Sr Staff Software Development Engineer (API)

Role

We are looking for a Sr Staff Software Development Engineer to join our team. This is a hybrid role, reporting to the Senior Manager Software Development Engineering in the Unified API platform team department. You will join an engineering powerhouse that built the world's largest cloud security platform from the ground up, supporting over 15 million users across 185 countries. This role invites you to bring your vision for cloud architecture and scalable services to a team dedicated to helping organizations harness speed and agility through a cloud-first strategy.

What you'll do (Role Expectations)

• Delivering a unified API and developer platform for Zscaler products, focusing on standardization, governance, and a seamless developer experience
• Creating and refining API development and integration processes, tools, and methodologies across Zscaler's product portfolio
• Leading the creation of a scalable distributed API platform, ensuring it is highly available, observable, and operable

Who You Are (Success Profile)

• You thrive in ambiguity. You're comfortable building the path as you walk it. You thrive in a dynamic environment, seeing ambiguity not as a hindrance, but as the raw material to build something meaningful.
• You act like an owner. Your passion for the mission fuels your bias for action. You operate with integrity because you genuinely care about the outcome. True ownership involves leveraging dynamic range: the ability to navigate seamlessly between high-level strategy and hands-on execution.
• You are a problem-solver. You love running towards the challenges because you are laser-focused on finding the solution, knowing that solving the hard problems delivers the biggest impact.
• You are a high-trust collaborator. You are ambitious for the team, not just yourself. You embrace our challenge culture by giving and receiving ongoing feedback-knowing that candor delivered with clarity and respect is the truest form of teamwork and the fastest way to earn trust.
• You are a learner. You have a true growth mindset and are obsessed with your own development, actively seeking feedback to become a better partner and a stronger teammate. You love what you do and you do it with purpose.

What We're Looking for (Minimum Qualifications)

• Foundational understanding of AI/ML technologies and experience leveraging, securing, or positioning AI-driven solutions to optimize outcomes within your functional domain
• Extensive experience in the architecture, design, and development of API frameworks and technologies, with 8+ years of experience, including proven experience creating SDKs and designing APIs
• Deep knowledge of API design standards, best practices, and API-first design principles
• Strong background in message brokers, caches, queues, and pub/sub concepts
• Proficiency in at least one programming language such as Go, Java, C++, Rust, or JavaScript

What Will Make You Stand Out (Preferred Qualifications)

• Experience designing and implementing AI-driven API gateways, LLM orchestration layers, or intelligent developer automation tools to optimize platform scale and governance
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate with product managers on external-facing products and roadmap development
• Experience working dynamically with cross-functional teams to drive product innovation

#LI-Hybrid #LI-VV3