stock units and a bonus. A description of our employee benefits may be found here.

Our Commitment

We’re problem solvers that 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  [email protected].

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, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or other legally protected characteristics.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

Average salary estimate

$238500 / YEARLY (est.)
min
max
$182000K
$295000K

If an employer mentions a salary or salary range on their job, we display it as an "Employer Estimate". If a job has no salary data, Rise displays an estimate if available.

What You Should Know About Senior Principal Software Engineer (Cortex Xpanse, Vulnerability Assessement), Palo Alto Networks

At Palo Alto Networks, we're on a mission to be the cybersecurity partner of choice, and we want you to be a part of it! As a Senior Principal Software Engineer on our Cortex Xpanse Vulnerability Assessment Research team located in the vibrant tech hub of San Francisco, CA, you’ll have the chance to shape the future of cybersecurity. In this pivotal role, you'll act as a technical leader, guiding cross-functional teams to build innovative solutions that protect our customers' digital environments. Your diverse responsibilities will cover everything from project inception to execution, where you will leverage your extensive knowledge in distributed systems and SaaS platforms. Collaborating closely with product management, UX design, and engineering stakeholders, you will architect and optimize systems to address vulnerabilities effectively. You'll have the unique opportunity to mentor budding engineers, fostering a culture of technical excellence while addressing critical risks in our ongoing projects. At Palo Alto Networks, we value creativity and collaboration, and your contributions will play a crucial role in making the internet a safer space for all. Join us, and be part of making each day more secure than the last!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Senior Principal Software Engineer (Cortex Xpanse, Vulnerability Assessement) Role at Palo Alto Networks
What are the main responsibilities of a Senior Principal Software Engineer at Palo Alto Networks?

As a Senior Principal Software Engineer at Palo Alto Networks, you will oversee projects from start to finish, guiding teams through the design and implementation processes. Your role includes coordinating efforts across product management, UX design, and other engineering stakeholders to ensure successful execution of the Vulnerability Assessment projects, while also providing mentorship to other engineers.

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What qualifications are required to become a Senior Principal Software Engineer at Palo Alto Networks?

To qualify for the Senior Principal Software Engineer role at Palo Alto Networks, candidates should have over 8 years of industry experience, with a strong background in building customer-facing software for SaaS products. Additionally, a deep understanding of distributed systems, cloud managed services, and robust knowledge in programming, preferably in Python, are essential.

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How will a Senior Principal Software Engineer impact cybersecurity at Palo Alto Networks?

A Senior Principal Software Engineer at Palo Alto Networks significantly influences the cybersecurity landscape by driving innovative technical solutions for our Vulnerability Assessment efforts. By effectively spotting risks, mentoring teams, and leveraging AI technologies, you will help secure critical vulnerabilities for our customers, ultimately supporting our mission to make the internet a safer place.

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What programming languages and technologies should a Senior Principal Software Engineer be proficient in at Palo Alto Networks?

Candidates for the Senior Principal Software Engineer position at Palo Alto Networks should have expertise in one or more programming languages, ideally Python. Familiarity with cloud managed services, particularly Google Cloud Platform, and experience with data storage technologies like MySQL and BigQuery are essential for optimizing code performance and enhancing system effectiveness.

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What does the work culture look like for a Senior Principal Software Engineer at Palo Alto Networks?

The work culture for a Senior Principal Software Engineer at Palo Alto Networks is dynamic and collaborative. We prioritize in-person interactions to foster innovation and problem-solving. Our teams embody values of inclusivity, integrity, and continuous learning, ensuring that every member is supported in their personal and professional growth.

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Common Interview Questions for Senior Principal Software Engineer (Cortex Xpanse, Vulnerability Assessement)
Can you describe your experience with distributed systems as a Senior Principal Software Engineer?

In addressing this question, emphasize your hands-on experience in designing, deploying, and maintaining distributed systems. Discuss specific projects where you navigated challenges and explain the architectural decisions you made to ensure system reliability and scalability.

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How do you approach mentoring junior engineers in your team?

When answering this question, share your strategies for mentorship, highlighting your commitment to fostering a supportive environment. Provide examples of how you've guided junior members through complex challenges and helped them grow their technical skills.

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What is your process for identifying and mitigating risks in ongoing projects?

Discuss your proactive approach to risk management. Describe how you analyze potential challenges early in the development process, implement monitoring systems, and collaborate with team leads to create contingency plans that ensure project success.

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Can you explain the significance of API design in the development process?

In your response, explain how effective API design is crucial for scalability and user experience. Discuss examples of how you have successfully designed APIs that facilitate seamless interaction between components, enhancing both functionality and maintainability.

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What strategies do you utilize to optimize data models and queries?

Describe your methods for optimizing data models, focusing on aspects such as normalization, indexing, and query structure. Share any performance metrics from projects where your optimizations led to significant improvements in speed and efficiency.

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How do you balance shipping new features with addressing technical debt?

Address this question by discussing your approach to prioritization, including how you allocate time for technical debt within the product roadmap. Share instances when you've successfully managed both new development and infrastructure improvements.

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What tools and technologies do you prefer for project management and collaboration?

Share the tools you find most effective for project management and collaboration, such as JIRA, Confluence, or Git. Discuss how these tools enhance team efficiency and keep projects aligned on goals and timelines.

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How do you keep updated with trends in software engineering and cybersecurity?

Convey your commitment to ongoing learning by mentioning relevant conferences, publications, or online courses you engage with. Highlight your involvement in professional networks or communities that focus on software engineering and cybersecurity advancements.

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Describe a challenging vulnerability you encountered in a past project and how you resolved it.

Answer this question by detailing a specific case where you identified a vulnerability, the steps you took to analyze it, and the solution you implemented. Highlight collaborative efforts with your team and any measures taken to prevent future issues.

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What do you believe is the future of cybersecurity technology?

For this question, share your insights into emerging trends in cybersecurity, such as AI-driven security solutions or the evolving landscape of cloud security. Discuss how you see your role contributing to advancements in this field.

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Being the cybersecurity partner of choice, protecting our digital way of life.

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Full-time, on-site
DATE POSTED
March 16, 2025

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