Sr. Staff Software Development Engineer
Zscaler
San Jose, CA · $158k–$225k a year · Posted October 26, 2026
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Where San Jose, CA ranks
Where San Jose, CA placed in our monthly rankings, month by month. Each month stays online at its own address.
November 2026
- #1Best cities for marketing pay after cost of living$204k · of 16
- #1Best cities for aerospace and defense pay after cost of living$187k · of 19
- #2Best cities for security pay after cost of living$220k · of 10
- #3Best cities for technology pay after cost of living$205k · of 80
- #5Best cities for technology jobs1,449 openings · of 100
- #5Cities with the most jobs that do not need a four-year degree in the West Coast162 jobs · of 47
Rankings about engineering jobs
- Best cities for software and engineering jobs #1 San Francisco (3,412 openings)
- Best cities for engineering pay after cost of living #1 San Mateo ($216k)
- Most requested AI skills in engineering jobs #1 AI tools in daily work (6.1%)
- AI tools named most often in engineering jobs #1 Claude (1.7%)
- Employers with the most engineering jobs #1 Amazon (2,992 roles)
How AI is used in this kind of work
Among software developers, AI is already used for some of the tasks. Measured exposure for software developers: 29% (some).
Share of this job’s tasks that AI is already used for at work, from real usage. It is not a forecast of job loss, and a low number means no use seen yet. Source: Anthropic Economic Index.
Skills this job asks for
Say which you have and which you want to build. We use it to match you to jobs like this one.
About the job
Zscaler (NASDAQ: ZS) accelerates digital transformation so customers can be more agile, efficient, resilient, and secure. The Zscaler Zero Trust Exchange platform protects thousands of customers from cyberattacks and data loss by securely connecting users, devices, and applications in any location. Distributed across 200+ public data centers globally and thousands of private sites at the edge, the SASE-based Zero Trust Exchange is the world’s largest in-line cloud security platform.
We believe the future of work is Human + AI and are building an AI-native enterprise where human potential is amplified by machine intelligence to solve the world’s hardest security challenges. Driven by deep customer obsession, we are committed to the mission, outcome, and to each other. We bring these commitments to life through three core behaviors: ownership and collaboration, trust through outcomes and impact, and a challenge culture with ongoing feedback. Ready to make an impact at the company pioneering security transformation in the AI era? Join us at Zscaler.
Role
We are looking for a Senior Staff Software Engineer to join our team. This is a Hybrid (3 days a week in San Jose, CA) role, reporting to the Senior Director, Engineering in the IAM department. Identity has become the new security perimeter, and in this role, you will develop workflows and application integrations in collaboration with the broader IAM team, Product Management, and Business teams. You will be responsible for the design and development of enterprise-grade Identity Management Products for Zscaler, helping organizations worldwide harness speed and agility with a cloud-first strategy.
What you’ll do (Role Expectations)
Design and develop enterprise-grade Identity Management Products for Zscaler
Participate in the design and implementation of core product functionality and key technical initiatives
Mentor junior engineers with software development best practices
Help maintain our positive culture as a collaborative and supportive teammate
Collaborate across teams to deliver projects from inception to production
Who You Are (Success Profile)
You thrive in ambiguity. You are comfortable building the path as you walk it, viewing dynamic environments as opportunities to construct meaningful solutions.
You act like an owner. You operate with a strong sense of ownership, bringing passion for the mission, high integrity, and the capability to navigate between high-level strategy and hands-on execution.
You are a proactive problem-solver. You run toward challenges and remain laser-focused on finding solutions that deliver high-impact outcomes.
You build high-trust collaboration. You prioritize team success, welcome feedback, and practice clear, respectful candor to establish strong partnerships.
You maintain a continuous growth mindset. You actively seek feedback and development opportunities to grow as a partner, teammate, and purpose-driven leader.
What We’re Looking for (Minimum Qualifications)
Foundational understanding of AI/ML technologies and experience leveraging, securing, or positioning AI-driven solutions to optimize outcomes within your functional domain
8+ years of hands-on experience in application architecture and development
Expert-level technical knowledge of Enterprise Java, OOP, OOA, systems architecture, RESTful APIs, and related frameworks such as Hibernate and Spring
Strong knowledge of Identity and Access Management protocols, specifically SAML, OAuth, and OpenID Connect
Experience developing enterprise-grade Security or Networking products
What Will Make You Stand Out (Preferred Qualifications)
Proven ability to leverage AI technologies and workflows to drive measurable operational efficiency
Knowledge of Docker, Kubernetes, and container infrastructure
Experience with Java reactive programming
#LI-CM3
#LI-Hybrid
Zscaler’s salary ranges are benchmarked and are determined by role and level. The range displayed on each job posting reflects the minimum and maximum target for new hire salaries for the position across all US locations and could be higher or lower based on a multitude of factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.
The base salary range listed for this full-time position excludes commission/ bonus/ equity (if applicable) + benefits.
Base Pay Range $157,500 — $225,000 USD
At Zscaler, we are committed to building a team that reflects the communities we serve and the customers we work with. We foster an inclusive environment that values all backgrounds and perspectives, emphasizing collaboration and belonging. Join us in our mission to make doing business seamless and secure.
Our Benefits program is one of the most important ways we support our employees. Zscaler proudly offers comprehensive and inclusive benefits to meet the diverse needs of our employees and their families throughout their life stages, including:
Various health plans
Time off plans for vacation and sick time
Parental leave options
Retirement options
Education reimbursement
In-office perks, and more!
Learn more about Zscaler's hybrid working model and benefits here .
By applying for this role, you adhere to applicable laws, regulations, and Zscaler policies, including those related to security and privacy standards and guidelines.
Zscaler is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all individuals. We strive to create a workplace where employees are treated with respect and have the chance to succeed. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy or related medical conditions), age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. See more information by clicking on the Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal link.
Pay Transparency
Zscaler complies with all applicable federal, state, and local pay transparency rules.
Zscaler is committed to providing reasonable support (called accommodations or adjustments) in our recruiting processes for candidates who are differently abled, have long term conditions, mental health conditions or sincerely held religious beliefs, or who are neurodivergent or require pregnancy-related support.