Principal IT Automation Engineer

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

We are seeking a highly skilled and forward-thinking Principal Quality Engineer to join our team. This is a senior, hands-on technical role focused on driving our AI-First quality strategy. You will be instrumental in architecting, developing, and implementing sophisticated test automation frameworks. The ideal candidate is a deep technical expert with a passion for leveraging Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning to revolutionize the Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC), from test automation and code generation to pioneering new quality paradigms.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and implement a visionary test automation strategy that leverages AI/ML for intelligent test case generation, predictive quality analytics, and self-healing automation frameworks.
• Lead the hands-on development of robust, scalable, and maintainable test automation frameworks from the ground up using languages like Python or Java.
• Utilize generative AI and other AI-powered tools for efficient test code generation, synthetic data creation, and anomaly detection within our applications and CI/CD pipelines.
• Act as the foremost technical authority in quality engineering, mentoring and guiding other engineers on best practices in software testing, automation, and the application of AI.
• Champion and integrate an 'AI-First' mindset throughout the software development lifecycle, influencing how we build, test, and release software.
• Collaborate closely with Software Development, DevOps, and Product Management teams to embed quality into the development process and ensure delivery of high-quality products.
• Manage DevOps and non-production environments, including architecture, refresh strategy, automation, and release train management for optimal delivery.
• Research, evaluate, and implement cutting-edge tools and technologies in test automation and AI to continuously enhance testing efficiency and effectiveness.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field, or equivalent military experience.
• 12+ years of hands-on experience in Quality Engineering or Software Development in Test (SDET).
• Expert-level programming skills in Python, Java, or a similar object-oriented language.
• Proven experience designing, building, and maintaining complex test automation frameworks from scratch (e.g., Pytest, Selenium, Playwright, REST Assured).
• Deep expertise with CI/CD pipelines, version control systems (Git), and modern DevOps practices.
• Experience testing complex, distributed systems and microservices architectures.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in a related field.
• Strong practical knowledge applying AI/ML concepts and tools to software quality challenges, including hands-on experience with generative AI.
• Experience with AI-powered copilot tools (e.g., GitHub Copilot, Cursor, Amp) for script generation and development productivity.
• Exceptional communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex technical concepts to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

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.

$167,000.00 - $270,500.00/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? No. Please note that we will not sponsor applicants for work visas for this position.