Sr. Software Development Engineer-AI Security

About Zscaler Zscaler accelerates digital transformation to ensure our customers can be more agile, efficient, resilient, and secure. As an AI-forward enterprise , we are constantly pushing the envelope, leveraging the world’s largest security data lake to power our cloud-native Zero Trust Exchange platform. This innovation protects our customers from cyberattacks and data loss by securely connecting users, devices, and applications in any location. Here, impact in your role matters more than title and trust is built on results. We say, impact over activity. We seek innovators who actively use AI to amplify their impact and who thrive in an environment where we leverage intelligent systems to stay ahead of evolving threats. We believe in transparency and value constructive, honest debate —we’re focused on getting to the best ideas, faster. We build high-performing teams that can make an impact quickly and with high quality. To do this, we are building a culture of execution centered on customer obsession , collaboration, ownership, and accountability. We value high-impact, high-accountability with a sense of urgency where you’re enabled to do your best work and embrace your potential. If you’re driven by purpose, thrive on solving complex challenges, and want to be part of the team that’s helping to secure the AI age, we invite you to bring your talents to Zscaler and help shape the future of cybersecurity. Role We are looking for a Senior Software Development Engineer-AI Security to join us as a founding member of our AI Security Team. This is a Hybrid role based in San Jose, CA or Bellevue, WA (3 days in office), reporting to the Director of Software Engineering within the Emerging Tech org. You will build a high-reliability, low-latency AI security solution capable of scaling to hundreds of millions of users. In this role, you will be crucial in enhancing security capabilities for the AI within the world's largest cloud security platform by designing and implementing core infrastructure components and distributed systems while collaborating closely with stakeholders throughout the development lifecycle. What you’ll do (Role Expectations) Develop high-performance networking code for multiple desktop platforms using the Rust language and platform-native APIs Improve code quality through building solid, testable, and well-documented software foundations Design and implement major development projects with a focus on scalability, security, and performance Collaborate with product managers and cross-functional teams to deliver customer-impacting features Debug and solve complex network-related problems and enhance system functionality 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) Bachelor’s degree in computer science, engineering, or a related field 3+ years of software engineering experience with deep expertise in the Rust programming language and familiarity with lower-level languages such as C/C++ Strong knowledge of system and network programming including firewalls, VPNs, protocols, TCP/IP, UDP, DNS, QUIC, H/3, and proxies Familiarity with system concepts such as virtual memory, multi-threading, and system APIs, and familiarity with SLM and LLM models Excellent debugging and problem-solving skills in both networking and system-level contexts What Will Make You Stand Out (Preferred Qualifications) Familiarity with DevOps pipelines, VPN technologies, and a strong understanding of security protocols and standards Experience writing testable, low-complexity code with dependency injection and thorough documentation Proficiency in additional programming languages like Swift, Python, or comparable technologies; direct experience in validating AI-d