Principal Engineer Software (Next Generation Firewall)

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

Your Career
Palo Alto Networks NGFW (Next Generation Firewall) group is looking for a seasoned and accomplished QA/Automation engineer with experience in validating core networking & security features in the QA team.
You will be part of a world-class software test engineering team that works on various ground-breaking technologies (Cloud Identity, Data Loss Prevention, Post quantum cryptography, IoT Security etc) in the Layer 4-7 domain. You will work with a multi- functional team of engineers solving interesting problems in the area of L4-7 security.
We are looking for highly motivated engineers who have intellectual curiosity, love the challenge of solving complex problems with variable factors and creativity in obtaining solutions. We are looking for leaders who take ownership of their areas of focus and who are driven to pursue problems at every level. Collaboration is at the heart of our culture and we need engineers who can communicate at a high level and work well with multi-functional teams towards achieving a common goal.
Your Impact
Working in a small and fast-paced team, you will solve important customer problems and deliver the most impactful results. Your contributions will span all phases of end-to-end product and solution validation.
Lead end-to-end validation for critical networking and security features, solving key customer problems.

Drive quality initiatives by collaborating with development, QA, and DevOps teams to achieve the best quality and to troubleshoot and resolve complex customer issues.

Innovate by suggesting and implementing improvements to the QA process and automation frameworks.

Mentor and coach new team members, including participating in interviews to help grow the team's capabilities.

Adapt by staying updated with advancements and the usage of AI (for coding, quality processes, etc.), evaluating their relevance, and incorporating them to enhance systems.

Qualifications
Your Experience

Graduate degree (BS or MS) in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering or similar technical discipline or equivalent military experience required

8+ years of experience in QA and automation specifically in networking, security products or services

Strong automation skills in Python

Deep working knowledge in TCP/IP, application layer protocols (HTTP/HTTPS/SMTP etc)

Exceptional skills in problem-solving, debugging, and root cause analysis.

Good understanding of Enterprise and SaaS products, with the ability to participate in the design, code review, and deployment of scalable software systems.

Experience with customer engagements (both proactive and reactive) and driving root cause analysis and corrective actions.

Ability to leverage AI tools to improve testing efficiency and code quality.

Experience with public cloud platforms (Google Cloud Platform, AWS) and CI/CD tools (Jenkins) is highly prefer

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/com-missioned roles) is expected to be the annual range listed below. The offered compensation may also include restricted stock units and a bonus. A description of our employee benefits may be found here.

$147,000.00 - $237,500.00/yr

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

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.

Is role eligible for Immigration Sponsorship?: Yes