Principal Software Engineer (Automation Testing) - NGFW - NetSec

Our Mission At Palo Alto Networks®, we’re united by a shared mission—to protect our digital way of life. We thrive at the intersection of innovation and impact, solving real-world problems with cutting-edge technology and bold thinking. Here, everyone has a voice, and every idea counts. If you’re ready to do the most meaningful work of your career alongside people who are just as passionate as you are, you’re in the right place. Who We Are In order to be the cybersecurity partner of choice, we must trailblaze the path and shape the future of our industry. This is something our employees work at each day and is defined by our values: Disruption, Collaboration, Execution, Integrity, and Inclusion. We weave AI into the fabric of everything we do and use it to augment the impact every individual can have. If you are passionate about solving real-world problems and ideating beside the best and the brightest, we invite you to join us! We believe collaboration thrives in person. That’s why most of our teams work from the office full time, with flexibility when it’s needed. This model supports real-time problem-solving, stronger relationships, and the kind of precision that drives great outcomes. Job Summary The Team Engineering - Our engineering team is at the core of our products and 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. Job Summary As a Principal Software Engineer in Test for the NGFW team, you will be a key leader in validating core networking and security features for our groundbreaking technologies. You will join a world-class team, taking ownership of your focus areas to solve complex L2-7 security problems. This role requires intellectual curiosity, creative problem-solving, and a highly collaborative mindset to work effectively with multi-functional teams and drive quality from design to release. Key Responsibilities Lead the end-to-end testing of Palo Alto Networks’ next-generation firewall (NGFW) features, ensuring robust security and performance. Design, develop, and execute comprehensive automated test plans and test cases to validate core networking and security functionalities. Create and maintain advanced automation tools and testing infrastructure to enhance quality and operational efficiency. Collaborate proactively with Software Engineering and Product Management teams throughout the product lifecycle, from design to release, to ensure alignment. Isolate, reproduce, and debug complex issues discovered during testing and post-release, taking ownership to drive them to resolution. Build and manage complex physical and virtual testbed environments, including ESXi or KVM-based setups. Work closely with development counterparts to understand product architecture and design effective test strategies. Qualifications Required Qualifications Bachelor's or Master's degree in a relevant technical field, or equivalent practical experience. 9 years of test engineering experience in the Network and Security domain, focusing on platforms, infrastructure, and systems. Expertise in L2-L3 network testing, including common switching and routing protocols. Proficiency in automation scripting with Python or a similar language. Experience with bug tracking tools (e.g., Jira) and version control systems (e.g., Git). Preferred Qualifications Direct experience testing network security products, particularly firewalls and intrusion prevention systems (IPS). Strong knowledge of L4-L7 application layers, protocols, and test methods. Ex ... (truncated, view full listing at source)