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Principal Software Engineer (Prisma Access)

Chronosphere

United States · $156k–$253k a year · Posted October 16, 2026

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Pay compared with the market

This listing pays about $204,700 a year. Across 122 open principal software engineer listings that state pay, the middle half runs $206,000 to $320,000 and the median is $240,000. That is 15% below the median, below the middle half of those listings.

Listed pay is what employers advertise, not what people are paid.

Principal Software Engineer salaries by state · Check your own pay

About the job

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

Prisma Access is Palo Alto Networks' cloud-delivered security platform that offers a highly scalable cloud service to address the challenges associated with sizing firewalls and resource allocation. It provides a seamless solution for organizations with distributed networks, minimizing coverage gaps and inconsistencies. By leveraging a cloud-based security infrastructure, Prisma Access enables the operationalization of security deployment for remote networks and mobile users.

As a Senior Engineer, your role will involve building and designing distributed backend services that serve as the backbone of our platform. You will have the opportunity to think broadly about all system components and carefully consider trade-offs for each design decision. Working with the latest cloud technologies, you will be responsible for integrating them with service APIs from different cloud providers and implementing development methodologies to achieve optimal outcomes. A foundational understanding of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) is increasingly vital for developing the next generation of predictive and resilient security solutions.

In addition to backend services, you will also focus on developing and automating monitoring infrastructure, optimizing data collection, analyzing system disruptions, and creating solutions for improved reliability.

This position presents a unique opportunity to take charge of the new product architecture, and build it from scratch. You will play a vital role in shaping the future of our product and contribute to its success in the cybersecurity industry.

Your Impact

Analyze requirements, design, develop, and support highly scalable software features and infrastructure on our next-generation security platform ready for cloud native deployment from inception to completion

Develop algorithms to integrate targeted ML/AI concepts as it relates to operations in our cloud security platform in terms of networking and orchestration

Write clean, testable, readable, scalable, and maintainable code that scales and performs well for thousands of customers

Actively guide testing of critical components in the product, considering complex considerations of multiple platforms, performance, supportability, maintainability, and much more

Collaborate closely with the Product management, Development, Quality Assurance, SRE, and Customer support teams on delivering the roadmap and improving customer outcomes

Strive in results-oriented culture with a strong focus on execution, quality, and speed

Your Experience

B.S, M.S or PhD in Computer Science or a related field with a minimum of 8+ years of proven experience and proficiency in one or more programming languages - Go, Python, or Java

Proficient is problem solving with a strong understanding of data structures and algorithms and solid foundation in operating systems, networking and distributed systems

Experience working with Cloud Provider Infrastructure like AWS, GCP, Azure or OCI

Experience in building complex, large scale SaaS solutions with distributed databases and messaging systems

Good understanding of PKI / Certificates and security principles

Proven record designing and implementing scalable REST APIs, services and data pipelines

Experience handling DevOPs, availability and reliability outcomes for a large cloud product

Experience with Test-Driven Development and CI/CD methodologies

Working familiarity with networking protocols (TCP/IP, HTTP) and standard network architectures (VPCs, load balancers and firewalls within cloud environment)

Strong understanding of microservices-based deployments with the ability to design services

High energy and the ability to work in a fast-paced environment with a can-do attitude

Experience working with architects, product and program managers to deliver product features on time and high quality

Demonstrate technical leadership and mentorship skills

The Team

To stay ahead of the curve, it’s critical to know where the curve is, and how to anticipate the changes we’re facing. For the fastest growing cybersecurity company, the curve is the evolution of cyberattacks, and the products and services that proactively address them. Our engineering team is at the core of our products – connected directly to the mission of preventing cyberattacks. They are constantly innovating – challenging the way we, and the industry, think about cybersecurity. These engineers aren’t shy about creating products to solve problems no one has tackled before. They define the industry, instead of waiting for directions. We need individuals who feel comfortable in ambiguity, excited by the prospect of challenge, and empowered by the unknown risks facing our everyday lives that are only enabled by a secure digital environment.

Our engineering team is provided with an unrivaled opportunity to build the products and practices that will support our company growth over the next decade, defining the cybersecurity industry as we know it. If you see the potential of how incredible people's products can transform a business, this is the team for you. If you don’t wait for directions, instead, identifying new features and opportunities we have to just get better, this is your new career.

For candidates who receive an offer, the starting rate is expected to be $200,000/yr- $225,000/yr for the specific role.

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 accommodations@paloaltonetworks.com.

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

Qualifications

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