Principal Engineer Software

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 Job Summary As a Principal Software Engineer on the Next-generation Firewall data plane team, you will be a key member of a world-class team working on cutting-edge security technologies. You will take ownership of designing and developing large software components for our next-generation firewall, translating real-world customer requirements into functional designs. Your expertise will be crucial in building efficient, robust solutions that tackle real-world cyber-attacks and define the future of cybersecurity. Key Responsibilities Design and develop next-generation network security components and protocols for state-of-the-art firewalls deployed in enterprise, data center, and cloud environments. Lead the development of L2-L4 network security features, including stateful TCP/UDP inspection, across both hardware and virtual platforms. Develop scalable flow architecture for packet processing pipelines using DPDK for multi-core platforms, and interface with ASIC functions. Create scalable software solutions for a distributed session architecture spanning across a cluster of firewalls to ensure high availability and performance. Collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams, including Product Management, QA, and Support, to ensure alignment on feature requirements and successful delivery. Provide timely root cause analysis and resolutions for critical customer escalations, demonstrating accountability and advanced problem-solving skills. Contribute to the product vision by generating innovative ideas that provide a competitive edge, and independently drive tasks from conception to completion. Qualifications Required Qualifications Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science/Engineering, or equivalent practical experience. 9+ years of software development experience with strong expertise in C programming and robust debugging skills. Proven experience in large-scale software development on Unix/Linux environments. Strong technical knowledge of computer architecture and systems engineering. In-depth knowledge of networking protocols, specifically at the L3 layer. Preferred Qualifications Experience with routing protocols such as BGP and OSPF. Experience with core system infrastructure design, including IPC, clustering, and High Availability (HA). Proficiency in Python and Shell scripting. Our Commitment We’re trailblazers that dream big, 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 accommodationspaloaltonetworks.c ... (truncated, view full listing at source)