Principal Software Engineer, Palo Alto Networks
ADEM Agent - Client/Endpoint Focus
$147-237.5k
+ RSUs and bonus
More information about location
Office located in Santa Clara, CA
Leading cybersecurity protections and software platform
Be an early applicant
Leading cybersecurity protections and software platform
1001+ employees
Be an early applicant
$147-237.5k
+ RSUs and bonus
More information about location
Office located in Santa Clara, CA
1001+ employees
Company mission
To be the cybersecurity partner of choice, protecting our digital way of life.
Role
Who you are
- 8+ years of software engineering experience, with a significant portion dedicated to designing and operating complex, resource-constrained client-side or endpoint software in a large-scale deployment
- As a leader in engineering efficiency, you must be an expert in leveraging AI-powered development tools—including Claude Code, Cursor, Windsurf, and GitHub Copilot—to radically accelerate the SDLC and automate complex refactoring and testing workflows
- Proven track record of architecting and shipping production-quality software for multiple operating systems (Windows, macOS, Linux) with a deep understanding of OS internals, networking stacks (L3-L7), and system performance tuning
- Coding Rust, or Go (Golang) for high-performance client development is required
- BS/MS/PhD in Computer Science or a related technical field, or equivalent high-level professional experience
Desirable
- Deep authoritative knowledge of endpoint security mechanisms (e.g., integrity checks, sandboxing, driver development) and the ability to design agents that are resilient to tampering while maintaining a minimal security posture
- Experience building robust, secure, and resource-efficient data collection and buffering mechanisms within an agent, utilizing technologies for local data persistence and secure transfer
- Deep understanding of Zero Trust architecture principles applied at the endpoint, L3-L7 networking interception, and advanced encryption standards to ensure the ADEM Agent remains the most secure platform in the industry
- A history of contributing to open-source projects (e.g., related to system monitoring, networking drivers) or speaking at industry conferences is highly desirable
- Prefer coding in C/C++
What the job involves
- The ADEM engineering team is the engine of innovation at Palo Alto Networks. We don't just follow industry trends; we create them. As a Principal Engineer focused on the Agent, you will be at the center of this mission, tackling "impossible" problems in scale, security, and performance at the most critical point: the user's endpoint
- We look for leaders who are comfortable in deep ambiguity, possess an insatiable curiosity, and are driven to build technology that protects the digital way of life for the world's largest enterprises
- Palo Alto Networks' ADEM (Autonomous Digital Experience Management) group is seeking a Principal Software Engineer to serve as a primary architect and technical visionary for our ADEM Agent/Client software
- In this high-impact role, you will be responsible for the technical roadmap of the ADEM Agent, ensuring its performance, security, and stability across millions of endpoints
- You will solve the most complex operating system and networking challenges at the client level, mentor the next generation of technical leaders, and bridge the gap between long-term product vision and world-class engineering execution for the endpoint experience
- Define the long-term architectural vision for the ADEM Agent across Linux, Windows, macOS, and mobile platforms, ensuring robust performance, minimal resource consumption
- Lead the "Design Review Board" for all Agent-side features, ensuring all components adhere to Secure AI by Design, operate with high-availability patterns in diverse OS environments, and maintain a low CPU/memory footprint
- Drive the evolution of the Agent's telemetry collection and processing pipeline, optimizing for low-latency, encrypted data transfer and ensuring resilience in low-bandwidth or disconnected environments
- Partner with Product Management, Core Infrastructure, and Security teams to translate ambiguous business requirements into robust, high-performance technical specifications for the client software
- Act as a force multiplier by mentoring Staff and Senior engineers, fostering a culture of rigorous platform-specific testing, high code quality, and proactive technical debt management within the Agent codebase
- Serve as the ultimate technical escalation point for complex, systemic production issues related to endpoint stability or performance, leading post-mortems that drive permanent architectural improvements in the Agent
Our take
With cyber threats evolving at lightening speed, businesses need robust solutions to protect their data and infrastructure. And the global cybersecurity market is projected to grow significantly, driven by increasing cyberattacks and the adoption of digital transformation initiatives. Because of this, companies are seeking security platforms that can address these challenges efficiently.
That's where Palo Alto Networks steps in, a frontrunner in the cybersecurity arena. It offers a suite of AI-powered security solutions designed to safeguard enterprises across various sectors. Its platforms, such as Cortex XSIAM and Prisma AIRS, integrate advanced threat detection, zero trust architecture, and real-time response capabilities so organizations are ready to manage and mitigate risks.
Its leadership is evident too, with impressive growth and strategic partnerships. Recently the company surpassed $1.5M in sales through the Google Cloud Marketplace, highlighting the demand for its innovative security solutions. Additionally, a collaboration with AT&T aims to enhance cybersecurity offerings, further solidifying its position in the market.
Freddie
Company Specialist at Welcome to the Jungle
Company
Funding (2 rounds)
Sep 2022
$34m
SERIES A
May 2022
$11m
SEED
Total funding: $45m
Company benefits
- Healthcare: We value your health and provide options so you can choose what best supports your lifestyle and personal health goals. Various nationwide plans — including Blue Shield of California, Kaiser Permanente, Delta Dental, VSP, and more — are available to you and your family. Our providers offer the flexibility you want and the coverage you need
- Wellness: With a large on-site gym and daily, instructor-led exercise classes at HQ in Santa Clara, Palo Alto Networks actively supports employee fitness. Our juice bar, Gym & Juice, features fresh juice blends, a quick and nutritious option pre- or post-workout. And our ongoing wellness speaker series highlights the latest trends in health and wellness
- Development: Professional development is serious business at Palo Alto Networks, where the Talent Development team offers 25+ courses to help employees boost their careers and develop leadership capability
- Financial: Most roles are eligible for equity grants, and we now offer new hires a quarterly vesting schedule right away. We want you to be fairly compensated and rewarded as soon as you make an impact – on our team, that happens immediately! And because we consider every employee a stakeholder in our long-term success, we offer an Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP) with a 24-month lookback. From life insurance to health savings accounts, we provide ways to help you protect and grow your wealth. Palo Alto Networks offers both traditional and Roth 401(k) options, along with a company match of 50% to a max annual amount of $1,000
- Time Off: In addition to paid corporate holidays, Flexible Time Off programs empower our employees to balance their work schedules with personal time off. We offer 12 weeks of full pay for medical leave and 6 weeks of full pay for parental leave. As a company with strong ties to the military and veterans, we also offer 26 weeks of full pay for military leave
- Perks: Our corporate discount program provides employees with significant discounts on merchandise, travel and entertainment. We offer many on-site perks at headquarters, including cafeterias, fuel service, dry cleaning service, EV charging stations, and a company store. We also provide complimentary drinks, fresh fruit, and snacks in break rooms across our campus to help everyone power through the day. Life at Palo Alto Network
Company HQ
Santa Clara, CA
Leadership
Nikesh Arora
(CEO & Chairman)Previously the President and COO at SoftBank, CBO at Google, and CMO at T-Mobile.
Nir Zuk
(Founder & CTO)Previously CTO at NetScreen Technologies, which was acquired by Juniper Neworks in 2004. They also co-founded OneSecure where they served as CTO and was the Principal Engineer at Check Point Software Technologies.
Lee Klarich
(CPO)Initially joined Palo Alto in 2006 as the EVP of Product Management and became CPO in 2018. Prior to this, they were the Director of Product Management at Juniper Networks and a Product Line Manager at NetScreen Technologies.
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