Staff Software Development Engineer - job 1 of 5

As a Staff Software Development Engineer at Zscaler, your key responsibilities include developing and maintaining high-quality backend services within a microservices architecture, delivering features for a high-scale web environment, and mentoring junior engineers. You're expected to monitor performance and costs of services in production while collaborating with various teams and staying updated with industry trends.

To qualify for the Staff Software Development Engineer role at Zscaler, candidates should have at least 5+ years of experience in Java/Spring Boot development, a B.Sc. in Computer Science or a related field, and proficiency in a microservices environment with experience in AWS and Kubernetes. Familiarity with message brokers like RabbitMQ or SQS is also required.

At Zscaler, professional development is encouraged through mentorship opportunities, access to educational resources, and a culture that fosters collaboration and knowledge sharing. Staff Software Development Engineers have the chance to work on innovative projects and stay updated with industry best practices, all of which support their career growth.

The work culture at Zscaler is inclusive and supportive, with a focus on innovation and collaboration. Staff Software Development Engineers work in a fast-paced environment where diverse ideas are welcomed and initiatives are taken to ensure an enjoyable work experience while pursuing the collective goal of enhancing security in the digital landscape.

Preferred technical skills for the Staff Software Development Engineer role at Zscaler include proficiency with various data stores, such as PostgreSQL, MongoDB, Redshift, and Snowflake. Experience with a microservices architecture and message brokers like RabbitMQ or SQS is also highly beneficial.

When answering this question, detail specific projects where you've used Java and Spring Boot. Highlight your role in those projects, the challenges you faced, and how you ensured the performance and scalability of the applications.

Discuss tools you’ve used for monitoring, such as Prometheus or Grafana, and provide examples of how you've identified and resolved bottlenecks in performance, explaining the methods you used to optimize services.

Share practical examples of mentorship, like code reviews, knowledge-sharing sessions, or collaborative projects. Discuss how you assess their progress and facilitate an environment where they feel comfortable asking questions.

Provide a clear example, focusing on the problem-solving process, the technologies used, and the end result. Highlight critical thinking, creativity, and technical skills in your approach.

Talk about blogs, webinars, conferences, and online courses you follow or attend. Emphasize the importance of continuous learning in your role as a Staff Software Development Engineer.

Discuss how AWS provides scalable infrastructure and services that can enhance application performance. Explain Kubernetes' role in container orchestration, facilitating automated deployment and scaling for microservices.

Describe instances where you've implemented message brokers to handle communication between microservices. Highlight the problems solved through their implementation and how it improved system reliability.

Discuss principles like separation of concerns, microservices architecture, load balancing, and caching strategies. Then, give examples of where you effectively applied these principles in past projects.

Explain your approach to resolving conflicts, emphasizing collaboration, open communication, and aiming for a solution that considers the project's best interest rather than a personal win.

Share your passion for security and the importance of developing secure applications. Discuss how Zscaler's mission aligns with your values and where you see yourself contributing to their goals.