Principal Engineer Software (Backend- Data Security)

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

We are seeking a highly skilled Principal Engineer Software (Backend- Data Security) to join our team. As a Backend Engineer, you will utilize your extensive experience in backend technologies to shape and enhance our product. You will play a pivotal role in developing cutting-edge web applications that drive our cybersecurity efforts. Our Backend Engineers are crucial in building and maintaining robust and scalable solutions.

This role is located at our dynamic Santa Clara California headquarters campus, and in office 3 days a week.

Your Impact

As a Principal Engineer Software (Backend- Data Security), your key responsibilities will include:

• Design, build, and maintain scalable and secure web applications used by customers worldwide
• Work across backend (Java/Spring Boot)—to deliver exceptional user experiences
• Own features end-to-end, from design and architecture to implementation, testing, and production support
• Collaborate with product managers, designers, and other engineers to translate ideas into working software
• Contribute to architectural decisions and set technical direction for the platform
• Drive quality, performance, and reliability improvements across the system

Qualifications

Your Experience

To be successful in this role, you should have:

• 8+ years of experience developing in Java, MySQL/MongoDB
• 5+ years of backend development using Java, Spring Boot, J2EE, and cloud-native platforms like GCP or AWS
• Experience deploying containerized apps with Docker and Kubernetes
• Strong understanding of web architecture, security, and distributed systems
• Track record of owning and delivering complex software projects end-to-end
• Strong problem-solving skills, with a collaborative and positive “can-do” mindset
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field
• Bonus: Experience in the cybersecurity domain or strong interest in the space

Additional Information

The Team

Our engineering team is at the core of our products – connected directly to the mission of preventing cyberattacks. We are constantly innovating – challenging the way we, and the industry, think about cybersecurity. Our engineers don’t shy away from building products to solve problems no one has pursued before. We define the industry, instead of waiting for directions. We need individuals who feel comfortable in ambiguity, excited by the prospect of a challenge, and empowered by the unknown risks facing our everyday lives that are only enabled by a secure digital environment.

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: $147000/YR - $225500/YR. The offered compensation may also include restricted stock units and a bonus. A description of our employee benefits may be found here.

Is role eligible for Immigration Sponsorship?: Yes

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.